- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
North Texas Officials Approve Study for Plano-McKinney Rail Service
The proposed rail line could extend DART's existing light rail or commuter rail systems.
Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:49pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Regional Transportation Council of the Metropolitan Planning Organization in the Dallas area has approved a study to explore new rail service between the cities of Plano and McKinney, Texas. The project could involve extending DART's existing light rail Red Line or commuter rail Silver Line, which both currently terminate in Plano. However, McKinney is not currently part of DART's service area, so regional discussions will be needed to determine the feasibility of the proposed rail connection.
Why it matters
The potential Plano-McKinney rail line would provide an important transportation link between two fast-growing cities north of Dallas, helping to alleviate traffic congestion and improve regional connectivity. The study will help determine the most viable options for expanding public transit in the area.
The details
The study was initially halted last year due to a funding dispute between DART and some of its member cities, but has now been approved to resume. DART CEO Nadine Lee noted that while DART owns the land for a potential route to McKinney, the city is not currently part of DART's service area, requiring regional discussions to determine how to move the project forward.
- The Regional Transportation Council voted to approve the study at their meeting on March 12, 2026.
- The process of hiring consultants for the study was underway in November 2025 before being temporarily stopped.
The players
Regional Transportation Council
The Metropolitan Planning Organization that voted to approve the study for new rail service between Plano and McKinney.
DART
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit agency, which operates the existing light rail and commuter rail systems that could potentially be extended to McKinney.
Nadine Lee
The CEO of DART, who noted that while DART owns land for a potential route to McKinney, the city is not currently part of DART's service area.
Dan Lamers
An official with the North Central Texas Council of Governments who stated the project could involve extending DART's light rail Red Line or commuter rail Silver Line.
What they’re saying
“Conversations at the regional level will be needed to discuss the project.”
— Nadine Lee, CEO, DART (KERA)
What’s next
The next step will be for DART and regional officials to begin discussions on how to potentially incorporate McKinney into DART's service area and determine the feasibility of extending rail service to the city.
The takeaway
The proposed Plano-McKinney rail line represents an important opportunity to enhance public transportation connectivity in the rapidly growing Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. However, overcoming jurisdictional boundaries and securing the necessary funding and regional cooperation will be critical to turning this vision into reality.
