September 2, 2016 - TRA Newswire -

In a series of public meetings that concluded yesterday Dallas Area Rapid Transit previewed what could be fast-tracking for a rail project that has been in consideration for over 30 years. The Cotton Belt east-west line from Plano to DFW Airport is on the DART board's agenda for approval at next week's meeting.

The project, which comes in at just under $1 billion dollars is doable, according to DART financial experts and would connect Plano, Richardson, North Dallas, Addison, Carrollton and a mega-project at NorthLake near Coppell to DFW Airport.

Last week the Fort Worth TEXRail project broke ground on the Tarrant County side with a starter line that would connect downtown Fort Worth to DFW Airport Terminal B. Both rail lines would meet at Terminal B and there are preliminary discussions between the agencies on being able to operate across the entire length of the Cotton Belt using similar equipment.

 

August 25, 2016 - CBSDFW.com

DART is looking to fast-track the nearly billion-dollar Cotton Belt Line rail project more than ten years from its previous projection date.

A year ago, DART officials said the Plano to DFW Airport train line would have to wait until 2035. DART now wants to push the project up and have the east-west line operational by 2022.

DART has already secured the funding for half of the project and plans to apply for federal funds to pay for the other half.

Read more (and video): http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/08/25/dart-looks-to-fast-track-the-cotton-belt-line-to-2022/