Category: News Release

(FORT WORTH, TX – July 18, 2019) – Trinity Metro introduces a new service to help employees in the Mercantile area get to work; ZIPZONE. Beginning Monday, July 22, The Mercantile ZIPZONE easily connects TEXRail and bus commuters who travel to the Mercantile Center Station.

Trinity Metro leadership and Board of Directors, together with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Mercantile area City Council Members Carlos Flores, District 2 and Cary Moon, District 4; and  Council Member Brian Byrd, will launch the inaugural service on Monday, July 22. The esteemed group will ride Trinity Metro TEXRail and connect to Trinity Metro Mercantile ZIPZONE. Media is invited to attend from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Gourley Plaza Office Building, 2601 Meacham Boulevard. The new ZIPZONE vehicles will be on-site and photo opportunities will be available.

How ZIPZONE works

Powered by Via, the Trinity Metro Mercantile ZIPZONE is a premier rideshare option for bus and train customers to complete their commute. Via’s advanced algorithms enable riders to efficiently rideshare in the vehicle. The powerful technology directs passengers to a nearby virtual bus stop within a short walking distance for pick up and drop off, allowing quick shared trips without lengthy detours or inconvenient fixed services.

Via operates successful on-demand public transportation systems in neighboring cities of Arlington and Austin. More than 175,000 trips have been taken with Via’s Arlington service since the city’s pilot program launched in December 2017, earning a 97 percent approval rating from users.

The Mercantile ZIPZONE will operate 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. There will be no charge to use the service at launch. After the free period, rides will vary $1 to $3.

Trinity Metro has partnered with the City of Fort Worth to provide funding for Mercantile ZIPZONE for the one-year pilot project. The city has dedicated $500,000; the remaining $500,000 is part of Trinity Metro’s operating budget. 

“Mercantile ZIPZONE expands the range of options offered by Trinity Metro to ease the burden of commuters who want and need to connect to this live, work and play destination,” said Wayne Gensler, Trinity Metro vice president and chief operating officer for bus and paratransit. “We are proud to work with the City of Fort Worth while we look at innovative ways to solve the first mile-last mile challenges in our area.

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 10 million passenger trips on buses, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

(FORT WORTH, TEXAS) June 18, 2019 – TEXRail was honored Friday with a CLIDE (Celebrating Leadership in Development Excellence) Award from the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

The CLIDE Awards, which began in 2003, recognize innovative development programs that plan for the region’s future growth and seek to support a sustainable North Texas. This year’s competition featured 41 nominees, which yielded 17 winners in the categories of New Development, Redevelopment, Special Development, Public Planning and Policy, and Raising Public Awareness.

TEXRail was recognized in the category of Special Development, which honors projects that exemplify outstanding promotion of specific elements of the Principles of Development Excellence. The judging committee was comprised of some of the nation’s top urban planning experts.

Trinity Metro President & CEO Bob Baulsir accepted the award. “Receiving a CLIDE Award for TEXRail is a tremendous honor for us,” he said. “We are grateful for the recognition and appreciate everyone’s efforts in bringing our commuter rail project to fruition.”

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 10 million passenger trips on buses, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

Congressman Veasey will be working as a guest conductor on TEXRail

as part of his Marc Means Business Initiative

 

(FORT WORTH, TEXAS) May 23, 2019 –  On Friday, May 24, Congressman Marc Veasey will be working as a guest conductor on TEXRail. He will be checking tickets and helping passengers, starting his shift on the 10:44 a.m. eastbound train from the Mercantile Center Station.

Prior to beginning his work, Veasey will tour the Mahaffey Maintenance Facility, where TEXRail trains are housed and maintained. He will then participate in a safety briefing before boarding the train at the Mercantile Center Station.  

“For the last five years, I’ve embraced the opportunity to get an inside glimpse of what it’s like to work in other professions,” Veasey said. “There’s no better way to connect with hardworking Texans than to jump in and work with them.”

Since 2014, Rep. Veasey has worked alongside Texans in a variety of roles – from decorating cakes to assisting as a concrete batch laborer. Last month, Rep. Veasey was an Uber driver in Dallas-Fort Worth, getting to transport residents to and from work and to a variety of destinations. The Marc Means Business initiative has connected the Congressman with constituents at their place of employment to better understand the challenges they face in their work and daily lives.  

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 10 million passenger trips on buses, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

 

 

(FORT WORTH, TX – May 20, 2019) The Dash, Trinity Metro’s new electric bus, will make its debut at a media event at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, at the Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the bus and enjoy a short ride. 

Speakers will include Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Councilmember Ann Zadeh, Trinity Metro President/CEO Bob Baulsir and Trinity Metro Board Chair Scott Mahaffey.

The event will start outside the east entrance of the Kimbell Art Museum’s Louis I. Kahn Building, located off Van Cliburn Way.

When the service begins, the Dash will operate from downtown Fort Worth to the city’s cultural district along the 7th Street corridor and will include a stop at the new Dickies Arena. 

“We will be testing this new technology throughout the summer,” said Wayne Gensler, vice president and chief operating officer for bus and paratransit. “Everyone will be seeing these distinctive red buses soon. We’re very excited to connect these two areas of the city, and we expect the route to be very popular with both residents and visitors.”

One bus and a charging station have been delivered to Trinity Metro. The three remaining buses are expected to arrive by the end of May. Service for The Dash will begin Sept. 22.

“The Dash is truly a team effort,” said Bob Baulsir. “We’re appreciative of the many groups in the community that are helping launch this partnership. We’re also thankful to the North Central Texas Council of Governments for providing the grant funding for the electric buses.”

Community investors that have made a three-year financial commitment in The Dash service include the City of Fort Worth, Blue Zones Project – Fort Worth, Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, and Visit Fort Worth. 

Other Dash investors include the Kimbell Art Museum, Modern Art Museum Fort Worth, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Crockett Row, Museum Place and Sheraton Downtown Fort Worth.

When The Dash is in service, the fare structure will be same as other local buses: $2 one way or $5 for an unlimited-ride day pass. 

All Trinity Metro bus operators will be trained on the new electric bus prior to the launch of service.

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 10 million passenger trips on buses, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

About the Kimbell Art Museum

The Kimbell Art Museum, owned and operated by the Kimbell Art Foundation, is internationally renowned for both its collections and its architecture. The Kimbell’s collections range in period from antiquity to the 20th century and include European masterpieces by artists such as Fra Angelico, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Poussin, Velázquez, Monet, Picasso and Matisse; important collections of Egyptian and classical antiquities; and the art of Asia, Africa and the Ancient Americas.

The museum’s 1972 building, designed by the American architect Louis I. Kahn, is widely regarded as one of the outstanding architectural achievements of the modern era. A second building, designed by world-renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, opened in 2013 and now provides space for special exhibitions, dedicated classrooms and a 289-seat auditorium with excellent acoustics for music.

 

(FORT WORTH, TEXAS) April 19, 2019 – Jon-Erik “AJ” Arjanen has joined Trinity Metro as vice president and chief operating officer for rail. With a transportation career in Texas, Colorado, Montana and New Mexico, his roles have focused on rail operations, safety systems and strategy implementation.

Arjanen previously served as vice president/ general manager for Martin Marietta/Rock & Rail, LLC, in Lakewood, Colo., where he lead a nationwide project and launched two facilities. Prior to Colorado, he worked for Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway in Fort Worth as operations director. During that time, he implemented safety initiatives and process improvements. He was named employee of the year for his planning and execution of the largest transportation service plan change across BNSF Railway in 2016. Arjanen started his career in the United States Army, serving as a senior non-commissioned officer.

“AJ brings extensive transportation experience to this role,” said Trinity Metro President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Baulsir. “His commitment to safety and team development will be important to our agency as we continue to enhance and improve our rail system.”

Arjanen earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and his MBA from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

 About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 10 million passenger trips on buses, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

 

(FORT WORTH, TEXAS) April 11, 2019 – Trinity Railway Express (TRE) passengers will soon have a new way to travel to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. On April 15, Trinity Metro will begin operating the TRE Link in conjunction with Dallas Area Rapid Transit and DFW Airport.

TRE Link, which features a paint scheme similar to the TRE, will replace the existing shuttle that connects CentrePort passengers with the airport. Like the current service, TRE Link will operate every 30 minutes on weekdays.

“TRE passengers have expressed their interest in having this airport shuttle service continue, and we are pleased to introduce the TRE Link,” Trinity Metro President/CEO Paul J Ballard said. “We appreciate the North Central Texas Council of Governments for providing grant funding for the first six months of service.”

Trinity Metro will provide three 35-foot buses to begin TRE Link service, and NCTCOG will provide future grant funding to purchase new vehicles for the route.

 

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 10 million passenger trips on buses, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

(FORT WORTH, TEXAS) Feb. 26, 2019 – As an innovative way to help North Texans reach their destinations, Trinity Metro is providing ZIPZONE, a first mile/last mile transportation solution, in select service areas.

The first area Trinity Metro is offering the new ZIPZONE service is in the Alliance corridor. Alliance ZIPZONE is the result of a regional partnership with the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), allowing riders to connect with the North Texas Xpress that operates between downtown Fort Worth and Alliance and Denton. Alliance ZIPZONE replaces the Alliance Link, a first mile/last mile pilot started by Toyota. That pilot ended in January 2019.  

“When we started North Texas Xpress with DCTA in Fall 2016, we knew the bus route would be a good choice for employees in the Alliance area,” said Trinity Metro President/CEO Paul Ballard. “Now we’re taking it one step further to help Alliance employees arrive at work without having to drive.”

Alliance Texas, a Hillwood development that is celebrating 30 years, is home to more than 500 companies and more than 61,000 jobs. The economic impact of Alliance Texas is estimated to exceed $7 billion.

“Providing connectivity for passengers is essential,” Ballard said. “The addition of our Alliance ZIPZONE is another incentive for employees who work in this area to leave their cars at home.”

Alliance ZIPZONE service is provided through Lyft, an on-demand transportation company. Trinity Metro passengers can conveniently use the Lyft app, entering a specific code to gain access to the first mile/last mile rides. Hours of operation are 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. On weekends, hours are from 5:30-7:30 a.m. and 4-7:30 p.m.

Trinity Metro is currently considering implementing ZIPZONE in other parts of its service areas. “It’s an attractive solution for helping riders get to their final destination,” Ballard said.

About Trinity Metro
Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 10 million passenger trips on buses, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

 

Commuter rail line expected to exceed 100,000 on Feb. 1

(FORT WORTH, TEXAS) Feb. 1, 2019 – TEXRail ridership came close to 100,000 during the first 22 days of service, Jan. 10-31. The new commuter rail line from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport provided 98,582 rides in January. On Feb. 1, the first day of revenue service, ridership is expected to push the grand total to more than 100,000.

“Ridership has been consistently strong throughout the first three weeks of service,” said Trinity Metro President/CEO Paul J Ballard. “The number of passengers commuting to work, taking day trips or traveling to the airport has been phenomenal.” 

To give everyone a chance to experience TEXRail, Trinity Metro offered complimentary rides through Jan. 31. Beginning Friday, Feb. 1, the local fare for TEXRail is $2.50 one way or $5 for a local day pass, which includes all Trinity Metro bus and rail service in Tarrant County. A regional day pass is $12 and includes all Trinity Metro, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, and Denton County Transportation Authority trains and buses.

“We anticipate the ridership will fluctuate over the next few months, but we have no doubt that TEXRail will continue to be a popular choice for North Texans, tourists and travelers,” Ballard said. “The target ridership has been 8,000 a day by the end of the first year of service. So far, we are averaging 4,500 a day.”

About Trinity Metro
Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 10 million passenger trips on buses, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.