The Texas Transportation Commission recently awarded DART $25 million for the next phase of construction on the Cotton Belt Trail.

The overview: The Cotton Belt Trail is a hike-and-bike trail that, once completed, will stretch 57 miles from Plano to downtown Fort Worth.

The second phase of construction began in spring 2025 on 11 miles of the trail from Addison to Plano, including nearly 3 miles that will run through Richardson. This portion of the trail is projected to be completed in early 2027, said Mario Zavala, Dallas Area Rapid Transit communications project manager.

The third phase of construction, which the new $25 million will go toward, is slated to begin in mid-2027 and will connect DART stations in Cypress Waters, Addison and downtown Carrollton.

Another thing: Cotton Belt Trail primarily runs alongside the Silver Line, where active quiet zones keep train horns largely silent. However, when trail construction is in the area, Zavala said residents may hear train horns.

Shogun Japanese Grill & Sushi recently launched a soft opening in Plano, Shogun Group General Manager Phillip Wimer said.

On the menu: The restaurant offers hibachi and hot pot dining experiences as well as a variety of sushi options.

• 3916 Dallas North Parkway, Plano

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport are expecting a surge in holiday travel.

The details: Dallas Love Field is anticipating 440,000 travelers for its main airline, Southwest Airlines, during the holiday travel season, said Patrick Clarke, Love Field’s public information coordinator II.

DFW Airport expects nearly 5 million to fly through during the period between Dec. 18 and Jan. 6, according to a news release. DFW Airport officials expect a 3.2% increase in passengers this year compared to the same period last year.

A closer look: A road project on West Mockingbird Lane near Dallas Love Field may cause delays for travelers due to lane reductions and temporary closures, Clarke said.

Zooming in: The DFW Airport news release stated public transit could help speed up the drop-offs and pick-ups. Trinity Metro’s TEXRail, DART’s Orange Line, DART’s Silver Line and XTrinity Railway Express all have drop off points at the airport.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is not slated to open until late 2026, but guests are invited for a sneak peak of what the park has to offer with specialty day passes on New Year's Day.

In a nutshell: Rangers at the park will offer guided hikes only on Jan. 1 to explore the park before it officially opens and provide a unique way to celebrate the new year, according to a news release.

"Because we are still under construction, access is limited, and all visitors are required to have a day pass reservation," a Palo Pinto Mountains State Park representative said to Community Impact.

Zooming in: The 4,871-acre park will have a large network of trails for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders, according to the park's website. Trails will lead to remote areas of the park with vista views, lakeside experiences and a variety of campsites, including RV sites.