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Trinity Metro wants community on board with all its services

June 13,2024

See full Fort Worth Report by Eric E. Garcia here.

Trinity Metro is zooming along with its expansion of ridesharing and paratransit services into new areas, including Mansfield.

Now officials want to tell you all about it.

The regional transit agency is planning a series of come-and-go community events, starting June 15, to promote its services. 

Trinity Metro, currently in its 40th year of operation, will launch its Mansfield on-demand rideshare service July 15. The service will take riders throughout the southeast Tarrant County city and connect with other Trinity Metro services, including buses and TEXRail, through transfers at Tarrant County College Southeast Campus, 2100 Southeast Parkway in Arlington.

The agency's on-demand rideshare program also will relaunch July 15 in the Alliance area of far north Fort Worth after an agreement with Lyft ends July 14. 

"This is an opportunity for people to learn about Trinity Metro," said Chad Edwards, the agency's executive vice president of strategy, planning and development. "We want people to share their thoughts and ideas for improvements." 

Agency officials said they hope to gather insights from community members about public transportation needs and use that feedback to develop a five-year strategic plan to be presented in 2025.

“At Trinity Metro, we talk a lot about the nuts and bolts of what the future of our transportation system looks like,” Rich Andreski, president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “This conversation will be formalized with our five-year strategic transportation plan — but we can’t craft that plan without input from the community, because Trinity Metro belongs to the community. We’re looking forward to the opportunity to share information and hear what people have to say about public transit.” 

The public is encouraged to ask questions and offer feedback on the agency's performance at six community events that will include kid-friendly activities and drawings for three-month transit passes and branded Trinity Metro gear. 

The first gathering is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. June 15 at the Fort Worth T&P Station, 221 W. Lancaster Ave. Trinity Metro riders can get to the event by using Bus route 6 or TEXRail.

Other scheduled events, each in Fort Worth, are:

  • 6-7:30 p.m. June 20 at the Fire Station Community Center, 1601 Lipscomb St. Trinity Metro users can take Route 1 to the event.
  • 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. June 22 at the Eugene McCray Community Center, 4932 Wilbarger St. Route 55 will take riders to the event.
  • 6-7:30 p.m. June 25 at the R.D. Evans Community Center, 3242 Lackland Road. Riders may take Route 2.
  • 6-7:30 p.m. June 26 at the Riverside Community Center, 3700 E. Belknap St. Routes 11 and 54 will take riders to the meeting.
  • 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 27 at the Northside Community Center, 1100 N.W. 18th St. Route 46 will take riders to the event.

Agency officials will talk about new services and updates to existing routes, including the launch of Trinity Metro On-Demand in Mansfield and rebranding of and changes to that service in Alliance.

Through the ZIPZONE app, riders can travel to their location within targeted ZIP codes, including three southern zones and two northern zones, much like private companies that offer similar ride services.

"Lyft and Uber have a different business model than we do," Edwards said. "We're a public entity providing this type of service."

Regular bus riders like the on-demand ride program, Edwards said, because of the flexibility of the service.

The agency also will be promoting the grand opening of the Trinity Railway Express' Trinity Lakes Station, the launch of Trinity Metro Bikes and rebranding launches for the Western-themed Route 15 and a downtown bus service to replace Molly the Trolley.

Improvements to the Fort Worth T&P Station, Alliance Express bus routes with guaranteed on-time service and updates to bus routes and service fares also will be highlighted.

Officials encourage residents to register for the events, but it is not required. However, anyone who registers will receive a complimentary one-day transit ticket and be entered into a drawing for a complimentary three-month ticket. All event participants will receive a one-day transit ticket. 

Community members may also provide feedback at ridetrinitymetro-engage.org/community or engage@ridetrinitymetro-engage.org.

Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.

This article first appeared on Fort Worth Report and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.