Council still hopes to save Fare Aid program

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority program Fare Aid effectively ends this month.

Last year the T cited strains on financial resources as the reason for dissolving the service, which has offered free and reduced-cost bus passes to about 140 city agencies since 2008.

An outcry from local nonprofits and residents motivated the T to offer an alternative plan. It will provide two-hour bus passes at a 25 percent bulk discount to local agencies.

But that isn’t good enough for Fort Worth City Councilwoman Kelly Allen Gray. At Tuesday’s pre-council meeting, she implored her colleagues to help arrange a dialogue with T leadership, who she says have been reluctant to meet. Many of the city’s homeless resource centers are located in Gray’s district.

Councilwoman Gyna Bivens reminded the council that it pushed the T to run like a business.

She remains open to council action, but suggested other solutions, like looking to the business community for financial support.

“I do think this city will respond to a need when it’s requested,” Bivens said.

We like her optimism.

This story was originally published October 21, 2015 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Council still hopes to save Fare Aid program."