{"id":56119,"date":"2025-07-11T06:17:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T06:17:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/56119\/"},"modified":"2025-07-11T06:17:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T06:17:16","slug":"heartland-flyer-gets-3-5m-to-keep-fort-worth-oklahoma-city-route-alive-for-a-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/56119\/","title":{"rendered":"Heartland Flyer gets $3.5M to keep Fort Worth-Oklahoma City route alive for a year"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Heartland Flyer will keep chugging along from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City \u2014 at least for another year.<\/p>\n

The popular Amtrak passenger train will continue to operate after the Regional Transportation Council awarded $3.5 million funding from Regional Toll Revenue allocations on July 10 to keep the service going for one year. The Texas Legislature did not appropriate funding to match the amount Oklahoma provides for the train.<\/p>\n

Staff with North Central Texas Council of Governments, the 16-county agency that distributes funding for road, rail and air quality improvements, will seek reimbursement from the state and initiate a ridership campaign reducing the need for a subsidy, according to a staff report.<\/p>\n

Michael Morris, transportation director for the council of governments, said \u201cit\u2019s critical to step in\u201d and provide local funding since the federal government would likely seek reimbursement of decades-old infrastructure work if the train ceases operation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t imagine that happening under my watch,\u201d Morris said.<\/p>\n

The rail service, which makes about 80,000 trips a year, is considered critical for the FIFA World Cup events in 2026 to help carry people across North Texas, transportation officials previously said. The Trinity Railway Express, a joint venture that connects Fort Worth and Dallas, will also be used with private buses to transport sports fans to Arlington.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis item is an emergency funding commitment to extend service long enough to develop a second-year funding program in order to get back to the 90th legislative session,\u201d the council of governments report said, referring to when lawmakers meet in 2027. \u201cIf service is terminated, the federal government will seek reimbursement of funds expended in the corridor.\u201d<\/p>\n

A joint letter from Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Gainesville Mayor Tommy Moore and Denton County Judge Andy Eads said the Heartland Flyer has \u201cbeen key to our regional success as a global destination and has been central to our tourism industry, business community, and thriving economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith service that supports the state and region\u2019s economic growth and connectivity, sustaining the Heartland Flyer is crucial to ensuring continued momentum and mobility in Texas,\u201d the officials wrote.<\/p>\n

The Amtrak train \u2014 initially expected to stop by the end of June \u2014 received local funding to operate until Sept. 30, Morris previously told the Fort Worth Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Amtrak President Roger Harris said in a June statement that regional rail transportation is a vital option for residents and visitors since it strengthens regional mobility, tourism and economic development. The train also alleviates congestion along Interstate 35, Texas\u2019 busiest highway, and supports workforce mobility and job access.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith service that supports Texas\u2019 continued economic growth and the region\u2019s connectivity, sustaining the Heartland Flyer is essential to maintaining momentum and ensuring long-term mobility in the region,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n

The Flyer, launched as a transportation option in 1999, has increasingly gained more riders to become a regional tourism tool, providing about $5.3 million in direct economic benefits and an estimated $23.7 million in overall economic activity, according to Amtrak. That overall amount has increased since a 2013 Texas A&M Transportation Institute study<\/a> cited an $18 million economic impact<\/a> to Fort Worth, Oklahoma City and smaller towns along the 206-mile corridor.<\/p>\n

Amtrak said the Flyer served more than 81,000 passengers and generated $2.2 million in ticket revenue in 2024.<\/p>\n

Although Oklahoma officials have continued to fund the venture, Texas\u2019 share of funding \u2014 more than $7 million for two years \u2014 was stripped from the 2026-27 state budget although the Texas Department of Transportation requested funding.<\/p>\n

The Regional Transportation Council, a 45-member independent policy group made up of elected and appointed officials, allocated $100,000 in funding in January 2025<\/a> to avoid service interruptions. That funding also came from Regional Toll Revenue allocations to cover a shortfall of about $72,000.<\/p>\n

Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

News decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n

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