Month: March 2018
First run of TEXRail train!
Tarrant County College will provide Trinity Metro bus rides for students
Tarrant County College (TCC) students will soon have a free option for getting around town. Thanks to an agreement between TCC and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, students will be able to ride any of the 38 bus routes in Tarrant County and TCC will pick up the tab. The transit agency, formerly known as The T, recently rebranded as Trinity Metro.
Starting May 15, TCC students will be able to use their student identification cards to access any of the bus routes in Trinity Metro’s system. The rides will then be paid by TCC.
As part of the EasyRide agreement, Trinity Metro will provide new bus service to TCC Northeast and TCC Southeast campuses beginning in August, prior to the start of the fall semester. Trinity Metro currently serves TCC’s other locations: Trinity River Campus, South Campus, Northwest Campus and the Erma C. Johnson Hadley Northwest Center of Excellence for Aviation, Transportation and Logistics.
“This agreement exemplifies a partnership designed for the future of Tarrant County,” said Paul Ballard, president/CEO of Trinity Metro. “Having an educated workforce strengthens the roots of a community and helps it grow and prosper in the future. Transportation is essential to the economic growth of our region. We are delighted to continue our partnership with Chancellor Giovannini and TCC as we help students achieve their goals by increasing their mobility in Tarrant County.”
Students enrolled in TCC’s 2018 summer term will be among the first students eligible for the EasyRide Program. Students issued TCC identification cards after May 15 will be automatically activated with EasyRide eligibility. Students with TCC identification cards issued prior to May 15 must have their cards activated for the EasyRide program. They will need to take their ID card to a TCC Copy Center for activation.
“Our students report that access to transportation is one of the greatest barriers they face when achieving their educational goals,” said Tarrant County College Chancellor Eugene Giovannini. “By partnering with Trinity Metro to cover the cost of a student’s transportation to campus, TCC is continuing to fulfill its mission of providing affordable and open access to quality teaching and learning.”
For more information, contact:
Laura J. Hanna
Director of Communications
Trinity Metro
801 Cherry Street, Suite 850
Fort Worth, TX – 76102
(817) 215-8973 – Office
(817) 721-0734 – Cell
Laura.Hanna@ridetm.org
Rita L.B. ParsonDistrict Manager of Public Relations| Communications, PR & Marketing
Tarrant County College| Trinity River Campus |TREF 3326 B
300 Trinity Campus Circle |Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-515-1543 | Fax 817-515-0817
rita.parson@tccd.edu | www.tccd.edu
Events: 03/23/18 to 04/05/18
It’s time for festivals and fun!
Theater, music, sports and more are just a quick ride away on our Fort Worth bus routes and the Trinity Railway Express. Make transit part of your experience for these upcoming events.
3/24/18 – Use Molly the Trolley to explore Sundance Square’s Spring Sip & Shop.
3/24/18 – Enjoy VINO-Palooza Wine and Music Festival at Shipping & Receiving Bar without worrying about driving or parking. Ride bus routes5, 9 or 14.
3/31/18 – The Fort Worth Stockyards Texas-Sized Easter Egg Hunt is fun for the whole family along bus route 15.
Ride bus routes 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 14, 15, 46 or Molly the Trolley to these events at the Fort Worth Convention Center:
• 3/23/18 through 3/24/18 – MA Dance 2018 Nationals
• 3/23/18 through 3/25/18 – Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers 2018 Convention
• 3/27/18 – Puttin’ On The Pink 2018
• 4/3/18 through 4/5/18 – American Foundry Society 2018 Casting Congress
Bus routes 2 or 7 make trips to the Will Rogers Memorial Center quick and easy. Here is what is coming up:
• 3/23/18 through 3/25/18 – Horse O Rama
• 3/23/18 through 3/25/18 – JJ Horse Celebration
• 3/24/18 – Bulls, Bands and Barrels with Koe Wetzel
• 3/29/18 through 4/22/18 – NCHA Super Stakes and Super Stakes Classic
Molly the Trolley drops off and picks up right at Bass Performance Hall 7 days a week. Take the trolley to get to these shows:
• now through 3/25/18 – Finding Neverland
• 3/29/18 through 3/31/18 – Mozart Requiem and Martinu Pieces
• 4/4/18 through 4/8/18 – Dixie’s Tupperware Party
A TRE ride to Victory Station gets you to the American Airlines Center for these upcoming events:
• 3/23/18 – Stars vs. Bruins
• 3/24/18 – Mavericks vs. Hornets
• 3/26/18 – Bon Jovi
• 3/27/18 – Stars vs. Flyers
• 3/30/18 – Mavericks vs. Timberwolves
• 3/31/18 – Stars vs. Wild
• 4/3/18 – Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers
• 4/4/18 through 4/7/18 – Disney on Ice – Dare to Dream
Every Saturday in March and April Folk Songs of the Cowboy & Pioneer are featured at the Log Cabin Village along bus route 7.
Are you making your arrangements for upcoming spring festivals?
The Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival is right around the corner! Plan your trip to the various event locations with the help of our online trip planner.
Fort Worth Main St. Arts Festival is 4/19/18 through 4/22/18. Plan your trip on the TRE or any of our buses that travel through the Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC). TRE will be in service throughout the festival, including Sunday 4/22/18.
It’s the 2nd year for Fortress Festival in Fort Worth on 4/28/18 and 4/29/18. Featuring artists Father John Misty, Chromeo and De La Soul, you can get there easily on bus route 2 to the Cultural District.
Tag us (@TrinityMetro) on Facebook and Twitter during your trip.
Visit www.FWTA.org to see our routes outside of Fort Worth like the bus route 63/64 to Denton and bus route 91 through River Oaks.
TEXRail Safety Tip – Tracks Are For Trains
Rail Safety Tips
• The area around railroad tracks is private property. Standing on or near tracks is dangerous – and illegal.
• Trains can be at least three feet wider than the tracks. Anyone or anything in that area could be in harm’s way.
• Stay alert around railroad tracks. Some trains are very quiet and you won’t hear them coming. Using earbuds or texting can be a deadly distraction.
• Trains can come at any time on any track from any direction. It is never safe to walk on train tracks.
• Never assume a train can stop quickly. A freight train takes a mile to stop. That’s the same distance as 18 football fields.
• Trains move very quickly. The one way to stay safe is to never be on the tracks.
• Even if a train is stopped, it can move unexpectedly. It is never safe to be on or near a stopped train.
• If a car is on the tracks, a train cannot swerve to avoid it. If your car is stuck or stalled, get out of the car and move away from the tracks.
• Heed warning signs around railroad tracks. If you see a gate come down or red lights flashing, you need to stop. Even if you don’t see or hear a train, one is coming. Never try to “beat” a train.
• If you encounter a problem at a railroad crossing, look for the blue sign. It has an emergency phone number and a numerical code to identify the specific location.
For more safety tips, visit Operation Lifesaver’s website, oli.org.
Events: 3/12/2018 – 3/25/2018
Spring Break is here and there is plenty to do when you ride our Fort Worth bus routes and the Trinity Railway Express. Climb on board the bus or train for all the fun!
Safari Express is on the road beginning Saturday 3/10/18 with direct service from downtown at the Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) to the Fort Worth Zoo. The express route picks up and drops off every 30 minutes during zoo hours through 3/18/18.
Spring Break activities at Reunion Tower in Dallas are a short TRE ride away. Ride from any TRE station to Union Station. Dallas Zoo Animal Adventures, the Dallas Public Library and even BINGO are included in the week’s festivities.
3/15/18 through 3/18/18 – Make your summer dreams a reality when you ride bus routes 2 or 7 to the Will Rogers Memorial Center for the Fort Worth Boat Show.
3/17/18 – There is no better St. Patrick’s Day celebration than Cowtown Goes Green at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Catch bus route 15 every fifteen minutes from downtown to Main and Exchange.
3/18/18 – Trinity Habitat For Humanity “Blitz Build” kicks off on the Sundance Square Plaza along the Molly the Trolley route.
Did you know that Molly the Trolley drops off and picks up at Bass Performance Hall? Plan your trip and ride on over for these great shows:
- 3/16/18 through 3/18/18 – Beethoven’s 7th
- 3/20/18 through 3/25/18 – Finding Neverland
Take the TRE to Victory Station for front door service to the American Airlines Center and these upcoming events:
- 3/15/18 and 3/17/18 – 2018 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Championship First/Second Rounds
- 3/19/18 – WWE Raw
- 3/20/18 – WWE Smackdown
- 3/21/18 – Romeo Santos
- 3/22/18 – Mavericks vs. Jazz
Don’t forget that Sunday 3/11/18 is the big day for spring route changes. See all the details on which routes are expanding and which routes are changing here.
3/11/18 Route Schedule Downloads
Tag us (@TheTFortWorth) on Facebook and Twitter during your trip.
Want to explore even more? Visit https://ridetrinitymetro.org/ to see our routes to popular destinations like Tarrant County College Campuses.
Eastbound State Hwy. 114 to Close Saturday Night East of Texan Trail
March 8, 2018
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS – The eastbound lanes of State Highway 114 east of Texan Trail will be closed beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 10, and will reopen at 5 a.m. Sunday, March 11, while construction continues on the new TEXRail train bridge from Grapevine into Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. During that time, concrete beams will be placed on the new pillars for the bridge.
This is the first closure needed for installing beams and constructing the 1,400-foot-long bridge over the next couple months. The new bridge will have one track for TEXRail and is being built with the ability for a second set of tracks to be installed.
Additionally, eastbound State Highway 114 (connector ramp) frontage road between Texan Trail and International Parkway will be closed between 8 p.m. Monday, March 12, and 5 a.m. Tuesday, March 13.
Detours will be:
- From State Highway 121 northbound – vehicles will be directed to exit at the Main Street / Texan Trail exit. Vehicles will continue down the frontage road past Texan Trail and will be able to enter State Highway 114 again prior to International Parkway.
- From State Highway 114 southbound – vehicles will be directed to exit at the Texan Trail exit. Vehicles will continue down the frontage road past Texan Trail and will be able to enter State Highway 114 again prior to International Parkway.
Detour:
Funding partnership makes riding Molly the Trolley free again
Fort Worth residents and visitors will now be able to ride around downtown for free on Trinity Metro’s Molly the Trolley, thanks to subsidies from the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. and Sundance Square. Downtown hotels are also helping pay for the service, including the Omni, Worthington Renaissance, Sheraton, Hilton, Embassy Suites and Blackstone Courtyard. The fare-free service begins Thursday, March 1.
“We are excited to provide Molly service at no cost to customers, and we appreciate the participation of our community partners to make that happen,” said Paul Ballard, president and CEO of Trinity Metro. “Molly has always been a popular route for getting to the many downtown attractions.”
Having a downtown trolley helps convention goers and travelers take a quick tour of downtown or hop off and visit local shops and restaurants.
“Molly the Trolley is a crucial part of the downtown visitor experience,” said Bob Jameson, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Public transportation is a coveted amenity that many convention planners and other visitors consider when choosing a destination. The CVB is happy to help subsidize Molly the Trolley because this service is a win for downtown and the future of tourism.”
Molly the Trolley is a familiar sight downtown with its distinctive green paint and wood panels on the sides. With stops throughout downtown, the circulator is a popular choice among residents and tourists.
“Sundance Square is pleased to once again sponsor this service and provide rides to our customers and guests,” said Johnny Campbell, president and CEO of Sundance Square “For years this has been a very popular service for hotel guests who visit to easily move around downtown Fort Worth and enjoy everything Sundance Square has to offer.“
Rick Baumeister, chairman DFWI Board of Directors, shared that sentiment.
“We look forward to the increased ridership on Molly with this change in fare structure,” Baumeister said. “We are pleased to partner with the CVB, Sundance Square, downtown hotels and Trinity Metro to bring this valued service back to Downtown.”
The cost of operating Molly the Trolley is approximately $1 million each year. The Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., Sundance Square and downtown hotels will be contributing a total of nearly $136,800 annually to help offset some of that cost.
Molly runs every 15 minutes every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.