Fort Worth’s free downtown bus route has a temporary look.
Trinity Metro replaced its Blue Line electric buses with gas-powered, standard models after a manufacturer recall related to concerns about overheating battery cell circuits.
The transit agency pulled the blue-decorated electric buses made by New Flyer Inc. for safety reasons as officials determine the impact on its fleet, said Reed Lanham, chief operating officer for Trinity Metro.
“The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and we will continue to work closely with the manufacturer to ensure all necessary measures are taken before returning our electric buses to service,” Lanham said.
Standard buses, painted silver with red and blue accents, replaced the electric vehicles on the route, which travels through the city core on a seven-minute schedule.
Officials changed the bus signs to identify them as Blue Line buses and placed blue placards on front dashboards. Some replacement buses have dark blue Dallas Mavericks wraps since the team played in Fort Worth on Oct. 6.
A replacement Blue Line bus at the Fort Worth Central Station is decorated with a Dallas Mavericks wrap. (Eric E. Garcia | Fort Worth Report)
Lanham said buses will be converted to match the Blue Line look, which features iconic images of the city on the outside and specially designed seats to complement the look.
“Implementing the Blue Line designs on these buses will reflect the unique visual appeal while providing us more time to continue evaluating if and when the electric buses will be put back into service,” he said.
The recall affects New Flyer’s electric bus models made from 2019 to 2025. Four of Trinity Metro’s six New Flyer electric buses underwent battery cell upgrades earlier this year, Lanham said.
Those upgrades may have addressed the battery cell problem, but officials took the extra step of replacing the buses temporarily. Trinity Metro notified customers through its service alerts.
“We have not received any complaints from customers about the changes,” Lanham said. “We are proud of the implemented plan, which prioritizes safety while maintaining regular service.”
The free Blue Line launched in June and replaced the Molly the Trolley route. The service is funded by Visit Fort Worth and Downtown Fort Worth Inc. The line is intended to supplement the city’s $3.5 billion tourism industry.
Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org.
Disclosure: Mitch Whitten of Visit Fort Worth serves on the Report’s board of directors. News decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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