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Star Transit tells Rockwall County it secured higher grant reimbursement and plans added service
Summary
Star Transit leaders told the commissioners court that demand-response service in Rockwall County serves mainly seniors and people with disabilities and that a new FTA grant increases reimbursement to 80%, allowing the agency to add a vehicle to county service without additional local cost in FY28.
Tommy Hendricks, chief executive of Star Transit, and Kim Britton, the agency's public information officer, gave the Rockwall County Commissioners Court a systemwide update on Jan. 13, saying the agency has operated in the county since 2005 and provides a demand‑response service in Rockwall County Monday–Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Britton told the court Star Transit performs roughly 230,000 rides a year with a fleet of about 60 vehicles and that most trips within Rockwall County are for people age 60 and older or those with disabilities. Fares range from $1 to $12; riders 60 and older, veterans and riders with disabilities pay half those fares, she said.
Hendricks said the agency secured a new Federal Transit Administration grant routed through the North Central Texas Council of Governments that increases reimbursement to about 80 percent for FY26 and FY27. He said that additional operating offset will allow Star Transit to add another vehicle in Rockwall County in FY28 at no additional local cost to county partners.
"Because of the ridership base that we have here in Rockwall County, we were able to secure that grant funding," Hendricks said. "It's at a higher reimbursement rate, so...in FY28 we'll be able to add another vehicle in the county at no additional cost to our local partners." (Tommy Hendricks)
Commissioners praised the agency's work transporting seniors, adults with special needs and medical riders; Hendricks and Britton answered technical questions about trip booking, service area boundaries and trip types. The court did not take a vote on the presentation.
The presentation noted Star Transit also carries Title III-B senior-center trips in some neighboring counties under a different grant arrangement and that personal care attendants and children 12 and under ride free with a fare‑paying adult.
