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  4. DART Silver Line

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Silver Line Regional Rail Project provides commuters with something previously unavailable to them: direct east-west rail travel connecting seven cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex.

Prior to the arrival of DART’s transformative 26-mile corridor, rail travelers between Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, Plano and DFW Airport had to take an extended ride south to downtown Dallas, then catch a connecting train back north on one of the 93-mile DART network’s north-south traveling lines (Green, Blue, Red or Orange) to reach their destination.

When the Silver Line opened for service with a public grand opening celebration on Oct. 25, 2025, it not only substantially shortened crosstown travel time for many commuters, it launched a catalyst for economic growth and community engagement, raising the bar for what is possible with modern transit solutions.

“WSP was steadfast in our commitment to ensure that the Silver Line achieved its goal of enhancing regional mobility by improving access to key employment and population centers,” said Ruben Landa, WSP in the U.S. vice president, Advisory and Planning, and deputy project manager. “Seamless integration with DART’s existing transit system is a crucial benefit.”

The Silver Line interfaces with three of the DART transit lines: the Red Line at 12th Street and City Line stations in Plano, the Green Line at Downton Carrollton Station, and the Orange Line at DFW Airport.

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Location

  • Dallas, Texas, USA

Project Value

  • $2.09 Billion

Project Status

  • Completed
Until the Silver Line’s arrival, a ride to one of these locations would require north-south travel into Dallas and then back out again to reach your destination. This direct east-west connection significantly reduces travel time for those commuters.
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Silver line-ing

Since 2019, WSP has been in a joint venture with Ardurra Group to lead design and construction of the project. Serving as DART’s program manager/owner’s representative (PMOR), WSP provided comprehensive oversight of the design-builder to ensure the project met DARTs highest quality standards.

Throughout the project we led program management, construction management and construction mitigation efforts, guiding all phases of project development from design through implementation.

The project included construction of 10 rail stations and multiple rail bridges along the route, as well as a vehicle assembly and equipment maintenance facility in Plano, near the Shiloh Road Station at the eastern end of the line.

We worked with DART to implement positive train controls (PTC) on the Silver Line rail system, as it shares line segments with active fright operations. PTC is an automated system designed to improve the safety of railway traffic by detecting and halting unsafe movement and monitoring train speeds.

Getting the word out

As manager of stakeholder engagement, construction communications and community outreach, we considered every avenue to foster transparency, address community concerns and maintain public trust throughout the project lifecycle.

The PMOR team coordinated multiple project stakeholders, including businesses and residents throughout the region. They managed utility planning and relocation, and secured approval of project design from third parties within all seven cities, Texas Department of Transportation, North Texas Tollway Authority and freight railroads.

Our comprehensive suite of public involvement tools blended traditional and digital outreach methods to reach diverse audiences and maximize participation:

  • Digital engagement: Project websites, social media, email and text notifications, geofencing and display advertising.
  • Print and visual materials: Fact sheets, brochures, newsletters, roll maps, construction alerts, safety banners and display boards.
  • Direct communication: Project hotline, email inquiries, door hangers, postcards and city coordination meetings.
  • Public meetings and stakeholder engagement: A range of community engagement events to provide updates and collect feedback included biannual construction community meetings, ad hoc community meetings with city officials, stakeholder briefings, school safety programs, city coordination meetings, community pop-up events and informal community breakfast sessions.
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We established a Community Ambassador Program, empowering residents to advocate for the Silver Line, participate in media engagements and represent the project in public forums, fostering a deeper sense of community ownership. This ensured the Silver Line was well-understood and embraced by the communities it serves.

“In all, we coordinated nearly 3,000 public meetings, all in an effort to build public support and trust for the project,” Landa said.

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Quick silver

Enhancements surrounding the rail line itself will continue developing in the coming years, notably through the creation of the Cotton Belt Regional Hike and Bike Trail, operated by the North Central Texas Council of Governments. This major community asset, which is being constructed in phases, runs adjacent to the rail alignment, linking with three other regional trails.

Currently, 4.7 miles of the new trail corridor concurrent to the Silver Line rail project, including newly constructed bridges, are open. Phase 2 construction will eventually add 11 miles of additional trail and bridge segments from Addison to Plano. As funding permits, Phase 3 trail construction will continue the trail westward.

Impressively, the Silver Line demonstrated its capability by transporting nearly 12,000 riders on the first day it was open, giving Landa confidence the new corridor will be embraced by communities in the DFW metroplex.

“It’s a very sleek and clean, modern system,” Landa said. “It’ll take you to the airport quickly and people already love it. Everybody here is looking forward to watching the economic benefits develop.”

At its heart, DART Silver Line is about people, community and creating opportunities that lead to a brighter future for everyone. It’s been an honor to help bring the vision of the city leaders to life. Their collaboration to make this a reality was truly powerful.

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Meet the Visioneer

Ruben Landa brings in-depth understanding of public policy and public administration to high-profile transportation projects throughout Texas and the southwest. His expertise in developing strategic partnerships helps foster public understanding that results in community approval and favorable outcomes for critical projects.

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