THE SUE POPE FUND
A Project of Downwinders At Risk
REDUCING POLLUTION
IN NORTH TEXAS
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Popularity of Arlington-Fort Worth bus service growing Posted on Sun, Oct. 26, 2008 Arlington and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority launched limited daily bus service from two Arlington locations to the Intermodal Transportation Center in downtown Fort Worth on Sept. 2 as part of a one-year pilot project. Ridership has increased from 248 a week to more than 550 a week, said Joan Hunter, a transportation authority spokeswoman. "We are very pleased. We expect it will continue to increase, especially as word-of-mouth gets out," Hunter said. "Considering that gas prices have dropped, it shows people still find this convenient." The service offers six morning peak-period trips to Fort Worth and six evening peak-period trips back. The pickup locations are the Park and Ride Lot at Interstate 30 and Cooper Street/Lamar Boulevard in north Arlington and the South Park and Ride Lot at Interstate 20 and Park Springs Boulevard in southwest Arlington. About two-thirds of the riders use the south lot, Hunter said. Arlington resident Karen Six has taken the bus since the first day of service. Six, an accounting supervisor for the T, said she catches a bus from the South Park and Ride Lot at least four days a week. She said the trip takes her about 20 minutes, only slightly longer than when she was car-pooling with a co-worker. "I think public transit is a good thing," Six said. "I can take a book, or I can do work or listen to the iPod." Six said she has saved 44 trips in her car by taking the bus. Each bus runs on clean-burning compressed natural gas and can seat 35 people. The buses, which have high seat backs, overhead storage bins, and individual air-conditioning vents and reading lights, are designed for commuters’ comfort, Hunter said. "They can use their time to read the paper and chat with friends. They don’t have to get stuck in a traffic jam; they can do something productive instead of grit their teeth," Hunter said. Once at the Intermodal Transportation Center, riders can get on the Trinity Railway Express or take T buses to other Fort Worth locations. Arlington contributed $75,000 toward the pilot project through a grant from the Sue Pope Fund, which aims to reduce ozone emissions in North Texas. The T collects all fares from riders, which are $5 per day round-trip or $80 per month. Hunter said the T is looking for feedback from riders to help determine whether the pickup and drop-off times need to be adjusted. Any changes to the schedule could be made as early as January, she said. A closer look |
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