The Silver Line is a $1.89 billion commuter rail line being built by DART that will connect the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to the eastern edge of Plano with an estimated travel time of 60 minutes or less, according to figures released by the transit agency.
DART is funded by a $0.01 sales tax from the 13 Dallas-area cities that make up its service area. Grapevine is not a DART member city, but it will benefit from the new rail service. The Silver Line is mostly paid for through a $908 million federal loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation and some capital financing programs by DART.
The line follows the route of the old Cotton Belt Railroad freight line and has been discussed since the 1990s, according to DART. The west end of the 26-mile line will end at DFW Airport Terminal B in Grapevine, and the east end will stop at the future site of the Shiloh Road Station in Plano.
The project was originally planned to be complete this year, but DART announced last summer it would be delayed until late 2024. Complications from the COVID-19 pandemic and issues in acquiring land were cited as factors by DART.
The line will add 10 new stations with two in Grapevine. The DFW North Station is under construction and will be located at 1867 Dallas Road across from the TEXRail station that is already there. The other station will be located at DFW Airport Terminal B. DART projects four minutes of travel time between the two stations.
City officials have stated that the additional travelers coming to Grapevine because of the Silver Line will create an economic uptick for the city that will benefit residents.
DART expects the DFW North Station to have 1,305 daily riders by 2040 and to connect riders to Plano in 56 minutes. In the station’s description, DART states it will help connect riders to premiere Grapevine eateries, retail shops, art galleries and community events. The north station will include 362 parking spaces and four bus bays, according to DART. Transit officials stated that the artistic theme for the mosaics and pillars at the north station is meant to invoke the past, present and future of the region.
DART projects the majority of riders at the north station will be TEXRail riders transferring off the Trinity Metro line that begins in Fort Worth. The connection between the Silver Line and Trinity Metro line at the DFW North station will allow commuters to ride from Fort Worth to Plano completely via rail line.
Systemwide, DART has stated that more than 200,000 jobs will be located less than a half mile from the Silver Line corridor.
The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Terminal B Station will connect Silver Line travelers from Grapevine to Plano.
