Author: Laura Hanna

THURSDAY, NOV. 25, 2021 Regular service TEXRail Alliance ZIPZONE The Dash Molly the Trolley Modified service Buses, Southside ZIPZONE and ACCESS paratransit operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule. No Trinity Railway Express No Mercantile or South Tarrant ZIPZONE service. Customer care locations, including the Ticket Sales Kiosk at Fort Worth Central Station and the Ticket Sales Center at 800 Cherry St., are closed. Customer care representatives are available 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at 817-215-8600. FRIDAY, NOV. 26, 2021 Regular service Buses TEXRail ACCESS paratransit All ZIPZONE services The Dash Molly the Trolley Modified service Trinity Railway Express (TRE) operating on Saturday schedule Ticket Sales Kiosk at Fort Worth Central Station open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Ticket Sales Center at 800 Cherry St. closed Customer care representatives are available 5 a.m.-10 p.m. at 817-215-8600.

(FORT WORTH, TX – Nov. 10, 2021) – The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has honored Trinity Metro with the 2021 Rail COVID-19 Gold Award for Commuter/Intercity Rail. The award was bestowed as part of the 2021 Bus and Rail Safety, Security and COVID Response Excellence Awards, which recognize advancements in the transit industry across North America.

At the onset of the pandemic, Trinity Metro quickly implemented plans for safe operations, clear communications agency-wide, and reduced risk of contact for all. The agency implemented enhanced cleaning and safety measures. Social distancing, reduced seating capacity and mask wearing quickly became the new normal.

The agency created a safe environment for passengers and promoted that through a marketing campaign to encourage everyone to get on board and to provide assurances that their safety was the top priority.

A critical strategy throughout was to communicate with employees and customers to keep everyone informed about the latest developments. Throughout the pandemic, the agency often had to pivot and adaptability was key to successfully executing plans.

For more information about the awards, see the Railway Age and Progressive Railroading articles. 

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, providing passenger trips on buses, TEXRail, ACCESS paratransit, ZIPZONEs, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

 

Have an opinion about public transportation in River Oaks? Plan to attend a public hearing Nov. 22 with Trinity Metro and the City of River Oaks to listen to options and share your feedback.

A virtual public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, to discuss the environmental assessment pertaining to the proposed 2.1 mile extension of the TEXRail commuter rail line. Participants can use this link to register and to access the meeting. 

The Environment Assessment is now available on the project website and the comments are welcome Nov. 1-30, 2021.

TEXRail, which operates between Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B, is proposing an extension to the Fort Worth Medical District. In Fall 2020, Trinity Metro began conducting the Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Engineering for a 2.1-mile TEXRail extension project. Commuter rail service would continue south from the Fort Worth T&P Station to a proposed new station south of Mistletoe Boulevard, near Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center. 

For more information, visit the project website to comment or view public input.

(FORT WORTH, TX – Oct. 26, 2021) – Trinity Metro President and CEO Bob Baulsir, who has led the agency since April 2019, is retiring as of Oct. 31, 2021 because of ongoing health issues. Baulsir joined Trinity Metro in November 2014 and was instrumental in constructing and launching TEXRail, the commuter rail line between Fort Worth and DFW Airport’s Terminal B.

During Baulsir’s tenure, the agency also started The Dash, the battery-electric bus route, plus ZIPZONE services in Mercantile, Southside and South Tarrant. In addition, A Better Connection was implemented in September to provide a new, more efficient bus network. Plans are underway for a TEXRail extension to the Fort Worth Medical District.

On Monday, the Trinity Metro Board of Directors named Paul J Ballard as the interim president and CEO. He preceded Baulsir in the role and retired in April 2019 after serving at the helm for five years.

“We are really sorry to see Bob leave the agency, and we are so very grateful for everything he has done for Trinity Metro and public transportation in North Texas,” said Trinity Metro Board Chairman Jeff Davis. “While we search for a permanent replacement, we are delighted that Paul has agreed to step in and fill the void.”

While Ballard serves as the interim president and CEO, the Board of Directors will be working with the executive search firm Krauthamer & Associates, LLC to conduct a national search for a permanent replacement.

Under Ballard’s leadership, the agency rebranded to Trinity Metro, developed a transit master plan and implemented new services, including TEXRail, Alliance ZIPZONE, bus service north of I-820, and the EASYRIDE commuter program. In addition, he developed a partnership with Tarrant County College for Trinity Metro to provide service to all TCC locations and the college to pay the fares for student rides.

Shortly after leaving Trinity Metro, Ballard served as interim general manager and CEO for the Regional Transportation District in Denver.

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, providing passenger trips on buses, TEXRail, ACCESS paratransit, ZIPZONEs, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

(FORT WORTH, TX – Oct. 20, 2021) – On Saturday, 40 teams will hit the streets to participate in Trinity Metro’s second annual Bus Stop Clean Up Day.

“The event is a widespread community effort to make sure our bus stops are clean and appealing to provide a great transit experience,” said Detra Whitmore, vice president of customer experience and the driving force behind the event. “Our volunteers are from companies, organizations and community groups throughout our service area. We are so excited to have so much participation.”

The day kicks off with breakfast and opening remarks. Then the teams go to their designated routes to pick up trash, clean, or trim weeds and grass. Afterwards, everyone reconvenes for lunch and the awards for Most Creative Team Name.

About Bus Stop Clean Up Day

The first clean up event, which had 37 teams, was held in 2019 to help beautify bus stops throughout Trinity Metro’s service area. Sponsors for this year’s event are Locke Lord Law Firm, Central Market, Cox Racing, Tolar, and Keep Fort Worth Beautiful. 

Trinity Metro and the sponsors provide safety vests, gloves, trash bags and T-shirts to all volunteers.

(FORT WORTH, TX – Oct. 20, 2021) – Route 71 Forest Hill will cease operations after 6:50 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22.

The nearest public transportation options provided by Trinity Metro include multiple bus stops along Mansfield Highway for route 25 Miller/E. Seminary and route 28 Mansfield Highway/Sierra Vista. In addition, just to the west of Forest Hill, the South Tarrant ZIPZONE provides on-demand ridesharing service within certain boundaries including Crowley, Everman and portions of south Fort Worth. 

Please contact Customer Care at 817-215-8600 for assistance in identifying the closest alternative.

(FORT WORTH, TX – Oct. 19, 2021) – Throughout early voting and on Tuesday, Nov. 2, Tarrant County voters will be able to catch free rides to the polls on Trinity Metro and other transit providers.

Riders can show their voter registration card or current Texas ID and ride for free during early voting Oct. 18-29 and on Election Day, Nov. 2.

The Tarrant County Commissioners Court approved a partnership on Tuesday with transportation services in Tarrant County to pay for customer trips to voting locations, with an amount not to exceed $30,000.

This is not the first time the county has teamed up with transportation providers to offer free rides to the polls. During the November 2020 election, more than 5,800 free trips to voting locations were provided through this program.

“Access to transportation should not be a barrier that prevents people from exercising their right to vote,” said Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley. “Tarrant County is once again offering free rides to polling locations, including accessible services for the elderly and mobility-impaired, as well as on-demand service in Arlington and Fort Worth. These free rides will be available during early voting and on Election Day.”

Wayne Gensler, vice president and chief operating officer for bus and paratransit at Trinity Metro, said he is happy to partner with the Tarrant County Commissioners Court on providing rides to the polls.

“We want to give everyone an opportunity to cast a ballot during early voting and on Election Day,” Gensler said. “We are grateful to the Tarrant County Commissioners Court for providing funding for these rides.”

The transit services included in the program are Trinity Metro’s bus routes, ZIPZONE services,  ACCESS paratransit, plus Tarrant County Transportation Services (TCTS), Northeast Transportation Services (NETS), and Arlington’s Via and Handitran. For ZIPZONE riders, free rides will be determined by the pickup’s or destination’s proximity to a voting location.  

To use Via’s on-demand service in Arlington, download the Via app, enter the address of a Vote Center within Via’s service area, and use promo code ARNVOTE2021

Tarrant County has multiple locations for early voting and a list of locations for Election Day. 

For questions or to schedule a ride:

Trinity Metro (bus, rail, ACCESS, and ZIPZONE) 817-215-8600
Northeast Transportation Service (NETS) 817-336-8714
Tarrant County Transportation Service (TCTS) 817-336-8714
Arlington Via 817-784-7382
Arlington Handitran 817-459-5390

(FORT WORTH, TX – Oct. 18, 2021) – For James McNair and Elizabeth Leamon, love struck when they least expected it. The setting wasn’t on a moonlit beach or a romantic restaurant – it was on the Trinity Railway Express platform at Bell Station.

James and Beth first became acquainted in June 2015 while waiting on the TRE to commute to work. He traveled to Fort Worth while she was headed to Dallas. Being a passenger for many years, Beth always had “her spot” on the platform and was familiar with the usual morning crowd. One morning, she noticed someone different was waiting nearby. James did not catch her eye, and for several mornings they didn’t speak.

When they began conversing, it was casual and friendly. After several weeks of morning conversations, romance began to bloom and a growing fondness was evident. They started arriving even earlier (like 5:30 a.m.) for their scheduled departure and would bring each other treats such as a snack or drink.

James mentioned that his birthday was Aug. 1, and Beth took the opportunity to ask him out to dinner for his birthday. They had a romantic dinner and confessed their love for one another.  

It’s fitting that the couple met at “Bell” because “wedding bells” were soon in the air. The Bell platform was where they first hugged, where they visited on their first anniversary, and it’s where James proposed last October.

On Oct. 17, the romance came full circle when Beth and James were married on the Bell platform.

“When we got engaged, we didn’t even have to think twice about where we would get married,” Beth said. “So many of our memories are connected to the train station that we couldn’t think of a more perfect – or romantic – venue!”