Train News

Trinity Metro chooses design team for new Near Southside station in Fort Worth

TexRail, coming to the Near Southside.

TexRail

Trinity Metro has hit another benchmark in its plan to extend TexRail to the Near Southside: The agency has selected a team consisting of Huitt-Zollars + TranSystems, who will partner to serve as final design consultant (FDC) on the transit expansion.

Huitt-Zollars is a design firm with expertise in planning, program management, and construction management. TranSystems oversees construction on transportation networks and infrastructure. Both firms have previously worked for Trinity Metro on projects such as the TEXRail Track and Stations project, which was completed by TranSystems; and the Mahaffey Maintenance Facility, which was completed by Huitt-Zollars.

This project consists of a 2.1-mile commuter rail extension from the Fort Worth T&P Station to a new Near Southside Station in the Fort Worth Medical District.

In addition to the rail extension, it also includes the design of the Near Southside Station with a 100-space park-and-ride lot. Construction on the $167 million program will begin in 2024.

In a statement, Trinity Metro President and CEO Richard Andreski says the expansion represents "a crucial milestone" in the development of Fort Worth's transportation infrastructure.

"By connecting riders to the Near Southside and Medical District, we are offering medical workers, patients and visitors an opportunity to ride the very popular and very successful TEXRAIL," Andreski says. "The expanded rail service will provide a great commuting choice many people while also offering Near Southside residents a seamless connection to DFW Airport."

Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B; and co-owner of Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).

Christmas in Cowtown

Festive Fort Worth makes new list of top cities to celebrate Christmas

Visit Fort Worth - Facebook

There's much to love around the holiday season in Fort Worth, including meeting Cowboy Santa.

Fort Worth's festive spirit is on full display, from Cowboy Santa's visits in the historic Stockyards to the sky-high tree in downtown's Sundance Square. It's no wonder the city made WalletHub's list of the best cities for celebrating Christmas 2024.

Merry Fort Worth lands at No. 57 spot on the new list, which annually ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities across five key dimensions: Traditions and fun, observance, generosity, shopping opportunities, plus travel and meal costs.

Fort Worth ranked as the No. 50 best U.S. city for celebrating Christmas in WalletHub's 2023 report.

Here's how the city performed across the study's five main categories this year:

No. 16 – Costs rank
No. 38 – Generosity rank
No. 55 – Observance rank
No. 59 – Traditions and fun rank
No. 65 – Shopping rank

No matter what the rankings say, jolly Fort Worth residents can enjoy a host of holiday happenings this winter, including numerous light displays and dazzling neighborhoods throughout town. From local restaurants and bars creating festive feasts and delightful cocktail experiences, to great places to ice skate, there is plenty to get Fort Worth residents in the holiday spirit this year.

Fort Worth households also have bigger holiday budgets in 2024 than they did the year before. According to a separate WalletHub study, the average Fort Worth household is expected to spend about $1,082 on Christmas gifts this year, versus $1,013 in 2023.

"With inflation making Christmas celebrations, gifts, food and travel more expensive, certain cities are much better for your wallet than others during the holiday," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "In addition to being affordable, the best cities have a large number of people celebrating, plenty of places for Christians to worship, populations who give generously to charity, and plenty of fun activities to enjoy with family and friends."

Elsewhere in Texas, other festive cities that earned spots in the top 50 include Austin (No. 23), San Antonio (No. 30), Dallas (No. 31), and Houston (No. 41).

The top 10 best places to experience Christmas in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 2 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
No. 4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 5 – Orlando, Florida
No. 6 – San Francisco, California
No. 7 – St. Louis, Missouri
No. 8 – Miami, Florida
No. 9 – Chicago, Illinois
No. 10 – New York, New York

christmas rankings wallethub holidays