Fort Worth transit agency OKs contracts for TEX Rail project

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority's (The T) board yesterday approved several contracts related to the proposed TEX Rail commuter line.

The authorized agreements include a contract with Archer Western/Herzog Joint Venture for pre-construction services to work closely with the project's design team to lay the groundwork for future construction.

"It [the contract] will help isolate and mitigate any construction risks, costs and schedule concerns, and will make TEX Rail construction more effective and efficient,” said Paul Ballard, president and chief executive officer of The T, in a press release.

The board also approved an agreement with Stadler Bussnang AG for the purchase of eight diesel multiple unit rail vehicles. Vehicle assembly will be in North Texas, Ballard said.

Additionally, the board approved an action item for final design for two North Richland Hills station and advanced land purchases for TEX Rail.

Tex Rail will operate on a 27-mile corridor from downtown Fort Worth, northeast across Tarrant County to Grapevine and into Terminal B at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. The line's projected daily ridership in its first year of service is 10,000.