Cotton Belt/Silver Line Rail Trail Phase 3a

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is constructing the 26-mile Silver Line Regional Rail Project currently scheduled to open in late 2025/early 2026 connecting four existing rail lines, seven cities (Grapevine, Coppell, Carrollton, Addison, Dallas, Richardson, and Plano), three counties (Tarrant, Dallas, and Collin), and DFW International Airport. DART ensured with the Silver Line rail engineering design the accommodation of the parallel regional Cotton Belt Trail primarily located within the DART-owned rail right-of-way. The DART Silver Line Rail Project, including the companion Cotton Belt Trail, will provide connections and mobility improvements, accessibility and links to major employment, population, and activity centers in the northern portion of the 700 square mile, 2.5 million persons DART Service Area. Currently there are no existing bicycle accommodations connecting to the future Silver Line Rail station areas. In addition, there are currently no other east/west shared use trail corridors or bikeways in this portion of the metropolitan area providing a non-motorized mode of transportation to the many significant destinations and high-density employment centers.  

Since 2018, NCTCOG's Regional Transportation Council, Dallas County, seven cities, and DART have awarded more than $100 million in federal and local funding toward the Rail Trail engineering design and construction phases for the entire 26-mile corridor. The Cotton Belt / Silver Line Rail Trail Phase 3a  included in the TxDOT 2025 Transportation Alternatives Call for Projects funding request will significantly improve non-motorized access by providing direct connections to three rail stations (Addison Station in Addison, Downtown Carrollton Station in Carrollton, and Cypress Waters Station in Dallas) as well as major employment destinations and high-density residential areas thus promoting increased transit ridership at these new rail stations. DART has completed the engineering design and environmental clearance phases for the trail and recently issued a notice to proceed for Phase 2 construction consisting of approximately 11 miles of trail extending from Addison to Plano. Upon completion the trail will be owned and maintained by the various cities. 

The following documents support the DART application to the 2025 TxDOT Call for Projects: 

Attachment B: Trail Crossings of Roadways and Intersections (100% Design)

Attachment F: Project Sponsor Resolutions

Attachment G: Public Outreach and Support