Update On Streetcar Project Status

Image by the City of Fort Worth.

EDIT: For readers joining us from the Streetsblog Network or Streetsblog itself, check the bottom of the post for an overview map of the starter system and the areas it will serve.

Things have been a little quiet on the streetcar front since the presentation to the City Council in December, but that’s not to say there’s nothing going on. I’ve done some asking around and have some updates on how things are going for the Fort Worth Streetcar – steps towards both funding and more detailed planning are well underway. We are assuredly moving forward on this. Here’s the latest:

- Work is underway to get access to regional toll revenue that NCTCOG (North Central Texas Council Of Governments) wants to allow for partial funding of the project. This may require some work in Austin, but from what I understand, signs are positive. The hope is for everything to be lined up by late spring/early summer, with those NCTCOG funds available by the end of the year.

- In the meantime, the city is determining the feasibility of issuing an RFP (Request For Proposal) for a smaller study about economic development, ridership, and operational details in the spring, depending on available funding.

- The city is in the process of scheduling meetings with the boards of the three affected TIF districts as soon as possible. The TIF boards need to determine whether to amend their project plans to include the streetcar project.

- The city’s community relations department is working on a dedicated web site for the streetcar project, for public education & outreach purposes.

Things are definitely still moving towards getting the streetcar project fully designed & funded, and I’m sure that there will be plenty more news to come.

EDIT: For those of you joining us from the Streetsblog Network or Streetsblog itself, here’s a map of the proposed starter system:

The Fort Worth streetcar starter system would create a Downtown loop, linked via two major lines to the Cultural District and the Near Southside, and via a couple of smaller spurs to Uptown and Evans & Rosedale Village.