Fort Worth's The T set to sign contract for TEX Rail cars

Later today, Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) officials are scheduled to sign a contract with Stadler Bussnang AG for the manufacture and delivery of eight diesel multiple units (DMUs) for the proposed 27-mile TEX Rail commuter line.

The two parties will close the deal at a ceremony at the T's Intermodal Transportation Center, which will be one of TEX Rail's 10 stops, The T officials announced in a press release.

Stadler President Peter Spuhler will be in Fort Worth, Texas, to sign the agreement, along with The T Chairman Scott Mahaffey and the agency's President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Ballard.

Officials from The T did not disclose the value of the contract in their press release. Local media reports from last month estimated the total cost of the DMUs at $106.7 million.

First initiating the procurement process for the vehicles in 2014, The T's board approved an agreement with Stadler at an April 2015 meeting.

The approval was contingent on the Federal Transit Administration authorizing TEX Rail to enter the engineering phase. The FTA granted that permission last week.

When completed, the proposed rail line will operate from downtown Fort Worth, northeast across Tarrant County to Grapevine, and then to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.