The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) has approved US$59.6m in federal funding for 12 active transportation projects located in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties in Texas, with the initiatives set to improve safety and access to schools.
A combined US$14.4m in local match brings the total investment in the region’s bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to US$74m as part of the 2025 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program Call for Projects for the North Texas region. Nine active transportation and three Safe Routes to School applications were funded.
“These funded improvements will connect people who choose walking and bicycling as modes of transportation to schools, transit services and major hubs of employment in the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” said Kevin Kokes, program manager for the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ land-use and mobility options team. “In addition to connecting people to destinations, the projects funded by the RTC will improve safety and comfort, reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.”
Among the 12 approved projects are important connections to transit stops, including on-street bicycle facilities connecting the future Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Silver Line commuter rail station in Addison with nearby housing and employment areas. Funding for the TC Rice Trail in Carrollton (US$10m) will extend the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) A-train Rail Trail from Hebron Station in Lewisville closer to North Carrollton/Frankford Station in Carrollton.
The Sycamore Trail extension in Denton will improve access for adjacent neighborhoods to DCTA’s Downtown Denton Transit Center for multimodal trips. Two trail segments are funded for construction in Frisco, a portion of the Cottonwood Creek Trail and a trail connecting Frisco Square, Downtown Frisco, and Grand Park.
Funded improvements surrounding schools will enhance the safety and comfort for students walking and bicycling to school campuses. In Fort Worth, shared-use paths and on-street bicycle facilities will improve connections to North Crowley High School and Summer Creek Middle School. Sidewalk improvements in Richland Hills will enable more students to walk to Cheney Hills Elementary School.
Additionally, the City of Richardson was awarded funding to develop Safe Routes to School plans to identify future infrastructure improvements for multiple schools across the city.
