North Texas Approves $1.2 Million for Transit, 911 Upgrades Ahead of 2026 World Cup

On Thursday, regional officials in North Texas authorized $1.2 million in additional funding to improve transit and emergency communication systems in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an event expected to draw unprecedented crowds to the region.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Regional Transportation Council has approved a comprehensive renovation plan totaling $1.2 million, including $800,000 designated for the historic M-Line trolley in Dallas. Authorities have allocated funding to revitalize the trolley system and increase passenger ridership during the World Cup.

The McKinney Avenue Transit Authority contacted us, identifying specific areas for improvement they aim to resolve before the World Cup, noted Karla Windsor, a senior program manager at NCTCOG. She stated that the tasks would include painting, replacing hardware, and other related activities aimed at improving their appearance for the community and all visiting guests.

Some of the financial resources will also support the operation and maintenance of carriages, which are expected to increase during the tournament. "Windsor expressed that they have set expectations for a significant surge in ridership. The senior manager emphasized that the goal is to maintain the trolley's connection to key visitor attractions, such as the International Broadcast Center in Dallas and the entertainment district in Arlington.

The council has authorized a funding transfer to guarantee that improvements to the Trinity Railway Express proceed according to schedule. Windsor reported that the council allocated funds in March for enhancements to TRE and for leasing locomotives and cab cars from other states. However, DART encountered difficulties in securing federal funding.

"We fundamentally need to facilitate the transfer of funding," Windsor stated. Persisting with that process may compromise our schedule. Under the revised plan, DART will use its own funds to lease the vehicles, and NCTCOG will reimburse the agency through a separate initiative.

An additional $200,000 will be allocated to support artificial intelligence translation software designed to assist 911 operators in managing inquiries from international visitors. Windsor observed that the rise in foreign mobile phone use could lead to communication delays unless supplementary support is put in place.

Windsor stated that communication barriers are present in the dispatch messages sent to the region’s various 911 call centers. AI-powered translation solutions are expected to improve language comprehension, reduce transfers between call centers and lower the incidence of interrupted calls. “We expect that these services will assist in reducing confusion and preventing any potential overload in the system that we seek to avoid,” Windsor stated.

Windsor announced that the allocations made on Thursday have raised NCTCOG’s total investment in the World Cup to over $40 million in the past two years, as the region prepares for one of the most prominent sporting events in U.S. history.