US EditionTexas-Oklahoma Rail Route in Jeopardy After Lawmakers Cut Financial Support
- Texas lawmakers approved a $338 billion budget last week that excluded funding for the Heartland Flyer rail service connecting Fort Worth and Oklahoma City.
- This funding omission occurred despite rising ridership, legislative efforts from Oklahoma to urge Texas support, and ongoing discussions at multiple levels to secure alternative funding.
- The Heartland Flyer, operated by Amtrak since 1999 and jointly funded by Texas and Oklahoma, carried nearly 82,000 passengers last year with ridership increasing nearly 14 percent.
- Texas historically allocated about $2.81 million annually, while Oklahoma provided $4.5 million for 2025, but officials acknowledge Texas’ lack of funding threatens the train’s future and Oklahoma cannot cover Texas's share alone.
- Without Texas funding, the Heartland Flyer risks discontinuation this year, raising concerns among communities reliant on the daily service and prompting advocates to push for new funding solutions.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Heartland Flyer facing permanent suspension after Texas legislature declines funding
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - The Heartland Flyer, Oklahoma's only Amtrak train route, is facing permanent suspension after Texas lawmakers declined to fund its share of the route's budget. Since June 14, 1999, the Heartland Flyer has provided daily routes between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas. The Heartland Flyer is a jointly funded partnership between ODOT and TXDOT, using each state's tax dollars. Passenger train between OKC, Fort Worth c…
Full steam ahead for Trinity Railway Express after Texas funding cuts fail
The Trinity Railway Express commuter train that links downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas will keep rolling along.The popular train, launched in 1996, had been threatened by state legislation that sought a 25% decrease in transit funding, but House Bill 3187 and Senate Bill 1557 that targeted Dallas Area Rapid Transit failed during the Texas Legislature. The nearly identical bills would have reduced contributions from member cities by 25%. “…
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