Train Tests, TOD on TRE, TX-Big TX-Fast, & More

News & Updates

July 24, 2024 Issue

North Texas Leaders Seek Funds to Plan Development Near Trinity Railway Express Stations

fortworthreport.org

A lakeside promenade could one day be filled with people as they visit shops and restaurants near the Trinity Lakes train station in northeast Fort Worth.

That’s the transit-related development goal for a proposed master-planned retail and residential community that would occupy about 1,600 acres just east of the crossroads of Interstate 820 and State Highway 121.

The train station, which opened in April off Trinity Boulevard just west of recently built housing subdivisions, could help prompt development in the city’s spur that connects with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

North Texas officials are seeking a Federal Transit Authority pilot grant to help create a strategic plan for transit-oriented developments along the Trinity Railway Express route in three cities: Fort Worth, Irving and Dallas.

T&P Tavern is Closing, New Restaurant Expected in Fort Worth’s Historic Train Station

star-telegram.com

T&P Tavern, a grill and bar in the 1931-vintage restaurant inside the grand old downtown Fort Worth commuter rail station, will close July 27, owners announced Tuesday on social media.

Trinity Metro hopes to buy the property and is discussing the location with a local restaurateur, a transit agency executive said.

Down a dead-end driveway on the historic station concourse, T & P Tavern has been one of the toughest restaurants to find since it opened in 2009.

The restaurant, 221 W. Lancaster Ave., had remained generally unchanged from the original cafe in 1931, when the station served eastbound and westbound passenger trains and welcomed celebrities including President Harry S. Truman and Elvis Presley.

DART to Test Silver Line Rail Between Plano, Richardson

communityimpact.com

DART officials will begin testing Silver Line vehicles July 21 on a portion of track running between Plano and Richardson. The vehicles will run the full route from Shiloh Road Station in Plano to Coit Road in Dallas at various times of the day. Officials are still determining exact hours the trains will run, Project Communications Manager Mario Zavala said.

During the tests, operators will check the trains’ on-board mechanisms and systems while project engineers monitor the track and updated safety measures at each rail crossing, according to a news release. Officials will avoid running tests on the weekends and at night to leave the track open for freight traffic.

Amtrak is Planning a New High-Speed Rail Route in Texas

timeout.com

Everything's bigger in Texas. And it's about to get faster.

Amtrak released details of its plan to introduce high-speed rail, Acela, to Texas via a YouTube video detailing the upcoming steps of the plan. The new routes, including a proposed 240-mile between Dallas and Houston, aim to help folks commute efficiently without the need to visit an airport or drive long distances in personal vehicles.

As some of the fastest-growing metropolises in the United States, these cities are prime candidates to be linked by high-speed rail. The I-45, which runs between the two major cities, is known for traffic, and though a flight route exists between the cities, it's inefficient.

“We believe many of the country’s biggest and fastest-growing metropolitan areas, like Houston and Dallas, deserve more high quality high-speed, intercity rail service and we are proud to bring our experience to evaluate this potential project and explore opportunities with Texas Central so the state can meet its full transportation needs," said Amtrak Senior Vice President of High-Speed Rail Development Programs Andy Byford.

While Amtrak's Acela train can travel as fast as 150 miles per hour, the fastest train in the Western Hemisphere, an even faster solution is proposed for the largest state in the continental U.S.: A Japanese bullet train. At 205 miles per hour, an average of 187 miles per hour, this train would be the fastest in the world. The trip between Dallas and Houston would be reduced to under 90 minutes, as opposed to the three and a half hour drive (without traffic) the same route typically takes.

Fire Engine Crash Damages DART Tracks, Affects Service in Downtown Dallas

fox4news.com

Dallas Area Rapid Transit service is being impacted because of a crash involving a fire engine that veered off a bridge in Downtown Dallas.

The crash happened Sunday morning on the I-345 Expressway, which connects I-45 and US-75, at Good Latimer Drive.

Police said a Dallas Fire-Rescue engine hydroplaned, went off the overpass, and landed on DART tracks.

Four firefighters on board were taken to the hospital. Three of them have since been released.

DART said the goal is to restore service into the Downtown Dallas Central Business District by Wednesday evening. Riders are being encouraged to make adjustments.

Fort Worth Group Aims To Help Students

dallasexpress.com

A new group in Fort Worth is aiming to get students excited about a career in the automotive industry.

The “Automotive Task Force” was created by the Fort Worth Chamber Talent Committee, which is chaired by Brendan Harrington, the president of Autobahn Fort Worth, according to a press release. The task force is part of the Fort Worth Chamber’s “Business Retention and Expansion” effort.

The group is “addressing a critical issue facing local and regional companies in the automotive and fleet-dependent sectors – the difficulty in finding and hiring skilled candidates.”

TCNT Annual Luncheon, September 20, 2024

Registration is Open!

The Transit Coalition of North Texas is hosting its annual luncheon on September 20, on the State of Transit. We will hear a report on the TxDOT Multimodal Plan and the results of a TTI economic impact analysis of transit. In addition to individual speakers, the luncheon will feature a panel of our transit CEOs who will discuss what the State's plans and the statewide economic impact analysis mean for North Texas.

Irving Infrastructure Summit is Back!

infrastructuresummit.org

The City of Irving and the North Texas Commission have teamed up to bring back the Infrastructure Summit. This comprehensive event will span a full day and a half, featuring a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Regional Transportation Council (RTC), and showcasing panel discussions dedicated to addressing crucial infrastructure vital for sustaining the region's growth.

When: Thursday, August 8 – Friday, August 9, 2024

Where: Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas (500 W. Las Colinas Blvd)

Hosted by: The City of Irving and the North Texas Commission

More Information

Transit Coalition of North Texas

TransitNorthTexas.org