FORT WORTH, Texas — A rail authority combining four current or about-to-open commuter rail operations could be an option to help maintain service in North Texas in the face of potential funding cuts, a regional transit official has suggested
According to news site Fort Worth Report, Michael Morris, transportation director of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, told Fort Worth-area transit agency Trinity Metro at a March 17 meeting that the regional authority could be a good alternative if the Texas legislature passes bills that would allow member communities to reduce their funding to Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
House Bill 3187 and Senate Bill 1557 both seek to allow communities to retain 25% of the tax funds currently collected for DART, with that money to be used for local improvements for roads, sidewalks, and other projects.
Trinity Metro currently operates the 27-mile TEXRail commuter rail operation between downtown Fort Worth and DFW International Airport, and shares with DART the operation and funding of Trinity Railway Express commuter service between Dallas and Fort Worth. DART, which operates a 93-mile, four-line light rail network in Dallas and neighboring communities, plans to launch the 26-mile Silver Line commuter rail option between Plano, Texas, and DFW Airport this year.
The proposed regional rail authority would encompass Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties. Along with the Trinity Metro and DART operations, it would include the Denton County Transportation Authority’s A-Train, a 21-mile line from Denton to Carrollton, Texas, where it connects with DART’s light rail Green Line. With dedicated funding from an 8/10th of a cent sales tax and cohesive branding, it could be a viable option to the current, separate systems, Morris said.
Passage of the state legislation could threaten operation of the Trinity Railway Express, used by 1.1 million riders per year, DART and Trinity Metro both told the news site. It also could mean the Silver Line could be limited to one round trip a day, compared to the half-hourly service offered for much of the day by the similar TEXRail operation.
State Rep. Matt Shaheen of Plano, sponsor of the House legislation, told the news site in a statement that his community is “overpaying DART by more than 200%, paying over $100-plus million into the DART system while receiving less than $45 million service.” He did not address the potential loss of service.
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