U.S. Department of Transportation grants $25 million to DART for building trails along Silver Line

Plano, Texas – In a bid to bolster the infrastructure of Dallas, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is set to harness a generous $25 million grant sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This financial backing will serve as the backbone for the construction of trails along the Silver Line, promising to enhance the regional commuting experience.

This award, unveiled on Friday by the office of U.S. Representative Colin Allred, democrat of Texas’s 32nd district, earmarks the funds for the development of a roughly 5.2-mile shared-use trail. Incorporating robust safety measures, this trail will run from Meandering Way in Dallas to Shiloh Road in Plano. The design plan also ensures a seamless connection with multiple Silver Line rail station platforms, thereby increasing accessibility.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver for our community, and this grant will help DART with this important project that spans from Dallas to Plano along the Silver Line,” said Allred in a statement. “With our region’s rapid growth, these types of investments are critical, and I will keep working with local leaders to ensure we can create jobs, reduce congestion and grow our economy by investing in our infrastructure.”

DART was recently given another grant part of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant

Allred, who is instrumental in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, advocated for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is projected to channel at least $35 billion to Texas over the next half-decade. An impressive $15 billion has already been earmarked.

The endorsement of the DART grant by the North Central Texas Council of Governments further exemplifies the broad-based support for this ambitious infrastructure project.

The Silver Line, spanning an extensive 26 miles, stretches from the north side of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport to Shiloh Road in Plano. The line threads its way through seven cities – Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, and Plano – in an intricate weave across three counties – Tarrant, Dallas, Collin. The Silver Line, with the promise of enhancing intercity connectivity, is slated to commence operations towards the end of 2025 or by mid-2026.