American Airlines signs new lease at DFW Airport with plans for new terminal

Airport News

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Fort Worth-based American Airlines has signed on for another 10 years at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). According to a release, the airline and the airport have signed a new 10-year Use and Lease Agreement, which includes $4.8 billion in pre-approved capital investments.

The Use and Lease Agreement is the main governing document between the airlines and the airport and establishes the Airport’s business model. The new Use and Lease Agreement replaces the 2010 agreement and maintains many of the same arrangements as the prior version.

Capital investments include:

the construction of Terminal F
the renovation of Terminal C
construction of gate expansions at Terminal A and Terminal C
other modernization projects

The lease signing, which marks a new era of growth and innovation, was overseen by a gathering of and comments from the key personages: Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, and DFW Airport CEO Sean Donohue.

"American is proud to call North Texas home, and DFW is our largest hub and a central gateway to our extensive international and domestic network," Isom said in a statement. "American has led the growth that has propelled DFW to become the second busiest airport in the world and we are thrilled to finalize a new lease agreement and capital plan that sets the stage for American, DFW, and the North Texas region to continue to grow for years to come."

"The Use and Lease Agreement not only creates a predictable and equitable business model for DFW Airport, but it also underscores the commitment of the airport and our airline partners to provide passengers with the best possible travel experience," Donohue said.

The Use and Lease Agreement outlines major capital projects over the next 10 years. The most significant projects include:

Terminal C. An estimated $2.72 billion for the expansion of the Central Terminal Area, including a major reimagining of Terminal C, gate expansions extending from Terminal A and Terminal C, and significant upgrades to roadways and terminal access.

Terminal F. An estimated $1.63 billion for the construction of a new Terminal F, featuring a 15-gate concourse.

The terminal expansions will add 24 gates to prepare American and DFW for long-term growth. At the completion of construction, American will add new gates in the Terminal A and Terminal C piers to its operating portfolio.

The new agreement will allow American and DFW to work together on additional capital projects throughout the term of the lease.

Approximately 85 percent of passenger traffic at DFW is customers of American Airlines, with about two-thirds of American’s customers connecting through DFW to access the airline’s global network.

American’s creation of a “connection factory” provides access to more than 240 nonstop destinations out of DFW operated by American. DFW is also home to several of American’s alliance partners.

North Texas is home to nearly 35,000 American Airlines employees, at the airport and on American’s 300-acre Robert L. Crandall Campus in Fort Worth, where American recently opened its 600-room Skyview 6 Hospitality Complex, which hosts team members visiting for training.

YouTube

Safety board blames lack of de-icing and speeding for 2021 icy Fort Worth crash

Weather News

The National Transportation Safety Board issued a report on its investigation of a brutal multi-vehicle accident that took place during the February 2021 ice storm, faulting the company responsible for the freeway's operation and maintenance.

According to a release, the NTSB found that North Tarrant Express Mobility Partners Segment 3 (NEMP S3) failed to monitor and address icy roadway conditions, contributing to the devastating crash.

The accident occurred on February 11, 2021, in the southbound toll lanes of I-35W, in which six people died, at least 65 were injured, and 36 were taken to area hospitals.

The crash began at 6:04 am, when a car near the Northside Drive exit struck the concrete barrier on the right side of the toll lanes. Other vehicles in the southbound toll lanes then began to slide, spin, and strike the barriers.

At 6:13 am, a large truck crashed into some of the disabled vehicles that were blocking the travel lanes. Other vehicles were unable to stop, leading to a multivehicle crash blocking all southbound toll lanes.

In the days before the crash, the area had experienced 36 consecutive hours of below-freezing temperatures.

North Tarrant Express Mobility Partners Segment 3 was the company responsible for operations and maintenance on the I-35W right of way.

According to the NTSB, they pretreated the two southbound lanes with a liquid brine solution 44 hours before the crash. The area had experienced 36 consecutive hours of below-freeing temperatures.

On February 11, employees spot-treated some sections with salt, but did not treat the elevated portion of I-35W where the crash occurred.

Maintenance crews drove north on I-35W about 45 minutes before the crash and visually checked the road, but they detected no moisture and applied no salt.

NTSB investigators found that NTEMP S3’s roadway monitoring process was deficient because, as precipitation and freezing temperatures continued and conditions deteriorated on the morning of February 11, company personnel did not identify the elevated portion of I-35W as needing additional de-icing treatment, which left the roadway surface icy.

However, North Tarrant Express Mobility Partners Segment 3 say they disagree with the assessment.

"Video footage from the morning of February 11 confirmed that precipitation began mere minutes before the accident unfolded," the company said. "Hours earlier, we had posted dynamic signage within the vicinity of the accident site, warning drivers of icy conditions and to drive with caution. We also had deployed permanent signage warning drivers that bridges could ice in cold weather."

NTSB also found that drivers were driving too fast for winter weather conditions, contributing to the severity of the crash. The roadway has a 75-mph speed limit.

The NTSB is recommending that Texas do the following:

install of variable speed-limit signs
add sensors to reduce response times to weather-related hazardous road conditions
provide training to Texas toll road facilities on how to better respond to winter storms

The NTSB also reiterated previous recommendations in favor of automated speed enforcement and increased connected vehicle technology deployment.

Canoo

Dallas-Fort Worth is first in U.S. to test Walmart's cute new Canoo EVs

EV News

Walmart is deploying a fleet of new electric delivery vehicles, and the first place they're trying them out is none other than Dallas-Fort Worth.

According to a release, Walmart signed up in July to buy 4,500 all-electric delivery vehicles from Canoo, a high-tech mobility company based in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Walmart bought Canoo's Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle (LDV), an adorable rounded van that will be driven by Walmart employees to deliver online orders, groceries, and general merchandise.

The LDV is expected to hit the road widely in 2023, but first they're refining the configuration with a test run in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Canoo's LDV is an all-American commercial EV optimized for sustainable "last mile" delivery use cases. It's engineered for high frequency stop-and-go deliveries and speedy vehicle to door drop-off, including groceries and food/meal delivery.

The cargo space is 120 cubic feet, with a modular design, designed for small package delivery, and small enough to be driven like a regular car, says Canoo CEO, chairman, and investor Tony Aquila in a statement.

"Our LDV has the turning radius of a small passenger vehicle on a parking friendly, compact footprint, yet the payload and cargo space of a commercial delivery vehicle," Aquila says. "This is the winning algorithm to seriously compete in the last mile delivery race, globally."

The LDVs will also potentially be used for Walmart GoLocal, their delivery-as-a-service business.

"By continuing to expand our last mile delivery fleet in a sustainable way, we’re able to provide customers and Walmart+ members with even more access to same-day deliveries while keeping costs low," says Walmart senior VP David Guggina.

It'll also allow Walmart to deliver online orders in a sustainable way that contributes to their goal of achieving zero-emissions by 2040.

In addition to dedicated fulfillment centers, Walmart uses 3,800 of its stores to fulfill online orders. The retailer currently does this using a combination of Walmart associates, independent contractors driving on the Spark Driver Network, third-party delivery service providers, and in some locations, autonomous vehicles and drones, to make deliveries.

Last year Canoo, chose Walmart's hometown Bentonville, Arkansas, as its headquarters and Pryor, Oklahoma, as the site for its U.S. manufacturing — establishing an EV ecosystem in the heartland.

Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro has new webcam that lets you spy Fort Worth trains live

Train News

Trinity Metro has launched a new live webcam that'll make you feel like you're in charge of Fort Worth's entire transportation system.

The webcam is online and offers a new perspective on train activities in downtown Fort Worth, any time of day.

If you tune in to the agency's train cam page, you can observe the comings and goings of three passenger train lines and numerous freight trains in real time.

The live webcam offers video of Fort Worth Central Station with a view from the president and CEO's office window. The perspective is from the top floor of Trinity Metro’s headquarters at Grove and 7th streets.

The camera operates around the clock to provide a bird's-eye view of Trinity Metro trains, plus Amtrak and freight. You're the boss!

Track 1
This is where you'll see Trinity Metro TEXRail trains as well as some Trinity Railway Express (TRE) trains. (TEXRail, a commuter rail line between Fort Worth Central Station and DFW Airport Terminal B Station, is owned and operated by Trinity Metro.)

You can identify these trains not only by the track, but also by their bright red doors. If you zoom in - yes, you can zoom in - on the train platform to the right of track 1, you may catch a glimpse of the conductors in traditional uniforms.

Over the course of the day, you’ll see 33 eastbound and 33 westbound trains. For the majority of operating hours, TEXRail runs every 30 minutes – on the hour and half hour. Service is the same every day of the year.

Track 2
This track is for TRE commuter rail, which links Fort Worth Central Station and Union Station in downtown Dallas. (TRE, which features double-decker cars, is jointly owned and operated by Trinity Metro and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)). The cars are red, white, and blue with a white star on the side.

TRE operates different schedules on weekdays vs. Saturday, and does not run on Sunday. On weekdays, you can spot 31 eastbound trains and 31 westbound.

Track 3
Amtrak boards at Fort Worth Central Station. The Texas Eagle (Amtrak 21/421 and 22/422) and the Heartland Flyer (Amtrak 821 and 822) are on Track 3. The track that rises from Track 3 is where the Heartland Flyer leaves for Oklahoma City after a very short backup move.

Freight train tracks
There are numerous freight trains throughout the day and night on the remaining tracks to the left of your screen. These freight trains moving away from the camera are heading west toward Tower 55. You will see Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Union Pacific (UP) on these tracks, traveling to or from Tower 55.

Other things to look for
You may observe both TEXRail and TRE trains continuing from Central Station to a terminus at the original Texas and Pacific Railroad station (now the Fort Worth T&P Station), less than one track-mile west.

Tower 55, one of nation’s busiest rail intersections that connects freight and passenger trains, is off to the right of this picture, but it is out of sight.

Fort Worth's Hole-in-the-Wall is also nearby, but not in the picture. This was a choke point for several railroads and utilities, and it was a major challenge to TEXRail during the construction phase.

The link to the webcam video is here.

Courtesy of RedCoach

Affordable luxury bus rolls out new $15 routes with Fort Worth on the horizon

On the road

A luxury bus service is adding a new Texas stop to its map, and Fort Worth is next.

On April 28, RedCoach will launch service in San Antonio, marking the eighth Texas city served by the company. The new stop will provide luxury transportation between San Antonio and Dallas, as well as nonstop service from San Antonio to Austin, Houston, Richardson, and Waco.

According to RedCoach’s website, the company plans to expand in the near future to Fort Worth and San Marcos.

A spokeswoman confirms to CultureMap, "We don’t have a date set for Fort Worth, but we are actively analyzing."

RedCoach is known for its comfortable rides and fares priced as low as $15 each way.

“We understand that the travel industry is causing stress for residents with increased gas, airline, and car rental prices, so RedCoach is thrilled to add a San Antonio stop to our Texas routes," Florencia Cirigliano, vice president of marketing and sales at RedCoach, says in a news release. "We have now completed the ‘Texas Triangle’ and are serving the state’s five largest cities.”

(Surely they don't think Waco is bigger than Fort Worth?)

The transportation company serves Texas with 26-seat luxury buses featuring amenities such as bed-like seats that recline up to 140 degrees, complimentary Wi-Fi, 110-volt power outlets, on-board entertainment, reserved seating, and no baggage fees.

Last October, RedCoach launched nonstop routes serving Dallas, Austin, Houston, Waco, and College Station. In February, RedCoach added two stops in Katy and Richardson and conducted a flash sale with $1.50 fares.

The San Antonio stop is at 165 Bowie St., near the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter.

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Stephanie Allmon Merry contributed to this story.

Texas Transportation Institute

Dallas-Fort Worth drives onto list of Texas metros with worst traffic congestion

be prepared to stop

Honk if you hate DFW traffic! According to a new study, you’re more than justified in laying on the horn to express frustration over North Texas' clogged roads.

The study, released by geolocation technology company TomTom, shows the typical Dallas-Fort Worth driver wasted 39 hours last year due to traffic congestion. DFW's traffic congestion rate was 17 percent. (This means average travel times in jammed-up traffic were 17 percent longer than they were in uncongested traffic.)

"In 2021, an increase in congestion levels was seen in Dallas-Fort Worth," the study says. "The data suggests the average travel time increased by 2 minutes per day."

According to the report, October 1 was the worst traffic day in DFW, with a congestion rate of 26 percent.

On the whole, DFW drivers experience 21 percent congestion during morning rush hour (6 extra minutes per 30-minute trip) and 35 percent during evening rush hour (11 extra minutes per 30-minute trip).

"How much extra time was spent driving in rush hours over the year? 67 hours = 2 days 19 hours," the report says.

Dallas-Fort Worth ranked fourth in Texas, 37th in the U.S., and 305th in the world for traffic snarls. Congestion was up 4 percent from 2020 but down 2 percent from 2019.

While those figures highlight the drive-me-up-a-wall status of DFW commutes, at least it's not Houston, where drivers wasted 46 hours in traffic last year.

According to the survey, Houston ranks first in Texas, 16th in the U.S., and 214th in the world for snarled traffic in 2021. The city's traffic congestion went up 4 percent compared with 2020 but went down 4 percent compared with pre-pandemic 2019.

“Bottlenecks around the state continue to waste time and money, further damaging the already fragile supply chain,” John Esparza, president and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association, says in a news release. “With the newly available federal resources for infrastructure projects, there’s no excuse — these bottlenecks must be addressed. A reliable and stable transportation network is essential to our economy — just like the trucking industry.”

Here’s how other major Texas cities fared in the TomTom study:

McAllen ranked second in Texas, 18th in the U.S., and 218th in the world for traffic congestion. Time wasted in traffic last year for a typical driver: 46 hours. Congestion rate: 20 percent. Congestion up 4 percent from 2020 and up 1 percent from 2019.
Austin ranked third in Texas, 21st in the U.S., and 221st in the world for traffic congestion. Time wasted in traffic last year for a typical driver: 46 hours. Congestion rate: 20 percent. Congestion up 2 percent from 2020 and down 7 percent from 2019.
San Antonio ranked fifth in Texas, 41st in the U.S., and 318th in the world for traffic congestion. Time wasted in traffic last year for a typical driver: 36 hours. Congestion rate: 16 percent. Congestion up 3 percent from 2020 and down 3 percent from 2019.
El Paso ranked sixth in Texas, 44th in the U.S., and 324th in the world for traffic congestion. Time wasted in traffic last year for a typical driver: 36 hours. Congestion rate: 16 percent. Congestion up 4 percent from 2020 and the same as 2019.

Not surprisingly, the TomTom study awards New York City the title of the worst-congested place in the country. In 2021, the typical New York driver wasted 80 hours in traffic, with a 35 percent congestion rate.

Racking up a congestion rate of 62 percent last year, Istanbul, Turkey, claimed the title of the world’s worst city for traffic. There, motorists wasted 142 hours in traffic in 2021.

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Property Showcase

'Yellowstone' stars to greet fans at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Yellowstone news

Yellowstone fans, get your comfy shoes ready - there'll be a long line for this one. Cole Hauser a.k.a. "Rip Wheeler" on Yellowstone, and Taylor Sheridan, the show's co-creator, executive producer, and director of the series, will meet fans and sign autographs at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

The event will take place from 4:30-6:30 pm only on Friday, February 3. Location is the 6666 Ranch booth near the south end of Aisle 700 in the Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall.

According to a February 2 announcement from FWSSR, "fans will have the opportunity to snag an autograph as well as purchase some distinctive Yellowstone and 6666 Ranch merchandise while also enjoying all the features the Stock Show offers."

The event is free to attend (with paid Stock Show admission) and open to the public.

It's the second year in a row for Hauser to appear at FWSSR; in 2022, he and fellow cast mates drew huge crowds.

Sheridan, a Paschal High School graduate, is no stranger to Fort Worth; he lives in a ranch near Weatherford and filmed 1883, the prequel to Yellowstone, in and around Fort Worth. Currently, another spinoff, 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, is filming in North Texas.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is winding up its 2023 run on Saturday, February 4.

Endless creativity of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse keeps superhero story in overdrive

Movie Review

The blast of pure fun that was 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse accomplished several goals, but none more important than reclaiming the character from being part of just the Marvel Cinematic Universe. By not participating in the never-ending connecting stories of the MCU, the filmmakers could do whatever they wanted, first and foremost using Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) instead of Peter Parker as its main character.

It was also at the forefront of multiversal storytelling that has become the rage in the MCU and elsewhere. Given the multitude of Spider characters that have existed in the comics over the years, it was uniquely suited to telling a story with people from multiple universes. That concept is taken to the nth degree with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, a film that has seemingly limitless levels of creativity.

Miles, having separated from Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), and other Spider-people at the end of the first film, is doing well as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, casually protecting people from threats big and small. But when a highly unusual villain named The Spot (Jason Schwartzman) proves especially tricky, a series of events has Miles follow Gwen into a portal where he encounters every other Spider character in existence.

Lest you think that’s hyperbole, among the people he meets are Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman (Issa Rae), Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac), Hobie Brown/Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya), Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spider (Andy Samberg), and Spider-Man India (Karan Soni), and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Revelations made while meeting all of them lead Miles to a whole new understanding of himself and the multiverse in general, with far-reaching consequences.

The filmmakers, once again led by writers/producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, fill the screen with so many visual elements that at times it can be overwhelming, but in the best possible way. Unlike most animated films, there are multiple different styles employed throughout, and never knowing what to expect gives the film a kineticism that borders on manic, although it always stops short of being incomprehensible.

The storytelling is much more complex this time around, no surprise since it involves so many more characters. But the personal stories of each of the Spider characters, especially Miles and Gwen, maintain a grounded nature that keeps the plot anchored even while delving into increasingly fantastical territory.

Although this film deals with some darker themes, there is still plenty of humor to be had. The intersection of so many Spider characters highlights their differences, and the way they interact can’t help but be entertaining. Miles is still a 15-year-old kid, and the way he navigates the world(s) has a lightness to it that is a sharp contrast to the various adults in his life.

Moore, who’s not as well-known as some of his co-stars, has proven to be the perfect voice for Miles, making him relatable and powerful at the same time. Everyone else gives similarly great performances, although the fact that many of them are famous for their non-voicework doesn’t really play a factor in how well they come across here.

A third film, Beyond the Spider-Verse, is teased with a cliffhanger, and unlike other franchises where multiple films are unnecessary, there are no such reservations here. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse equals the success of the first film, and there is no doubt that the filmmakers will bring the same level of attention to detail to the end of the trilogy.

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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is now playing in theaters.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation

Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

American Airlines adds travel perks for summer including new food & films

Airline Food News

Fort Worth-based American Airlines has made some additions to its in-flight lineup for summer 2023, including new meals and foodie snacks, Wi-Fi updates, and new movie options to stream.

That includes a special selection of films celebrating Pride Month in June.

Food
The new food options include chef-curated menu options in premium cabins and choices for the indulgent or health-conscious traveler in the main cabin.

Plant-based: Customers flying on transcontinental American Flagship service flights have a new premium entrée and it's plant-based, woo-hoo: The new Plant-Based Bulgogi Noodle Bowl entrée comes with yakisoba noodles, stir-fry vegetables, and plant-based beef crumbles — offering a new meal option that is both nourishing and delicious.

Avli on the Park: Customers flying in premium cabins to Europe from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport this summer can enjoy dishes from Avli on the Park, a Greek restaurant in Chicago and a Michelin 2023 honoree. Options include a Greek Beef Orzo Stew and a Kagiana Egg Scramble for breakfast. These items from Avli on the Park are available on six nonstop flights to Europe: Athens, Barcelona, Dublin, London, Paris, and Rome.

Wi-Fi updates
Wi-Fi enhancements for the summer months include:

Complimentary Wi-Fi for T-Mobile customers: By July, 100 percent of American's Wi-Fi-equipped regional and narrowbody aircrafts will offer T-Mobile In-Flight Connection On Us, allowing eligible T-Mobile customers to enjoy complimentary connectivity with streaming on domestic flights.

Summer streaming: Travelers to international destinations should be able to enjoy faster Wi-Fi speeds and a more reliable service for all their connectivity needs thanks to increased bandwidth planned for American's widebody aircraft, offering 100 percent mainline aircraft with video streaming capabilities.

Entertainment
New film and viewing options include:

Monthly exclusives: New movies will be offered monthly which customers can watch exclusively inflight such as the new AppleTV+ movie Ghosted.

Pride Month: American is offering an entertainment channel featuring top LGBTQ+ talent; customers can choose from a list of movies and series.

American Black Film Festival channel: This summer, American is bringing new content to the American Black Film Festival channel, elevating the unique voices and power stories of the Black community to offer a deeper understanding of the Black experience.

"Our customers are the inspiration behind everything we do, and American is committed to consistently deliver a world-class experience for them,” said Kim Cisek, Vice President of Customer Experience. “We know customers want a convenient travel experience throughout their journey on American and to arrive at their destination satisfied and ready to explore — a focus we keep in mind when refreshing and creating new experiences for them to enjoy on the ground and in the skies."

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