Construction is underway in Dallas on the Union Station to Oak Cliff streetcar project along its future route south of downtown.
Representatives of project ­partners—the city, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and FTA—recently celebrated with a ceremonial ground breaking also attended by longtime supporter Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX).

When it enters service in late 2014, the line will provide modern streetcar service from downtown Dallas to ­Methodist Dallas Medical Center. The project specifically targets commuters in mixed-use districts adjacent to downtown and helps create a public transit network linking urban areas to multiple transportation alternatives.

Project funding totals more than $48.6 million, including $26 million in federal grants toward the 1.6-mile starter line and two vehicles and additional funding from the city, DART, and regional toll road revenue.

“In this age of constrained budgets, the partnership we’ve forged with the Dallas streetcar project is a great model of how we can bring other important mobility initiatives on line in the future,” said Gary Thomas, DART president/executive director.

The city will contract with DART to operate and maintain the streetcar line.