DCTA’s priority project for the future is the construction of a regional passenger rail line – connecting Carrollton and Denton – that will meet growing transportation demands in eastern Denton County. The project will also provide a logical extension of the DART Northwest Corridor line that is currently set to terminate in Carrollton.

A formal Alternatives Analysis study conducted in 2004-2005, which included extensive community and citizen involvement, identified the proposed rail line as the best and most cost-effective mobility solution for Denton County and the region. It cited the impacts of projected population growth, growing safety, traffic congestion and air quality concerns, as well as the need to improve access to Denton County’s vital health care facilities and three major college and university campuses.

In May of 2005, the DCTA Board of Directors approved the study’s recommendation to construct the rail alignment on east side of I-35E using an existing railroad corridor. DCTA is working closely with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to accommodate all necessary Federal and local regulatory requirements.

The next important steps – which can be costly and time-consuming – are the compilation of the required Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the completion of necessary preliminary engineering (PE) work.

Please visit www.raildcta.net for additional information.