News you need to know to move transit forward in Tarrant County
ENews / May 2019
Join the Tarrant Transit Alliance, or get a friend to join between April 1, 2019 and June 30, 2019 for a change to WIN BIG!
The Trinity River Vision Authority has graciously donated a fun-filled prize package that includes:
Any new members will be entered into a drawing to win this package. Any existing members will be entered into a separate drawing for an identical package.
Sign up today!
May 22 2019 @ 5:30 PM, May 23, 2019 @ 12:00 PM & @ 5:30 PM – Various Locations
Get Involved in the City of Fort Worth's Transportation Plan!
The City of Fort Worth is excited about the possibility to significantly improve the reach and quality of the city’s transit system. Help us to improve transit by providing input at an upcoming meeting to ensure all your transportation needs are met.
Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) Webinar: Engaging with Elected Officials
22 May 2019 – 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
VisionZero Webinar - Meaningful Community Engagement to Advance Vision Zero
22 May 2019 – 2:00 PM (EDT)
VisionZero Webinar - Using Health Data to Advance Vision Zero: A New Approach from San Francisco
4 Jun 2019 12:30 PM (EDT)
Toward Zero Deaths Webinar: Working with Nontraditional Stakeholders
5 Jun 2019 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
TEXRail in Grapevine provides a path to transit across the region
Community Impact Newspaper – About 200,000 have taken advantage of TEXRail in its first four months of operation between Grapevine and Fort Worth. In July, the passenger rail line will start picking up passengers every half-hour instead of every hour. Now, an option extending the other direction, connecting Grapevine to Collin County, is getting fast-tracked. Read More
Places Where People Spend the Most on Transportation - 2019 Edition
Yahoo Finance – The ease and affordability of mobility are important factors to weigh when you’re considering where you want to live… How much you spend on your transportation, though, largely depends on where you live. Read More
Austin’s Capital Metro launches Project Connect
Capital Metro – Instead of wondering how we can fit more cars on our roads, we need to think about how we can move more people. We need affordable options that connect our communities to jobs, schools, health care and so much more. And, we need to ensure our plan can adapt to innovations that could make our system fully electric, always connected and eventually, autonomous. We call this bold vision Project Connect. It won't be our vision alone though. It will be the community's plan and a complete system of reliable and frequent transit with congestion-proof services that operates free from other traffic. Read More
Takeaways from Denver’s Driverless Shuttled Deployment
Metro Magazine – The Regional Transportation District(RTD) launched a first-of-its-kind pilot project in Colorado: a first-, last-mile connection to a rail station using a driverless shuttle…Due to the novelty, this project took many months to plan and coordinate and, since deployment, the EasyMile and RTD project team leads reflected on its many lessons learned. Read More
CHECK IT OUT
Have you met Spike? Spike is the 8th Trinity Metro TEXRail train that will join the family later this summer. Currently at the brand new Stadler U.S. facility in Salt Lake City Utah celebrating the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad meet and the driving of the ceremonial golden spike, our Spike will head to Fort Worth soon. His arrival will bring a more frequent schedule to the Trinity Metro TEXRail service. Follow Trinity Metro on social media to see his journey. Read More
The Fort Worth city council Tuesday committed $500,000 to an on-demand ride share pilot program with Trinity Metro designed to connect TEXRail riders with employers in the Mercantile Center distribution/office park area. Beginning between July and August, riders of either TEXRail or the bus can get off at the Mercantile stop and use a smart phone app to hail a Via car to take them to work. Read More
Understanding Vision Zero progress requires creativity and strategy, which advocates in Denver, Boston and Cambridge have in large supply. In our recent Vision Zero Network webinar, WalkDenver and LivableStreets Alliance shared how they developed and used measurement tools, such as annual report cards and progress reports, to hold their leaders accountable to their Vision Zero goals. They call attention to progress(or lack thereof) toward Vision Zero goals, such as miles of bike lanes built, number of pedestrian crossings added, type and quality of data collection and public reporting. And then, they use these tools as advocacy instruments to energize the community, garner media attention for street safety, advance legislation and/or influence budgets. Learn more from our recent blog post, where you can also access the webinar recording.
EcoDistricts Webinar: Centering Health in District-Scale Development
15 May 2019 – 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Learn More
Gridlock: Is far west Fort Worth the next bottleneck?
Star-Telegram – Every afternoon, motorists get stuck on Interstates 20 and 30 as they head toward far far west Fort Worth, Aledo and Weatherford.
With booming developments like Walsh and Morningstar, the number of people traveling back and forth each day is about to soar: Traffic is expected to increase by 40 percent over the next 20 years along Interstate 20 just west of the merge with Interstate 30. Read More
How Successful is Regionalism? Let’s Do the Math.
D-Magazine – If you are drinking the regionalism Kool-Aid, then its time to take a hard look at the long-term costs of DFW's rapid decades of wild growth. Read More
‘If you can’t beat them, silence them’: City leaders, Texas Legislature at odds over local control
Dallas News – The Texas Legislature is cracking down on cities. Lawmakers — particularly conservative ones — are pushing bills this session to limit how much local governments can tax their residents. They’re trying to stop cities from imposing bans on short-term rentals, like Airbnb. They want to block local officials from forcing businesses to offer employees paid sick leave.
Bennett Sandlin, executive director of the Texas Municipal League, said local control is under attack like he’s never seen before. The assault is ratcheting up nationwide, he said, because of conservative groups pressuring state legislatures to peel back business regulation. But he also said the tone is set at the top, and Gov. Greg Abbott is a fierce leader in the war against cities. Read More
Denton Transportation Authority Expands Options via Mobility as a Service Model
Dallas Innovates – From scooters to ridesharing to autonomous vehicles, DCTA is combining services from 31 public and private transportation providers in the communities it serves. Read More
The FTA just announced $15 million in funding for innovative mobility projects in public transportation. https://youtu.be/GBuOhT2eyRc
“It’s not right”: why Uber and Lyft drivers went on strike
Vox – Following Lyft’s IPO and prior to Uber’s, drivers are demanding fair wages and better treatment. Read More
A big welcome to the newest members of the Tarrant Transit Alliance:
You can be a part of the voice of transit in Tarrant County with some of the best and brightest in our region, including our Founder Council Members, our Annual Sponsors, and our Corporate Members.
TTA president Rachel Albright has decided to see what it might look like to ditch her car for the entire month of April to see how our current transit system fairs for a young professional who has been pretty car-reliant. She is on her final week, and has been posting regularly on the TTA website -
TRE Link offers new option to DFW Airport...
Read More
May 14, 2019 - 5:30 - 7:00 PM In the Basement of Reata
In 2015, Trinity Metro (formerly known as the T) developed a Master Plan with the help of Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates to determine the actions that the transit agency must take to develop a great transit system that truly meets the needs of Fort Worth and Tarrant County.
In 2017, the Tarrant Transit Alliance and the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth (along with several other civilians and organizations) petitioned the city for increased funding to continue to put the recommendations of this Masterplan into action. While this petition failed, the city made some major changes including re-structuring staff and conducting a supplementary study on the best way for the city to move forward, also lead by Nelson\Nygaard - called Transit Moves | Fort Worth.
Find out more about the project by going to TransitMovesFortWorth.com
While this project is ongoing, the initial data has been collected and the initial strategy findings are about to be published. We invite you as a member of the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth and the Tarrant Transit Alliance to join us for a workshop round table to discuss these strategies and how they might fit into the framework of the city.
The goal of this workshop is to do a deep dive into the recommendations, and voice any priorities and concerns from our representative groups with the Transit Moves | Fort Worth project team.
Cost: $25 - Includes 2 drinks and appetizers
Register
May 4 election results
Mayor Betsy Price was elected to a fifth term on Saturday, defeating three opponents with a total of 55.7% of the vote.
All eight members of the City Council were re-elected, and there will be no need for a runoff election.
See Results
Center for Transportation, Equity, Decisions and Dollars teams up to innovate Fort Worth medical district
The Shorthorn – With big cities come big opportunities and the city of Fort Worth hopes to transform its Near Southside Medical District into an innovation district.
Electric-assist bikes roll into town
City of Fort Worth News – Experience the ease and convenience of riding electric as Fort Worth Bike Sharing adds 50 electric-assist bikes to the fleet.
Electric scooters could soon be kicked off Texas sidewalks, if state Senate gets its way
Texas Tribune – The upper chamber passed a bill Wednesday that would add several restrictions on the popular, but controversial, machines. The measure would require scooter renters to be at least 16 years old and it would prohibit more than one person from riding at a time.
‘Uber Was Supposed To Be Our Public Transit’
CityLab – Innisfil, Ontario, decided to partially subsidize ride-hailing trips rather than pay for a public bus system. It worked so well that now they have to raise fares and cap rides.
ENews / April 2019
In-person early voting runs April 22-30 in the May 4 city election for mayor and city council.
To locate an early voting site in Tarrant County, Click here.
Not sure who to vote for? The Fort Worth Star-Telegram ran a great Voters Guide for the City of Fort Worth and Arlington. See it here.
Join the Tarrant Transit Alliance, or get a friend to join between April 1, 2019 and June 30, 2019 for a chance to WIN BIG!
Emanuel: Chicago Is Now the First U.S. City to Publish Detailed Ride-Hailing Data
Streetsblog – Since at least 2017, the Active Transportation Alliance has advocated for making ride-hailing trip data public so that we can have a better sense of its impacts on the local transportation network and plan and legislate accordingly.
TTA president Rachel Albright has decided to see what it might look like to ditch her car for the entire month of April to see how our current transit system fairs for a young professional who has been pretty car-reliant. She is currently at the beginning of week 4, and has been posting regularly on the TTA website -
Read the Blog
She is also calling on YOU to pledge to do the same... not for an entire month - but maybe for a day, or a weekend... maybe a week for the brave!
If you are willing to try the pledge, you can sign up by clicking on the link below.
Take the Pledge
You can be a part of the voice of transit in Tarrant County with some of the best and brightest in our region, including our Founder Council Members, our Annual Sponsors, and our Corporate Members:
May 14, 2019 - Location TBD
At this next Friends of Transit Mixer, the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth will join the Tarrant Transit Alliance to learn more about the Transit Moves Fort Worth Transportation Plan. Find out what recommendations are being made and talk about what priorities YOU think exist.
More information coming soon.
Sponsorship is available. For more information, please contact rachel@tarranttransitalliance.org
May 22 2019 @ 5:30 PM, May 23, 2019 @ 12:00 PM & @ 5:30 PM – Locations TBD
25 Apr 2019 Public transit systems and mobility champions will be uniting to raise awareness about the importance of public transportation. We’ll be highlighting the economic, social, cultural, and safety benefits of public transportation—and why we all need to “Get On Board” when it comes to investing to improve and expand public transportation in communities large and small.
Show details
The boom continues: DFW has gained a whopping 1 million people since 2010
Star-Telegram – If you need more evidence that Texas is growing at a breakneck pace consider this — Dallas-Fort Worth and greater Houston have gained more than 1 million people since 2010.
The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area added 131,767 residents from 2017-2018, more than any other metropolitan area in the country, pushing its population to 7,539,711, according to estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. The population of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugarland area reached 6,997,384.
Mayors recognized for work in securing Regional Veloweb Trail
City of Fort Worth News - The Regional Transportation Council recognized the mayors of Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Irving and Dallas for their successful efforts to collaborate and secure funding for the Fort Worth-to-Dallas Regional Veloweb Trail.
Once complete, the regional trail will extend 53 miles from downtown Fort Worth to downtown Dallas and connect with an extensive network of trails in each city. It will provide easier access to transit, employment, schools, neighborhoods and many other trails in each of the five cities.
All sections of the regional trail are expected to be complete by 2023.
TRE Link offers new option to DFW Airport
City of Fort Worth News – Trinity Railway Express passengers now have a new way to travel to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. On April 15, Trinity Metro began 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.
Austin, TX City Council approves strategic mobility plan
Smart Cities Dive – The Austin, TX City Council unanimously approved the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) on Thursday, marking the city's first comprehensive transportation plan. The adopted plan includes the draft of the plan as well as staff-recommended amendments.
Robert Spillar, Austin's transportation director, said in a statement that the plan is a "major milestone for Austin's mobility portfolio," noting it will address "the multimodal needs of our community" and offer more affordable opportunities to get around the city.
National Partnership Launched to Empower Texas Transit Boards
C-TEDD – Urban transit agency boards play a vital role in translating a community’s needs and preferences into lasting action. Often made up of ordinary citizens representing specific neighborhoods or constituencies, these boards engage in critical, long-range planning that can transform cities for better or worse. At the same time, however, many board members come into the role with no formal training in planning, engineering, or finance. This often creates a learning curve for these officials, who must make vital decisions while still learning the ins and outs of their agency and its operations.
University of Washington researchers want to help Uber and Lyft protect data and share it with cities
Geek Wire – Cities where Uber and Lyft operate have a data problem. The University of Washington wants to provide the solution.
Companies such as Uber and Lyft are sitting on mounds of valuable data about where and when riders move around cities. Transportation officials are eager to get their hands on that information but the companies have been playing hardball out of fear that the data will be subject to public records requests under transparency laws.
Enter the UW’s Transportation Data Collective. Think of it as a vault where the city and tech companies can store sensitive information that is protected by the University of Washington. Although the UW is a public university, its research is not subject to public records requests, allowing it to function as a neutral third party.
Hey you... yeah you! Do you know someone who needs to be a member of the Tarrant Transit Alliance? April is our membership month and we are hoping to DOUBLE OUR MEMBERSHIP by the end of this quarter (June 30th).
What's in it for me?
To sweeten the deal, we are creating two separate raffles. One will be for existing members who refer a new member to join TTA and the other will be for new members. For every new member you get to join TTA before June 30th, you get one entry into the raffle.
Tell me more about these amazing prizes.
Ok but how do I get them to join?
Send them to our website tarranttransitalliance.org/join-tta
Join TTA
Or shoot them a membership flyer. You can download it here:
Download
Remember to have the person write the name of the referring member on the application so you can get credit.
TTA president Rachel Albright has decided to see what it might look like to ditch her car for the entire month of April to see how our current transit system fairs for a young professional who is car-reliant.
Read about her journey on the TTA Website -
She is also calling on YOU to pledge to do the same... not for an entire month _ but maybe for a day, or a weekend... maybe a week for the brave!
Trinity Metro would like to know what you think of bus service in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Whether you use Trinity Metro buses frequently, occasionally, or infrequently, your opinion is extremely important and will tell them how they can improve bus service and better meet your needs.
Complete Survey
TTA president Rachel Albright has decided to see what it might look like to ditch her car for the entire month of April to see how our current transit system fairs for a young professional who is car-reliant. She will be documenting her journey and regularly posting on the TTA Facebook page, as well as writing weekly reports in this newsletter.
Trinity Metronomics is a monthly report covering a variety of Trinity Metro news and insights, including key performance indicators, goals and project highlights.
8 Apr 2019 –– 2:30 PM NCTCOG
Trinity Metro’s downtown rail and bus station renamed
City of Fort Worth – The downtown Fort Worth station that is the central hub of transportation for Trinity Metro buses and rail will now be known as Fort Worth Central Station. The Trinity Metro Board of Directors approved the name change during its March board meeting Monday.
Long known as the Intermodal Transportation Center — and most often called ITC for simplicity — the downtown station is a stop along the TEXRail and Trinity Railway Express routes, and is a destination and transfer point for multiple Trinity Metro buses. Located at 1001 Jones St., the station is also home to Amtrak, Enterprise and Greyhound.
“I’m Pretty Sure That I’m Losing Money at the End of the Day” - Two Uber and Lyft drivers explain why they went on strike.
SLATE – Hundreds of Uber and Lyft drivers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego demonstrated for higher pay and better working conditions. the drivers complain their wages have been cut and that they’re not making a living wage ahead of the IPOs.
CSU Study: Public transit access leads to higher employment, lower poverty
NBC5 – The Greater Cleveland RTA provides an annual economic impact of $322 million in Cuyahoga County alone and access to public transit can lead to increased property values, greater employment and decreased poverty, according to a new study released Tuesday from Cleveland State University’s Center for Economic Development.
Tony Seba: Clean Disruption - Energy & Transportation
Stanford University futurist Tony Seba spent the last decades studying technological disruptions. He argues that the Electric Vehicle, battery storage, and solar power, along with autonomous vehicles, are a perfect example of a 10x exponential process which will wipe fossil fuels off the market in about a decade.
Watch the Video
Public transit infrastructure needs at least $232 billion, APTA says
METRO MAGAZINE – With Congress looking to move an infrastructure bill forward this spring, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) released new research identifying at least $232 billion in critical public transportation investments. The findings were unveiled as part of a report that was released for the first time at APTA’s annual legislative conference, shedding light on significant industry needs.
4 Communities Leading the Way for Walking, Public Transit
SALUD AMERICA! – Transit-rich, walkable communities strengthen the local economy, create opportunities for Latino and other vulnerable residents, and enhance community resilience. That’s why America Walks, a nonprofit organization, released four case studies sharing collaborative efforts to improve safety, walkability, and access to transit in four communities across the country. This is another effort in their Transit-Walkability Collaborative, which was established in 2017 by America Walks and eight other organizations.
Infrastructure Solutions: Transit Transformation
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS – Beset by long-term problems related to underinvestment and inadequate maintenance, the U.S. transit sector confronts challenges pertaining to funding, demographic changes, and an increasing array of new transportation services competing for customers. Despite these obstacles, the transit industry continues to evolve while seeking to provide the most practical, cost-effective solutions at the local level.
Congress considering a smarter way to measure transportation investments
T4AMERICA – Having thousands of jobs within a region doesn’t do much good if residents can’t use their local or regional transportation network to reach those jobs. A bill being reintroduced in Congress this week will provide transportation agencies with robust data to support smarter transportation planning that can better connect residents to jobs and services by all modes of travel.
Reducing Demand for Vehicle Trips in Cities
WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE'S TRANSFORMATIVE URBAN MOBILITY PROGRAM – Many cities have realized they cannot build themselves out of traffic jams by adding new roads and parking lots. An alternative is managing the demand for urban trips (called travel demand management). An interesting subset of demand management is to require companies to devise flexible ways to change how their employees commute.
Go to the Guide
The Role of Companies in Improving Urban Mobility
WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE'S TRANSFORMATIVE URBAN MOBILITY PROGRAM – This guide describes how a government authority can prepare a Trip Reduction Ordinance. It also describes the elements of a Workplace Travel Plan to meet the requirements of a Trip Reduction Ordinance.
ENews / March 2019
Want to be a part of creating something modern, dynamic and meaningful?
Trinity Metro is looking for two focus groups (5-8 people each) to come onsite and test some features of their website. Sessions will be held during the week, from 12-1p.m. Lunch will be provided. Submit your interest here.
Sign up
At the March Mixer, please join us at the new Blackland Distillery where we will hear from TD Smyers, CEO of UnitedWay of Tarrant County about their recent Tarrant County Community Assessment Report which identified Transportation as a top identified issue of our region.
What are the findings and how is the UnitedWay planning on tackling this issue? Find out at our next Mixer!
This event is free to attend, but please register so we know how many to expect!
Interested in sponsoring this mixer? - Contact Rachel@tarranttransitalliance.org
Sponsoring the Tarrant Transit Alliance signals your support for transit-oriented development and the economic development potential realized from an expanded regional transit system. Increase the awareness, education and advocacy efforts for expanding, enhancing and improving transit in the region by supporting the Tarrant Transit Alliance!
Interested in Sponsoring? Contact Rachel Albright at rachel@tarranttransitalliance.org.
Upcoming Sponsorship Opportunities:
Annual Sponsors - $5000-$10,000 Annual Sponsorships come with recognition on our website’s homepage, social media recognition, your company logo at all TTA events and membership for 2-4 key representatives at your company. Monthly Friends of Transit Mixer Sponsor - $300 As a Mixer Sponsor, your company's logo will be featured on the event's website, signage at the Mixer, and you will get a sponsor table where you can promote your company. These programs occur monthly, so reach out to let us know when you would be interested in sponsoring! FEATURED SPEAKER TD Smyers CEO, United Way of Tarrant County At the March Mixer, please join us at the new Blackland Distillery where we will hear from TD Smyers, CEO of UnitedWay of Tarrant County about their recent Tarrant County Community Assessment Report which identified Transportation as a top identified issue of our region. What are the findings and how is the UnitedWay planning on tackling this issue? Find out at our next Mixer! This event is free to attend, but please register so we know how many to expect! Interested in sponsoring this mixer? - Contact Rachel@tarranttransitalliance.org Register
Annual Sponsors - $5000-$10,000
Annual Sponsorships come with recognition on our website’s homepage, social media recognition, your company logo at all TTA events and membership for 2-4 key representatives at your company.
Monthly Friends of Transit Mixer Sponsor - $300
As a Mixer Sponsor, your company's logo will be featured on the event's website, signage at the Mixer, and you will get a sponsor table where you can promote your company. These programs occur monthly, so reach out to let us know when you would be interested in sponsoring!
FEATURED SPEAKER
Fort Worth Business Press – New transit options that have already pulled into the station and some that are on track for arrival will make it easier and more convenient to move around the Fort Worth area without a car.
Read the Report
City Manager David Cooke presented the recommendations of the City of Fort Worth Race and Culture Task Force during the Pre-Council session to the members of City Council on March 5th. Included in these recommendations are three Transportation Strategies/Goals:
To read the full report, click on the link below:
Our Friends at Farm&City have been busy successfully introducing the Vision Zero Texas legislative agenda, which has included the following bills:
While these are not public-transportation-related per se, these bills allow for a safer system that is more accessible for all users - pedestrians, bikers, drivers and riders. Did you know that an average Texas day in transportation takes 10 lives and leaves 50 people with life-changing serious injuries like brain damage or a loss of a limb? Safer Texas roads are good for everyone involved.
Some other Texas Legislative bills to follow:
Both the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress address many important transportation issues that affect the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
NCTCOG staff regularly update policy and technical committee members, transportation partners and others interested in monitoring legislative initiatives related to the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) legislative priorities.
Read the Updates
Want to help guide the future of Texas Transportation?
Take a moment to explore TxDOT's Texas Transportation Plan 2050 Virtual Open House. Learn what TxDOT is focusing on in the next 30 years and help guide priorities for our state and region.
Check it out
March 19, 2019, 3:30 PM - 8:00 PM @ The T&P Station
How much new development can one rail line produce?
The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, the Tarrant Transit Alliance, and the Urban Land Institute - North Texas are all teaming up for a TEXRail and TOD Tour. Ride the new TEXRail train and learn about the new and proposed development along its tracks.
The train portion of this event is full but you can add your name to the waitlist.
You can also register for just the Grapevine portion of the program if you can't make the 4:20 train departure time.
Find out More
Waitlist - FULL EVENT
Register - GRAPEVINE ONLY
DID YOU KNOW -
We keep a collection of Interesting Articles and Cool Tools on our website.
Jarrett Walker's 2018 RailVolution Keynote
For those who could not make the 2018 RailVolution conference to see Human Transit author Jarrett Walker's keynote address, you are in luck! You can watch his full presentation via the link below -
Uber and Lyft are losing money. At some point, we’ll pay for it.
Washington Post – How can Uber and Lyft, both of which are planning initial public offerings this year, be price-competitive with car ownership outside of places such as Manhattan? Heavy subsidies, from both the companies and the drivers themselves.
The ride-sharing market offers a real-life illustration of the old economist’s joke: “We’re losing money on every unit, but we’ll make it up in volume!” Unfortunately for us riders, there’s only so much cheap investment money, and only so many inexperienced drivers, out there. Once Uber and Lyft have burned through those, they’re going to have to charge us what the rides are actually worth. Customers will be in for a rude shock.
Political Winds Shift in San Diego
Smart Growth America – While San Diego has a few light rail lines, an extensive bus network, and a commuter rail line that connects to Oceanside, CA (about 35 miles north), much of the city is still very car-dependent. But there are hints of change as city leaders have begun to remake land use and development policy over the past few years—especially in the last 12 months—and political winds have start to shift.
This month on Building Better Communities with Transit—our podcast about transit-oriented development (TOD)—we chat with Colin Parent, Executive Director of Circulate San Diego, an advocacy organization that promotes public and active transportation in tandem with sustainable growth. As Colin notes, much of the renewed interest and support for transit and TOD is being driven by one thing: the housing crisis.
A fair amount of what Colin covers on the podcast is happening in real time. City leaders like Republican Mayor Kevin Falconer have become more vocal and assertive around new housing and are relaxing height limits and parking requirements across the city, including along the mid-coast transit corridor currently under construction. In fact, last Monday (March 4) the city voted to eliminate parking minimums and require parking costs to be unbundled from housing costs in "transit priority areas." And the city's transit agency has amended policies to allow for more TOD within the last year. Early discussions are also taking place about the possibility of a future ballot measure to raise new transit funding, as Colin discusses.
Listen to the Podcast
Who Pays For Roads? How the "Users Pay" Myth Gets in the Way of Solving America's Transportation Problem
Frontier Group & U.S. PIRG Education Fund – Many Americans believe that drivers pay the full cost of the roads they use through gas taxes and other user fees. That has never been true, and it is less true now than at any other point in modern times.
Monthly Friends of Transit Mixer Sponsor - $300 As a Mixer Sponsor, your company's logo will be featured on the event's website, signage at the Mixer, and you will get a sponsor table where you can promote your company. These programs occur monthly, so reach out to let us know when you would be interested in sponsoring! TEXRail TOD Tour - $500 (1 Sponsorship Left!) This program occurs March 19th and is open to members of the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, TTA, and the Urban Land Institute. Event sponsors get their company's logo on the event's website and signage and 5 event tickets. This program is limited to the first 55 to sign up, so sponsoring is a great way to guarantee spots! Annual Sponsors - $5000-$10,000 Annual Sponsorships come with recognition on our website’s homepage, social media recognition, your company logo at all TTA events and membership for 2-4 key representatives at your company.
TEXRail TOD Tour - $500 (1 Sponsorship Left!)
This program occurs March 19th and is open to members of the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, TTA, and the Urban Land Institute. Event sponsors get their company's logo on the event's website and signage and 5 event tickets. This program is limited to the first 55 to sign up, so sponsoring is a great way to guarantee spots!
Trinity Metro - 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.
Farm&City - If you’re reading this in a major Texas metro, you are currently experiencing about 1/3 the transit funding than you would experience in the other largest major US metros.
There is less bus frequency, less places you can get to by transit, less high quality rapid transit options, less fiscally productive real estate investment, and more people having to drive a lot more than they would like to.
We presented the following one pager to the Texas House Committee on Appropriations – S/C on Articles VI, VII & VIII Committee, as they had their initial discussion of the Texas Department of Transportation budget. You can see the testimony at 4:05:45 in this video.
The train portion of this event is full but you can add your name to the waitlist. However, There is one more sponsorship spot for $500 that comes with 5 tickets. If you would like to sponsor this event, please contact rachel@tarranttransitalliance.org.
Here is a list of upcoming events around our region and nation hosted by other organizations that might be of interest to you:
Do you have one minute to help make Fort Worth better?
City of Fort Worth – Fort Worth invites residents to join its new FlashVote community. It’s free, fast and fun.
Civic participation has never been easier, and we would love your help.
Why join? Provide your input on the issues you care about in seconds, from any device, anytime. Results from the community are shared within days. And FlashVote protects your data and privacy as an independent intermediary between you and the City of Fort Worth.
Dallas Public Transit Was Better in 1919 Than It Is in 2019
DMagazine – Dallas public transit was on the right track. By 1919, the city had an extensive streetcar network that could carry riders from Oak Cliff to Highland Park, South Dallas to Greenville Ave., Oak Lawn to Fair Park, and pretty much every where in between. An artist named Jake Berman has released a new rendering of that system that is a lot easier to read than the old historic maps you may have seen. The map makes it resoundingly clear that Dallas’ public transit system was once pretty great.
In fact, the new map looks like a rendering of future dreams for Dallas transit–a way to get around the inner city and plan dense development around trafficked transit corridors. And it was all there a hundred years ago–built out, functioning, even offering commuter rail service to places like Coriscana, Waco, Denton, and Fort Worth.
And then we ripped it out.
TxDOT Urges Young Drivers To Plan For Sober Ride
TxDOT – Spring Break is a dangerous time on Texas roads, with hundreds of impaired driving crashes involving young drivers occurring each year. As college students and young adults head to Spring Break destinations in the coming weeks, the Texas Department of Transportation’s “Plan While You Can” campaign reminds them to make a plan for a sober ride before the party starts.
“Drinking alcohol and driving can severely impact a young person’s future. Many promising lives are cut short due to the poor decision to drink alcohol and drive,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “We urge young drivers to make responsible choices during the Spring Break holiday. Before heading out, please plan ahead for a sober ride to ensure you get to and from your destination safely.”
During last year’s Spring Break* in Texas, there were 444 crashes involving young drivers who were driving under the influence of alcohol. Those crashes killed 11 people and seriously injured another 37.
Cuomo, de Blasio agree on tolls in Manhattan, MTA overhaul
AP News – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday announced a deal on plans for new tolls on motorists entering the heart of Manhattan, an important show of support as state lawmakers debate ways to raise revenue for an outdated transit system.
The Bus Is Still Best
The Atlantic – This article written by Human Transit author Jarett Walker explores why the bus still makes the most sense when trying to solve transportation issues in a city. Some key takeaways are:
Fort Worth Transit
Fort Worth Transportation Authority(The T)
Molly the Trolley
Trinity Railway Express
Studies
The T Master Plan
Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee
(682) 231-2036
PO Box 470474Fort Worth, TX 76147
rachel@TarrantTransitAlliance.org
