The plan for a transit-oriented urban village in Southeast Fort Worth will continued its momentum as riders began boarding today at that area’s first bus transit center.
The opening follows its dedication on April 24 by the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) and federal, city, community, and public transportation officials.
The Sierra Vista Transit Plaza will serve four routes that together have an annual ridership of nearly 800,000. Its unique urban village-style features include an extra wide bus lane, four large bus shelters with colorful glass panels, roofs and benches, ornamental lights, landscaping, a a security fence and art walls. A city-selected artist will install the art work in front of the transit plaza and on a retaining wall. The new transit plaza is named after the nearby the large established Sierra Vista neighborhood.
Host for the Sierra Vista Transit Plaza opening was Andre’ McEwing, a staunch advocate of re-development in the SE quadrant of Fort Worth, long-time director of Southeast Fort Worth, Inc. and secretary of The T board. He was joined by The T Board Chair Scott Mahaffey and The T President Dick Ruddell.
Others participating in the dedication of this unique urban village-style bus transfer plaza in the heart of Southeast Fort Worth included officials of:
- The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for Region VI, which provided grant funds
- The office of U.S. Congressman Marc Veasey
- Fort Worth City Councilmember Kelly Allen Gray, District 8
- North Central Texas Council of Governments
- City of Fort Worth Planning and Development and Transportation & Public Works
- Southeast Fort Worth, Inc. Board of Directors
- The Glencrest Civic League Neighborhood Association
- Bishop Kenneth Spears of nearby First St. John Baptist Church
“The Sierra Vista Transit Plaza will provide a safe off-street transfer and boarding area for riders in an aesthetically pleasing setting with bright lighting, shelters, seating, and a large route map to other transit connections throughout Fort Worth,” Ruddell said.
It will be easy to walk to and from the future urban village and the Sierra Vista neighborhood to the transit plaza, which will serve Route 3/Riverside/TCC South Campus; Route 5/Wichita/Glen Garden; Route 8/Riverside/Evans, and Route 24/Berry St., according to Ruddell.
