Fort Worth and surrounding North Texas leaders confirmed that the Heartland Flyer, the daily Amtrak passenger train connecting Fort Worth with Oklahoma City, will continue operating through 2027. The announcement came at a Regional Transportation Council meeting on August 13, where transportation director Michael Morris said the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has secured the necessary state funds for the next two fiscal years.
Funding timeline and recent actions
In April, state lawmakers failed to allocate the roughly $2.6 million required each year to keep the service running, prompting a notice that the train could cease operations on August 31. However, the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) stepped in with a $3.5 million contribution from Regional Toll Revenue funds in July 2025, which TxDOT is expected to reimburse.
Morris emphasized that the recent extension did not rely on additional RTC money, stating, “We did not need RTC money support to accomplish that.” The new funding covers fiscal year 2027, and TxDOT has placed a request for $9.2 million in its budget proposal to the Texas Legislature for fiscal years 2028 and 2029.
Local support and economic impact
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, local chamber leaders, and state legislators from North Texas all advocated for continued funding. Texas Rail Advocates president Peter LeCody highlighted the train’s economic benefits, noting that the Flyer carried more than 80,000 passengers in 2025 and generates a 5‑to‑1 return on investment for the communities it serves.
According to Amtrak, the service contributes about $5.3 million in direct economic benefits and an estimated $23.7 million in overall activity each year. Small towns such as Gainesville, Texas, rely on the Flyer as a transportation lifeline, with 7,032 residents riding the train in 2025 alone.
Future expansion under review
State officials are also examining a proposal to extend the route another 106 miles from Oklahoma City to Newton, Kansas, reviving a line abandoned in 1979. The Kansas Department of Transportation estimates the restoration could cost at least $311 million for infrastructure upgrades on the BNSF‑owned track.
The continued funding of the Heartland Flyer underscores the importance of regional rail as both a practical transportation option and a catalyst for tourism and economic growth in North Texas and the broader Oklahoma‑Kansas corridor.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
