Texas commuter rail, covering 27 miles, launches Saturday

AT PRESS TIME

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A 27-mile rail system extending from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is scheduled to launch Jan. 5.

TEXRail trains, operated by the Trinity Metro transit agency, will make nine stops along the route, including in the suburbs of North Richland Hills and Grapevine.

The Dallas Morning News reports that $336 million in transit-oriented development has occurred so far as part of the project.

Trinity Metro, in an effort to jump-start ridership, will not charge fares in January. Come Feb. 1, a one-way ticket will cost $2.50.

The full one-way trip will take 52 minutes, and the line is expected to draw 8,000 daily riders by the end of 2019. A combination of fares, sales taxes and federal money will cover TEXRail’s annual operating cost of about $13 million.