Category: Uncategorized

TEX Rail Receives FTA Approval to Enter Engineering Phase

Regulatory Milestone Allows The T to Move Toward Construction and Order Rail Cars

FORT WORTH (June 3, 2015) – Trinity Metro announced today that it has received approval from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to advance TEX Rail into the Engineering Phase that immediately precedes the start of construction. Entering Engineering also authorizes Trinity Metro to place its order for the manufacture of rail vehicles so they can be completed, delivered, tested, and with time for operation training for staff prior to TEX Rail starting service in 2018.

The TEX Rail commuter rail will run on a 27-mile corridor with 10 stations from downtown Fort Worth, northeast across Tarrant County to Grapevine and into Terminal B at DFW Airport. It will have a projected average daily ridership of more than10,000 in its initial year of service.

“In addition to our appreciation for the Fort Worth FTA Region VI guidance and support through TEX Rail’s pre-construction phase, I also want to thank Trinity Metro’s TEX Rail Team, our TEX Rail partners, other stakeholders, and the TEX Rail Design Team. It was all of these entities working together that resulted in TEX Rail accomplishing this timely goal,” said Scott Mahaffey, Chair of Trinity Metro’s Board of Directors.

Trinity Metro Board Approves Several Contracts at Board Meeting Today

FORT WORTH (April 27, 2015) – The Board of Directors of the Trinity Metro approved several contracts related to TEX Rail at its meeting today.

The TEX Rail commuter rail will run on a 27-mile corridor from downtown Fort Worth, northeast across Tarrant County to Grapevine and into Terminal B at DFW Airport. It will have a projected average daily ridership of 10,000 in its initial year of service.

Contract for Pre-Construction Services
The Trinity Metro Board authorized a contract with Archer Western/Herzog Joint Venture (JV) for Pre-Construction Services to work closely with the project’s Design Team in order to achieve a more efficient and cost-effective design that has been planned and coordinated with TEX Rail’s various stakeholders.

“This contract for pre-construction services is very important because it will lay the groundwork for future construction,” said Paul Ballard, The Trinity Metro President and CEO. “It will help isolate and mitigate any construction risks, costs and schedule concerns, and will make TEX Rail construction more effective and efficient,” he said.

Contract for TEX Rail Vehicles
The Trinity Metro Board also authorized an agreement with Stadler Bussnang AG (Stadler) for the purchase of eight (8) Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) rail Vehicles.

“The Trinity Metro began the procurement process for Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) Vehicles in 2014 due to the three year average lead time for developing specifications, production, delivery and operation training for staff,” Ballard said.

Once the order has been provided, vehicle assembly will be in North Texas.

The Trinity Metro Board also approved an Action Item for Final Design for two North Richland Hills stations – the Iron Horse Station and the Smithfield Road Station, and moved forward on land purchases for the TEX Rail project.

 

President’s 2016 Federal Budget Allocates $100 million for TEX Rail

FORT WORTH (February 3, 2015) – The Trinity Metro has received notification that its commuter rail project, TEX Rail, has been allocated $100 million in the FY16 President’s Budget as a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recommended transit project.

“We are very pleased with the continued recognition by the Federal Transit Administration of the importance of this project and Trinity Metro’s partnership with that agency to meet the high standards required to be among U.S rail projects recommended for New Starts funding,” said Trinity Metro’s President and CEO Paul Ballard.

Trinity Metro’s Board Chair Scott Mahaffey also acknowledged the strong support for the project from the City of Fort Worth, the City of Grapevine, Tarrant County, and all the stakeholders.

“You are the key to our continuing with this vital commuter rail project that will connect downtown Fort Worth with Northeast Tarrant County and Grapevine and into DFW Airport,” Mahaffey said.

“This is an important partnership milestone for the region,” Mahaffey added. Mahaffey stated, “We appreciate the entire Fort Worth community’s strong support for this project; we are excited to reach this point.”

TEX Rail receives federal Record of Decision to proceed toward construction

FORT WORTH (September 29, 2014) – The Trinity Metro announced today that the TEX Rail project has received a Record of Decision (ROD) from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that could
lead to the start of construction during 2016.

A ROD issued by FTA signals formal federal approval of the TEX Rail Environmental Impact Statement.

“Achieving a Record of Decision is an acknowledgment of the importance of TEX Rail in helping to meet the growing public transportation needs in Greater Fort Worth and Tarrant County, and to provide essential connections to other transit systems across the North Central Texas region,” said Scott Mahaffey, Trinity Metro’s Board Chair.

The initial service of TEX Rail will extend from downtown Fort Worth, across northeast Tarrant County and Grapevine, and into DFW Airport at Terminal B. This 27-mile regional rail corridor is projected to have more than 10,000 daily riders at initial start of service in 2018 using eight stations. By 2035, there will be 10 stations and more than 15,500 daily riders.

“We want to acknowledge the strong regional and congressional support throughout the development and planning of TEX Rail, including FTA Region VI in Fort Worth, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Southwest Region in Fort Worth, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), and Trinity Metro’s TEX Rail partners: Tarrant County, the City of Fort Worth, the City of Grapevine, and DFW Airport,” Mahaffey said.

“These supporters, and many other community and state leaders, also were instrumental in TEX Rail’s inclusion in the President’s 2015 Budget for New Starts funding,” he said.

The New Starts process will qualify TEX Rail to eventually receive federal funding for approved expenditures of up to 50 percent of TEX Rail’s estimated capital cost.

The Record of Decision permits Trinity Metro to contract with an engineering services firm to advance engineering and to begin acquiring property necessary for stations and other property along the rail corridor.

The next major milestone in the federal New Starts Process will be after FTA provides Trinity Metro with permission to enter engineering, at which point Trinity Metro will place its order for rail vehicles, according to Mahaffey.

The last major milestone in the New Starts process will be the FTA’s awarding a Full Funding Grant Agreement that will allow for TEX Rail construction to commence.

TEX Rail final environmental document available for review and comment

* Final Environmental Impact Statement available at 35 Tarrant County locations and online

FORT WORTH, (May 19, 2014) – The Trinity Metro announced today the final environmental document for the TEX Rail project is now available for public review and comment. This moves the project toward final design and construction.

Comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for TEX Rail, the proposed commuter rail line that would carry passengers from Fort Worth to DFW International Airport, will be accepted until June 20, 2014. The FEIS presents the final evaluation of the social, economic and environmental impacts of the TEX Rail project. The document details changes to the project since completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), and subsequent Environmental Assessment (EA).

The FEIS is available for public review at 35 Tarrant County locations, as well as online at www.TEXRail.com. Information about the physical locations may be obtained by contacting Trinity Metro by email at info@TEXRail.com or by telephone at 817-215-8785.

Comments may be submitted by email and telephone also, or by postal mail to TEX Rail, 1600 E. Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, 76102. Comments also may be submitted online at www.TEXRail.com. Comments will be accepted until June 20, 2014.

TEX Rail, a project of Trinity Metro, is the local sponsor, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are the federal sponsors. Following the public comment period, responses will be incorporated into the Record of Decision (ROD) document. Upon approval of the document, the FTA would allow The T to move forward with the project.

Attached separately is a list of locations where the FEIS may be viewed.

Document analyzing TEX Rail changes available for review and comment
* Environmental Assessment document available at 36 Tarrant County locations and online

FORT WORTH (Monday January 28, 2013) – Trinity Metro announced today that a document now is available for public review and comment that presents an environmental analysis of changes to the TEX Rail project since the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was completed.

The project is being undertaken by the Trinity Metro, as the local sponsor, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as the federal sponsor. Federal regulation requires that all DEIS studies be re-evaluated by the sponsoring federal agency before filing the Final EIS (FEIS) if there have been changes to the project or potential changes in the environment. Therefore, a stand-alone Environmental Assessment (EA) has been completed that documents the changes to the project and re-evaluates the social, economic and environmental impacts. Trinity Metro is seeking public review and comment on the changes documented in the EA.

The EA is available for public review at 35 Tarrant County locations, as well as online at www.TEXRail.com. Information about the physical locations may be obtained by contacting The T by email at info@TEXRail.com or by telephone at 817-215-8785.

Comments may be submitted by email and telephone also, or by postal mail to TEX Rail, 1600 E. Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, 76102. Comments also may be submitted online at www.TEXRail.com. Comments will be accepted until March 1, 2013.

The TEX Rail project, formerly known as the Southwest-to-Northeast Rail Corridor, is a proposed 37-mile commuter rail line that would carry passengers from southwest Fort Worth, through downtown Fort Worth, on to Grapevine and into the north end of DFW Airport.

The next several pages contain a list of locations where the EA may be viewed.

TEX Rail Environmental Assessment Viewing Locations
The stand-alone EA document for TEX Rail may be found at the following locations in Tarrant County.

FORT WORTH LOCATIONS
Trinity Metro
1600 E. Lancaster Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76012
817-215-8600

Federal Transit Administration
819 Taylor St., Room 8A36
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-978-0550

Texas Department of
Transportation
Fort Worth District
2501 SW Loop 820
Fort Worth, TX 76133
817-370-6500 or 6640

Tarrant County Administration Building
County Administrator’s Office
100 East Weatherford
Fort Worth, TX 76169
817-884-1732

Fort Worth City Hall
City Secretary’s Office
1000 Throckmorton, 3rd Floor
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-392-6150

UT Arlington/Fort Worth Center
Santa Fe Station Library
1401 Jones Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-272-5988

Tarrant County College
Trinity River Campus
300 Trinity Campus Circle
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-515-1220

Mary Couts Burnett Library
Texas Christian University
2913 Lowden Street
Fort Worth, TX 76129
817-257-7117

FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCATIONS
Diamond Hill/Jarvis Branch
1300 NE 35th Street
Fort Worth, TX 76106
817-624-7331

Northside Branch
601 Park Street
Fort Worth, TX 76106
817-626-8241

Riverside Branch
2913 Yucca Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76111
817-838-6931

Butler Outreach Library Division
1801 North/South Freeway
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-338-1467

Fort Worth Central Library
500 West 3rd Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-871-7701

Ella Mae Shamblee Branch
1062 Evans Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817-392-5580

Seminary Branch
501 E. Bolt Street
Fort Worth, TX 76110
817-926-0215

Southwest Regional Library
4001 Library Lane
Fort Worth, TX 76109
817-782-9853

Wedgwood Branch
3816 Kimberly Lane
Fort Worth, TX 76133
817-292-3368

Summerglen Branch
4205 Basswood Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76137
817-232-0478

GRAPEVINE LOCATIONS
Grapevine City Hall
City Secretary’s Office
200 South Main Street
Grapevine, TX 76051
817-410-3182

Grapevine Public Library
1201 Municipal Way
Grapevine, TX 76051
817-410-3400

BENBROOK LOCATION
Benbrook Public Library
1065 Mercedes Street
Benbrook, TX 76126
817-249-6632

COLLEYVILLE LOCATIONS
Colleyville City Hall
City Secretary’s Office
100 Main Street
Colleyville, TX 76034
817-503-1130

Colleyville Public Library
110 Main Street
Colleyville, TX 76034
817-503-1150

HALTOM CITY LOCATIONS
Haltom City, City Hall
City Secretary’s Office
5024 Broadway Avenue
Haltom City, TX 76117
817-222-7749

Haltom City Library
4809 Haltom Road
Haltom City, TX 76117
817-222-7786

HURST LOCATIONS
Hurst City Hall
City Secretary’s Office
1505 Precinct Line Road
Hurst, TX 76054
817-788-7041

Hurst Public Library
901 Precinct Line Road
Hurst, TX 76053
817-788-7300

Tarrant County College Library
Northeast Campus
828 West Harwood Road
Hurst, TX 76054
817-515-6627

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS LOCATIONS
North Richland Hills City Hall
City Secretary’s Office
7301 NE Loop 820
North Richland Hills, TX 76180
817-427-6060

North Richland Hills Public Library
9015 Grand Avenue
North Richland Hills, TX 76180
817-427-6814

SOUTHLAKE LOCATIONS
Southlake City Hall
City Secretary’s Office
1400 Main Street, Suite 270
Southlake, TX 76092
817-748-8016

Southlake Library
1400 Main Street, Suite 130
Southlake, TX 76092
817-748-8243

WATAUGA LOCATIONS
Watauga City Hall
City Secretary’s Office
7105 Whitley Road
Watauga, TX 76105
817-514-5825

Watauga Public Library
7109 Whitley Road
Watauga, TX 76148
817-514-5855

REGIONAL LOCATION
North Central Texas Council of Governments
616 Six Flags Drive
Arlington, TX 76011
817-640-3300

Public meetings to present TEX Rail project changes, offer chance for input
Environmental process moving forward

FORT WORTH, (October 31, 2012) – The Trinity Metro will host one public meeting on Nov. 7 in Grapevine and two on Nov. 8 in Fort Worth to seek public comments on updated project and environmental information for TEX Rail, the new 40-mile commuter rail line in Tarrant County.

Since the completion of the draft environmental document (or Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), there has been much progress on TEX Rail resulting in some changes. The meetings are being conducted to present and explain the changes, discuss the additional environmental analysis which has occurred, and provide information about the next steps for moving TEX Rail forward.

Meeting dates, times and locations are:

Wednesday, November 7
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Grapevine Community Activities Center
1175 Municipal Way
Grapevine, TX 76051

Thursday, November 8
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Intermodal Transportation Center
1001 Jones Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Texas Department of Transportation
Regional Training Center
2501 South West Loop 820
Fort Worth, TX 76133

Federal regulation requires that all DEIS studies be re-evaluated by the sponsoring federal agency before filing the Final EIS (FEIS) if there have been changes to the project or potential changes in the environment. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which is the sponsoring agency for TEX Rail, has directed the re-evaluation analysis to be incorporated into a stand-alone Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA which will be discussed at the meetings addresses the changes that have occurred within the project and the environment since the 2008 DEIS.