DART will select diesel-electric trains similar to those the Fort Worth Transportation Authority purchased for TEXRail. Cotton Belt to connect region North Texas soon will be home to a new, state-of-the-art regional rail line that connects the northern part of the DART Service Area to the rest of the region. The 26-mile corridor will link to the Fort Worth Transportation Authority’s TEXRail regional rail line and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. DART will seek a low-interest loan from the Federal Railroad Administration through the Rail Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program, which is dedicated to commuter rail and freight projects. The agency also hopes to receive a grant from the Federal Transit Administration for the project. The agency continues to collaborate with staff and residents in cities within the corridor and has hosted numerous community meetings to discuss its plans and any potential noise, vibration, visual or traffic impacts. Cotton Belt vehicles will be lighter, smaller and quieter than their freight rail cousins. When complete, the Cotton Belt will connect with DART’s Red Line in Richardson and Plano; the Green Line in Carrollton; and the Orange Line near DFW Airport. The project adds Addison to the roster of DART cities with rail service. Passenger service along the historic Cotton Belt freight rail line will increase mobility and access to major employment, education, health care and activity centers. Learn more: DART.org/cottonbelt 6
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