September 15, 2017 - CommunityImpact.com -


Prospects for a 26-mile suburban passenger rail line that would run through downtown Plano were bolstered this week as transportation officials approved a funding plan for the $1.3 billion project.




Dallas Area Rapid Transit board members on Tuesday approved moving forward with a series of financing options for two major capital projects, including a subway project in downtown Dallas and the suburban Cotton Belt line, which would supply east-west rail connecting downtown Plano to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

The projects would be funded through a combination of bonds, federal loans and internal and external revenues, according to agency documents.

The funding for the Cotton Belt line had been a cause for concern among Plano City Council members, who worried publicly that the DART board might not reach a consensus to fund both projects. City staff believe the suburban rail line could be a catalyst for serious economic growth in and around downtown Plano—specifically along the 12th Street corridor.

Read more: https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/plano/top-stories/2017/09/15/transit-agency-approves-funding-26-mile-passenger-rail-line-north-texas-suburbs/