The Cotton Belt commuter line on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system has been in the works for a long time. It was intended to extend light rail transit into the northwest suburbs of Dallas County, completing a previously unserved loop between the D-FW International Airport and Plano. But according to the Dallas Morning News, the route is being reevaluated. As a result, north Dallas could lose at least one planned DART rail stop on the Cotton Belt line, if not more.

DART planners have already placed the proposed station at Keller Springs and Preston Road on the possible chopping block. Even though Far North Dallas is significantly lacking in public transportation options, DART planners aren’t certain the Cotton Belt rail is the solution the area needs. 

Anyone who drives in that northwest corridor, especially along highways like 635 and 114, knows that traffic can be impossibly slow. But designing a rail system around the existing infrastructure would present a significant challenge. Public transit schedules, particularly light rail in DFW, can result in trips that take longer than driving.

The $1.1 billion commuter line has been hotly debated at City Hall for several years. All the involved parties are trying to find the most efficient solution. Typically, light rail stops are much further apart in the rest of the DART system than the ones planned for the Cotton Belt corridor.

Many DART board members say current plans still need to be tweaked so they can meet political goals and realistic ridership estimates.