 | |
As Cities Look to Pull Back Funding, North Texas Residents Say They Want More Transit
dallasnews.com
As Dallas-Fort Worth roads become more congested, some residents have signaled they want more transportation options at a time when members of the area’s largest transit agency want to cut funding.
A survey of more than 4,400 people by the North Central Texas Council of Governments shows residents feel “frustrated and limited” when it comes to transportation in the region. Among respondents’ biggest complaints: roadway infrastructure isn’t keeping pace with growth, transit options are inconvenient, and walking and biking are limited by current infrastructure. Planners are collecting public input as part of Mobility 2050, a forward-looking transportation plan for North Central Texas.
About 48% of respondents indicated expanding public transit options is the biggest challenge they see impacting the region in the future, while 37% said it’s reducing traffic congestion.
The results, discussed during a hybrid meeting Monday, come as deliberations continue between Dallas Area Rapid Transit and six of its 13 member cities that support pulling back their funding to the agency by 25%. City officials said in an October meeting they wanted DART to sign onto an agreement by Nov. 11 that would create a general mobility program to rebate cities up to 25% of their tax contributions for mobility projects. If that doesn’t happen, officials have said they will ask state legislators to amend the Texas Transportation Code, which provides the mechanism for the one-cent sales tax DART collects from member cities.
Read More
|  | |
DART Says Lack of Mass Transit is Biggest Challenge for 2026 FIFA World Cup Transportation Planning
wfaa.com
Dallas Area Rapid Transit is looking ahead to the transportation plan for when the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North Texas.
The transit agency Tuesday provided an update on its planning for the tournament, which is estimated to bring 30,000 to 40,000 fans to North Texas.
There will be regional coordination to get fans to events and matches. North Texas is hosting nine matches, including a semi-final, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington as part of the quadrennial tournament.
It was announced in February that AT&T Stadium would host a semi-final match, a round of 16 match, two round of 32 matches, and five group stage matches, for a total of nine matches -- the most of any site in the tournament.
Fair Park will be home to various fan festivals, while the international broadcasting center will be at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
All costs for additional service, administration and fare revenue loss will be reimbursed by the North Central Council of Governments. Outlined in the most recent DART report, the biggest challenge is every city hosting events does not have mass transit.
To get fans to Arlington, Trinity Railway Express or TRE will run at peak frequency with maximum car lengths and utilize a private shuttle to AT&T Stadium. In addition, up to 50 DART vehicles will use Interstate 30 to get from Victory Station to a bus staging area near the stadium.
Read More
|  | |
Leader of Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to Step Down, Join Trinity Metro
aol.com
Anette Landeros, the president and CEO of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, will be leaving the organization to serve as chief strategy officer for Trinity Metro, the chamber announced on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
Landeros’ last day with the chamber will be De. 13; she has led the chamber for five years.
While leading the chamber, Landeros oversaw the organization’s growth and focused on increasing economic opportunities for Hispanic, minority and women-owned businesses. She recently co-signed Mayor Mattie Parker’s letter to Fort Worth ISD board members, urging them to improve students’ test scores.
Read More
| |
|
The Unofficial Opening of the 2025 Session of the Texas Legislature
dallasnews.com
Tuesday (Nov 12) marks the unofficial beginning of the 89th Texas legislative session as lawmakers begin filing some of the bills they hope reach Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk next year.
Lawmakers in the Texas House and Senate began “pre-filing” legislation, giving a first glimpse into the topics they want to tackle when the Legislature gavels in for the first day on Jan. 14.
Rep. Terri Leo Wilson, R-Galveston, had the first filed bill, which would prohibit undocumented immigrants from receiving in-state tuition. Under House Bill 160, a university or college must notify law enforcement if officials become aware that a student is undocumented.
Legislation from Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, would ban social media accounts for those under age 18.
Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, filed a bill that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, up from $7.25.
Read More
| |
RideCo Launches Multi-Modal Service in Tulsa with Kuba, Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority and DART
masstransitmag.com
In partnership with Kuba, Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority (MTTA) and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), RideCo has launched a new function in the transit app GoPass®, allowing riders to experience multimodal trips using a single app. The app now allows riders in the Tulsa, Okla., region to plan, book and pay for whatever combination of fixed route, micro-transit, or paratransit services they use.
"From the outset we had a vision for offering every member of our community a streamlined multi-modal experience, using a single app that would provide flexible options while being highly efficient and cost effective for MTTA," said MTTA General Manager Scott Marr. "Working with RideCo and Kuba provided our agency with a platform that catapulted us to a completely new level with better service for riders and a 14 percent reduction in cost due to efficiencies gained."
MTTA initially launched a micro-transit program in the spring of 2023 branded as MicroLink. This was implemented to better service the needs of the community by providing more flexible transit options using software that was ultimately capable of enabling both microtransit and paratransit services. Based on the early success of the microtransit program, MTTA re-launched its paratransit service, branded LinkAssist. Now that both services are operated on the flexible RideCo platform, MTTA is commingling the fleets to provide more options for riders and achieve greater efficiencies and cost reductions for the agency.
Read More
| |
Navigate North Texas traffic, Highways and Transit with Updated App for Travelers
keranews.com
North Texas travelers have a customized tool to help them reach their destinations.
The updated 511DFW Travel Information System, launched Nov. 4 in the Fort Worth-Dallas area, is available to travelers to guide them to make better decisions about their mode of transportation and transit routes as well as links to Mobility Assistance Patrols.
The free system — available in English and Spanish at www.511DFW.org — provides real-time travel information, including highway conditions and transit agency routes.
The system, administered by the North Central Texas Council of Governments since 2017, also includes information about traffic speeds, toll lane facilities, traffic signals, highway incidents, construction zones, EV charging stations, off-road walk and bike paths, traffic camera snapshots and special events.
The site also includes routes and services from local transit agencies, including Fort Worth-based Trinity Metro, Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Denton County Transportation Authority.
Read More
| |
America Awakens to High-Speed Rail
smartcitiesdive.com
For the first time in the U.S., two dedicated high-speed rail lines are being built from the ground up in California and Nevada, while more are being planned in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington. As soon as 2028, riders may be able to travel between Las Vegas and Southern California at up to 200 mph. Although such bullet trains are common in Europe, China and Japan, high costs and contentious political battles have slowed the technology in the United States.
But the times may be changing, say leaders and advocates of high-speed rail projects. They believe the U.S. could be at the dawn of a new, high-tech manufacturing industry for these trains and the infrastructure they require, which could create jobs and offer travelers a safer, more sustainable alternative to congested roads and the hassles of flying.
Read More
| |
