As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $1.5 billion in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants was made available for surface transportation capital improvements.

Texas submitted approximately 100 projects for funding through TIGER grants and two projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area were selected. The North Texas Tollway Authority will receive $20 million for improvements to SH 161 and the North Central Texas Council of Governments will receive $23 million to develop a streetcar service in downtown Dallas.

Five projects were submitted by TxDOT to the Secretary of Transportation in September 2009.

Other governmental entities also submitted projects. TxDOT provided them with letters of support.