TEX Rail is part of Obama's budget

TEX Rail has received a line item in President Barack Obama's proposed $4 trillion fiscal year 2015-16 budget, which was released Feb 2.

The commuter rail project's officials received notification Feb. 2 that the budget allocated $100 million for the project in 2016.

If approved the funds would come from the Federal Transit Administration, which has also recommended the project. As proposed the entire rail project is estimated to cost $800 million.

"We are very pleased with the continued recognition by the Federal Transit Administration of the importance of this project and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority's partnership with that agency to meet the high standards required to be among U.S. rail projects recommended for New Starts funding," said Paul Ballard, The T's president and CEO.

The proposed TEX Rail line is a 27-mile long commuter train route that would follow existing rail lines from the north entrance of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport through Grapevine and downtown Fort Worth.

The route will provide direct access to the Trinity Railway Express, Amtrak and The T's downtown bus transfer center. Passenger service is expected to begin in 2018.