UT Arlington to open new campus in west Fort Worth

FORT WORTH, Texas - The University of Texas at Arlington announced a big expansion with a new campus planned for Fort Worth.

While the university is looking forward to serving more students, there are concerns from some who will be their new neighbors.

UT Arlington made the announcement official on Tuesday.

The University of Texas System's board of regents approved the plan to buy 51 acres near the intersection of Interstate 20 and Interstate 30 in far west Fort Worth.

The campus in the Walsh Ranch Development will be known as UTA West and will serve more than 10,000 students. 

"We’re thrilled about this opportunity to expand our impact and to bring these great UTA quality education to more students across our region," said UT Arlington President Jennifer Cowley.

Nearby homeowners have mixed opinions about the new development not far from their homes.

Penny Serrato left Arlington decades ago for unincorporated western Tarrant County. She made the decision with her special needs son in mind.

"He has Aspergers, autistic, high anxiety. He doesn’t do well in high-pressure situations," she said.

Next-door neighbor and mom of three boys, Vanessa Grim, has lived in the area her entire life.

"I’m fine with it. I’m just concerned about the taxes going up even more," she said. "It’s getting hard to live out here anymore, and it’s going to get even more expensive than it already is."

Serrato says she understands the need for new development. She’s just concerned about her son’s future possibly without her and the loss of green space and tranquility.

"I know a lot of the old-timers, and I see a lot of the newcomers. And the newcomers don’t know what we’ve already lost, and there’s a lot," she said. "It’ll all be gone. Concrete. My son will be stuck here with a house he probably can’t sell or be forced out of."

Cowley says the site planning is underway. The next step will deal with infrastructure development. The first students are planned for the fall of 2028.

This will be the university's third campus in Fort Worth.

UTA already has a research center in east Fort Worth and a satellite campus in Downtown Fort Worth.