Fort Worth residents gathered Thursday at the historic Texas & Pacific (T&P) Station for the first of three public meetings hosted by Trinity Metro. The transit agency used the session to solicit ideas and concerns as it prepares a transit‑oriented development (TOD) blueprint for the downtown hub and surrounding Near Southside/Medical District.
Community input drives the plan
Attendees ranged from longtime locals to daily commuters. Brenda Howell, a 70‑year‑old Fort Worth native, called for additional parking, more landscaping and shaded walkways, emphasizing that better lighting and signage would help people feel safe in the station. “They need to do a better job so people feel safe in the station,” Howell said.
Joanne Sifingo voiced worries about the station’s tunnel, asking Trinity Metro to deter homeless individuals from lingering there. “We can’t keep them there. People don’t feel safe,” she explained.
Young commuters also weighed in. Hyacinth Szabo, a 24‑year‑old North Richland Hills resident who rides TEXRail to work in the Near Southside district, wants more places for friends to gather while waiting for trains. “I do think we need more options,” he said.
Newcomer Michele Edwards, who recently moved to Fort Worth for medical‑care access, highlighted the need for green spaces and additional parking. “We love the community here. It’s very well kept,” she added.
Stakeholders see economic opportunity
Rail consultant Tony Maciulewicz, who travels with his wife on TEXRail from Grapevine to the Texas & Pacific Lofts, said redevelopment has lagged for 15 years. “I’d like to see more shopping and retail to draw people in. Fort Worth has so much more character than downtown Dallas,” he noted.
Mike Brennan, Trinity Metro’s newly appointed vice president of economic development, explained the agency’s approach. He said Trinity Metro is working with the community, developers and other stakeholders to create a mix of housing, retail and office uses that will generate revenue for the agency while supporting the Near Southside economy. “I think a mix of uses is the best way to describe it,” Brennan said.
The long‑term parking lot off West Vickery Boulevard is being considered for a new housing project, especially given the proximity to the Texas A&M‑Fort Worth campus. “There’s a need for more housing with the proximity to A&M,” Brennan said.
Key properties and funding
Many participants expressed interest in converting the nearby T&P Warehouse—a 580,000‑square‑foot Zigzag Moderne building—into residential units. Property owner Ola Assem of Dallas‑based Cleopatra Investments said past construction projects have delayed progress, but he remains hopeful. “My hopes for the building are, with the city and community support, to take the development to the finish line, as I always intended to,” Assem wrote.
The broader TEXRail extension, a $167 million project fully funded by the Regional Transportation Council, will add a 2.1‑mile spur from downtown Fort Worth to a new station on land donated by Baylor Scott & White Health. Groundbreaking is slated for late 2026, with service expected to begin in 2029.
Next steps
Trinity Metro’s next public meeting is scheduled for Sept. 9, focusing on development around the planned station in the Near Southside/Medical District. The session will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Medical Center, 912 Northton St.
By involving residents early, Trinity Metro aims to ensure that future growth reflects the community’s desire for safety, convenience and economic vitality while preserving the historic character of Fort Worth’s downtown core.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
