Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has begun constructing a regional rail system known as the Silver Line (formerly called the Cotton Belt Corridor project). It is a 26-mile stretch of tracks that will run from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to Shiloh Road in Plano.

Not all residents of the area are pleased with this development. One of the significant detractors is the price tag: an estimated $1.2 billion at the beginning, later updated to $1.89 billion. It will also increase traffic in the area. This will significantly impact private land owners along the Cotton Belt region.

The Silver Line is being designed to serve people with 30-minute peak and 60-minute off-peak service. It is intended to increase mobility and accessibility and link the service line to major activity centers and people in the northern part of the DART Service Area. It aims to facilitate employment as well as the area’s economy. When it is completed, the Silver Line will connect seven cities: Grapevine, Dallas, Coppell, Addison, Carrollton, Richardson, and Plano.

Supporters are optimistic about the project’s ability to connect neighborhoods seamlessly, believing it will significantly benefit those who live and work in the area. Conversely, those who are against the Silver Line argue that it will increase urban sprawl and plunge the region further into debt for the foreseeable future.

The question up for debate: Should DART proceed with its construction of the #SilverLine (Cotton Belt Regional Rail Corridor)?