August 21, 2025 - TRA Austin - 

The Texas Transportation Commission, meeting in Austin today, concurred with the Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments' funding of construction and projects that included $3.6 million "for Amtrak's Heartland Flyer Passenger Rail Service from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City to ensure no service disruptions."

Those funds were advanced through the use of payments received from the North Texas Tollway Authority as part of a State Highway 121 Toll Project Agreement.

When the state legislature cut funding for the daily service, that was growing in ridership and revenue, the RTC stepped in with emergency funding to keep the popular train service running while a fix was being proposed. Oklahoma and Texas both partner together on the train operations. Today's decision by the transportation commission will fund Texas' share of the service for the coming year. 

“The Regional Transportation Council and the North Central Texas Council of Governments are grateful to the Texas Transportation Commission for approving use of Regional Revenue funding for the Heartland Flyer,” NCTCOG Director of Transportation Michael Morris said. “This interim funding will help secure the future of the Heartland Flyer, which serves as a vital link for both commuters and leisure travelers between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. We extend our thanks to Amtrak, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Transportation Commission and all partners involved in making this historic action happen. We look forward to working with them to build a strong future for passenger rail.”

Amtrak EVP Jennifer Mitchell issued the following statement about the Texas share. “On behalf of our Amtrak guests who count on daily Heartland Flyer trains, we thank the Texas Transportation Commission for approving the state’s share of funding of the service from the North Central Texas Council of Governments and its Regional Transportation Council. We will work with the Commission, TxDOT, NCTCOG and other interested parties in Texas for a longer-term state funding solution. More than 80,000 passengers rode this service last year, up by 11-percent from the previous 12 months, on trains that are an economic benefit to both Texas and Oklahoma."