FIFA Buses, New Safety Guidelines, New Service, & More

News & Updates

April 12, 2024 Issue

Save the Date! TCNT Annual Luncheon, September 20, 2024

NCTCOG to Seek Funds for Buses Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

communityimpact.com

The North Central Texas Council of Governments plans to seek grant money for purchasing electric buses ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after action from the Regional Transportation Council on April 11.

The RTC gave staff the go-ahead to seek more than $52 million from two competitive grant programs operated by the Federal Transit Administration. Staff will seek approval from the NCTCOG’s executive board before submitting the application April 25.

If awarded, the money would be used to purchase up to 59 electric buses in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a staff presentation. Grant awards are expected to be announced in July.

US, Japan Signal Support for Texas High-Speed Rail Plan

theprint.in

The governments of the United States and Japan signaled support for a plan to build the first high-speed rail in the U.S. using Japanese bullet trains after their leaders met in Washington on Wednesday.

Reuters exclusively reported this week that President Joe Biden is seeking to revive interest in the project linking the Texas cities of Dallas and Houston and was likely to raise the issue during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s state visit.

The project was among several named in a fact sheet published by the White House after the talks outlining “political understandings” that were affirmed during the visit.

DCTA: New Dispatching Technology Enhances Performance

crosstimbersgazette.com

Denton County Transportation Authority took a major step forward this year with the implementation of a new transit mobility platform for the Access Paratransit Service that benefits our elderly and disabled customers. The new program manages high rider demand with scheduling and automated dispatch management, resulting in a modern and easier operation.

Since implementation, DCTA has seen an increase in on-time performance (OTP). The mobility service team reported a boost on overall OTP by 15% in March.

“The implementation of this technology is another example of our Board of Directors’ and staff s’ vision coming to fruition, further enhancing DCTA’s effectiveness and utility for our customers. We continue to enhance the value of the agency to our member cities and position the agency to be a leader in meeting the complex transportation challenges facing our member cities, Denton County, and the region amid such tremendous growth,” said Paul Cristina, DCTA’s Chief Executive Officer.

New Federal Guidelines Address Transit Worker, Passenger Safety

tpr.org

The Federal Transit Administration on Tuesday announced new guidelines addressing safety for transit workers and passengers on trains and buses.

The new rules address longstanding issues such as assaults on transit workers, collisions and exposure to infectious diseases for agencies like Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Trinity Metro.

The updated National Public Transportation Safety Plan calls on transit agencies to set safety goals based on a new set of criteria "in cooperation with frontline employee representatives."

The criteria include metrics for collisions, injuries, assaults and fatalities. It also maintains that "assaults" include non-violent and verbal assaults that are recorded in the National Transit Database.

DART spokesperson Jeamy Molina told KERA in an email that the agency has been aware of the updated guidelines since they were proposed last year.

Trinity Metro Hosts Grand-Opening Event for New Train Station

informedinfrastructure.com

A crowd of transit enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Trinity Lakes Station in east Fort Worth. The station is one of 10 stops for Trinity Railway Express (TRE), the commuter rail line offering service between Fort Worth and Dallas.

Trinity Metro was joined by representatives of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Tarrant County Commissioners Court, Fort Worth City Council and other leaders and stakeholders across North Texas. The celebration included a grand-opening ceremony and a ribbon-cutting to commemorate the new train station for Trinity Railway Express.

Richard Andreski, President and CEO of Trinity Metro, summarized the significance of the event by saying, “This train station is about mobility; it’s about connecting communities,” he said. “What this station represents is the future of our city. People depend on reliable transportation to get to work, to visit family and to participate in their community – and rail transit is a big part of that.”

Mansfield to Offer Trinity Metro's Ride Share Service this Summer

mansfieldtexas.gov

The City of Mansfield is partnering to bring the Trinity Metro On-Demand rideshare service to the community this summer.

The Regional Transportation Council and City of Mansfield will offer a six-month pilot micro-transit program starting July 15. Customers can use the GoPass app or call a car to pick them up and drop them off at any location within city limits.

“We have heard from residents who need this service to be more independent and get to work or a doctor’s appointment,” Mayor Michael Evans said. “This partnership allows us to help those in need in our community, provide another transportation option for all, and keep Mansfield moving.”

Transit Coalition of North Texas

TransitNorthTexas.org