News & Updates

March 15, 2024 Issue

Missed Our Webinar This Week? Check Out the Recording!

TCNT hosted a webinar on a tool that DART uses to determine the economic impact of transit facilities. TTI's Brianne Glover presented on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Materials and the recording on our website.

View Webinar

DART Aims to Retrofit Entire Fleet of Older Light-Rail Vehicles with Vinyl Seats by June


masstransitmag.com


Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) plans to retrofit its fleet of light-rail vehicles (LRVs) with a new feature aimed at improving the riding experience: Shiny blue vinyl seats. 


The vinyl seats, which DART says are “sleeker, softer and easier to clean,” are currently installed in 20 LRVs on the Orange, Green, Red and Blue Lines. The agency plans to more than double the number vehicles with the new seats by the end of March and have the entire fleet of older LRVs retrofitted and running in service by June.


The seats feature new padding and a premium vinyl finish, which helps DART continue to drive home the importance of a superior customer riding experience.


“One of the biggest things we learned coming out of the pandemic was the need to have surfaces that are easy to clean and sanitize,” said Darryl E. Spencer, P.E., DART vice president of engineering and technical services development. “These new seats will allow us to provide a cleaner, safer and more comfortable ride as we continue to modernize our system.”


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USDOT Awards $80M to Pedestrian Projects in Dallas, McKinney


communityimpact.com


The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $80 million to the North Central Texas Council of Governments on March 13 for four transportation projects in the metroplex.


The funds will be used to build pedestrian bridges and plazas over or underneath different highways at four areas in Dallas and McKinney:


I-30 Canyon project in Dallas

  • Installation of support structures for three pedestrian parks to be constructed across the interstate


Klyde Warren Park (Phase 2.0) in Dallas

  • Extension of an existing pedestrian park further west


Southern Gateway Park (Phase 2.0) in Dallas

  • Complete a pedestrian crossing’s second phase to complete the plaza and connect two roadways


Lower 5 Plaza project in McKinney

  • Construct a pedestrian plaza beneath a raised bridge within the corridor


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New STAR Transit Board Members Bring Experience and Dedication to Community


startransit.org


The recent election of Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross and Maranda Auzenne to the STAR Transit Board of Directors ensures the agency continues to be guided by diverse and experienced leadership, said Executive Director Tommy Henricks in his announcement.

...

“The addition of Elizabeth and Maranda to our board displays our ongoing commitment to having representation from across the diverse STAR Transit service area,” concluded Henricks.


STAR Transit board members are elected to four-year terms; there are no term limits. When a seat opens, the organization sends letters to the chief elected official of every county and municipality in the service area, notifying them of the opportunity to nominate an at-large member.



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How to Get Around Fort Worth Zoo Spring Break Traffic


news.yahoo.com


The Fort Worth Zoo is expected to be busy on Wednesday, thanks to half price admission and the hordes of spring breakers.


Both Fort Worth ISD and TCU are on spring break this week, meaning parents and students are on the hunt for fun activities in the city. Chief among those is a visit to the Fort Worth Zoo, which welcomed a baby gorilla last week.

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Trinity Metro’s ZipZone is offering $5 round trip fares to the zoo on spring break.


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Texas Bullet Train Between Dallas and Houston Could Become Reality. How Fast Will It Go?


aol.com


For nearly four decades, Texans have asked for a bullet train to connect the state's largest cities.

After all, Texas is big, and it can take hours to get from any major Texas city to another. On its worst days, even the 35-mile trek from Dallas to Fort Worth can take hours.


Since December, it seems to become a greater reality for Texans.

As part of a nationwide high-speed rail initiative, President Joe Biden announced on Dec. 8 the allocation of $8.2 billion in new grants for these projects, including $500,000 toward Amtrak's high-speed railway in Texas.


High-speed railway transportation, also known as bullet trains, can travel at speeds of up to 200 mph.

In Texas, the initiative would connect the state's two largest cities, Dallas and Houston, shortening the travel time from hours to 90 minutes.


Nearly 100,000 residents travel the 240-mile journey between the two cities each week — and some even more frequently, according to a 2012 study conducted by NYU's Rudin Center for Transportation.


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NCTCOG Plans for 2 Hydrogen Stations in North Texas


communityimpact.com


The AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone and Southern Dallas County Inland Port were identified as sites for two proposed hydrogen fueling stations in North Texas during a March 11 presentation.


The North Central Texas Council of Governments was awarded $70 million in January to build five hydrogen fueling stations in Texas near DFW, Houston, San Antonio and Waco. The stations will create a hydrogen fueling network for medium- to heavy-duty freight trucks.


Stations are planned for the innovation zone and inland port areas, Air Quality Planner Joslyn Billings said during the NCTCOG meeting. Seven other potential sites have been identified throughout the Texas Triangle, according to the presentation.


“We’ll be selecting the rest of the stations from the potential ones near Houston, San Antonio and Waco to complete and fill in that triangle,” Billings said.


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Transit Coalition of North Texas

TransitNorthTexas.org