Federal Transit Administrations Awards $ 25 Million for Fort Worth Streetcar

General News
July 8, 2010

We are very, very happy to announce today that the Federal Transit Administration has awarded $25 million to Fort Worth for the streetcar project!  This is a major boost for the streetcar project efforts!

The grant was awarded by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff as they announced $293 million in federal funding for 53 transit projects nationwide.  The $25 million grant means Fort Worth won the maximum possible amount from this effort:

Project: Fort Worth Streetcar Loop (Urban Circulator)
Sponsor: The City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority
Amount: $24,990,000
The City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority will construct a 2.5-mile one-way streetcar loop with between 20 and 25 stops and three vehicles to connect a Trinity Railway Express commuter rail station and Intermodal Transportation Center with the central business district. This will be the hub of a planned streetcar network connecting six designated “urban villages” targeted for redevelopment to the city’s major employment centers, such as downtown and the Near Southside Medical District. Ultimately, the streetcar system will connect residents in four economically disadvantaged areas to job opportunities in major employment centers, while stimulating the redevelopment of walkable urban neighborhoods with a variety of housing choices.

The Urban Circulator funding was awarded to bus, streetcar, and trolley projects that help improve circulation within urban environments while also improving livability in those areas. The projects were assessed in four primary categories:

  • Livability
  • Sustainability
  • Economic Development
  • Leveraging of Public & Private Investments

Adminstrator Rogoff had this to say:

“Streetcars are making a comeback because cities across America are recognizing that they can restore economic development downtown – giving citizens the choice to move between home, shopping and entertainment without ever looking for a parking space,” said Rogoff. “These streetcar and bus livability projects will not only create construction jobs now, they will aid our recovery by creating communities that are more prosperous and less congested.”

The FTA grant is an exciting development for Fort Worth’s modern streetcar system!  Stay tuned for more as we progress!