Denton County train riders may be looking at a far simpler trip to the airport in a few years. The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) board has signed off on new engineering work intended to make a one-transfer rail ride from Denton County to DFW International Airport a reality.
The move advances plans to realign or extend the A-train so that, instead of juggling multiple rail connections, riders could hop off once in Downtown Carrollton and step onto DART’s Silver Line. DCTA planners say that if design, funding, and interagency agreements all fall into place, the new routing could be running in the 2030 timeframe.
According to the Carrollton Leader, the board formally approved an engineering process that would let the A-train reach downtown Carrollton and line up directly with the Silver Line platform. The reporting notes the goal is straightforward: turn today’s multi-step airport journey into a single, timed transfer for many Denton County travelers.
The timing lines up with DART’s launch of the Silver Line, which the agency described in a news release as a 26-mile regional rail route that connects North Dallas and Plano to DFW’s Terminal B. DART has promoted the Silver Line as a backbone for longer trips across North Texas and as an airport link for multiple suburban systems.
The latest DCTA action builds on work that started earlier this year. In January, the board hired engineering consultant Lochner to launch an A-train enhancement program that includes curve and speed improvements along the line and preliminary design for a possible Downtown Carrollton extension, Community Impact reported. Those early studies are intended to make a single-transfer routing operationally realistic and set the stage for more frequent service.
Timeline and next steps
Agency leaders have told city officials that the effort will roll out in phases. First up are track geometry fixes and speed constraint improvements along the A-train corridor. Next would be completing a detailed design for the Downtown Carrollton connection. The final step would be building the infrastructure needed to support higher-frequency service once the link is in place.
Why it matters for riders
DCTA and regional reporting suggest the payoff for riders could be significant. A one-transfer trip to DFW would give many Denton County travelers a more convenient, lower-stress option than driving and paying daily parking fees at the airport.
Local coverage points out that a coordinated regional fare and a direct Silver Line connection could help rail riders avoid parking costs and highway traffic while expanding transit access for Denton County residents. The proposed link also fits into broader efforts to better connect North Texas transit systems for longer cross-regional trips.
What to watch next
Plenty of work still stands between this concept and an easy airport ride. The project will require detailed engineering, environmental review, property and right-of-way work, and firm funding commitments before any trains run on the single-transfer route.
DART’s Silver Line project materials note that a future A-train connection in Downtown Carrollton is already part of the long-range vision, and DCTA continues to post board agendas, presentations, and contact information for residents following the process. Over the next several years, the agencies are expected to return to their boards with cost estimates, environmental findings, and a phased delivery schedule that will determine whether the 2030 target holds.
