The DART 2030 Transit System Plan (TSP), approved in October 2006, identified the Cotton Belt Corridor (now referred to as the Silver Line Regional Rail Project) as a priority project. In 2016, DART advanced implementation of the project to the year 2022 in its FY2017 Twenty-Year Financial Plan.
The 26-mile Silver Line extends between DFW Airport and Shiloh Road in Plano (see map below). The alignment traverses seven cities: Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson and Plano. The Silver Line Project's primary purpose is to provide passenger rail connections and service that will improve mobility, accessibility and system linkages to major employment, population and activity centers in the northern part of the DART Service Area.
The Silver Line Project would interface with three DART LRT lines: The Red/Orange Lines in Richardson/Plano, the Green Line in Carrollton and the Orange Line at DFW Airport. In addition, at DFW Airport, the project would connect to the Fort Worth Transportation Authority TEXRail Regional Rail Line to Fort Worth and provide access to the DFW Airport Skylink People Mover.
On August 28, 2018, the DART Board approved a Service Plan Amendment which defined the Project alignment, grade separations, and station locations. Also on August 28, 2018, the DART Board also approved an residential betterments program along the Corridor.
On June 18, 2019, the DART Board approved a resolution to name future service as the Silver Line. Customers will see the Silver Line in operation after completion with 30-minute peak and 60-minute off-peak service.
The first test of the engines on DART's Silver Line Stadler FLIRT trains took place the first week of June 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Silver Line Regional Rail at a Glance
Service anticipated: 2024 Length: 26 miles Cities served: Plano, Richardson, Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Coppell and Grapevine Counties served: Collin, Dallas and Tarrant counties Key connections: DART's Orange Line, Green Line and Red Line; Trinity Metro's TEXRail; and airlines at DFW Airport Capacity: 230 seated passengers Emissions: Meets the EPA's strictest regulations
COTTON BELT FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT / RECORD OF DECISION (FEIS/ROD)
The Final Environmental Impact Statement / Record of Decision (November 2018) is available here.
Post FEIS/ROD Project Changes - Memoranda to File
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)/ Record of Decision (ROD) for the Silver Line in November 2018. Since then, FTA and DART have met regularly (both monthly and quarterly) to review the Silver Line's progress and any potential change in design or mitigation measure. Any proposed change to the Silver Line Regional Rail Project is addressed by DART and the FTA in accordance with 23 CFR §771.129 and 23 CFR §771.130, which provide guidance on re-evaluations and supplemental documents. Changes must be documented appropriately and must be reviewed and approved by FTA. The format of the re-evaluation is at the Regional Administrator's discretion but must be commensurate with the project change and associated environmental impact. For the Silver Line Project, DART is preparing Memoranda to File to address project changes. These Memoranda to File are comprehensive reviews of the project changes with appropriate detail and coordination. Some include additional analysis which may result in new or modified mitigations that may be required to support a conclusion that there are no new significant impacts. FTA and DART meet at least monthly to review project progress and potential design and/or mitigation changes to ensure they are appropriately addressed.
Memoranda are submitted to FTA when there is sufficient detail and analysis for FTA to make a determination on the project change. Most project changes are the result of continued design progression and city or stakeholder coordination, and it is anticipated that project changes would not result in any substantial impact to the quality of the human environment, and the previously approved FEIS/ROD of November 9, 2018, would remain valid.
Approved Memoranda to File (PDF files open in a new window)
Pending Memoranda to File
Additional Memoranda to File will be posted as available. Prior to FTA's final determination, the public is invited to comment at [email protected] (Enter Memo to File as Subject). Comments should only address the project change and potential impacts.
Construction is underway for the DART Silver Line Regional Rail. Archer Western Herzog (AWH), the design-build contractor for the DART Silver Line Regional Rail Project, has field construction activities throughout the Silver Line corridor. As specific activities are scheduled, additional notifications will be issued to the communities affected.
Click below to learn more about all construction in Silver Line cities, including schedules, construction updates, activity notifications, fact sheets, and upcoming event flyers.
K Avenue and Municipal Avenue in Plano – November 28 to the end of January
Beginning Monday, Nov. 28, traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions at the K Avenue and Municipal Avenue railroad crossings. The crossings between 15th Street and Plano Parkway are being changed for the Silver Line. The freight rail has been rerouted during this time. The closure is expected to last 60 days, weather permitting.
At some point, the roadway will be completely shut down for three consecutive days, likely over a weekend. Watch for the specific dates on digital signage near the crossings.
Dickerson Street Crossing Construction - September 26 – mid-December
The full closure of Dickerson at the rail crossing is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 26. The full closure is to construct the Dickerson crossing of the DART Silver Line Regional Rail. The closure will last until Monday, November 28. Southbound lanes shall be opened for a partial closure from Monday, November 28 for an additional 3 weeks (mid-December).
More information about the scheduled construction is available here.
Hillcrest Intersection Construction and Median Reconstruction - August 15 - December 30, 2022
On Monday, August 15, construction work for the DART Silver Line began on Hillcrest Road at the intersections of Wester Way and McCallum Blvd. in Dallas. This work includes demolition of sections of the medians and installation of asphalt detours for utility relocation.
One southbound lane and one northbound lane will be in the current southbound traffic lanes. The northbound lanes of Hillcrest Road between McKamy Blvd. and McCallum Blvd. will be closed for utility relocations. Closures and traffic pattern will occur until approximately Friday, December 30, 2022 and is subject to change.
More information about the scheduled construction is available here.
Monday, November 28, 2022
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Texas A&M AgriLife | The Dallas Center
Water and Land Resource Building
17360 Coit Road
Dallas, Texas 75252
You are invited to attend an in-person community meeting to discuss the latest details surrounding the DART Silver Line Regional Rail Project.
DART and the Design-Build Contractor, Archer Western Herzog (AWH), will be on hand to outline the latest design and construction developments and answer your questions.
The project will provide regional rail service along the 26-mile long Silver Line corridor from DFW International Airport to Plano.
If you are in need of accommodation services for this meeting, please email [email protected] 48-hours in advance.
CITY OF DALLAS - DISTRICT 12 COMMUNITY MEETINGS
DART will hold monthly community meetings to discuss the construction of the DART Silver Line Regional Rail in District 12 of the City of Dallas beginning on Tuesday, September 20. DART staff and the design-build contractor, Archer Western Herzog (AWH), will be on hand to outline the latest design and construction developments and answer questions.
These small community meetings are designed to engage directly with adjacent residents of District 12 to explain ongoing and upcoming construction activities. Each meeting in the series will highlight specific topics related to construction in the area. Topics will be determined close to the event date as construction is underway and changes to the construction schedules may change due to weather and unexpected conditions.
Tuesday, September 20, 2022 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Texas A&M AgriLife | The Dallas Center
Water and Land Resource Building
17360 Coit Road, Dallas, Texas 75252
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Texas A&M AgriLife | The Dallas Center
Water and Land Resource Building
17360 Coit Road, Dallas, Texas 75252
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Texas A&M AgriLife | The Dallas Center
Water and Land Resource Building
17360 Coit Road, Dallas, Texas 75252
New Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2022 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Texas A&M AgriLife | The Dallas Center
Water and Land Resource Building
17360 Coit Road, Dallas, Texas 75252
If you are in need of accommodation services for these meetings, please email [email protected] 48-hours in advance.
For Additional Information about the Silver Line Project, please visit DART.org/SilverLine, email [email protected] or contact DART Community Engagement at 214-749-2721.
If you missed the March 15, 2018 Facebook Live event, you can view the video here: www.facebook.com/DARTDallas
If you have a question for the Cotton Belt team, please submit them to [email protected]
If you want to learn more about prior Silver Line Project work, click below.
Betterments Program
NOTICE OF BETTERMENTS SOUND WALL MOCK-UP VIEWING
Residents were invited to participate in the DART Silver Line Betterments/Sound Wall mock-up viewing to see in person what the wall color and finish will look like in their neighborhood. The viewing was available from Friday, November 20, 2020 – Sunday, February 28, 2021.
The betterments/sound wall color and finish for each neighborhood were voted on by residents and stakeholders through a robust and inclusive community engagement process. All locations will provide the community an up-close look at the various wall color and finish selections. Attendees will see the Durisol Absorptive Wall System that will be used on the track-side of the alignment and the Precast Concrete Reflective Wall to be used on the neighborhood-side of the alignment.
To confirm wall color and finish for your neighborhood, please see the links below:
(PDF files open in a new window)
In 2014, DART advanced a 5% Design for the Cotton Belt Regional Rail Project and produced an Alternatives and Environmental Considerations Report (AECR). The AECR identifies existing environmental conditions and potential impacts along the length of the Cotton Belt Corridor.
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