The
Cotton Belt Rail Line is a planned 67.7 miles (109 km)
commuter railCommuter rail services in the United States, Canada, and Mexico provide common carrier passenger transportation along railway tracks, with scheduled service on fixed routes on a non-reservation basis primarily for short-distance travel between a central business district and adjacent suburbs and...
line in
Tarrant CountyTarrant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, it had a population of 1,809,034. Its county seat is Fort Worth. Tarrant County is the sixteenth most populous county in the United States and the third most populous in Texas. The county is named in honor...
,
Dallas CountyAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,218,899 people, 807,621 households, and 533,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,523 people per square mile . There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971/sq mi...
,
Collin CountyAs of the census of 2000, there were 491,675 people, 181,970 households, and 132,292 families residing in the county. The population density was 580 people per square mile . There were 194,892 housing units at an average density of 230 per square mile...
and
Rockwall CountyAs of the census of 2000, there were 43,080 people, 14,530 households, and 11,972 families residing in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile . There were 15,351 housing units at an average density of 119 per square mile...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that will provide service from
Dallas'sDallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
northeast suburbs to Southwest Fort Worth with a major terminal at DFW Airport. The project has been broken up into several segments under development by
Dallas Area Rapid TransitThe Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority is a transit agency based in Dallas, Texas . It operates buses, light rail, commuter rail, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Dallas and 12 of its suburbs...
and the
Fort Worth Transportation AuthorityThe Fort Worth Transportation Authority is the operator of the bus system in Fort Worth, Texas and Richland Hills, Texas popularly known as The T...
.
Together, the corridor would connect downtown Fort Worth, Grapevine, and DFW Airport with
Carrollton-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was 112°F in 1980.*The average coolest month is January.*The lowest recorded temperature was 1°F in 1989.*The most precipitation on average occurs in May....
(at a junction with both the
Denton County Transportation AuthorityThe Denton County Transportation Authority is the transit authority that operates in Denton County, Texas, USA, which is northwest of Dallas County...
A-trainThe A-train is a commuter rail line in Denton County, Texas, United States that parallels Interstate 35E and acts as an extension with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Green Line at Trinity Mills Station in Carrollton. It is operated by the Denton County Transportation Authority and serves Denton...
commuter rail line and DART's
Green LineThe Green Line is a light rail line in Dallas, USA, operated by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority . The US$1.7 billion project opened in phases, starting in 2009...
light rail line),
AddisonAddison is a city in Dallas County, Texas . The population was 14,166 at the 2000 census, and 15,737 according to a 2009 estimate. Addison is a northern suburb of Dallas...
,
RichardsonRichardson is a city in Dallas and Collin Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 99,223. In 2011 the population was estimated to be 107,684. Richardson is an affluent inner suburb of Dallas and home of the Telecom Corridor with a high...
, and
PlanoPlano is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. The city's population was 259,841 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Texas and the 71st most populous city in the United States. Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as...
.
The current name for the line comes from the
St. Louis Southwestern RailwayThe St. Louis Southwestern Railway , known by its nickname of "The Cotton Belt Route" or simply Cotton Belt, was organized on January 15, 1891, although it had its origins in a series of short lines founded in Tyler, Texas, in 1870 that connected northeastern Texas to Arkansas and southeastern...
, a former subsidiary of the
Southern Pacific RailroadThe Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
commonly known as the Cotton Belt Railroad, which previously owned the line. DART purchased the right-of-way in 1990 for future transit use.
In 2010 the Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments sought permission to enter a public-private partnership for the rail line. Using private money to build the rail line, they argue, the project's construction timeline could be shortened.
Segment 1: Dallas County
The Dallas County segment of the Cotton Belt runs 22.3 miles (35.9 km) from Plano to DFW Airport. This section of the line is part of DART's 2030 Plan, which had initial hopes of opening sometime near 2013.
This section is being planned by
Dallas Area Rapid TransitThe Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority is a transit agency based in Dallas, Texas . It operates buses, light rail, commuter rail, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Dallas and 12 of its suburbs...
(DART) and will serve as a crosstown route in northern Dallas County, connecting the in
PlanoPlano is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. The city's population was 259,841 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Texas and the 71st most populous city in the United States. Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as...
, the
Addison Transit CenterAddison Transit Center is a bus-only station located along Quorum Drive and Addison Road in Addison, Texas . The station opened in 1999. This transit center will become a future rail station on the Cotton Belt as part of DART's 2030 Transit System Plan....
, the in
Carrollton-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was 112°F in 1980.*The average coolest month is January.*The lowest recorded temperature was 1°F in 1989.*The most precipitation on average occurs in May....
(where it will also connect with the
Denton County Transportation AuthorityThe Denton County Transportation Authority is the transit authority that operates in Denton County, Texas, USA, which is northwest of Dallas County...
's northbound
A-trainThe A-train is a commuter rail line in Denton County, Texas, United States that parallels Interstate 35E and acts as an extension with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Green Line at Trinity Mills Station in Carrollton. It is operated by the Denton County Transportation Authority and serves Denton...
), and the at
DFW North StationDFW North Station will be a DART light rail station located on Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport property in Grapevine, Texas. It is proposed to serve as a branch of the . The station will be a transit hub for regional rail lines on the DART Cotton Belt line...
(where it will connect to the Southwest-to-Northeast Rail Corridor segment to southwest Tarrant County). It will also pass through a portion of the city of
Coppell-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 35,958 people, 12,211 households, and 9,781 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,418.5 people per square mile . There were 12,587 housing units at an average density of 846.6 per square mile...
, a charter member of DART that later pulled out of the system in 1989, though the possibility of rail service may entice Coppell to rejoin.
Stations identified for this segment:
- Bush Turnpike Station
Bush Turnpike Station is a DART Light Rail station located in Richardson, Texas at the President George Bush Turnpike near US 75 . It opened on December 9, 2002 and is a station on the , serving the area around Collin Creek Mall....
- UTD/Synergy Park
- Renner Village
- Preston Road
- Knoll Trail
- Addison Transit Center
Addison Transit Center is a bus-only station located along Quorum Drive and Addison Road in Addison, Texas . The station opened in 1999. This transit center will become a future rail station on the Cotton Belt as part of DART's 2030 Transit System Plan....
- Downtown Carrollton Station
Downtown Carrollton Station is a DART light rail station located in Carrollton, Texas for service on the . The station opened as part of the Green Line's expansion in December 2010....
- North Lake
- DFW North Station
DFW North Station will be a DART light rail station located on Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport property in Grapevine, Texas. It is proposed to serve as a branch of the . The station will be a transit hub for regional rail lines on the DART Cotton Belt line...
- DFW Airport Station
DFW Airport Station will be a rail station located at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for service on the DART and local commuter rail systems. The station is planned to open in December 2013 and will serve as the terminus of the Orange Line and the DART Cotton Belt rail lines. - External...
Segments 2 & 3: Tarrant Express (TEX)
The Tarrant Express (formerly known as the Southwest-to-Northeast Rail Corridor) is the planned segment in
Tarrant County, TexasTarrant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, it had a population of 1,809,034. Its county seat is Fort Worth. Tarrant County is the sixteenth most populous county in the United States and the third most populous in Texas. The county is named in honor...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that will provide service from southwest
Fort WorthFort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
to DFW Airport via
GrapevineGrapevine is a city in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, United States located within the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census the city population was 46,334. The city's moniker is derived from the native grapes prevalent in the area. In recent years several wineries have...
and other Tarrant County communities. It is being planned by the
Fort Worth Transportation AuthorityThe Fort Worth Transportation Authority is the operator of the bus system in Fort Worth, Texas and Richland Hills, Texas popularly known as The T...
and is scheduled to open in 2013; no color designation has been given for this planned line. The new line is expected to cost $
USDThe United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
330 million, of which 10 percent would be Grapevine's share.
Officials with the T are hoping the new rail line will entice non-T member cities along the line to join the transit agency in its quest to become a regional transit entity. Cities along the route include
ColleyvilleColleyville is a city in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, United States. Located roughly from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the population was 22,807 at the 2010 census. Emerging from a number of small, rural settlements along the Cotton Belt Route, Colleyville was established in the...
,
Haltom CityHaltom City is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. Haltom City is an inner suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 42,409 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Haltom City is located at ....
and
North Richland HillsNorth Richland Hills is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 63,343 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Tarrant County. In 2006, North Richland Hills was selected as one of the "Top 100 Best Places to live in America"...
. The route also goes through small parts of
HurstHurst is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. Hurst is one of the Mid-Cities between Fort Worth and Dallas, but is a suburb of Fort Worth. The city was founded by William Letchworth Hurst...
and
SouthlakeSouthlake is a city in northeast Tarrant and southeast Denton counties, Texas. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 26,575. A suburb of Fort Worth and Dallas, Southlake is known for exemplary public schools, Southlake Town Square, and Carroll High School's 7-time state champion football...
. Unlike Grapevine, those cities do not have room under the state-mandated 8.25% sales tax cap for the 1/2 cent need to join. Unlike
Hurst/Bell StationHurst/Bell Station is a Trinity Railway Express commuter rail station located in Hurst, Texas on Bell Spur Drive at Trinity Boulevard...
on the
Trinity Railway ExpressThe Trinity Railway Express is a commuter rail line in the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex. It was established by an interlocal agreement between Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority . Each transit authority owns a 50% stake in the joint rail project and...
, FWTA will not build a station along the line in those cities unless they are a member city first.
History
GrapevineGrapevine is a city in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, United States located within the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census the city population was 46,334. The city's moniker is derived from the native grapes prevalent in the area. In recent years several wineries have...
citizens voted 8,058-2,898 on November 7, 2006 to levy a full cent sales tax, of which three-eights of a cent would authorize Grapevine to contract with The T for rail service and another 1/8 cent for other transit improvements, like a downtown parking garage. This includes an expansion of the commuter rail system to link southwest Fort Worth to the north end of
Dallas-Fort Worth International AirportDallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas...
.
The T's Board of Directors finalized their plans in October 2006 for the southwest-to-northeast expansion. Two commuter routes, a light rail route and a
bus rapid transitBus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
route were under consideration. The Board's recommendation was a commuter rail line that runs in the southwest part of the city near Altamesa and Dirks road, run by
Texas Christian UniversityTexas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
and the Medical District on its way to the existing
T&P StationFort Worth's Texas & Pacific Railroad Passenger Station is a Trinity Railway Express commuter rail station located at 1600 Throckmorton Street in Fort Worth, Texas, on the south side of downtown. It is the western terminus of the TRE commuter line, serving the Fort Worth Convention Center, the...
and
Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation CenterThe Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center is a Trinity Railway Express commuter rail and Amtrak intercity rail station located in Fort Worth, Texas at the corner of 9th and Jones Streets, on the northeast side of downtown Fort Worth...
. At that point it turns northwest toward the
StockyardsThe Fort Worth Stockyards is a historic district that is located in Fort Worth, Texas, north of the central business district. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District in 1976...
before turning northeast toward DFW airport. Preliminary plans call for nine new stations with eleven total, though that has not been finalized, and could be contingent on other cities along the corridor joining the agency.
Stations identified for this segment:
- Sycamore School Road Station
- I-20/Granbury Station
- TCU/Berry Station
- Medical Center Station
- 7th Street (Western Bypass) Station
- North Main (Western Bypass) Station
- North Side Station
- Beach Street Station
- Haltom City Station
- N Richland Hills/Iron Horse Station
- N Richland Hills/Smithfield Station
- Colleyville - John McCain Station
- Grapevine Main Street Station
- DFW North Station
DFW North Station will be a DART light rail station located on Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport property in Grapevine, Texas. It is proposed to serve as a branch of the . The station will be a transit hub for regional rail lines on the DART Cotton Belt line...
- DFW Airport Station
DFW Airport Station will be a rail station located at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for service on the DART and local commuter rail systems. The station is planned to open in December 2013 and will serve as the terminus of the Orange Line and the DART Cotton Belt rail lines. - External...
Segment 4: Downtown Wylie
An additional segment of the Cotton Belt line has been labeled for future expansion. Although no planning has occurred, Segment 4 would extend the route from the in
PlanoPlano is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. The city's population was 259,841 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Texas and the 71st most populous city in the United States. Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as...
to Wylie, with stations in downtown
Murphy, TexasMurphy is a city in Collin County, Texas, United States and a suburb of Dallas, located to the north east of the city. The 2010 census reported Murphy's population as 17,708.-About:...
and downtown
Wylie, TexasNot to be confused with the unincorporated area of Wylie, Texas just outside Abilene, Texas.Wylie is a city in Collin, Dallas, and Rockwall Counties in the U.S. state of Texas, and a suburb of Dallas. At the 2000 Census, the population was 15,132; 2004 estimates pegged it at 25,850...
.
Stations identified for this segment:
- Downtown Murphy
- Downtown Wylie
External links