High-speed rail connecting Dallas, Fort Worth to take next steps
August 23,2023
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A series of open houses is scheduled starting Aug. 29 that will offer more information about a proposed high-speed rail linking Arlington, Dallas and Fort Worth.
What you need to know
The North Central Texas Council of Governments is hosting four open house events across Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth and Grand Prairie, according to a news release. Each open house will feature a short video discussing the project as well as information boards explaining different high-speed technologies and the recommended route.
The Dallas-Fort Worth High-Speed Transportation Connections Study is slated to kick off the National Environmental Policy Act review process in September, according to the release. The open houses allow potential users to learn more about the project.
The details
Planners evaluated high-speed transportation alternatives, alignments and high-speed technologies during the project’s first phase. With the project now in Phase 2, planners will focus on a single corridor with identified station locations while aiming to evaluate “potential social and environmental impacts along the corridor,” according to the news release.
The preferred route for the rail will be located along I-30 between downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth with a train station located in Arlington’s entertainment district. Planners and engineers are advancing preliminary engineering design for this alignment.
A high-speed rail line in North Texas could provide connections with local transportation systems and directly link to other high-speed rail services, such as the proposed high-speed rail from Dallas to Houston.
The backstory
The council of governments initiated a study for a high-speed rail running through the metroplex in 2020, according to the project website. Since then, council staff have hosted several public meetings presenting information about the project.
A separate study looking at high-speed transportation between Fort Worth and Laredo was completed in early 2020, according to the project website. The study looked at high-speed transportation options connecting Austin, Fort Worth, Killeen, Laredo, San Antonio, Temple and Waco.
More information about high-speed transportation initiatives can be found on the council of governments’ website.