The Regional Transportation Council, the policy-making body for transportation in the 12-county Dallas-Fort Worth region, approved additional funding on Thursday to study the proposed high-speed rail line between Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston.
The additional $1.6 million in funding will come from the federal Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, which provides taxpayer money to projects that improve the conditions and performance of public roads and transportation. The grant will enhance the $12 million budgeted for a study on the project’s potential environmental impacts.
Members of the Regional Transportation Council are working with federal officials on the lengthy planning process, which includes preliminary engineering and environmental documentation. The process may be completed by March 2025.
The Dallas City Council has outwardly expressed skepticism of the high-speed railway system, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. In June, the council passed a unanimous resolution stating the City would not support any new elevated rail lines through the Central Business District until the completion of an economic study on the impact of high-speed rail on Dallas. The four-month study is weighing the benefits and drawbacks of the railway system and is expected to be completed in October.
Contrarily, Fort Worth-area leaders have expressed support for the rail plan as the population of North Texas continues to climb.
The proposed route would cross I-30 from the north and curve toward the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, then head south to the rail station planned for The Cedars neighborhood south of Downtown Dallas.
The Dallas Express first reported on the proposed rail station in January.
“High-speed rail was probably a pipe dream 20 years ago,” said Council Member Omar Narvaez (District 6) when briefed on the project.
“If it wasn’t for President Biden and [Transportation] Secretary Buttigieg, high-speed rail wouldn’t be even something that we’re thinking of right now because of the funding from the infrastructure act now putting Dallas’ station as the first and only station that’s been approved by the federal government,” Narvaez said.
Amtrak is also considering a new passenger rail line between Dallas and Atlanta.