The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail system has gradually developed in phases since 1996. The final phase of construction is the Cotton Belt Line servicing the northwest region of Dallas and its suburbs. The Cotton Belt Line will bring 26 miles of light rail access to areas including:

This phase of development includes evaluation of how the line will impact current residents in the area.

The Cotton Belt Corridor is a heavily populated region, and there have been concerns among residents about the rail causing noise and interrupting pedestrian traffic. Throughout March and April 2017, DART conducted testing about the environmental impact of a new rail line in the communities along the route.

Among the factors they gauged included noise and vibration and impact on wetlands and animal habitats. They also evaluated the potential impact of noise and vibration on people using nearby schools, businesses, and parks. The last phase of the project, conducted during April, evaluated whether the project will disrupt any cultural and historic resources along the corridor.

An Environmental Impact Statement about the benefits and drawbacks of a mass transit system in the region will include this data. The new line should ease congestion on major highways in the region, including I-635 and the President George Bush Tollway (161). The Cotton Belt Line will connect to previously developed DART lines, with stops near major commercial and residential centers to provide easier access to employers and businesses.

Previous phases of DART light rail implementation provided east-west access between Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Downtown Dallas, and north-south access between Plano and Downtown Dallas. These phases of the system are in use by riders today.

The design of the Cotton Belt Line was initially approved in 2006 for completion in 2040. In 2016, planners accelerated the pace of the project. The rail line now has a revised schedule for intended completion in 2022.