FORT WORTH (March 18, 2010) – The board of directors of The T (the Fort Worth Transportation Authority) approved changes at its monthly meeting yesterday on nine of The T’s 43 bus routes that will reduce service frequency to help offset lower sales tax revenues that are down by $2.1 million. The service reductions will save more than $700,000 annually.
The changes, which will take effect on May 30, do not eliminate service from any neighborhoods. Only frequency and times will change. Current service on core routes and high performing service was preserved.
The board approval followed presentations and citizen input at three public meetings on March 9 and 10, comments through The T’s website, phone line and mail.
“In identifying service reduction areas, the goal was to be able to serve the greatest number of passengers and provide the most productive bus service possible within ever more limited resources,” said Dick Ruddell, president of The T. “We recommended modifications that would impact the fewest riders, such as late trips that carry only a few people, and changing some frequency from 30 minutes to an hour.”
As with other transit agencies across the country, The T’s sales tax revenue has been declining, down by 10 percent since September. The T has implemented salary freezes, cut administrative items and adjusted bus routes to better align route service with rider use. However, the decline has been greater and longer than expected, according to Ruddell.
Bus service reductions to take effect May 30
*Route 4/East Rosedale – Reduce frequency from 30 minutes to hourly on Saturdays.
*Route 7/University – Route 7 - Reduce frequency to hourly weekdays and Saturdays and eliminate the last three trips after 8 p.m.
*Route 10/Bailey – Change route to eliminate an additional leg begun in January to Will Rogers Complex, which is not being used by riders.
*Route 22/Meadowbrook – Reduce frequency from 30 minutes to hourly during non-peak period and eliminate one trip to make it hourly after 6 p.m.
*Route 23/Mercantile – Combine this route with Route 11 and provide a one-seat ride from downtown; extend route to Mercantile only during peak periods.
*Route 25/Crosstown – Split east and west portions of route so that those west of La Gran (with lower ridership) have hourly instead of 30 minute frequency.
*Route 26/Ridgmar Mall-Normandale – Change Saturday frequency to reduce the early morning schedule from every half hour to hourly; also eliminate three latest trips in the evenings on weekdays and Saturdays.
*Route 68/Arlington-Park Springs Park and Ride – Eliminate the last evening trip that was added in September but carries very few riders.
*Route 993/Expanco – Eliminate one of two trips in the mornings.
