(FORT WORTH, TX – July 18, 2019) – Trinity Metro introduces a new service to help employees in the Mercantile area get to work; ZIPZONE. Beginning Monday, July 22, The Mercantile ZIPZONE easily connects TEXRail and bus commuters who travel to the Mercantile Center Station.
Trinity Metro leadership and Board of Directors, together with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Mercantile area City Council Members Carlos Flores, District 2 and Cary Moon, District 4; and Council Member Brian Byrd, will launch the inaugural service on Monday, July 22. The esteemed group will ride Trinity Metro TEXRail and connect to Trinity Metro Mercantile ZIPZONE. Media is invited to attend from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Gourley Plaza Office Building, 2601 Meacham Boulevard. The new ZIPZONE vehicles will be on-site and photo opportunities will be available.
How ZIPZONE works
Powered by Via, the Trinity Metro Mercantile ZIPZONE is a premier rideshare option for bus and train customers to complete their commute. Via’s advanced algorithms enable riders to efficiently rideshare in the vehicle. The powerful technology directs passengers to a nearby virtual bus stop within a short walking distance for pick up and drop off, allowing quick shared trips without lengthy detours or inconvenient fixed services.
Via operates successful on-demand public transportation systems in neighboring cities of Arlington and Austin. More than 175,000 trips have been taken with Via’s Arlington service since the city’s pilot program launched in December 2017, earning a 97 percent approval rating from users.
The Mercantile ZIPZONE will operate 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. There will be no charge to use the service at launch. After the free period, rides will vary $1 to $3.
Trinity Metro has partnered with the City of Fort Worth to provide funding for Mercantile ZIPZONE for the one-year pilot project. The city has dedicated $500,000; the remaining $500,000 is part of Trinity Metro’s operating budget.
“Mercantile ZIPZONE expands the range of options offered by Trinity Metro to ease the burden of commuters who want and need to connect to this live, work and play destination,” said Wayne Gensler, Trinity Metro vice president and chief operating officer for bus and paratransit. “We are proud to work with the City of Fort Worth while we look at innovative ways to solve the first mile-last mile challenges in our area.
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 10 million passenger trips on buses, 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 from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.