January 14, 2022 - High-Speed Rail + the 10 year challenge

Hello Monday.

January 24 2022

Imagine a life where you can get from Fort Worth to Dallas in just 10 minutes on a high-speed train. That far-fetched dream could soon become a reality — well, in about 15-20 years. Here’s how the high-speed transportation project is moving forward + how it will impact the area.

A glimpse at what could be coming to Fort Worth | Photo provided

What’s happened so far?

A study conducted by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) began in 2020 with the goal of selecting a passenger train, identifying potential routes, and receiving government approval. Back in October, the NCTCOG hosted a public meeting to gather feedback + provide the latest details.

What’s next?

The passenger train was narrowed down to a High-Speed Rail and Hyperloop — with the next phase focusing on route alignment, station locations, and potential social and environmental impacts.

The High-Speed Rail technology will be evaluated over the next two years + the team will study the potential environmental effects on everything from air quality to noise pollution, wetlands, wildlife, and water crossings.

The study’s team narrowed its options down to three stops | Photo provided

How fast are we talking?

Very fast. The high-speed train would have a maximum speed of 250 mph. The NCTCOG says the goal is to make the trip “in under 20 minutes” — to put that into perspective, a typical rush-hour car ride between Fort Worth and Dallas takes about an hour.

Where will the train go?

Fort Worth: The primary proposed location is Trinity Metro’s existing Central Station along I-35W downtown, but six other downtown-area sites are being explored.

Arlington: Transportation officials narrowed it down to the city’s entertainment district — south of I-30 and between Ballpark Way and North Collins Street.

Dallas: Developers have already announced a plan to build a new terminal south of downtown for the Dallas-to-Houston bullet train. The same station would be used for this project.

Imagine: no more sitting in rush hour traffic | Photo provided

What does this mean for future public transportation?

Eventually, the Fort Worth-to-Dallas route would connect to both local transportation and statewide systems, like the Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail, and DFW International Airport.

To keep up with the project’s study + find out when more public meetings will be scheduled, check the NCTCOG’s website.

Use the buttons below to share this story with your friends who commute from Fort Worth to Dallas and anyone else excited to catch a ride.

QUESTION

How often would you use the high-speed rail?

Imagine: You could get to a Cowboys or Mavericks game in minutes.

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EVENTS

Friday

Southwestern Exposition Livestock Show and Rodeo | Fri., Jan. 14 – Sat., Feb. 5 | Times vary | Will Rogers Memorial Center | $30+ | Grab your favorite boots + enjoy 23 days of rodeo performances. 🐎
Kid Rock | Fri., Jan. 14 + Sat., Jan. 15 | 10 p.m. | Billy Bob’s Texas | $125+ | The rockstar will take over the Fort Worth Stockyards for his birthday bash weekend. 🎸
Beginning Crochet | Fri., Jan. 14 | 3:30-5 p.m. | JuJu Knits, 552 Lipscomb St. | $50 | Learn the basics of beginning crochet + practice yarn and needle are provided for you. 🧶

Saturday

Robert Spano Conducts Scheherazade | Sat., Jan. 15 | 2 p.m. + 7 p.m. | Bass Performance Hall | $25+ | Conductor Robert Spano and violinist Randall Goosby will join the FWSO for their first Symphonic Series performance of 2022. 🎶
All-Western Parade | Sat., Jan. 15 | 11 a.m. | Sundance Square, 420 Main St. | Free — Reserved seating $15+ | This parade will kick off the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo + feature 2,000 horses, marching bands, and wagons. 🐎

Sunday

Food 4 Kids | Sun., Jan. 16 | 6-10 p.m. | First Street Methodist Mission, W. 1st St. | Free | 200 elementary-aged children at Charles C. Nash and A.V. Cato Elementary schools will be provided free meals.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

PLAN THE REST OF JANUARY

NEWS NOTES

Weather

73º | Mostly cloudy | 10% chance of rain

Closed

A Texas comfort food staple is shutting down operations in north Fort Worth. Luby’s Cafeteria at 3801 NE Loop 820 served the community for 27 years and closed its doors earlier this week. Another location at 5901 S. Hulen St. is still open. 🍽️ (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Civic

The city wants your help creating a strategic vision for Fort Worth’s Historic Preservation Program. The program aims to conserve the historic, architectural, and aesthetic character of the city. The next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sat., Jan. 15 at the Tarrant County College Opportunity Center.

Development

VanTrust Real Estate is getting ready to break ground on a second building in South Fort Worth. The developers plan to build a 607,000-sqft warehouse at its 75-acre Logistics Hub — located south of I-20 near I-35W. The $27 million project will begin later this month. 🏢 (Dallas Morning News)

Edu

The medical school established between TCU and UNT Health Science Center will continue solely as the TCU School of Medicine. Leaders from both institutions made a joint announcement on Wednesday. The medical school will graduate its first class in 2023. 🩺 (Fort Worth Magazine)

Outdoors

North Texas’ largest exhibit of live, exotic butterflies is returning to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. The six-week exhibit will start Fri., Feb. 25 and run through Sun., April 10 — tickets are available now. 🦋

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Glowin’ & growin’ ✨

📸 @urbanfortworth

Talk about a glow up. If you don’t live in the Twitter-verse, the 10 year challenge has taken over — and we can’t believe how much Fort Worth has grown over the last decade.

Some of the major landscape changes include Dickies Arena, Kimbell Art Museum’s Piano Pavilion, Will Rogers Memorial Center, and most recently, the formation of the Panther Island bridges. For more ‘before and after’ shots, check out Google Maps + use the timeline option in the top left corner.

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THE WRAP

Editor’s Pick: Next summer just got a little brighter — the outdoor music series Concerts in the Garden is back after a two-year hiatus. It kicks off Thurs., June 16 with Texas legends Asleep at the Wheel, and wraps up Mon. July 4. Tickets will go on sale April 11.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? There’s a new pickleball restaurant in town.