Dallas-Fort Worth high speed train plan in peril after city council vote

Jun. 13—The dream of a high-speed rail connecting Fort Worth and Dallas could take longer than anticipated after the Dallas City Council put the breaks on the project until an economic impact study is completed.

Councilmembers passed a unanimous resolution on Wednesday halting the construction of any elevated passenger rail through the Central Business District in Dallas until the completion of an economic impact assessment, according to a report by Newsweek. The 30-mile high-speed rail project is being coordinated through the North Central Texas Council of Government and has been planned for years, although it recently has seen a surge of renewed interest.

The Dallas-Fort Worth project has been under scrutiny by city officials, and even developers like Hunt Realty who say that the elevated part of the route in downtown Dallas would disrupt plans to build a $5 billion development near the city's iconic Reunion Tower. The economic impact study, which would include environmental impact data, is scheduled to be completed in early 2025.

"My hope is that this resolution will send a clear message that the city of Dallas does not currently support the above-ground alignment that's been presented," said council member Jesse Moreno during the council meeting, per NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's David Goins. ...................(more)

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/55088807/tx-dallas-fort-worth-high-speed-train-plan-in-peril-after-city-council-vote