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The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has granted environmental clearance for a 1.6-mile streetcar project in Dallas, which will allow construction to begin, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officials announced yesterday.

The FTA issued a “Finding of No Significant Impact” on July 21, which means that local, state and federal agencies concluded the project will not adversely affect the environment, DART officials said in a prepared statement.

The project is a collaboration involving DART, the FTA, North Central Texas Council of Governments and city of Dallas. The FTA awarded the agencies $23 million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funding for the streetcar line, which will provide service from near Union Station in downtown Dallas to Colorado Boulevard and Beckley Avenue in Oak Cliff.

The $35 million project also includes $12 million in regional toll revenue funds.

Now, DART can advance final design and construction efforts. The agency soon plans to seek a design/build contractor and begin purchasing streetcar vehicles.