On a recent visit to the Texas Capitol in my role as the CEO of Fort Worth’s Trinity Metro, I was stopped by a state senator before I could begin my pitch for commuter rail. “I’m never using rail,” the senator said. “I have a truck. You’re never going to get me on rail … but what do you need?”
I appreciated the legislator’s candor and his willingness to help. Even in Texas, where support for public transit at the state level is essentially nonexistent, he understood the value of commuter rail and knew his constituents wanted the service.
Trinity Metro has built a strong foundation of public support, backed by a devoted rider base, a dynamic mayor who champions commuter rail, and a local business community that sees our services as key to driving Fort Worth’s growth and success. Passengers ride with us to work, to the hospital, to the airport, to sporting events and the State Fair. One couple put their entire wedding party on one of our trains to their ceremony. Make no mistake: Those riders speak to their elected officials.
We’ve achieved this level of public support in two significant ways. We have delivered an outstanding customer experience that includes friendly, professional staff and reliable, 30-minute headways 7 days a week. And we have built a public engagement strategy through foundational research on the economic impact of rail in our region and public opinion research. With federal support for transit now in doubt, rail leaders across America can learn from our approach and apply these strategies in their states—red and blue alike.
Lean on Local Support
Trinity Metro is currently pursuing a crucial 2.1-mile TEXRail expansion to a new station in the Fort Worth Medical District. We wouldn’t be so far along on that initiative without the support of Mattie Parker, the dynamic Mayor of Fort Worth who sees rail as essential to our fast-growing city’s economic competitiveness and quality of life. She’s shown that she’s willing to go to bat to advance our priorities. Mayor Parker rides Trinity Metro and knows our trains are clean and safe. With her support, other community and business leaders happily join her in supporting our efforts.
Our leaders, citizens and passengers know expanding Trinity Metro’s rail offering will help to ease traffic congestion, while driving economic development to support Fort Worth’s next million residents.
Rely on Economic ROI
Let’s start with the obvious: If you’re going to talk about return on investment, you need to be measuring it. We track our financial performance closely, which is how we know that every $1 invested in Trinity Metro generates $3.05 in economic returns in Tarrant County. Trinity Metro commissioned an impact study and found:
- Every $500 million invested in Trinity Metro supports and creates approximately 8,000 jobs.
- Every job at Trinity Metro supports and creates approximately 5.17 jobs in Tarrant County.
- Trinity Metro services increase business productivity by $85 million annually.
- Trinity Metro reduces service area congestion costs by more than $67 million annually.
The impact study also revealed that Trinity Metro serves 89% of total residents, including 97% of zero-car households, and 100% of the local universities and major hospitals. The railroad reduces the vehicle-miles traveled in our service area by more than 16 million miles annually, resulting in a reduction of vehicle emissions and crashes.
In our region, the impact of transit isn’t just felt in financial data—you can literally see it. When people step off Trinity Metro’s TEXRail passenger rail service in Grapevine, they’re surrounded by vibrant and successful transit-oriented development: an award-winning boutique hotel developed by a prominent developer, an entertainment venue, and a food hall offering countless culinary options, all surrounded by new and expanding residential and mixed-use projects.
On top of a demonstrable economic ROI, our elected leadership knows we are financially efficient and responsible. We constantly (and accurately) promote our projects being “On Budget.” And our economic narrative is resonating: Trinity Metro had a 6:1 favorability rating in a recent survey of Fort Worth residents.
A Nationwide Playbook
Texas isn’t the only state proving the efficacy of public transit and passenger rail. An economic analysis by the Utah Transit Authority showed similar results in terms of ROI: Every dollar invested in the UTA delivers $5.11 in economic returns. If public transit can thrive in Texas and Utah, it can thrive anywhere in the U.S.
It all comes down to messaging. With a clear, concise focus on community and leadership support while showing positive economic ROI, transit leaders across the U.S. can gain political support and make the most out of available government funding over the next four years and well into the future.
