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Council reviews six months of Trinity Metro pilot data; future funding would cost city up to roughly $1M annually
Summary
Staff presented six months of Trinity Metro pilot ridership and cost data. The pilot showed about 32 daily rides in January; staff flagged rising multi-year contract costs and said no federal funding has been identified to cover later years.
MANSFIELD, Texas — City staff on Feb. 10 presented six months of data from the Trinity Metro pilot that began July 2024 and recommended council consideration of program continuation after the trial period.
Assistant City Manager Matt Jones and transit staff presented completed rides and unique-rider counts from August 2024 through January 2025, and summarized operational metrics, including average wait time (about 25 minutes) and on-time percentage. Staff said January’s data showed roughly 32 average riders per day during the latest reporting period.
Staff also reviewed the contract cost schedule provided by Trinity Metro: about $855,000 for year one, nearly $1 million for year two and slightly more in year three. Staff told council there is not yet identified federal funding to cover those later-year costs, meaning the city would be responsible for the total contract cost if it chose to continue. The pilot had been funded for one year with a six-month evaluation point.
Councilmembers asked for clarifications about unique-rider counts and system capability; staff confirmed “unique riders” refers to individual people using the service. Staff described the options in the existing contract and said the city’s evaluation would factor ridership, cost and potential outside funding.
Several residents told the council how they rely on Trinity Metro. Alicia Tipping, a resident who uses the service regularly, said it enabled her to return to part-time work and allows people without cars to reach jobs, schools and medical appointments. “Trinity Metro has helped the cost for me,” Tipping said. She described riders who use the service to get to work at grocery stores, to school, and for medical appointments, and urged the council to consider community impacts if the service were canceled in July.
No formal council vote was held on continuation at the Feb. 10 meeting; staff said they would return with any recommended action and additional funding information.
