What you need to know
The North Central Texas Council of Governments is expected to fund the changes, according to the board agenda. The action brings DART’s design-build contract for the Silver Line Regional Rail project to about $1.47 billion in total value.
Funding will be used to address design changes requested by cities and railroads located along the Cotton Belt Trail corridor, said Trey Walker, capital design and construction vice president.
In the same action, the board also approved an additional $1.16 million for resolving any unnegotiated change requests in advance, according to the agenda.
Zooming out
DART oversees design and construction for the Cotton Belt Trail and Silver Line Rail projects between Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Plano. In 2018, the board approved a contract with Archer Western Herzog for design and construction of both.
The Silver Line Rail will extend 26 miles and connect several cities across Collin, Dallas and Tarrant counties, according to its website. The rail will interact with three light-rail lines in Plano, Richardson and Carrollton.
Service is expected to begin in late 2025 or mid-2026, according to DART's website.
The Cotton Belt Trail is a separate project that will include nearly 57 miles of trail between Plano and Fort Worth, according to the council of governments’ website. In 2018, the Regional Transportation Council approved funding for design and construction of the trail between DFW Airport and Plano.
