Tara Crawford

The agenda for the meeting included administrative items such as the Pledge of Allegiance and Citizen Comments. Information items and reports covered the Operations update (TEXRail, TRE, and Bus/On-Demand ridership and OTP), the 2026 Color-Coded Bus Line Update, and the Financial Update for January 2026 financials. Action items focused on three related board actions (BA2026-32, BA2026-33, BA2026-34) concerning the NT Moves Build Grant for Trinity Railway Express Double Tracking for Civil Construction, Track & Signal Construction, and Construction Management/Oversight. Other business included a discussion on Autonomous Vehicle Trends. The Executive Session was scheduled to cover legal issues related to funding requirements for the TEXRail budget, legal issues concerning participation in Regional Transit 2.0, and a personnel matter discussion.

The agenda for the Trinity Metro On Demand Advisory Committee meeting includes citizen comments, quarterly highlights for ON DEMAND Ridership and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) presented by Mark Shoop, an update on ON DEMAND Customer Care from Fairy Bright, a VIA update from Ralph Zaragoza, and general Trinity Metro updates from Ron Newman. The meeting also allocates time for other business and suggestions for the subsequent meeting.

The meeting commenced with procedural adjustments to follow action items immediately to ensure a quorum. Key action items included the approval of several contracts and resolutions, such as an IDIQ contract with Pacific Energy Concepts for electrical firm services, and a contract with Capco Concrete Structures LLC for concrete repair services at various locations, including Fort Worth Central Station. The board also authorized the adoption of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Fiscal Year 2025. A significant discussion involved amending the TexRail Operations and Maintenance contract with Herzog Transit Services to implement 30-minute midday frequencies, which is expected to improve accessibility and maintenance windows. Additionally, the board approved an extension and increased funding for the ADP payroll services contract and approved the second year and expanded scope for a leadership development program with Masterminds Leadership LLC. The investment policy of Trinity Metro was formally adopted via resolution as required by the Public Funds Investment Act. A resolution showing support for the Trinity Railway Express service was also approved. The board convened into executive session to discuss legal matters and personnel/incentive program goals. Citizen comments addressed concerns regarding bus route detours, unprofessional conduct by Trinity Metro On-Demand service drivers, long hold times for customer service, and suggestions for generating revenue through facility tours and direct sponsorships.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance, followed by a brief citizen comment period. The primary agenda items involved presentations on financial and operational performance. The presentation included the audited financials and audit report for FY25, which resulted in an unmodified or clean opinion with no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies noted. Operational reports covered Textrail ridership, which saw a significant increase of over 19% compared to the previous year, despite service interruptions due to an ice storm. TR ridership decreased by 15%, attributed to the ice storm, mechanical issues, and a bridge strike incident. Significant praise was given to staff for exceptional response during the severe winter weather, including quick repair of a broken rail. Furthermore, reports highlighted significant safety achievements, including a nearly 40% decrease in transit worker assaults and a 75% decrease in safety-related incident reports at the Dr. Dennis Duncan Transfer Center, alongside the elimination of trespassing issues at the HRP lot since October. The Chief Financial Officer provided an update projecting an $18.5 million positive revenue variance above expenses for the first quarter of the year, driven largely by strong sales tax revenues. The board also approved the minutes from the January 20th meeting.

The key discussions for this meeting included a presentation on the FY2025 Audited Financials and Audit Report. Reports covered TEXRail & TRE ridership, on-time performance updates, and Bus & On-Demand ridership updates. A financial update for December 2025 was provided. An action item involved approving Fire Protection Services (BA2026-31). Other business included preparedness and actions related to inclement weather. The Executive Session was scheduled to discuss legal matters concerning a vendor contract related to the World Cup and a temporary fare adjustment related to the World Cup.