TX High Speed Rail Corridors, '24 Transit Outlook, TOD & More

News & Updates

December 15, 2023 Issue

Donate a Toy and Ride TEXRail for Free

Trinity Metro is partnering with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program to bring holiday cheer to North Texas children. On Saturday, Dec. 16, anyone riding TEXRail has the opportunity to donate a toy – and receive a free ride. Throughout the service day, riders may donate an unwrapped toy by giving it to a TEXRail conductor.

Another option for donating is at TEXRail’s North Richland Hills/Smithfield Station (6420 Smithfield Rd., North Richland Hills, TX 76182). Staff will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, for anyone who wants to drop off a toy. Visitors will be treated to fun, entertainment and hot chocolate.

Texas Scores Multiple Federal Passenger Rail Corridor Grants

texasrailadvocates.org

Texas Rail Advocates learned that the Federal Railroad Administration has awarded planning grants to the Texas Department of Transportation, Amtrak, the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Southern Rail Commission. These federal grants will be used to develop and expand passenger rail corridors that will change the way people travel by rail in the state and beyond.

The long-awaited announcement on the FRA Corridor Identification and Development program now puts the Rail Division at TxDOT and the other agencies in high gear to plan out what passenger rail corridors would look like in the future. Each sponsoring agency was awarded up to a $500,000 planning grant per corridor.

These "first step" grants are a result of some $66 billion dollars available for passenger and freight rail projects through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was passed by Congress two years ago. These grants will speed the development of new services on routes that haven’t performed the required permitting or done sufficient design and engineering work to start construction.

Grants include the high-speed rail corridor between Fort Worth-Dallas and Houston, conventional rail service from Dallas via College Station to Houston, and passenger service from Houston to San Antonio.

Carrollton Transit-Oriented Development Underway

wfaa.com

Construction of a five-story, mixed-use development at the Trinity Mills Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) station in Carrollton began Friday.

The development, called Eviva Trinity Mills, at 2525 Blanton Drive at the southeast portion of the President George Bush Turnpike and I-35E interchange is part of the 25-acre Trinity Mills Station transit-oriented development made possible through a public/private partnership with the city of Carrollton, DART, The Integral Group and Koa Partners. The development is expected to have more than 430 multi-family units, as well as restaurant and retail spaces. They broke ground on the project in July.

“We’re so excited about this public-private partnership between DART, Integral, KOA, and the City of Carrollton,” Carrollton Mayor Steve Babick said in a statement. “Bringing the Trinity Mills Station vision to reality makes this site the largest transit-oriented development project in the metroplex. This has been a long-term project and is a culmination of many years of work of prior mayors and Councilmembers, and we're looking forward to bringing this segment across the finish line.”

Others at the launch included Integral Group Chairman Egbert Perry, DART CEO Nadine Lee, Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) CEO Paul Cristina, Koa Partners CEO Harry Lake, and emcee, Integral President of Real Estate Vicki Lundy Wilbon.

$26 Million Rail Station Could Spur Development in Northeast Fort Worth

fortworthreport.org

Fort Worth resident Laura Noller has been able to cut down on the stress of getting to work at UT Southwestern in Dallas every morning by hopping on the Trinity Railway Express from the Richland Hills station.

“I drove on the first day and I was like ‘absolutely not,’” she said.

But Noller, like many commuters dependent on the train, was not aware that the station will soon close. Instead, something new and modern will replace it on Fort Worth’s northeast side. At least, that’s what Trinity Metro and developer Ken Newell would like to see with the completion of the new Trinity Lakes Station, just east of Loop 820.

Transit Outlook '24: An eye on Ridership Growth, System Expansion Plans

progressiverailroading.com

Over the past year, several of the nation’s commuter railroads and transit-rail agencies have been sorting through a mixed bag of issues related to ridership and funding.

On one hand, the pandemic’s official end in May (per the federal government) has helped ridership levels return to or near pre-pandemic levels. On the other hand, hybrid work schedules continue to be a drag on ridership growth, as many workers no longer commute five days a week to office buildings and other worksites, transit-rail executives say.

To encourage more commuters to take a train when they do report to a worksite, transit agencies and commuter railroads are offering creative fare packages, increasing onboard security and other means to ease riders’ trips.

Unified Regional Agency Discussed to Expand North Texas Transit

nbcdfw.com

Talks are underway about a unified regional transit agency to serve all of North Texas.

It would require funding and legal changes from the state.

A transit-oriented development that broke ground in Carrollton Friday is an example of how other communities might benefit.

The Eviva development is near the intersection of I-35E and the George Bush Turnpike, adjacent to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit agency’s Trinity Mills station.

A-Trains from the Denton County Transit Authority also stop at Trinity Mills.

“It really represents a focal point of regionalism where DART And DCTA come together to serve common population,” DCTA Chief Executive Officer Paul Cristana said.

Mobility is Crucial as Region Keeps Growing

fortworthbusiness.com

Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas, has a legacy of innovation, so establishing the Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ) was a natural next step. Since 1989, with the opening of the world’s first industrial airport, AllianceTexas has grown to 27,000 acres, with 560 companies generating 66,000 direct jobs and an estimated $111 billion in economic impact for the region. As we see the development and the region continue to experience exponential growth, Hillwood remains committed to innovating and adapting for what’s next.

The AllianceTexas MIZ was established to attract and convene mobility innovators here in North Fort Worth, providing the infrastructure and strategic partnerships needed to scale and commercialize new technologies and mobility solutions, both on the ground and in the air. That combination works to connect people, places, and ideas that push innovation forward in surface and air mobility.

In order to keep up with population growth, the region must innovate with creative solutions that include all modes of transportation. The Dallas-Fort Worth metro is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the U.S., gaining 328 people daily and set to surpass the Chicago metro soon. Within 20 miles of the AllianceTexas development, there is a population of two million residents with an annual growth rate of 1.62%. The numbers speak for themselves when talking about infrastructure needs, supply chain reliability and growth, as well as dependable transit solutions.

Transit Coalition of North Texas

TransitNorthTexas.org