Fort Worth — Streetcar Plan Advances

Rail Transit Online, February 2010

The city council has voted 6-3 to seek another $25 million from the federal government for a proposed downtown streetcar system. Fort Worth has already applied for a separate $31-million grant and, if both requests are approved, the project would be funded 100 percent by Washington. However, this seems highly unlikely because significant local funding is a requirement for transit capital projects.

If one or both applications are denied and the council decides to move ahead with the streetcar, funding would have to come from local sources, only $2 million of which has been identified. The council must also approve a contract with consultant HDR Inc. to further study the plan and recommend a final route, which would initially connect commuter rail and bus stations with the city center.

There are plans to expand the streetcar to three lines serving various entertainment, educational and cultural venues and the medical district at a total cost of $250 million.