July 6, 2022 - TRA Newswire - 

As construction of Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) newest line goes into hyper mode, the agency will hold another series of public meetings to update citizens on progress of the Plano to DFW Airport link. The 26-mile long light-rail addition to the DART portfolio, called the Silver Line, is scheduled to open in 2024, delayed because of the pandemic.

This summer, DART continues to work on construction projects across the entire span from Shiloh Road in Plano to DFW International Airport. The line traces the storied Cotton Belt Route, which hadn't seen a passenger train since  the 1950's. The entire route is being rebuilt from single to double track. Freight traffic will still operate in overnight hours from Grapevine to Addison, where a number of industries still rely on rail shipping services.

Some lanes and roads along the route are subject to closure as construction of the twin track line moves forward.  

The project was approved in October 2006 as a priority project and traverses seven cities from Grapevine through Coppell, Carrollton, Addison, Dallas, Richardson and Plano. Silver Line trains will offer connections to the Green, Orange and Red lines. The trains from Stadler in Salt Lake City are called FLIRT (Fast, Light Intercity and Regional Train) and are diesel multiple units (DMU), which will make the line unique as all other DART light rail lines use overhead catenary for power.