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News & Updates

June 20, 2025 Issue

One Transit Agency for All of North Texas and Denton County? Leaders Discuss Future of Transportation

dentonrc.com

Some local elected officials say they want to see a regional authority that can manage transit across North Texas’ most populated counties.

During a meeting of the Regional Transportation Council on Thursday, leaders discussed a proposal by transportation director Michael Morris that’s meant to bring together transit agencies, city officials and other stakeholders, including the general public, to “lay out a path forward.”

“Where the RTC takes a leadership position, tries to pull together a new vision for transit, probably expansion of boundaries,” Morris said.

Morris’ recommendation, called Policy 25-01, comes after a “heated” monthslong process at the state Legislature over funding for Dallas Area Rapid Transit that left cities divided on the best path forward for public transportation in North Texas.

Policy 25-01 proposes a comprehensive process ahead of the next legislative session for reviewing how to best deliver transit to North Texans over the next 25 years, potentially pulling in state funding to do so. It asks local cities and counties to implement findings from Transit 2.0, a study by the RTC that includes recommendations and a final report on what the region needs to keep up with rapid population growth.

“The [RTC] needs expansion of existing Transit Authority boundaries or creation of new Authorities to reduce future roadway congestion, improve safety, develop alternative mobility solutions through contiguous transit coverage and drive more sustainable development,” the proposal reads.

Trinity Metro Approves 10-year, $324M Contract Extension for TEXRail, TRE rail Operations

fortworthreport.org

TEXRail, Trinity Metro’s passenger rail line, has a booming ridership — making it the nation’s No. 1 rail system to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.

The smooth and safe operation of the line prompted Trinity Metro’s board of directors to approve a 10-year extension of the agency’s contract with railroad operator Herzog Transit Services Inc. of St. Joseph, Missouri.

The extension, approved June 16, calls for Trinity Metro to pay Herzog about $324 million over 10 years that also includes operation of the Trinity Railway Express, a rail route linking downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas.

Under the contract, Trinity Metro will pay about $224 million for operations and maintenance and about $99.9 million for fuel. The contract, which includes a 3% annual escalation limit for rising expenses, is capped at about $465 million. Capital improvements, including new railcars, are not included.

Seventy-four TEXRail trains run daily from the T&P Station in downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, resulting in 3.2 million trips annually.

Texas High-Speed Rail Project Gets Major Boost

newsweek.com

A newly released study projects that the proposed high-speed rail line linking Dallas and Houston could generate a $5 billion annual boost to Dallas County's gross domestic product (GDP) from 2029 to 2050.

The analysis, conducted by the Boston Consulting Group, was commissioned by the city of Dallas and forecasted the creation of more than 28,000 new jobs in the state.

The study offered the strongest economic case yet for proponents of the Dallas-Houston high-speed rail project, suggesting the bullet train could become a major driver of urban growth and job creation in North Texas. The projections of a $5 billion injection in recurring annual GDP come at a time when the project needs a boost, after facing opposition in the Texas state legislature.

Boston Consulting Group's report, completed after more than six months of research, projected that a Dallas-to-Houston bullet train, which would cover the journey in around 90 minutes, would provide a consistent $5 billion annual increase to Dallas County's GDP between 2029 and 2050.

The rail line, if constructed, could support 28,300 new jobs and attract between 3 million and 6.5 million riders during its first full year of operations, which the report predicted would be 2035.

RTC Approves Nearly $60M in Federal Funding for North Texas Bicycle-Pedestrian Projects

dallasinnovates.com

The Arlington-based Regional Transportation Council approved $59.6 million in federal funding for 12 active transportation projects in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties.

“These funded improvements will connect people who choose walking and bicycling as modes of transportation to schools, transit services, and major hubs of employment in the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” Kevin Kokes, program manager for the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ land-use and mobility options team, said in a statement. “In addition to connecting people to destinations, the projects funded by the RTC will improve safety and comfort, reduce traffic congestion, and improve air quality.”

The RTC said a combined $14.4 million in local match brings the total investment in the region’s bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to $74 million as part of the 2025 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program Call for Projects for the North Texas region.

Nine active transportation and three Safe Routes to School applications were funded, the agency said

RTC said that among the 12 approved projects are “important connections to transit stops,” including on-street bicycle facilities connecting the future Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Silver Line commuter rail station in Addison with nearby housing and employment areas.

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Transit Coalition of North Texas

TransitNorthTexas.org