News you need to know to move transit forward in Tarrant County
ENews / June 2019
Want to be a part of the change in our region?
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!
On the 14th of May, 2019, 44 members of the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth and the Tarrant Transit Alliance met in the basement of the Reata Restaurant in downtown Fort Worth to discuss the City of Fort Worth's transit strategies as presented by the Transit Moves | Fort Worth State of the System Report.
Read the Report
We all have opinions about how to improve transit in Fort Worth. Help the Transit Moves Fort Worth planning effort by providing your input on project goals and objectives and investment priorities. In this survey, you’ll spend just four minutes answering some questions about what you think are the best ways to improve the transit system in Fort Worth. The information you submit will be used to develop Transit Moves | Fort Worth.
Take the Survey
Missed the Public Meetings?
You can now view the recorded version online
Read More
TEXRail was $90 million under budget. Should Fort Worth’s transit agency keep the money?
Star-Telegram – Trinity Metro may already have nearly all the money it needs to extend TEXRail two additional miles, to open a station at Fort Worth’s medical district, officials said. Read More
‘Premier Tech Hub of Texas’ “ Richardson Lays Tracks for Transit-Forward Innovation District
Dallas Innovates – An upcoming block party will showcase the district’s potential with food trucks, activities, fames and examples of activated spaces. Read More
Soon you’ll be able to ride TEXRail from Fort Worth all the way to Plano. Here’s how.
Star-Telegram – Fort Worth’s TEXRail commuter train line already serves DFW Airport, and starting in 2022 DART’s Cotton Belt line to Plano is schedule to be there, too. Read More
TXDOT embraces goal to end deaths on Texas roads by 2050
City of Fort Worth News – Every day for nearly 19 years, at least one person has died on Texas roadways. Now TxDOT aims to reach a goal to end all fatalities on Texas roads by 2050. Read More
ParkMobile and REACH NOW Partner to Create New Smart Mobility Solutions for Parking and Transit
Yahoo Finance – The two companies announced a new strategic partnership that will create the most robust parking and mobility solution in the industry. Now working together under the umbrella of the new BMW and Daimler joint venture, the companies are collaborating to build integrated Smart City solutions that will create seamless mobility experiences for parking, transit and multi-modal transportation for consumers and cities. Read More
Uber Air to Test its Flying Taxi Service in Melbourne by 2023
Edgy – Uber Air announced at the annual Uber Elevate Summit in Washington that its flying taxi service would have a commercial trial run in Melbourne by 2023. The Australian city is the first location outside of the United States that will host the ride-sharing company’s trial commercial flights. Read More
Defining the role of government in the new mobility ecosystem
Intelligent Transport –“New Mobility” is a term that is sweeping the globe and a concept that is revolutionising how people get from point A to point B and everywhere in between. It is the convergence of mobility on demand(MOD), Mobility-as-a-Service(MaaS) and transportation demand management(TDM) and it means big changes for governments and transit agencies. Read More
Automobile Dependency in Action
Planetizen – These examples illustrate how biased planning favors longer-distance, motorized travel over shorter, active, affordable, energy efficient, less polluting, and healthier travel options, and sprawl over compact infill development. It's time for reform. Read More
Transit information screens should be everywhere, not just at stations
Mobility Lab – Real-time transit information – knowing exactly when the bus is coming - is a game changer. With transit ridership declining across the country, reliable information can increase ridership and improve passenger experience. Read More
National Equity Atlas
A comprehensive data resource to track, measure, and make the case for inclusive growth.
CHECK IT OUT
We are very excited to announce that the Tarrant Transit Alliance has officially been selected as the winner of the 2019 Midwest Section of Texas APA Planning Innovator Award. The Planning Innovator Award goes to an Individual or group demonstrating innovation in the planning field in risk-taking, extraordinary imitative, or advocacy to underserved communities.
The award winners will be honored at the Annual Midwest TxAPA Awards and Scholarship Fundraiser event, Wednesday June 19th at Pinstripes in Fort Worth.
Want to celebrate with us?
For more information about this event, click here.
Trinity Metro invites public involvement and comment regarding a proposed new route connecting Downtown Fort Worth with the Cultural District along West 7th St., utilizing Trinity Metro’s first all-electric buses, beginning in September.
Also under consideration is a proposed Mobility on Demand shared ride service connecting TEXRail Mercantile Center Station with nearby employers and residents beginning in July.
Find out More
Japan’s bullet trains can reach nearly 200 miles per hour and date to the 1960s. They have moved more than 9 billion people without a single passenger causality. casualty
France began service of the high-speed TGV train in 1981 and the rest of Europe quickly followed.
But the U.S. has no true high-speed trains, aside from sections of Amtrak’s Acela line in the Northeast Corridor. The Acela can reach 150 mph for only 34 miles of its 457-mile span. Its average speed between New York and Boston is about 65 mph.
Watch the Video
AllianceTexas to create innovation zone for next generation mobility and transportation
Fort Worth Business Press – AllianceTexas, a model for multimodal transportation-based master-planned developments, is taking a step to become a site for cutting-edge mobility development.
To reel in a big corporate campus, Fort Worth might repurpose public housing site
Dallas News – Where is the best spot to build Fort Worth’s next big corporate campus? Some regional planners say their favorite candidate is roughly 40 acres of developed but underused land — today filled mostly with public housing — just east of the city's downtown. Could this be the home of a new high-speed rail hub?
DFW Pedestrian Safety Action Plan
Provide your input about walking in the DFW region for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card. Help us develop a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan to reduce the number and severity of pedestrian crashes and fatalities across the North Texas region.
Share your Thoughts
Denver to offer teens a free transit pass on their smartphones
ChalkBeat– To help boost the mobility of young people, Denver will over 12- to 18-year-olds free transit passes usable with their smartphones this summer.
Proposed FY20 Appropriations bill includes $16.2B for transit, rail
Metro Magazine – The Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies(THUD) of the House Committee on Appropriations marked up and passed by a voice vote the Fiscal Year(FY) 2020 THUD Appropriations bill, which continues historic funding levels, with $16.2 billion for public transportation and intercity passenger rail grants.
DID YOU KNOW -
Public transportation initiatives have progressed since our beginning 18 months ago. The conversation about the benefits of transit has been gaining momentum because of all of you. The City of Fort Worth has delegated public transportation to Assistant City Manager, Susan Alanis, who understands that transit is transformational, and the City has hired Chad Edwards to lead the program. Mr. Edwards comes from Dart and has a planning background in transit. He understands many of the components in building a complete transit system, and we are fortunate to have him. Moreover, the County has recently hired Kristen Camareno, the former CEO of B-Cycle, to coordinate County efforts in public transportation. Ms. Camareno certainly understands first mile/last mile options and will be a real asset to transit.
All transit improvements are incremental because they require proper planning and capital. Fort Worth has embarked on a study, headed by Mr. Edwards with the assistance of consultants Nelson\Nygaard, to update the Trinity Metro Master Plan and to educate the Fort Worth City Council on all things transit. We are hopeful that we will see additional funds for transit in the City’s 2019-2020 budget and a demonstrated plan for longer-term funding.
Just as planning and funding transit is incremental, so is the Tarrant Transit Alliance’s strategy of educating and advocating for transit one person at a time. There is strong local support for transit as demonstrated by the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth’s study of Fort Worth voters where rail was supported by over 80%, and other transit modes by over 50% of the respondents. We need to continue to educate and advocate for funding Tarrant County initiatives. Initiatives including more frequent and longer hours of operations along our major corridors for buses; more first and last mile options; improved accessibility and more comfort through better information and bus shelters; building the next leg of TEXRail to the Southside; and making additional investments in new modes such as Bus Rapid Transit and fixed guideway options like the Streetcar.
Thank you all for your commitment to making our region a place that embraces public transportation. I look forward to our continued successes towards Tarrant County that is competitive with our peers and in providing additional opportunities for Tarrant County citizens to have the freedom to get to their schools, their jobs, their churches, their shopping, and enjoy all of the opportunities that a robust transit system can offer.
Jeff Davis
Chair, Tarrant Transit Alliance
Overall ridership is up due to increase in services: TEXRail, TRE LINK, and ZIPZONE. This is something to celebrate!
If you look JUST at bus, TRE and Vanpool you’ll see a decrease in ridership from April 2018; however, APTA considers 2 to 3 percent increases or decreases as essentially a stable ridership.
In this edition, you will also learn a little bit more about the Dash debut
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
VisionZero Webinar - Telematics as a Vision Zero Tool
18 Jun 2019, 1:00 PM (EDT)
Fort Worth now the 13th largest U.S. city
City of Fort Worth News – U.S. Census Bureau 2019 population estimates show Fort Worth jumping form the 15th to 13th largest city in the United States with a population of 895,008. Fort Worth gained 19,552 residents in 2018, climbing ahead of Columbus, Ohio and San Francisco. Read More
‘The Last Thing I Expected’: What Riders Are Saying About TEXRail
KERA News – TEXRail got off to a bit of a rocky start, delayed by the federal government shutdown. But four months after the train began running between central Fort Worth and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, riders say they’re happy with the service. Read More
Google Maps launches a‘wheelchair accessible option for 6 cities
Mashable – Big cities like London usually aren't known for being easily accessible to people using wheelchairs, but a new feature from Google Maps is a step toward making it easier. Read More
Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Minneapolis and Philadelphia are about to jump-start their bike infrastructure
Fast Company – A new accelerator program will help the five cities get past the usual resistance to bike and transit infrastructure and change their streets as quickly as possible. Read More
Congress will reconsider $1.1 billion‘Smart Cities and Communities Act’
State Scoop – The legislation would coordinate federal agencies to support urban technology initiatives and provide five years of funding. Read More
ENews / May 2019
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 establish 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 due to a lack of quorum, the city made some significant changes including re-structuring staff and conducting the supplementary Transit Moves | Fort Worth study on the best way for the city to move forward, which was also lead by Nelson\Nygaard.
On May 14th, 44 members of the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth and the Tarrant Transit Alliance got together in the basement of the Reata Restaurant in downtown Fort Worth to discuss the City of Fort Worth’s transit strategies as presented by the Transit Moves | Fort Worth State of the System Report. While the Transit Moves | Fort Worth project is ongoing, the May 14thworkshop round table was organized for participants to discuss these strategies and how they might fit into the framework of the city. The goal of this workshop was to go over the recommendations, and then voice any priorities and concerns with the Transit Moves | Fort Worth project team. A report is being finalized that compiles the main discussion topics shared by the participants and will be available on the Tarrant Transit Alliance website.
On May 22nd and 23rd, three Public Meetings were held in various locations around the city to share the information gathered by the Transit Moves | Fort Worth team. All of this input will be processed and will help guide the next phase of the project.
To learn more about the Transit Moves | Fort Worth project, please visit transitmovesfortworth.com
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!
Why is a bright red, electric bus named ‘The Dash’ driving around Fort Worth?
Star-Telegram – The Dash is a new zero-emissions service that Trinity Metro, Fort Worth’s regional transit agency, plans to operate every 15 minutes daily from the Fort Worth Central transit station downtown to cultural district attractions, including UNT Health Science Center and the new Dickies Arena. Read More
Provide your feedback on pedestrian safety
NCTCOG – Provide your input about walking in the Dallas-Fort Worth region and be entered for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card. In coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation, the North Central Texas Council of Governments is developing a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan to reduce the number and severity of pedestrian crashes and fatalities across North Texas. Take the Survey
Texas-Building Better Boards:
C-TEDD – The Texas-Building Better Boards(TX-BBB) program started in February 2019. A Texas-focused professional development program for transit agency board members across Texas. TX-BBB aims to empower members to make more informed decisions, it is intended to develop a permanent Texas Association of Transit Board Members. for the TX-BBB program and to create a“hot topics” list. Read More
Chambers Stand Up For Federal Transit Funding
This week, 25 chambers of commerce and other organizations representing local business interests across the country launched Chambers for Transit, a new coalition urging more federal support for transit(organized by T4America). “As Utah’s population continues to grow, transit is more important than ever,” said Derek Miller, President & CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber.“The availability of high quality transit in our communities directly correlates with Utah’s economic success, business-friendly climate and high quality of life.” Read More
Sacramento councilmember proposes free transit for students
Smart Cities Dive – The program is expected to drastically increase Sacramento Regional Transit’s student ridership, up 600% in the first year. Read More
TriMet riders can now add Hop Fastpass to Apple Wallet
Katu.com – Local transit options in Portland Oregon are making it easier for riders to use a Hop Fastpass by adding the feature to Apple Wallet. Read More
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)
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
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...
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.
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
