Texas Funding Failure Threatens Oklahoma-Dallas Heartland Flyer Service

The future of the Heartland Flyer, an Amtrak route linking Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, is uncertain after Texas lawmakers failed to allocate $7.05 million in funding, risking service suspension by October. The route, which served over 80,000 passengers last year and generated significant economic benefits for the region, is jointly funded by Texas and Oklahoma, but Oklahoma officials have stated they will not cover Texas's share. The Texas Department of Transportation had included only a partial budget for the service, and without Texas funding, Amtrak warns of a potential shutdown despite the route's importance for regional mobility and connections to other long-distance services like the Texas Eagle. Meanwhile, the Trinity Railway Express commuter line between Fort Worth and Dallas will continue operating after Texas legislators rejected proposals to cut transit funding, preserving a critical service for local commuters. Expansion plans for the Heartland Flyer into Kansas add further complexity to the route’s future amid uncertain state support and changing federal priorities. Local leaders emphasize the train’s role in economic growth, tourism, and transportation connectivity, underscoring the impact of potential discontinuation on the region.