Colleyville City Council unanimously granted authority to the city attorney to seek a temporary restraining order and/or injunction to halt vegetation removal along the Cotton Belt Railroad right of way.

The vegetation would be removed as part of construction on TEX Rail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that will extend from downtown Fort Worth through Colleyville and Grapevine and into the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

City Council approved this action through a resolution at a special meeting Nov. 28 in response to a contractor associated with the TEX Rail project planning to begin removing vegetation along the railroad's right-of-way without providing adequate information to the city, according to city officials.

"The goal of this action is to stop the potential clear cutting of large trees along the Cotton Belt Trail and to obtain more information about The T's intention and plans for vegetation removal," Mayor Richard Newton said. "The cost is only a few hours of the city attorney's time, and this is an initial step to protect our trees with minimal financial impact to the city of Colleyville."

A contractor working for The Fort Worth Transportation Authority, known as The T, submitted a permit application Nov. 18 to remove vegetation starting Nov. 28 along the Cotton Belt Rail in preparation of the TEX Rail project.

The city requested the contractor provide additional information, which is required prior to the issuance of the permit. Council called the meeting out of concern that it would only take one or two days to clear the whole right of way.

A majority of Colleyville officials, who have been opposed to the project, passed a resolution at a May 17 meeting that prevents the city's participation in the construction of any rail station within the city limits and states the city's opposition to TEX Rail.