Trinity Metro officials and local leaders gathered Thursday morning to break ground on a $270 million, 2.1‑mile extension of the TEXRail passenger rail line, a project that will connect Fort Worth’s Near Southside and Medical District directly to downtown and Dallas‑Fort Worth International Airport.
The ceremony began at 8:30 a.m. at the future station site at 1308 Leslie Street, with Trinity Metro President and CEO Rich Andreski hosting. Speakers included U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, and Councilmember Elizabeth Beck, according to Fox 4.
When completed, the new Near Southside/Medical District station will sit on 1.76 acres donated by Baylor Scott & White Health and will be secured by a 35‑year ground lease. A separate passenger track will be built on a portion of the Fort Worth & Western Railroad’s freight line under a $6.1 million agreement, allowing Trinity Metro to operate the service from the T&P Station downtown.
Funding for the extension includes a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation secured with the help of Rep. Williams, as well as contributions from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development program, and other federal sources. Federal Transit Administration Region 6 administrator Gail Lyssy noted that the agency previously supplied $499 million to launch TEXRail in 2019, a project that came in under budget.
Andreski emphasized the economic return, stating that “every dollar invested in Trinity Metro returns $3.05 to our economy.” He added that the extension will provide a reliable commute that does not depend on traffic or parking, benefitting patients without cars and seniors who no longer drive. Mayor Parker said the city’s relationship with Trinity Metro has moved from strained to “lock‑step together,” crediting the agency’s persistence and Rep. Williams for securing federal funding. Councilmember Beck highlighted the collaboration with neighborhood groups and praised the project as the first stop of many in a broader vision for Fort Worth’s mobility.
Officials estimate the extension will serve roughly 50,000 jobs in the Near Southside/Medical District once finished, and they anticipate ridership to climb toward 10 million riders as development continues along the TEXRail corridor. Charles Williams, president of Baylor Scott & White DFW – West Region, said the station will make it easier for people to receive care, support loved ones, or work in the health‑care system.
Long‑term plans include extending the passenger line south to Texas Christian University and further along the Chisholm Trail Parkway toward the Tarleton State University campus, creating an “academic superhighway” for the region.
Construction is slated to continue through 2029, with the extension expected to be operational by mid‑2030, providing Fort Worth residents with a direct, one‑seat ride from DFW Airport into the heart of the city’s medical and employment hub.
Sources: fox4news.com, fortworthreport.org
