Denton County agencies offer free rides to vaccine appointments at Texas Motor Speedway

Beginning Friday, two Denton County transit services will provide free bus rides to the mass vaccine clinics at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

The bus service will run from two locations starting Feb. 26: Denton County Transportation Authority’s Hebron station in Lewisville, and the agency’s downtown transit center in Denton.

“As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to more people, DCTA is dedicated to ensuring that transportation is not a hindrance in getting vaccinated,” Raymond Suarez, the transit agency’s chief executive officer, said in a statement. “Offering this service aligns with our commitment to help keep our communities safe and provide mobility options for those who need it.”

This park-and-ride service will be free to those with a scheduled vaccination appointment through the Denton County vaccine waitlist. Only certain groups are eligible to sign up for the waitlist at this time, including health care workers, people age 65 and older and some younger individuals with chronic medical conditions.

Eligible individuals can sign up for the waitlist on the county's website.

For those without the ability to travel to Texas Motor Speedway or the two shuttle stations, DCTA can arrange a free pickup through its partner Span Inc. of Denton County.

Residents interested in scheduling a pickup or using one of the buses are advised to call DCTA’s customer service line as soon as their vaccine appointment is scheduled. That number is 940-243-0077.

Those interested in using the services must be prepared to show the shuttle operator proof of their Texas Motor Speedway vaccine clinic appointment. Masks and six-foot social distancing will be enforced on the shuttles.

The mass clinics at Texas Motor Speedway resumed Feb. 24 after shutting down the previous week due to hazards from winter weather and low temperatures. In Tuesday’s commissioners meeting, Denton County health officials said they were expecting to prioritize second doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines this week.