(FORT WORTH, TX – Oct. 6, 2020) – Throughout early voting and on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 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. 13-30 and on Election Day, Nov. 3.
The Tarrant County Commissioners Court approved a partnership with transportation services in Tarrant County to pay for customer trips to voting locations, with an amount not to exceed $20,000.
“We are trying to give every eligible voter in Tarrant County the ability to vote in the November 2020 election,” Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley said. “We are offering free rides on as many public transit providers as possible, including accessible services for the elderly and mobility-impaired as well as on-demand service in Arlington and Fort Worth. These 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 pleased for the opportunity this partnership provides.
“Voting is an important right and we want to do our part to help voters get to the polls,” Gensler said. “We appreciate the Tarrant County Commissioners Court for funding this initiative.”
The transit services included in the program are Trinity Metro’s bus routes, Near Southside ZIPZONE, Crowley ZIPZONE, Mercantile ZIPZONE, ACCESS paratransit, plus Tarrant County Transportation Services (TCTS), Northeast Transportation Services (NETS), and Arlington’s Via and Handitran. For ZIPZONE riders in Crowley, Mercantile and Near Southside, free rides will be determined by the pickup’s or destination’s proximity to a voting location.
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.
Those who qualify and want to ride to vote on ACCESS, TCTS, NETS or Handitran should call the provider at least 48 hours ahead of the trip to schedule their free ride to any of the voting locations.
To use Via’s on-demand service in Arlington, riders simply download Via’s app and enter the address of a Vote Center within Via’s service area or call 817-784-7382 to schedule a ride by phone. The rider will not be charged for trips scheduled to or from a vote center location.
For questions about Trinity Metro’s services, call 817-215-8600.