Fort Worth — Streetcar Grant Remains in Limbo

Rail Transit Online, September 2010

The city council has delayed making a decision on whether or not to accept a $24.9-million federal grant to help build a downtown streetcar system until November at the earliest.

Some lawmakers proposed rejecting the money because the city may not have the resources to provide its $287-million share of the estimated capital expenditure nor contribute to operating costs. The council was to have taken a vote on Aug. 24, but decided on a postponement until completion of a feasibility study by HDR Engineering. Members are split on the proposal with at least five declaring that other transportation projects should take priority.

"I've got some real problems with it," Councilman Jungus Jordan told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. 'We're committing taxpayer dollars when we don't even know if they're available."

However, the city had applied for the competitive grant as part of its plan for a 2.5-mi. (4 km) circulator loop around downtown. Apparently, many council members felt the FTA would otherwise bypass Fort Worth. Rail advocates believe the loop could be the first segment of an 18-mi. (29 km) network linking downtown to medical, cultural and entertainment venues.

The FTA may not wait for a decision much longer, If Fort Worth can't decide whether to take the cash, there are many other communities lined up and eager to accept.