A major development in East Texas rail transport is in the works. The I-20 corridor passenger rail service is planned to connect the Dallas/Fort Worth area to Atlanta, Georgia.

Tuesday afternoon, the East Texas Council of Governments Rural Transportation Planning Organization held a news conference at the Longview Depot and announced a big step for the project.

The group was awarded $500,000 by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), an award that project advocate and Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt says will help move the project along.