Trinity Metro Fare Change, GoLink Lifeline & Leadership Updates

News & Updates

June 21, 2024 Issue

Using Trinity Metro Will be Cheaper this Fall. Check Out the New Fares

star-telegram.com

Public transit regulars in Fort Worth will pay less to get around this fall.

Trinity Metro unanimously approved an overhaul of its fare system Monday afternoon, capping how much commuters have to shell out for trips on a given day or week and slicing prices for some of its services. The transit authority’s leaders believe the reforms will expand its rider pool and offer some financial relief to its existing customers.

One-way journeys on Trinity Metro’s express bus or train lines (currently $2.50) will be $2 starting in September. A trip on the agency’s rideshare program ZipZone (now $3) will be also reduced to $2.

Riders will be able to buy day passes for $4 instead of $5, and week passes for $18 instead of $25. These services’ reduced fares — discounted tickets for children, seniors, and veterans — will decrease too.

Dallas County Judge Elected Regional Transportation Council Chair

communityimpact.com

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins will preside over the 45-member Regional Transportation Council for the next year after being elected chair in June.

RTC members elected a new chair, vice chair and secretary during a June 13 meeting. The new officers began their yearlong terms at the end of the meeting.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, chair
Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey, vice chair
Lewisville City Council member Brandon Jones, secretary

Jenkins is stepping into the chair position after Gyna Bivens, Fort Worth mayor pro term, who was elected last June. Jenkins previously served as secretary and vice chair before being elected chair. He has served as a county judge and an RTC member since 2011.

He will preside over the RTC during the 89th Texas Legislature, which begins in January.

As DART Looks to Extend Joppa Rides Program, Usage Remains Low Among Residents

dallasnews.com

Two years after it ended bus service to the Joppa neighborhood, Dallas Area Rapid Transit is considering the expansion of an alternative program put in place until construction is complete on a pedestrian bridge that will offer a safe way to walk out of the neighborhood.

Ridership for the Joppa Rides program declined by half in its second year. And residents still often walk over the blocked off Union Pacific Railroad tracks beneath Linfield Road — also called the Freedman’s Town Memorial Bridge — to leave the neighborhood. At the same time, ridership for a parallel program, GoLink, steadily increased throughout the last half of 2023 and the first half of this year, peaking at 175 rides per month in May. From June 2023 through May 2024, GoLink ridership in Joppa was 1,262, with an average of about 105 riders per month.

People News

progressiverailroading.com

Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) board approved a new contract for President and CEO Nadine Lee. Lee's tenure, which began in 2021, has been marked by a focus on enhancing system safety, security and reliability, according to a DART news release. DART is now operating at more than 80% of pre-pandemic ridership levels.

Rich Andreski, President and CEO of Trinity Metro, on "Take This Down" with Ty Stimpson

youtube.com

In his podcast, "Take This Down" with Ty Stimpson, he interviews inspiring leaders who have impacted North Texas communities, including Fort Worth, Dallas, and the surrounding areas.

Rich Andreski is the President and CEO of Trinity Metro, the public transit agency that provides bus and commuter rail service in Tarrant County. Rich sat down with attorney Ty Stimpson to talk about his humble upbringing in New Jersey, his dream to be an astronaut, and how he ended up at the helm of Fort Worth's public transportation system. Rich is excited about the future of public transportation and connectivity in the "largest small city in America."

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TCNT Annual Luncheon, September 20, 2024

Registration is Open!

The Transit Coalition of North Texas is hosting its annual luncheon on September 20, on the State of Transit. We will hear a report on the TxDOT Multimodal Plan and the results of a TTI economic impact analysis of transit. In addition to individual speakers, the luncheon will feature a panel of our transit CEOs who will discuss what the State's plans and the statewide economic impact analysis mean for North Texas.

Irving Infrastructure Summit is Back!

infrastructuresummit.org

The City of Irving and the North Texas Commission have teamed up to bring back the Infrastructure Summit. This comprehensive event will span a full day and a half, featuring a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Regional Transportation Council (RTC), and showcasing panel discussions dedicated to addressing crucial infrastructure vital for sustaining the region's growth.

When: Thursday, August 8 – Friday, August 9, 2024

Where: Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas (500 W. Las Colinas Blvd)

Hosted by: The City of Irving and the North Texas Commission

More Information

Transit Coalition of North Texas

TransitNorthTexas.org