Transportation
Education
BY CODY THORN
BY MARK FADDEN, HANNAH NORTON & CHLOE YOUNG
Trinity Metro reduces fares for buses, trains Trinity Metro streamlined fares for bus, train and On-Demand rides Sept. 15. A single ride for buses, trains and On-Demand trips will be $2 for local service, a reduction between 50 cents and $1. One-day tickets will be $4 and seven-day tickets will be $18, a reduction of $2 and $9, respectively. Reduced tickets are available, with valid ID, for seniors 65 or older, persons with disabilities, Medi- care card holders, youth ages 5-19 and veterans with proof of status, according to the website. No ticket is needed for children ages four and under. On-Demand rides, including transfers between TEXRail and Trinity Metro buses, will be matched with other riders headed in the same direction to create e cient trips, according to a news release. The background Trinity Metro owns and operates TEXRail, a
Tra c study in Colleyville planned The Colleyville City Council approved a contract to study tra c patterns along Bedford Road and Martin Parkway on Cheek-Sparger Road. Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. was awarded a contract in an amount not to exceed $62,400 during the Aug. 6 meeting. Kimley-Horn will conduct an analysis on the current tra c volumes during peak hours as well as project peak volumes for 2029, according to city documents.
A F accountability ratings remain blocked A Travis County district court once again blocked the Texas Education Agency from releas- ing its A F accountability ratings for Texas school districts and campuses Sept. 18. “I’m currently enjoined by the courts from issuing ratings for the second year in a row,” TEA Commissioner Mike Morath told state lawmakers during a Senate Education Committee hearing Sept. 18. “If you actually want your A F system to work, you’re probably going to have to do some- thing about that.” Over 100 school districts sued the TEA in 2023 over concerns that the system would unlawfully lower their ratings for the 2022-23 school year. What’s happening After hearing from the TEA and several school districts who sued the agency, Travis County Judge Daniella Deseta Lyttle issued a temporary
CISD approves debt plan to save $6M Carroll ISD board members voted unani- mously to authorize defeasance, or paying down the principal, of debt at their Aug. 26 meeting. The move should save the district an estimated $6 million. The details The district initially estimated and bud- geted $18.8 million that would be eligible for defeasance, with the nal amount being based on actual tax collections remaining after all 2024-25 scheduled debt has been paid, according to district documents. Assistant Superintendent for Financial Services David Johnson said by paying o the $18.8 million early, it would save the district approximately $6 million in interest.
TEA A F rating timeline
The last time Texas districts received complete A-F ratings No accountability ratings issued due to COVID-19 Schools that received “C” or lower The last time Texas districts received complete A-F ratings
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
were deemed “not rated” Ratings blocked by judge
Reduced train fees will include transfers between Trinity Metro and TEXRail.
PHOTO BY CODY THORN COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B. There’s also a 34-mile commuter rail line, Trinity Railway Express, jointly owned and operated by Trinity Metro and Dallas Area Rapid Transit. What else? In July, Trinity Metro On-Demand added location stops in Mans eld and the Alliance area of Fort Worth.
injunction Sept. 18. The order continues to block the TEA from assigning A F performance ratings for the 2023-24 school year. A di erent judge issued a temporary restraining order initially blocking the release of the ratings Aug. 12 in response to a lawsuit led by Pecos- Barstow-Toyah, Crandall, Forney, Fort Stockton and Kingsville ISDs. An additional 27 districts have since joined the lawsuit, according to lawyers for the school districts.
Colleyville
MARTIN PKWY.
CHEEK SPARGER RD.
N
EULESS 900 E Harwood Rd (817) 545-2184 KELLER 101 Keller Smithfield Rd S (817) 482-8295
BEDFORD 1520 Airport Fwy (817) 508-4490 WESTLAKE 2341 Highway 377 (817) 490-9072
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