(FORT WORTH, TX – Nov. 10, 2021) – The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has honored Trinity Metro with the 2021 Rail COVID-19 Gold Award for Commuter/Intercity Rail. The award was bestowed as part of the 2021 Bus and Rail Safety, Security and COVID Response Excellence Awards, which recognize advancements in the transit industry across North America.
At the onset of the pandemic, Trinity Metro quickly implemented plans for safe operations, clear communications agency-wide, and reduced risk of contact for all. The agency implemented enhanced cleaning and safety measures. Social distancing, reduced seating capacity and mask wearing quickly became the new normal.
The agency created a safe environment for passengers and promoted that through a marketing campaign to encourage everyone to get on board and to provide assurances that their safety was the top priority.
A critical strategy throughout was to communicate with employees and customers to keep everyone informed about the latest developments. Throughout the pandemic, the agency often had to pivot and adaptability was key to successfully executing plans.
For more information about the awards, see the Railway Age and Progressive Railroading articles.
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.