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The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has given the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) approval to advance its TEX Rail commuter-rail project to the preliminary engineering phase.

The approval marks a milestone for the project, said The T’s President Dick Ruddell in a prepared statement.

The 37-mile, 14-station TEX Rail corridor would provide direct service into Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and transport commuters and other riders to locations across Tarrant County, he said.

TEX Rail also would serve as an alternative to highway travel into Fort Worth, and riders would gain transfer connections from DFW Airport to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Orange Line for trips to Irving and Dallas.

FTA approval to enter preliminary engineering is required for transit agencies pursuing projects through the federal New Starts grant program. The T has commitments for a 50 percent local match of the project’s projected $758 million cost through its funding partner, the city of Grapevine. Funds also are committed by Tarrant County, the city of Fort Worth, the state of Texas and the North Central Texas Council of Governments, The T officials said.