Getting Around Fort Worth Public Transportation Guide

Fort Worth is home to a plethora of transportation options, including bus and trolley services, citywide bike rentals, and the usual apps for ridesharing, car rentals, and taxi services. Here are the best ways to get around Cowtown:

How to ride the Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is the citywide bus system that connects downtown to the Stockyards and many additional districts. The Dash is Trinity Metro’s first electric bus that will take you from downtown to the 7th Street Corridor and the Cultural District; the electric bus line provides daily service with later hours on Friday and Saturday nights.

• Routes and Schedules: Trinity Metro operates 46 independent fixed routes throughout the city, all of which have a very varied service. To access the corrals, take Route 15 from downtown. If you’re heading to the Cultural District, take Route 7 or The Dash; and, to access Southside/Magnolia, take Route 4. (You can download all maps and schedules

• Fares: It costs $5 for an all-day pass on all local buses and trains.

• TEXRail: TEXRail is a 27-mile commuter rail that runs from downtown, through northeast Tarrant County, and to DFW Airport Terminal B. It is a comfortable, easy and very affordable way to travel to and from the airport from downtown.

Trinity Railway Express (TRE)

If you’re traveling between downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth and want to avoid driving through traffic, the most convenient and hassle-free option is to take the Trinity Railway Express. The Trinity Railway Express, or TRE, provides rail transportation in the DFW area, between Dallas and Fort Worth (and all points in between), with transfer access to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. In downtown Fort Worth, you can board the TRE at the Fort Worth Central Station or the TandP station, which is part of the historic Texas and Pacific Railroad terminal built in 1931; It’s a stunning example of 1920s Art Deco Zigzag Moderne architecture. (It’s worth a trip to the T&P just to see the magnificently opulent lobby.) Check their website for a list of all stations and stopping points on the TRE

molly the cart

For a fun and unique way to get around, hop aboard Molly the Trolley, a vintage-style trolley that offers courtesy service throughout downtown and beyond. Molly’s downtown route runs between the Fort Worth Convention Center and Sundance Square, making stops at various landmarks along the way. Molly’s also serves the Trinity Metro Fort Worth Central Station, giving riders access to Amtrak, commuter rail, and bus services. Pro Tip: Take Route 15 to get to the Stockyards, with daily service between Central Station and the Stockyards every 15 minutes during peak hours. (For more on Molly the Trolley, check out the Trinity Metro site.)

Taxi and ride sharing apps

Shared rides are widely available in Fort Worth. Lyft and Uber are two of the most popular ridesharing apps, although there are other apps available in the area. Taxis are not as widely used and it is not always easy to hail one on the street, although you can always call a company. If you prefer to ride a cab, Fort Worth Cabs and the Fort Worth Cab Company are two of the top local companies.

bike sharing

Riding a bike can be a fun and efficient way to get around (and not to mention an eco-friendly option), especially if you want to explore the city center. Fort Worth’s B-Cycle program has more than 35 docking stations spread throughout the city, near major hot spots such as Downtown, the Cultural District, the Southside, and the Trinity Trails. Memberships are available in 24-hour, 7-day, and 30-day increments. The easiest way to find the nearest available bike is through the app. If you’re not too familiar with city bike rules, it’s important to note that cyclists abide by the same traffic rules as motorized vehicles, so be sure to signal turns, brake for pedestrians, and obey traffic lights.

Car rental

Thanks to the city’s robust bus and trolley services, it’s entirely possible to get around Fort Worth without a car. That said, the entire DFW area is laid out in a grid with several interlocking freeways and major thoroughfares; in other words, it’s definitely car-centric. DFW Airport offers 12 car rental companies, including top-rated Alamo, Hertz, and Budget. But unless you’re planning on moving from Dallas to Fort Worth, renting a car really isn’t.

Tips for getting around Fort Worth

Fort Worth is now the 13th largest city in the US and the roads can be hectic, so learning to navigate the city can be a challenging process. Make things easy for yourself by following these tips:

• There are plenty of places to park for free in the city center; And note that all parking meters are free after 6 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends. Sundance Square (the city’s popular 35-block shopping and entertainment district in the heart of downtown) offers more than 3,000 parking spaces, and if you’re visiting the Southside, you can park for free at the Magnolia Green Garage. Are you going to the corrals? There is free street parking along East Exchange Avenue.

• Traffic is notoriously terrible during rush hour; There is no way around it unless you plan to stay off the freeway during this time. Really and truly, for your sanity, don’t try to drive during rush hour in the DFW area.

• You know you’re not supposed to text and drive, yes, but it bears repeating: It’s really not a good idea to text and drive if you’re driving through downtown Fort Worth, and especially not a a good idea to text and drive if you’re trying to navigate multiple lanes of the freeway. DFW drivers are extremely aggressive and distracted driving can easily lead to an accident.

• We highly recommend downloading or consulting the city’s walking maps, which can be accessed online. Walking is a wonderful and relatively easy way to experience the city center and surrounding attractions and landmarks.

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