More passenger rail projects are planned in North Texas and across the state as federal officials announced new funding Friday.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding a $500,000 grant for the proposed I-20 Corridor long-distance passenger rail project. The project, sponsored by the Southern Railroad Commission, will connect cities in North and South Texas, reaching east to Atlanta.
The announcement is part of this year's FRA grant, sponsored by the North Central Texas Council of Governments, which includes an additional $500,000 for the long-awaited Fort Worth-Dallas-Houston bullet train. In all, he was awarded a $2 million grant for his proposed project in Texas.
The funding is welcome news to rail advocates like Peter Lucodi, who said fast-growing metropolitan areas and small Texas cities need more transportation options.
“Today was like turning on a fire hydrant because of the railroad subsidies,” said Lukodi, president of the Texas Railroad Advocates. “I've never seen anything like this.”
Efforts to provide more accessible rail service to North Texas have been a topic of discussion in recent years. Amtrak announced in August that it was considering partnering with Texas Central, the project's developer, to study the possibility of a bullet train between Fort Worth and Dallas-Houston.
“Bringing home the resources and investment we need to grow our economy and create jobs has always been my priority in Congress,” Dallas-area Democratic Rep. Colin Allred said in a statement Friday announcing the grant funding. ” he said. Not only that, but it can also provide new transportation options, boost tourism, and reduce traffic on already congested highways. ”
The I-20 corridor project would connect existing Texas Eagle service from Dallas and Fort Worth to several East Texas cities, including Longview and Marshall, and extend across northern Louisiana to Meridian, Mississippi. From there, passengers can transfer to Amtrak's Crescent passenger train bound for the metro Atlanta area.
“We've had the idea for decades of building roads and roads and building more roads and highways and expressways,” Lukodi said. “I think we're at that point now, but are we going to add more lanes or more trains?”
Funding for the grant comes from FRA's Corridor Identification and Development Program, which Allred advocated as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Act of 2021.
Lukodi said the grant is just the first step in getting the project off the ground and it is up to the Legislature and TXDoT to ensure the project becomes a reality. The new funding will help develop scope, schedule and cost estimates for each project.
Allred called the award “a huge win for Texas.”
“It will help improve the movement of people and further connect our region to growing economic opportunities across the South.”
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