The Trinity Railway Express passenger train could become faster and more efficient through a $43.5 million double-track project intended to aid the growing line.
The commuter service — a joint operation of Fort Worth’s Trinity Metro transit agency and Dallas Area Rapid Transit — is rebuilding its ridership since a drop during the COVID-19 pandemic. The line, which has carried more than 548,000 riders between Fort Worth and Dallas so far this fiscal year, is growing most months as ridership improves over last year, according to data.
Trinity Metro’s board of directors on March 16 approved three contracts to advance the double-track project in Tarrant County. The project allows trains to pass each other without stopping on an auxiliary single rail track, which allows for the increased frequency of the service, officials said.
The contracts will help “provide more reliable service” that will aid in increased frequency of trains, said Reed Lanham, chief operating officer for Trinity Metro.
“We’ve seen (TRE) growth off the charts,” Lanham said.
Other rail improvements were made in Dallas County from Medical/Market Center Station in Oak Lawn to Stemmons Freeway in Dallas.
The first contract — with Grand Prairie-based Reyes TX Inc. — will add 2.4 miles of double track from Handley Ederville Road to Precinct Line Road, including a new bridge. The project is part of a North Central Texas Council of Governments initiative that received a $25 million grant in 2020 to add double tracks in Dallas and Tarrant counties and improve railroad technology.
Reyes TX Inc. will do site preparation, demolition and construction under a $25.1 million contract that includes a 10% contingency fee of $2.2 million for unintended expenses.
Richey Thompson, Trinity Metro’s chief engineer, said the agency worked with the firm in the past.
Trinity Metro directors approved an $11.8 million contract modification with the Missouri-based Herzog Transit Services Inc. for track and signal construction to advance construction and minimize rail disruptions. Herzog was previously contracted by DART, officials said.
A $1.8 million contract, including a 10% contingency fee of $167,633, was awarded to GFT Infrastructure Inc. of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, for construction and oversight services related to the project.
Lanham said the added double-track work means Tarrant County will have nearly 5 miles of double track with another 8 miles needed. That work will be done as funding is available.
“This is the first step toward getting there in the future,” he said.
Eric E. Garcia is senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org.
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