August 1, 2025 - TRA Newswire - 

The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) invites the public to provide input on recently proposed initiatives, including funding to continue Amtrak service between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City and expansion plans for the Multimodal Delivery Project, during a hybrid public meeting at noon on Monday, Aug. 11.

The meeting will be held in the Transportation Council Room at the NCTCOG offices, located at 616 Six Flags Drive in Arlington. Those unable to attend in person can view the meeting online at PublicInput.com/nctcogAug25. Residents can also participate by calling 855-925-2801 and entering code 11270. Public comments will be accepted until Sep. 9.

The trains will keep a-rollin’ between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City after the Regional Transportation Council stepped forward with an emergency funding commitment for Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer.

The RTC approved $3.5 million in Regional Toll Revenue funds in July, covering Texas’ portion of the service for one year. The Amtrak line, which has operated between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City since 1999, faced the possibility of being discontinued after the Texas Department of Transportation’s funding request was not included in the state’s final budget. The 206-mile route is jointly funded by TxDOT and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments will seek reimbursement from the state of Texas and initiate a ridership campaign reducing the need for a subsidy. The RTC’s funding decision was made to extend service long enough to develop a plan to fund service for a second year, which would allow the Texas Legislature to consider the measure again during its 90th Session in 2027.

This service is crucial for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as it could serve to alleviate traffic congestion along the busy Interstate Highway 35 corridor between Texas and Oklahoma. Many fans are expected to visit multiple cities, and Amtrak is one option for them to travel around the country. The Heartland Flyer began service in 1999 and has seen recent gains in ridership, increasing by approximately 14% in Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024. In FY 2024, the Heartland Flyer served more than 80,000 passengers, up from 63,000 in FY 2022.

This is the second time in recent months the RTC has stepped in with funding to keep the Heartland Flyer operating. In January, the RTC approved up to $100,000 in Regional Toll Revenue funding to cover a potential shortfall through the end of the fiscal year.