TEXRail Rider Milestone, DART Budget Passed, DCTA Reups GoZone, and Much More

News & Updates

October 4, 2024 Issue

Trinity Metro TEXRail Celebrates 3 Million Rides

fortworthbusiness.com

Trinity Metro TEXRail is celebrating another milestone as the commuter rail line marks 3 million rides. The agency commemorated the occasion with a celebratory event Monday morning at Fort Worth Central Station.

The official 3 millionth rider, Lisa, was greeted on the platform at Fort Worth Central Station as she disembarked the train. President and CEO Richard Andreski congratulated her and asked out her riding experience. She touted Trinity Metro TEXRail’s convenience and said she’s glad the train is an option for her.

“I’ve ridden for over two years now, Lisa said. “Everybody should try it!”

Andreski added, “We’re rocking it! Three million riders and we’re going strong.”

How to Reach the State Fair of Texas Without Driving: Public Transit, Uber and More

lonestartlive.com

It’s easy to drive to the State Fair of Texas, with online directions and plenty of parking nearby.

But if that $30 parking space doesn’t seem worth it, there are other, cheaper ways to reach the fairgrounds.

...

Public transit

One of the cheapest options is to ride the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system. It offers single-day fares ranging from $2 to $6, depending on travel times. Parking is free at any of DART’s park-and-ride facilities.

To reach the State Fair of Texas, DART riders can take the Green Line to Fair Park Station. This stop is located right in front of the fairgrounds entrance. Passengers also can ride to MLK Jr. Station, which is a less than 10 minute walk away from Fair Park’s Gate 6.

DART is increasing train frequency and extending operating hours throughout the fair’s 24-day run. It also has a special schedule on Saturday, Oct. 12, for the Red River Showdown at Fair Park’s Cotton Bowl Stadium.

Tarrant and Denton county residents still can use public transit to reach the State Fair. The Denton County A-Train connects with DART’s Green Line at Trinity Mills Station in Carrollton, while the Trinity Railway Express connects with DART’s Green Line at Victory Station in Dallas.

DART Leases Office Space Near Future Train Station on $2B Silver Line

msn.com

Dallas Area Rapid Transit has moved into new office space in Far North Dallas after signing a 10-year lease at Knoll Trail Crossing, partly out of a desire to operate more efficiently as its network expands.

The building, at 15400 Knoll Trail Dr., is adjacent to Knoll Trail Station, a future DART commuter rail station along its forthcoming Silver Line. DART leased 4,146 square feet of the building, which spans 96,509 square feet in total.

JLL represented the building’s landlord, Dallas-based Prescott Group. Financial terms of the deal were not revealed.

The deal fits into DART's ongoing preparations for the 26-mile Silver Line, an ambitious east-west connection crossing the suburbs north of Dallas. DART expects to start carrying riders on the Silver Line by late 2025 or early 2026. Testing on the new line between Plano and Richardson began this summer. DART plans to start testing between DFW Airport and Knoll Trail Station this fall, either in October or early November.

There's a New Way to Get to and from the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards. And no, it's not Horseback

msn.com

There’s a new way to get to and from the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards, and it’s not by horseback.

Trinity Metro and Fort Worth City leaders introduced the new Orange Line on Friday. It’s a herd of buses that are designed specifically for Cowtown.

“We're connecting people to life,” said Richard Andreski, the President and CEO of Trinity Metro. “This route, we run every 15 minutes seven days a week, between 5 am and 1 am,” said Andreski.

DART Avoids Service Cuts but Still Holds Back on Spending in New Budget

keranews.org

The board of directors for Dallas Area Rapid Transit voted Tuesday evening to approve a new budget that avoids service cuts but still caps spending beyond what had been previously proposed.

The decision came after weeks of debate over how much the agency should limit growth in its operating budget over last year. The board had been split over whether it should approve a staff-recommended budget, which increased operating expenses by 5.5%, or one approved by the agency’s finance committee that would have increased the operating budget by 4.6%.

During a committee of the whole meeting Tuesday afternoon, director Flora Hernandez, who represents Dallas on the board, proposed a “compromised” budget with a 4.9% cap on growth.

“We do not want to leave DART in any way weakened,” Hernandez said. “We're not cutting, we are growing the budget. We are not eliminating service in any way, shape or form.”

Trinity Metro's Orange Line to Begin Service Sept. 15

masstransitmag.com

Trinity Metro will be launching its new Orange Line to connect the Fort Worth Stockyards and downtown Fort Worth, Texas, service on Sept. 15 , in partnership with Visit Fort Worth, Fort Worth Stockyards and downtown business leaders.

“From residents enjoying the Stockyards and downtown to the millions of tourists visiting Fort Worth each year, we are entering an even bigger era of hospitality and tourism in our city,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. “Trinity Metro’s new Orange Line helps ensure we’re meeting the demand in some of our busiest entertainment districts while also using transportation to help spur even more economic development.”

Denton County Transportation Authority extends $11.3M Contract for GoZone Service

communityimpact.com

The Denton County Transportation Authority’s GoZone on-demand service will continue through 2025 after the board of directors took action Sept. 26.

Board members approved an $11.3 million contract extension with Via to continue operating GoZone through Sept. 30, 2025. It’s the last one-year extension available under the DCTA’s contract with Via, which was awarded in 2021.

DCTA officials intend to solicit new contract bids in 2025 for continuing the GoZone service in the next fiscal year, according to a board of directors memo.

DCTA Awards Nearly $500K to Lewisville for Trail Project

comunityimpact.com

The Denton County Transportation Authority awarded nearly half a million dollars to Lewisville for a trail project that could start as soon as next year.

The board of directors approved sending about $488,351 from its Transportation Reinvestment Program during a Sept. 26 meeting. The funds will be used to construct a half-mile trail along Hebron Parkway from South Railroad Street to Trinity Fork Park.

The project is estimated to cost about $2.4 million overall. DCTA’s contribution to the project will be matched by a combination of bond funds and waste mitigation funds from Lewisville.

We had a great Annual Luncheon!

Appreciate our speakers: Anne Crews, Mary Kay, Inc; Caroline Mays, TxDOT; Brianne Glover, TTI; Nadine Lee, DART; Paul Cristina, DCTA; and Richard Andreski, Trinity Metro!

Also want to thank our partners and sponsors:

Archer Western, STV, Billingsley, AECOM, Huitt-Zollars, Mary Kay, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Stadler, RGPC, City of Richardson, City of Plano, DART, DCTA, and Trinity Metro.

Transit Coalition of North Texas

TransitNorthTexas.org