Category: News Release

(FORT WORTH, TX – Dec. 28, 2020) – Trinity Metro TEXRail has received certification for Positive Train Control (PTC) from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

PTC is designed to stop a train before an accident occurs. Specific preventions include incidents created by human error, such as train-to-train collisions, derailments that occur from excessive speed or a train moving through a track switch that was left in the wrong position.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment,” said President and CEO Bob Baulsir. “FRA has very high standards and we are pleased to have achieved certification for this safety enhancement.”

The primary steps achieved this year include conducting extensive testing, known as revenue service demonstration, submitting a safety plan to FRA and achieving interoperability between host and tenant railroads. The FRA granted conditional approval last week to the safety plan and conditional certification of interoperability. Based on FRA standards, conditional certification meets the statutory certification requirement.

Reed Lanham, deputy chief operating officer for rail, oversaw the PTC implementations throughout the process. “We worked diligently to make sure we met all of the milestones, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had a small team focused on this effort, so it was possible to maintain a consistent working relationship and keep moving forward.”

Jon-Erik “AJ” Arjanen, vice president and chief operating officer for rail, praised the teamwork displayed throughout the PTC process. “I am extremely proud of Reed Lanham and his team for the resiliency and passion for excellence that they displayed to ensure that our rail system is world-class in safety.”

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, annually providing 8 million 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.

Trinity Metro joins public transit systems around the country in urging Congress to #SavePublicTransit

APTA-organized day of action and engagement will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 15

(FORT WORTH, TX – Dec. 14, 2020) – Trinity Metro is joining fellow APTA members and industry partners on Tuesday, Dec. 15, to collectively fight to #SavePublicTransit with a day of mobilization and engagement.

Organized by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), #SavePublicTransit Day will shine the light on the dire financial crisis facing the public transportation industry and urge elected officials to take immediate action.

It is critical that Congress move forward and provide emergency funding for public transit in the lame duck session before Congress recesses for the holiday. The industry is calling on Congress and the Administration to provide at least $32 billion in emergency funding to ensure that public transit agencies can survive and help our communities and nation recover from the economic fallout of the pandemic.

“Immediate action needs to be taken to address the public transportation industry’s dire financial situation so that we can continue to serve essential employees every day and can help with the nation’s economic recovery,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “The industry’s very survival is at stake.”

GoPass is the one-stop shop for all of your public transportation needs. In addition to bus and train information, you can also check out a bike from Fort Worth Bike Sharing on the app.

(FORT WORTH, TX – Oct. 13, 2020) – Vote and get a free transit ride! On select voting days during the 2020 general election, voters can ride free on Trinity Metro, Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to cast their ballot. Below is more information for each North Texas public transit agency’s Election 2020 free ride promotion:

Trinity Metro Election 2020 Free Ride Promotion

Riders can show their voter registration card or current Texas ID and ride for free during early voting Oct. 13 through 30, and on Election Day, Nov. 3. The transit services included in the program are

• Trinity Metro’s bus routes 
• Near Southside ZIPZONE, Crowley ZIPZONE and Mercantile ZIPZONE
• ACCESS paratransit, plus Tarrant County Transportation Services (TCTS)
• Northeast Transportation Services (NETS)
• Arlington’s Via and Handitran

Trinity Metro is also offering free on-demand service from Fort Worth Central Station to the drop-off ballot location in northeast Fort Worth on Tuesdays (Oct. 13, 20, 27) and Fridays (Oct. 16, 23, 30) during early voting. Riders can request this option by calling customer care at 817-215-8600 before the close of business the day prior to the ride.  

Tarrant County has multiple locations for early voting and a list of locations for Election Day. Visit the list of polling places served by Trinity Metro. For more information on Trinity Metro’s Election Day free ride promotion, visit ridetrinitymetro.org.

DCTA Election 2020 Free Ride Promotion

The agency will provide free rides for early voting on Saturday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 24; as well as on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. No voter identification is needed to ride free. Voters can ride the following DCTA services at no cost to get to a voting location:

• A-train commuter rail
• Connect Bus system (Denton and Lewisville)
• University of North Texas (UNT) Campus Shuttles
• Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand
• Downtown Denton Transit Center Evening On-Demand

Denton County voters can locate their polling places at votedenton.com or by using the Denton County interactive map. Passengers can use DCTA’s Transit Tracker system to find and track their ride via the mobile app, online, text or call the agency’s customer service team at 940-2443-0077. For trip planning, passengers can utilize the agency’s Trip Planner at RideDCTA.net.

For more information about DCTA’s Election 2020 free ride promotion, visit DCTA.net/vote.

DART Election 2020 Free Ride Promotion

DART will provide free rides to voters on the following days:

• Early voting on Saturday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 24.
• Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Free DART service will be available all day to help you get to your polling location. Voters can ride at no cost on all DART bus, light rail, Dallas Streetcar, GoLink and Paratransit service, and on the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) between EBJ Union Station and CentrePort/DFW Airport Station.

Customers who need customized trip planning can map out their ride with the “Plan” tool in the free GoPass app or use the Trip Planner on DART.org. DART Customer Service is also available at 214-979-1111 to answer questions and provide trip planning information.

For more information on riding DART to vote go to www.DART.org/Vote.  

How Voters Can Stay Safe When Riding Public Transit

All three public transit agencies recommend that riders vote early to avoid crowds. In addition, below are more tips voters who ride DCTA, DART and Trinity Metro should keep in mind to keep themselves and others safe this election season:

• Wear a face covering while riding and while at the voting location.
• Carry hand sanitizer with you to use before and after voting.
• Bring your own sanitized pen to sign any forms.
• Wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you can after leaving the voting location

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, annually providing 8 million passenger trips on buses, TEXRail, 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.

About Denton County Transportation Authority

The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) is committed to improving mobility, air quality, economic development and livability in the communities it serves. In collaboration with diverse stakeholders and partners, DCTA is a leader in advancing mobility initiatives to serve the ever-changing transit needs of riders. Formed in 2002 and funded in 2003, DCTA serves Denton, Collin and Tarrant County with a total of 21 fixed bus routes, 21-mile A-train commuter rail line, on-demand, paratransit and additional services. DCTA serves nearly 3 million passengers each year with connections to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Green Line. To learn more about how DCTA is shaping the future of North Texas, visit RideDCTA.net.

About Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is the public transit agency for Dallas and 12 surrounding North Texas cities. It operates a multi-modal network of buses, light rail, Trinity Railway Express commuter rail and paratransit. It is a global leader in the emerging field of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) which incorporates smartphone technology into fare payment and trip planning and scheduling and greater use of smaller vehicles. DART moves more than 220,000 passengers per day across its 700-square-mile service area. For more information, visit www.dart.org.

Media Contact Information:            

Laura Hanna, Trinity Metro Director of Communications

Phone: 817-215-8973 • Email: Laura.Hanna@RideTM.org

Adrienne Hamilton, DCTA Senior Marketing and Communications Manager

Phone: 972-316-6114 • Email: ahamilton@dcta.net

Gordon Shattles, DART Director of External Relations

Phone: 214-749-3010 • Email: gshattles@DART.org