Author: Laura Hanna

(FORT WORTH, TX – July 22, 2021) – To align with recent changes to the ‎CDC guidelines and FTA requirements, Trinity Metro is lifting the requirement to wear masks, but only when outdoors at the agency’s transit hubs.

Passengers and employees do not need to wear masks at Fort Worth Central Station or other station or stop while they are out of doors walking around or waiting for a train or bus at an outside platform or stop. And they are free to remove their masks when they go out of doors after exiting a train, bus, or ‎indoor portion of a station.‎

However, the federal mask requirement is still in place for everyone when on board one of the buses or trains or when indoors at a station. Masks remain required for anyone boarding a Trinity Metro bus, a ZIPZONE vehicle, or TEXRail or TRE train, or entering our building at Fort Worth Central Station or Fort Worth T&P Station. Refusing to wear a mask, unless exempted or excluded under the CDC guidelines, is a violation ‎of federal law and failure to comply will result in denial of boarding or removal, and passengers ‎may be subject to federal penalties.‎

Although no longer requiring face coverings in outdoor areas, the CDC continues to recommend ‎people who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask in these areas ‎to protect themselves and ‎others‎. ‎

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 – July 22, 2021) – Now that more people are returning to work downtown, Trinity Metro is resuming service on the Lunch Line on Monday, July 26. The circulator, which operates 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, will offer a cool transit option during the increasing Texas heat. Lunch Line offers 15-minute frequency and convenient stops near Sundance Square and Burnett Plaza.

As a reminder, masks are required on board through Sept. 13.

(FORT WORTH, TX – June 23, 2021) – Chad Edwards, a public transit professional with more than 20 years of experience, has joined Trinity Metro as Vice President of Planning & Development. In his new role, Edwards will oversee planning, scheduling, government relations, facilities, grants and project management.

He previously served as the assistant director and regional mobility and innovation officer for the City of Fort Worth, where he managed the Transit Moves Fort Worth transit plan to create a 25-year projection for future transit investment. His other experience includes working as an assistant vice president for capital planning at DART and as program manager at the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG),

“I’m excited about the opportunity to join Trinity Metro as we all continue working for better transportation options and greater mobility for our region,” Edwards said.

Edwards earned a Bachelor of Arts in geography with a minor in environmental studies from Texas Tech University. He earned a Master of City and Regional Planning and a graduate certificate in geographic information systems from the University of Texas at Arlington. He serves as the co-chair of the Metropolitan & Municipality Planning Subcommittee for the American Public Transportation Association and as a member of the Surface Transportation Technical Committee for NCTCOG.

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 – June 16, 2021) – The East Lancaster Avenue community is invited to complete a brief survey to provide vital feedback on the future vision of the historic corridor between downtown Fort Worth and beyond Interstate 820.

Taking the survey will help Trinity Metro and the City of Fort Worth create a transit-oriented development (TOD) plan to design a more connected, accessible, and thriving East Lancaster Avenue corridor through the implementation of local high-capacity transit and surrounding economic development.

High-capacity transit has the ability to bypass traffic and avoid delays by operating in a dedicated lane. Establishing local high-capacity transit can provide not only convenient transit options, but economic opportunities to the surrounding communities through mixed-use development of commercial, residential, office and entertainment centered around or located near each transit station, while creating a sense of community. Input will influence the design and economic development around proposed stations and support project plans to be compiled and presented to the Fort Worth City Council for approval.

We want to make sure your voice is heard. Complete the online survey by July 19, 2021, or fill out a hard copy survey at one of the following locations.

• Eugene McCray Community Center Park
• Sycamore Community Center
• Handley Meadowbrook Community Center
• Fort Worth Library – Meadowbrook
• Fort Worth Library – East Regional

About the Advancing East Lancaster plan

As the region continues to grow, we want communities to evolve as well. High-capacity transit has the ability to bypass traffic and avoid delays by operating in a dedicated lane. Establishing local high-capacity transit can provide not only convenient transit options, but economic opportunities to the surrounding communities through mixed-use development of commercial, residential, office and entertainment centered around or located near each transit station, while creating a sense of community. Help us determine what the corridor could look like and its future possibilities.

This project is led by the City of Fort Worth and Trinity Metro in coordination with the consultant firm Kimley-Horn.

Media Contact:

Robin Baker

Public Involvement Manager

rbaker@kstrategies.com

(828) 406-7338

(Arlington, Texas – June 8, 2021) —  North Texans  have several opportunities in June and July to provide their feedback on the ongoing update to the regional public transportation coordination plan, Access North Texas. 

The North Central Texas Council of Governments has scheduled virtual public meetings for noon Wednesday, June 9; 6 p.m. Thursday, June 10; and 11 a.m. Saturday, June 12, to allow Collin County residents a chance to learn about the plan and the update process. Meeting attendees are encouraged to provide feedback to planners about their experiences with transportation, challenges they have faced and their future needs.

Additionally, they can provide input through an online survey at www.accessnorthtexas.org. Surveys are available in English or Spanish through July 31, regardless of attendance at a meeting. A separate survey is available for agency representatives.

A virtual public meeting series is also scheduled for June 16-17 for residents of Hood, Somervell and Erath counties. Additional virtual meetings will be held over the next few weeks for Denton, Dallas, Tarrant and Kaufman counties to help transportation planners update Access North Texas. Multiple meetings are planned for each county, with daytime, evening and some Saturday options available in an effort to accommodate different schedules. Residents can find registration links on the Access North Texas website, www.accessnorthtexas.org. Once registered, they will be sent a link to access the meeting virtually.

The process to update Access North Texas began in April and will culminate in the adoption of the latest version of the plan next year. Meetings to discuss needs for Hunt, Johnson, Rockwall, Ellis, Navarro, Parker Palo Pinto and Wise counties have already been held but residents of these counties can still provide feedback through the surveys available on the Access North Texas website.

As the regional public transportation coordination plan, Access North Texas identifies the transportation needs of older adults, individuals with disabilities and individuals with lower incomes.

The strategies identified in this plan will shape planning and funding decisions for public transportation in the region over the next four years. The plan includes prioritized strategies at the county and regional levels to improve access to work, medical appointments, education and the community.

A coordinated public transit-human services plan is required by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the current federal transportation bill. Furthermore, Texas requires coordination among transportation providers, health and human service agencies, and workforce boards.

Residents can request a paper copy of the survey, the presentation, or any other meeting or survey accommodation through email at accessnorthtexas@nctcog.org or by calling 817-695-9240.

About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:

NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG’s purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication and make joint decisions.

NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered on the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. Currently, NCTCOG has 238 member governments including 16 counties, 169 cities, 22 school districts and 31 special districts. For more information on the NCTCOG Transportation Department, visit www.nctcog.org/trans. 

Contact:

Brian Wilson

(817) 704-2511

bwilson@nctcog.org