FORT WORTH — Passenger rail is next up on the regional transportation wish list of City Councilman Jungus Jordan, the council's transportation point man.
Jordan is chairman of the city's new 14-member Passenger Rail Group formed last week.The group, whose members include Mayor Betsy Price, Councilmen Danny Scarth and Joel Burns, four Fort Worth Transportation Authority board members, and six business and civic leaders, will help The T steer TexRail - the long-delayed commuter rail line that will link Southwest Fort Worth to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and now is scheduled to be running in 2016.Jordan and Price have taken the lead in sensitive negotiations with Fort Worth & Western Railroad over TexRail's ability to use the railroad's right of way between the Near South Side and Summer Creek in Southwest Fort Worth. TexRail is seeking half its $750-$800 milliion in projected costs from the Federal Transit Administration, and securing right of way is a major immediate hurdle.Jordan has broader goals for the rail group. He wants to create a regional rail master plan that includes the planned TexRail connection to Dallas' Cotton Belt, and lines north into the Alliance Corridor and Denton and west to Fort Worth's Walsh Ranch. Passenger transfers between lines should be "seamless," Jordan said. And he wants to encourage discussions on a regionwide "inter-operational" passenger rail system that would use a uniform vehicle.Such a vehicle, Jordan said, would be safer and more efficient than current locomotives and help ensure commuter rail doesn't impede freight operations.It would use technology similiar to a Swiss-made vehicle planned for use by Denton transit authorities that works with various energy sources. "It'd be our preference to use natural gas," Jordan said.Jordan said the group will hold regular public meetings. The first is 10 a.m. Wednesday at downtown's Intermodal Transportation Center community meeting room, 1001 Jones St.Where can this committee help in getting TexRail to the finish line?Jordan: "Community focus. Our successes (with major transportation projects) have been in bringing the ability to focus on the priority and, in a timely fashion, handle any potential roadblocks. There are public processes that are part of the overall project in securing funding and securing routes. We have to have transparent discussions of where stations go."You've said you want to accelerate TexRail. Can it be accelerated, given the requirements of the FTA process?"Certainly, there is a process there. I believe there are cushions in the milestones. Right now, it's scheduled to be in place for 2016. I would like to think we could cut at least a year off that process, and hopefully maybe 18 months."When does The T need to settle right of way issues to keep the FTA process on schedule?"Sooner than later. I would hope that we could come to satisfactory conclusions within the next 90 days on track usage and right of way. Everything is dependent on that."What are the main considerations in the right of way discussions?"We cannot interfere whatsoever with freight. It's not in Fort Worth's best interest to impede freight movement, because all you end up doing is transferring between rail and concrete roads."Double tracks are already planned along the Fort Worth & Western right of way from the Hospital District through the TCU/Berry Station. Is it possible double tracks are necessary all the way to Summer Creek?Jordan: The more capacity we can build so as not to interfere (with freight), yes. Double tracking is a consideration. It's a necessity, almost.Is Fort Worth & Western willing to give up dispatch on their line to a centralized passenger and freight system?"I don't want to talk about that. The one thing we can't do is negotiate in public."In order to use federal money to buy the uniform vehicles we're talking about, they've got to be made in the United States. What's the level of demand for this vehicle?"We think there's a huge demand in Texas. We also believe there's national demand."If you can convince someone to build this in the United States, what's the possibility it gets built in the Metroplex?"That would be our desire. And, there might be companies in place that can build that vehicle as well."Is it possible to have this equipment in place for the TexRail launch?"Yes, I think it is. I believe that firmly."How would that get funded?"We hope to support local funding through the Regional Transportation Council. We'll be talking to TxDot for how would they like to play in the transit system."The makeup of the group doesn't constitute a quorum of the City Council or T Board. Yet you plan to hold regular public meetings. What will come up at these meetings?"What are the milestones, for the negotations, for reporting through the (grant) process. We want to make sure we hit every milestone. Some things may end up being a one-one negotiation. But the primary focus again is involving the community. You only do that through public involvement."Scott Nishimura, (817) 390-7808Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
