Trinity Metro’s 2.1-mile TEXRail extension is moving forward after the agency’s board authorized agreements needed to construct and operate a new train station in south Fort Worth.
Under the agreements approved on Monday afternoon, Baylor Scott & White Health will donate 1.76 acres for the Near Southside/Medical District Station planned for the Mistletoe Heights neighborhood. The entities also agreed to a 35-year ground lease that grants Trinity Metro property rights for infrastructure access and improvements.
In addition, the agency agreed to pay $6.1 million to Fort Worth & Western Railroad Co. for perpetual operating easements to construct and operate the passenger rail service on a portion of the railroad’s existing freight line. A separate passenger rail track will be built from the T&P Station downtown and a Quiet Zone will be established. Trinity Metro will also pay up to $363,825 for an engineering and legal review as well as fund a $200 million railroad liability policy once service starts.
A groundbreaking for the station at Mistletoe Boulevard by Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center is set for Oct. 29.
TEXRail, a 27.2-mile passenger service from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport that launched in 2019, is close to reaching 1 million rides, officials said.
Rich Andreski, president and CEO of Trinity Metro, said the service will provide riders with rail access to the Near Southside/Medical District area, one of the city’s largest employment centers with its significant concentration of medical jobs.
“Our collaboration with Baylor Scott & White strengthens the connection between this important employment center and the people, businesses and communities that contribute to its success,” he said.
Passengers board the TEXRail train June 12, 2025, in downtown Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)
Jeff Davis, chair of the Trinity Metro board of directors, said the agency worked collaboratively with Baylor Scott & White.
“On behalf of our board, I want to offer our sincere thanks to the entire Baylor Scott & White team for its vision, generosity and commitment to this project,” Davis said. “Their commitment demonstrates a shared belief in the future of the Medical District and Near Southside and in how better connections to this important part of our city strengthen Fort Worth and our entire region.”
Trinity Metro’s agreement with Baylor Scott & White provides the agency with access to property needed for station infrastructure, including customer parking, a bus turnaround and an access road. Under the lease, Trinity Metro will pay an annual base rent of $60,000, subject to a 10% increase every five years. The lease includes two additional seven-year extension options, according to Trinity Metro documents. At the end of the lease, the land reverts back to the medical system.
The agreements also protect Trinity Metro’s land access as the health system anticipates future developments on its campus. If Baylor Scott & White builds parking structures near the station, Trinity Metro will have dedicated spaces, officials said.
Charles Williams, president of Baylor Scott & White – DFW West Region, said the system is committed to removing barriers to medical care.
“Investing in solutions that make it easier for patients, families and team members to reach our facilities is an investment in better health, stronger communities and a better experience for everyone we serve,” Williams said in a statement. “As our region continues to grow, we believe access to high-quality care should be convenient, connected and centered around the needs of the people who rely on us every day.”
Trinity Metro continues advancing plans for transit-oriented developments at its rail stations.
At a Sept. 9 community meeting, dozens of residents gave the agency ideas for the new Near Southside/Medical District Station.
“There is so much potential for that station to be a flagship destination,” Fort Worth resident Brian Cameron, who often uses TEXRail to reach DFW Airport, previously said. “I’d like to see some community amenities.”
Another community meeting focused on potential developments near the North Side and Mercantile Center stations.
A TEXRail passenger train crosses Northeast 29th Street near scrap metal recyclers in north Fort Worth. (Eric E. Garcia | Fort Worth Report)
“The impact of transit reaches well beyond the people who board a train,” said Anette Landeros, chief strategy officer for Trinity Metro. “Research from the American Public Transportation Association shows that every dollar invested in public transportation generates $5 in long-term economic value. Here in the Medical District and Near Southside, transit amplifies the growth already happening by connecting people to jobs, healthcare, businesses and the rest of our region.”
Reed Lanham, chief operating officer for Trinity Metro, said TEXRail rides are expected to hit the 1-million milestone this fall.
“We’re continuing to see strong growth,” 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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