Dallas-Fort Worth Core Express Alternatives Analysis
TxDOT and the Federal Railroad Administration developed an environmental study to examine the feasibility of a faster, limited-stop passenger rail service that could connect possible future high-speed rail lines currently being planned in Dallas and Fort Worth. The study was 100 percent federally funded and considered possible rail alignments, train types and speeds. Although there has been regional discussion about station concepts serving downtown Dallas, Arlington and downtown Fort Worth, specific station locations have not been determined.
In addition, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the metropolitan planning organization for the Dallas-Fort Worth Region, has included high-speed or express passenger rail corridors in its long-range regional transportation plan (Mobility 2040).
Project documents
The Federal Railroad Administration initiated the process of evaluating the possibility for a high-speed or express passenger rail line between Fort Worth and Dallas by publishing a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for such a line. TxDOT and the Federal Railroad Administration hosted a public open house on June 30, 2015. The meeting focused on potential track location in or near Fort Worth, Haltom City, Richland Hills, Euless, Irving, Arlington, Grand Prairie and Dallas.
Funding for the Dallas-Fort Worth Core Express environmental study came from the April 2011 U.S. High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program grant; it is important to note that there is no funding for construction at this time. The Federal Railroad Administration concluded the project in 2017 with the production of an alternatives analysis report.