TTA Newsletter April 2015 Our mission is to support the needs of Texas public transportation systems through statewide advocacy and education.
CongratulationsHillCountryTransitDistrictonbeing thetransitsystemoftheyearfor2015! NotonlydidHillCountryTransitDistricthaveafaultless tri-ennialreview,buttheyalsoincreasedridershipandcontinuedoutstandingperformanceonclosinggrants. HillCountryTransitDistrictisthefirsttoreceivethisaward. GreatJob!!!
Capital Metro Welcomes ADA Legacy Tour to Ausn, Texas As the na onwide ADA Legacy Tour made its way through Aus n, Texas this week in commemora on of the 25th anniversary of the ADA Act, Capital Metro welcomed the "Road to Freedom" bus at its Crestview Sta on, a hub of local bus, BRT and rail services. Along with Texas Trailblazer Nancy Crowther and local ADAPT of Texas community members, Capital Metro President/CEO Linda S. Watson reflected on the progress made by the agency over its 30-year history, including establishing a 100 percent accessible fleet in 1993 the first in Texas. Watson emphasized Capital Metro's con nuing dedica on to ensuring accessibility for all riders, no ng its recently installed Braille signage at all 3000 bus stops in the system. "Accessible public transit allows our family members, friends and neighbors with disabili es the opportunity to live, work and play independently in our vibrant community," Watson said. In 2010, Capital Metro launched MetroRail commuter service, featuring level boarding at sta on pla:orms, reserved sea ng for persons with disabili es near entrances, spoken onboard announcements, and cket vending machines featuring Braille and audio features. In 2014, the agency launched MetroRapid BRT service, which includes push-bu<on annunciators at sta ons and wheelchair securement areas equipped with companion sea ng. Capital Metro offers accessible services throughout its modes, including: LOCAL BUS: Tether strap program Travel training program Equipped libs or low-floor ramps Braille at all bus stops Priority sea ng area METRORAIL: Ticket vending machine audio/braille features Sta on pla:orm tac le markings All stops and safety informa on onboard announcements Level boarding at all sta ons Priority sea ng area METRORAPID: Push-bu<on annunciator at all sta ons Braille at sta ons Braille placards with vehicle ID numbers located at front and rear entrances Extra stop chord Wheelchair securement area with companion sea ng Priority sea ng area
Capital Metro Board of Directors Approves June 2015 Service Changes More Frequent Bus Service on Five Popular Routes to Begin this Summer AUSTIN, Texas (March 23, 2015) Capital Metro s board of directors today adopted several service changes, that will go into effect beginning Sunday, June 7, 2015. Capital Metro will implement changes designed to provide more frequent bus service and also expand service, while maintaining system efficiency. Capital Metro will increase weekday frequency on five high-demand local bus routes. On weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Routes 7, 300, 325 and 331 will run every 15 minutes; Route 20 will run every 20 minutes. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., routes will operate every 20 minutes. Currently, these routes operate every 20-30 minutes or greater during midday hours. (Frequency will also be increased on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) The change will create more reliable bus service and help reduce wait mes at stops. Capital Metro is also looking at increasing frequency on addi onal routes in the future. In partnership with the Travis County Commissioner s Court, Capital Metro will begin service on a new route, 237 Northeast Feeder, along Loyola in northeast Aus n and Travis County. Service will be available seven days a week. The new route will provide service between the Springdale Shopping Center and the Mobile Loaves and Fishes Community First! Village. The Northeast Feeder route will also connect with Barbara Jordan Elementary; Overton Elementary; and the Wentworth, Colony Park and Woodland Hills neighborhoods. A major transfer point will be available at the Springdale H-E-B, connec ng to Routes 20 Manor/Riverside, 37 Colony Park/Windsor Park and 323 Anderson. The proposed service changes will result in a minor expansion of the MetroAccess ADA service area. Route 37 Colony Park/Windsor Park will be realigned to Berkman Drive and Barbara Jordan Boulevard in order to provide addional transit access to the Mueller H-E-B. The bus will stop between Barbara Jordan Boulevard and 51st Street, allowing transfers with Route 320 St. Johns. Route 37 will also con nue to make trips to FirstWorkers, the city of Aus n Day Labor Center. As a result, schedule adjustments will be made to the route. Rou ng changes will not be made to Route 243 Wells Branch, it will con nue to provide midday service on Merrilltown Drive. Route 271 Del Valle Feeder will be realigned to be<er serve Del Valle, due to area resident requests. The route will be moved from Highway 71 and Ross Road, to Highway 130 and Pearce Lane. Capital Metro will maintain service to the three exis ng stops serving the Del Valle Independent School District. As a result of the change, schedule adjustments will be made to the route. The agency performs a con nuous analysis of its service and makes adjustments three mes a year, u lizing feedback obtained from the public prior to each change. All changes are in accordance with Capital Metro s Service Guidelines and Standards. For more informa on about the upcoming service changes, visit capmetro.org/june2015.
Waco Transit Employee STEP CHALLENGE Began APRIL 1st Summer s just around the corner so Waco Transit decided to start a Step Challenge to get people moving! With the new DOT requiremnets in place, Waco Transit wanted to do something to promote wellness. 1 MILLION STEPS must completed by September 30 to win a challenge T-shirt, which can be worn to work on Fridays through the end of the year. Free pedometers were given to employees who signed up, and everyone who completes the challenge will be entered into a drawing for a dinner gift certificate.
TAPS Connects Wise County Commuters to Fort Worth Intermodal Transportaon Center This week, TAPS began a new express service between Decatur, Rhome, and Fort Worth. The TAPS Commuter Connect runs Monday through Friday. The morning service departs Decatur at 5:30 a.m., stops at Rhome, then con nues to The T in Fort Worth at 6:00 a.m, arriving at 7:00 a.m. In the abernoon, the TAPS Commuter Connect leaves Decatur at 5:00 p.m., arriving in Fort Worth at 6:30 p.m. On the return trip, the service departs The T at 6:45 p.m., stops in Rhome, then ends in Decatur at 8:15 p.m. The fare is $2.00 each way, $4.00 for a round trip. Read more of this story at hp://tapsbus.com/decatur--worth/
TAPS featured in documentary on Texas Public Transportation Sherman-based TAPS Public Transit is one of three Texas transporta on agencies featured in a 27-minute documentary funded by a grant from Texas Department of Transporta on. Transit Works for Texas is part of a larger program to educate the public, business and agencies on the power of public transporta on in getng people to work. In addi on to TAPS, the documentary spotlights Spartan Transporta on in Levelland and Victoria Transit in Victoria. To see the video and learn more about how Texas public transporta on gets people to and from work, visit online at www.transitworksfortx.org
Modern streetcar creating new link to Downtown Dallas Streetcar travel between Oak Cliff and Downtown Dallas is back after a nearly 50 year absence, connecting a historic community via a state-of-the-art electric vehicle and a free ride. The modern era of Dallas streetcar service resumed April 13 with a 1.6 mile route from downtown s Union Station to Oak Cliff s Methodist Dallas Medical Center. This marks the first phase of Dallas modern streetcar system. Dallas Area Rapid Transit is overseeing the City of Dallas project. Our track record with DART Light Rail and the Trinity Railway Express gave the City of Dallas confidence that we also could successfully design, build, operate and maintain the Dallas Streetcar, DART President/Executive Director Gary Thomas said. Regional collaboration, federal funding critical In addition to the City of Dallas and DART, other project partners include the North Central Texas Council of Governments, Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Project development was kick-started by $26 million in federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grants toward the project. Dallas is taking another notable step forward in its efforts to build an efficient, reliable and connected transportation network that helps grow the region s economy and connects hard-working families to jobs and opportunity, said FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan. We re calling on Congress to pass a longterm transportation bill that will make more projects like the Dallas Streetcar a reality. Great destinations today, more stops soon The starter line traverses the Trinity River corridor, which separates southern Dallas from the city s largest employment centers. Specifically, the project targets commuters in mixed-use districts adjacent to downtown and helps connect them to transportation choices available in the city center. The second phase, which extends the route to the shopping and dining of Oak Cliff s Bishop Arts District, is expected to be completed by early 2016. The third segment, which is currently in planning, will expand the streetcar line to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and Omni Dallas Hotel. Route and schedule information is available online at DART.org/DallasStreetcar.
Upcoming Events To view the event agenda, please visit the TTA website at www.txtransit.org. From the home page, click on the Events tab to view the agenda.
GET INVOLVED! Join transit agencies across the na on as they come together on April 9th to Stand Up 4 Transporta on. Infrastructure makes the United States an a<rac ve place for businesses to operate and for people to live. Let s collaborate and highlight the na on s need for public investment at the federal level. Involve your local legislators, show them your community s needs and priori es. Invite them to see the impacts first hand or write le<ers to congress to share the importance of transit support - in American ci es, suburbs, and rural communi es. Highlight and advocate the need for a long-term, sustainable, and reliable federal transporta on funding bill. Most importantly be a voice, be an advocate, be HEARD! Informa on taken from SWTA.org
To place an article in future newsletters, please email Charlotte Payne at charlottep@ci.waco.tx.us If you have pictures to go along with your article, please send them as well.