FEATURE:
INSIDE TRINITY METRO’S ROI PLAYBOOK

On a recent visit to the Texas Capitol in my role as the CEO of Fort Worth’s Trinity Metro, I was stopped by a state senator before I could begin my pitch for commuter rail. “I’m never using rail,” the senator said. “I have a truck. You’re never going to get me on rail … but what do you need?”

I appreciated the legislator’s candor and his willingness to help. Even in Texas, where support for public transit at the state level is essentially nonexistent, he understood the value of commuter rail and knew his constituents wanted the service.

Trinity Metro has built a strong foundation of public support, backed by a devoted rider base, a dynamic mayor who champions commuter rail, and a local business community that sees our services as key to driving Fort Worth’s growth and success. Passengers ride with us to work, to the hospital, to the airport, to sporting events and the State Fair. One couple put their entire wedding party on one of our trains to their ceremony. Make no mistake: Those riders speak to their elected officials.

We’ve achieved this level of public support in two significant ways. We have delivered an outstanding customer experience that includes friendly, professional staff and reliable, 30-minute headways 7 days a week. And we have built a public engagement strategy through foundational research on the economic impact of rail in our region and public opinion research. With federal support for transit now in doubt, rail leaders across America can learn from our approach and apply these strategies in their states—red and blue alike.

LEAN ON LOCAL SUPPORT

Trinity Metro is currently pursuing a crucial 2.1-mile TEXRail expansion to a new station in the Fort Worth Medical District. We wouldn’t be so far along on that initiative without the support of Mattie Parker, the dynamic Mayor of Fort Worth who sees rail as essential to our fast-growing city’s economic competitiveness and quality of life. She’s shown that she’s willing to go to bat to advance our priorities. Mayor Parker rides Trinity Metro and knows our trains are clean and safe. With her support, other community and business leaders happily join her in supporting our efforts.

Our leaders, citizens and passengers know expanding Trinity Metro’s rail offering will help to ease traffic congestion, while driving economic development to support Fort Worth’s next million residents.

RELY ON ECONOMIC ROI

Let’s start with the obvious: If you’re going to talk about return on investment, you need to be measuring it. We track our financial performance closely, which is how we know that every $1 invested in Trinity Metro generates $3.05 in economic returns in Tarrant County. Trinity Metro commissioned an impact study and found:

• Every $500 million invested in Trinity Metro supports and creates approximately 8,000 jobs.

• Every job at Trinity Metro supports and creates approximately 5.17 jobs in Tarrant County.

• Trinity Metro services increase business productivity by $85 million annually.

• Trinity Metro reduces service area congestion costs by more than $67 million annually.

The impact study also revealed that Trinity Metro serves 89% of total residents, including 97% of zero-car households, and 100% of the local universities and major hospitals. The railroad reduces the vehicle-miles traveled in our service area by more than 16 million miles annually, resulting in a reduction of vehicle emissions and crashes.

In our region, the impact of transit isn’t just felt in financial data—you can literally see it. When people step off Trinity Metro’s TEXRail passenger rail service in Grapevine, they’re surrounded by vibrant and successful transit-oriented development: an award-winning boutique hotel developed by a prominent developer, an entertainment venue, and a food hall offering countless culinary options, all surrounded by new and expanding residential and mixed-use projects.

On top of a demonstrable economic ROI, our elected leadership knows we are financially efficient and responsible. We constantly (and accurately) promote our projects being “On Budget.” And our economic narrative is resonating: Trinity Metro had a 6:1 favorability rating in a recent survey of Fort Worth residents.

A NATIONWIDE PLAYBOOK

Texas isn’t the only state proving the efficacy of public transit and passenger rail. An economic analysis by the Utah Transit Authority showed similar results in terms of ROI: Every dollar invested in the UTA delivers $5.11 in economic returns. If public transit can thrive in Texas and Utah, it can thrive anywhere in the U.S.

It all comes down to messaging. With a clear, concise focus on community and leadership support while showing positive economic ROI, transit leaders across the U.S. can gain political support and make the most out of available government funding over the next four years and well into the future.

• DOT will have lost about 7% of its employees as of early July, according to data reviewed by POLITICO. FTA’s workforce will get pared back by 33%. The Senate Appropriations Committee, in its FY2026 spending bill for transportation, seeks to understand the impact of the workforce reductions on DOT’s ability to fulfill its mandates.

• (POLITICO) The Senate Appropriations Committee, in its fiscal 2026 spending bill report, says it’s concerned that DOT’s ongoing evaluation of Biden-era grant awards is “slowing down transportation projects” in every state and “leading to unnecessary delays and cost increases.” The report directs the agency to “expeditiously” complete its review and prioritize staffing increases in offices that can help speed up the grant agreement process.

• (Kaplan Kirsch) USDOT Makes Significant Changes to NEPA Procedures Affecting Rail and Transit Projects.

  The FRA, FTA, and FHWA have issued an interim final rule updating their joint NEPA regulations (23 CFR Part 771). The updated rules are effective immediately, but the agencies are accepting public comment through August 4, 2025 and may make further changes.

  Key revisions to the joint NEPA regulations include: applicability, sponsor preparation, Corridor Identification and Development (CID) Program, conflicts of interest: deadlines, page limits, reliance and adoption.

  Rail and transit project sponsors should be aware that ongoing environmental reviews may be subject to the new procedures outlined in the updated regulations and order. The Federal Register notice for the FRA, FTA, and FHWA interim final rule states that “revised agency procedures will have no effect on sufficiently advanced ongoing NEPA reviews, where the Department, following CEQ guidance, has held that it will continue to apply existing procedures.” The agencies did not provide any clarification as to which reviews will be considered “sufficiently advanced.” The new DOT Order 5610.1D states that it does not apply to decisions or final environmental documents issued prior to its effective date, but that it should be applied to “actions” initiated on or after its effective date.

• (POLITICO) A new DOT advisory board (called, simply, “The Advisory Board”) convened in Washington earlier this month. Secretary Duffy told members (per POLITICO) that their goals include “creatively thinking about how we get around some of these regulatory burdens” and advising on public-private partnerships.

  The 12 members, who each have two-year terms, are: Chair Gregg Reuben, CEO of Centerpark; Executive Chair Steven Lefton, president and CEO of Kimley-Horn; Peter Bartek, founder and CEO of FTS Rail; Michael Capasso, CEO of C.A.C. Industries; Stephen Dickson, former chief of the FAA; Todd Ehmann, senior international captain at United Airlines; David Horner, partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP; Brigham McCown, chair and founder of the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure; Francis Sacr, principal at Lorne Infrastructure and former executive director of the Gateway Development Commission; Trent Morse, deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of presidential personnel; Mark Tedesco, CEO of Academy Bus; and Robert Valentine, senior managing director of Macquarie Infrastructure Fund.

• (TRAINS) U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass) and Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) have reintroduced a bill that would devote $200 billion over a five-year period for rail projects including high speed rail and electrification of some lines. The All Aboard Act, announced by Markey on Tuesday, July 29 revives legislation introduced late in 2024. It includes:

• Creation of dedicated formula funding for rail projects, as long has existed for highway projects.

• Establishment of a $50 billion “Green Railroad Fund” to electrify the most highly polluting rail yards and highest trafficked rail corridors, and support “electric high-performance passenger rail projects.”

• $150 billion over five years to expand existing programs: $80 billion for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant program; $30 billion for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety and Improvement, or CRISI; $30 billion for Amtrak; and $10 billing for the Grade Crossing Elimination program.

• $500 million in grants under the Clean Air Act to address pollution from diesel locomotives at rail yards.

• $300 million for freight and passenger rail training centers, in partnership with organized labor, to develop the rail industry’s future workforce.

  Full text of the bill is available here.

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WHAT WE’RE READING

• Feds Slash Millions in Promised Funds for Local Transportation (Governing)

• Tri-Rail, facing cuts that could put it out of service, now in a fight for funding (Miami Herald)

• Tri-Rail facing an uncertain future, looking for alternatives after slashed state funding (WLRN)

• Tri-Rail chief sees a 'path forward' despite $30m shortfall that could end services in 2027 (WLRN)

• Legislation to address RTA’s fiscal cliff faces uncertain future (Smart Cities Dive)