Transit Briefs: Trinity Metro, BART, Sound Transit, Denver RTD
Trinity Metro
Trinity Metro and FWISD on Dec. 10 officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at I.M. Terrell Academy, marking the launch of a new pilot program that will allow FWISD high school students to ride Trinity Metro rail and bus services for free.
The new partnership, Trinity Metro says, “is designed to increase safe, reliable transportation options for students, supporting their ability to travel to and from school, extracurricular activities, jobs, internships, and other essential destinations across the city.”
The signing event featured remarks from FWISD Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar, Trinity Metro President and CEO Richard Andreski, and I.M. Terrell Principal Baldwin Brown, who each highlighted the importance of the program for student access and opportunity.
“This partnership is a tremendous step forward for our students,” said Molinar. “We are deeply grateful to Trinity Metro for helping us open more doors for the young people of Fort Worth ISD. Our students are not only learners, they are citizens of this community. Providing them with expanded access to transportation gives them greater connection to all that Fort Worth has to offer, from educational opportunities to work, arts, and civic life.”
“Our partnership with FWISD gives students additional transportation options, supports student learning and academic success. We are proud to join Dr. Molinar in this pilot program that will allow even more students to participate in after school activities and seek internship and employment opportunities,” said Andreski. “This partnership is proof positive that Trinity Metro is connecting people to life across Fort Worth.”
BART
BART ridership continued its steady upward trend in November, with double digit growth at most stations and overall ridership increasing 11.6% compared to the previous year, the agency recently reported.
In total, riders took more than 4.4 million trips in November, many taking advantage of new fare programs and innovations, such as Tap and Ride and Clipper BayPass.
Ridership to SFO and OAK airports around Thanksgiving grew 12% over last year, according to BART.
Riders are also increasingly using BART on the weekends. In November, Saturday ridership increased by 19% and Sunday ridership by 16% over last year. These gains come as ridership dipped modestly from October, a pattern consistent with seasonal shifts and variations in weekday and weekend travel, the agency noted.
Ridership growth reflects changing commuter trends, increased use of weekend and off-peak service, growing adoption of new fare programs, and an improved customer experience at BART. And on Wednesday, Dec. 10, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission released Next Generation Clipper, a new-and-improved fare payment system that makes paying for BART and other Clipper agencies faster and more convenient.
Sound Transit
Sound Transit has issued a notice of intent to award to Multi-Service Center (MSC) and Shelter Resources Inc. (SRI) to develop approximately 230 units of affordable housing on surplus property adjacent to the Federal Way Downtown Station.
MSC and SRI propose building approximately 230 homes across two buildings with approximately 570 bedrooms. More than 90% of the housing proposed are 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom units, responding to the need for family-sized affordable homes in Federal Way.
MSC and SRI also propose complementing their residential project with a café led by Project Feast, a local non-profit that serves refugees and immigrants through food-focused programming; a commercial kitchen in partnership with FUSION, a Federal Way-based nonprofit which provides housing and support services to families experiencing homelessness; and a childcare facility. These non-residential uses are proposed for the ground floor of the development and will contribute to station area activation.
The proposed development, Sound Transit says, builds on the city of Federal Way’s progress toward realizing their City Center vision. The design, placement, and massing of the two proposed buildings provide pedestrian routes throughout the station area, connecting people to the Performing Arts and Events Center, Town Square Park, and the Federal Way Downtown Station. Agency staff will now begin negotiating key business terms with MSC and SRI, which are anticipated to be brought to the Sound Transit Board for approval in 2026. MSC and SRI aim to break ground on the project in 2028.
“The 230 new affordable homes being built near the Sound Transit Federal Way Downtown Station will transform this community for the better—and for the long term,” said King County Executive and Sound Transit Board Member Girmay Zahilay. “Ninety percent of these homes are designed for families with larger layouts that meet real needs. They will be attainable for working family households, opening doors to stability and opportunity for those who need it most.
“This project stands as a powerful example of what King County, Sound Transit and the community can accomplish together—delivering the kind of family-focused, transit-oriented housing that is urgently needed in South King County, in a location that gives residents reliable access to jobs, schools, and opportunity,” added Zahilay.
Denver RTD
RTD is bringing holiday cheer to metro Denver with themed light rail and bus wraps now appearing across the system. Customers will notice festive artwork and cozy winter scenes featured on a light rail and bus vehicle, adding a touch of holiday spirit to customers’ daily travel. The wrapped vehicles will be on display throughout the season, operating along several different rail lines and bus routes.
