Port cities of all kinds have always served as major economic touchstones; although Dallas/Fort Worth is inland, it remains one of the most important port cities of the US, a transportation nexus for air travel, railroad transport and highways that multiple industries depend upon for their continued success.
Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
The Dallas Fort Worth Airport is the third busiest in the world, and the tenth busiest international gateway in the US, and was voted “Best cargo airport in North America 2010” by Air Cargo World. Aside from its appeal as a transportation hub for people and cargo, the Dallas-Forth Worth Airport is a major player in the local economy, providing stimulus to the local business community and providing jobs for the workforce. Economic and financial analysis firm the Perryman Group estimates that the airport and related activities generate 228,000 jobs and $37.0 billion in annual total expenditures in the region. Continuing construction projects for airport improvements also bring about integration with local business.
Dallas/Fort Worth Railroads
The Dallas/ Fort Worth area also has a strong history with the railroad industry since 1873, when Houston & Texas Central railroad finally reached it and was later joined by the Texas & Pacific Railway. The confluence of rail lines in the early 1920s, when rail travel was the premier mode of transportation in the US, and then train travel returned to Dallas/Fort Worth in the 1970s with the Amtrak rail lines and now, more recently, the DART Light Rail and TRE commuter train service. In the meantime, Dallas/Fort Worth remained a consistent major player in terms of private freight, whether it’s chemicals, bulk commodities or other cargo. Looking forward, Dallas/Fort Worth is also a proposed destination on several planned high-speed rail lines. A new high-speed bullet train proposed to run between Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston is estimated to bring $36 billion in economic benefits to the area over the course of 25 years, with four years of construction creating an average of 10,000 jobs a year. As the rail industry in the US continues to grow and change, perhaps reaching further towards the development of high-speed rail of nations like Japan, Dallas/Fort Worth will unquestionably remain a dominating force in terms of national rail travel, and the industry will continue to create jobs and varied layers of economic stimulus for the region. You can easily commute between Dallas and Fort Worth on the Trinity Railway Express.
Dallas at the Highway Crossing
Dallas/Fort Worth’s prime positioning in the vast network of America’s highways, making it a perfect location for industries and individuals that are transport-reliant. Highway construction provides a steady influx of job growth to the area, with new projects beginning all the time, and ensuring that Dallas/Fort Worth remains a crucial nexus of travel and transport in the area.
When we picture port cities, shining harbors and tankers may come to mind, but Dallas/Fort Worth proves that our inland ports and hubs are just as necessary, and create just as rich and dynamic an economic environment for its residents.