The Regional Transportation Council, the federally designated board of elected and appointed officials responsible for selecting transportation projects to receive funding, voted last week to authorize $25 million in local funding for the purchase of rail vehicles to be used on the TEX Rail commuter line between southwest Fort Worth and DFW Airport.
This will combine with an anticipated $25 million from the Texas Transportation Commission and $50 million from the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, the T, to make up the $100 million in vehicles needed for TEX Rail discussed in Sunday's editorial, "$100 million is riding on a runaway train".The vehicles have not been purchased. The T will issue an open, competitive procurement order in the months to come.The RTC's commitment of $25 million will assist the T in purchasing vehicles that will cost less over time (more fuel efficient, lower operating costs, ADA accessible without modifications) and be more appropriate in the TEX Rail corridor (smaller, quieter, faster acceleration and deceleration, aesthetically pleasing).The RTC's funding commitment will also allow for a streetcar vehicle in common with other transit providers within and outside our region (Dallas and San Antonio, for example). This lowers the cost of each vehicle by making a larger order but also allows parts and spare vehicles to be shared more widely, further reducing costs to each agency.The hope is that a manufacturer will locate in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We see this as good public policy because jobs will be created for our residents and tax dollars will stay here. But let's be clear that we are working on this for the TEX Rail project, independent of the innovative finance initiative for the Cotton Belt corridor on the eastern side of the region.We do expect a private-sector proposal on the Cotton Belt, which will be a complement to, not a replacement for, the TEX Rail project. The eastern portion of the Cotton Belt line will use a vehicle like the one the RTC authorized funding for so passengers will be able to have a single-seat ride (no transfer) from southwest Fort Worth to Plano/Richardson, something that is essential to attracting riders. Even if the private-sector proposal never comes, these vehicles are the best for TEX Rail.This is a positive story about public-sector agencies working together to lower the overall tax dollars spent and bring a better rail transit project to fruition. We will be happy to present the details to the Star-Telegram Editorial Board.Michael Morris is the transportation director for the North Central Texas Council of Governments.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
