The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) executed a contract with the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), releasing $250 million to DCTA for a 21-mile passenger rail line from Denton to Carrollton, dubbed the A-train. DCTA will provide the 20 percent match to complete the funding.

The A-train project, which is part of the Regional Transportation Council’s Mobility 2025 and Mobility 2030 plans, has been the central element of DCTA’s Service Plan and endorsed by local, regional and state leaders, as well as Denton County voters. The Regional Transportation Council approved funding for this project last year.

"DCTA's A-train project is a great example of how the region can leverage funds to create a multi-modal transportation system, providing our residents choices for how they want to travel," said Linda Koop, chair of the RTC.

The A-train project includes single-phase construction of 21-miles of regional rail, five rail stations, a bicycle/pedestrian trail, and a regional rail operating and maintenance facility. The immediate objective of the project is to have full service between Denton and Carrollton to interface with Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) light rail system by December 2010. The 2010 opening would coincide with DART’s opening of the northern section of its Green Line and complete a 50-mile segment of regional passenger rail that is detailed in the Mobility 2030 plan.