High School Students in Fort Worth ISD Now Have Free Access to Trinity Metro Public Transportation Services
The Fort Worth Independent School District (ISD) has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Trinity Metro for a free public transportation pilot program, set to commence for high school students during the 2022-2023 school year. This program, planned to run from August 12, 2022, through July 31, 2023[1], aims to increase access to extracurricular activities, outside tutoring, community resources, and job opportunities for students.
The primary objectives of the program are to provide students with greater mobility and access to opportunities beyond the classroom, thereby supporting academic and personal development. Fort Worth ISD officials expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasising the benefit of free transportation in facilitating student participation in various activities and resources[1].
Trinity Metro's Chief Strategy Officer, Anette Landeros, has expressed a long-term vision for the program, aiming to ensure no student is limited by a lack of transportation. Landeros stated that Trinity Metro aims to remove transportation barriers for students pursuing academic success, extracurricular activities, internships, or part-time jobs[1].
The program is supplemental and does not replace the district's yellow bus system that takes students to and from their campuses. Students can utilise the Trinity Metro service if they miss their regular school bus[1]. The partnership's long-term vision is to ensure no student is limited by a lack of transportation, potentially serving as a model for similar districts[1].
Trinity Metro operates 23 regular bus routes throughout Tarrant County and the TEXRail commuter line connecting downtown Fort Worth with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, offering multiple transit options for students[1]. Trinity Metro officials are proud to have approached Fort Worth ISD about the program, and Fort Worth ISD officials expressed their anticipation for the partnership[1].
School board authorisation to negotiate a memorandum of understanding between the district and Trinity Metro for the program has been granted[1]. Trinity Metro hopes students and families will embrace this opportunity to see how transit can open doors for both students and the entire household[1]. The proposed pilot program with Fort Worth Independent School District is the first of its kind between Trinity Metro and a local school district[1].
No detailed information on funding sources or program evaluation metrics was provided in the available sources. However, the lack of discussion on the program during the school-board members' Tuesday night meeting suggests formal planning and oversight for the pilot's implementation and assessment[1].
[1] Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 16, 2022.
The Fort Worth ISD's partnership with Trinity Metro extends beyond the school bus industry, as the free public transportation pilot program intends to support students accessing various activities, resources, and job opportunities in the transportation sector. Trinity Metro's long-term vision is to ensure that transportation barriers do not hinder students from pursuing academic success, extracurricular activities, internships, or part-time jobs, bridging the gap between finance and student opportunities.
