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Yesterday, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Trinity Railway Express (TRE) announced they will receive about $7.2 million in federal funds to help fund the construction of a five-mile section of double track between the West Irving and CentrePort/DFW Airport stations.

Part of the Federal Railroad Administration’s 2009 appropriation for passenger-rail service, the funds will cover about half the project’s $14.4 million cost.

A section of TRE’s corridor currently is single-tracked, limiting the number and frequency of trains, according to the agencies. By adding a second track, more trains — including Amtrak’s — can operate in the corridor, DART and TRE officials said in a prepared statement.

DART plans to seek bids for the project next month and award a construction contract in late spring or early summer. Construction is scheduled to be complete in summer 2011.