The North Central Texas Council of Governments, through its role as the metropolitan planning organization for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, plans for more than 8.5 million travelers each day. That number could reach 10 million a day with FIFA World Cup visitors, which will play nine games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, known as Dallas Stadium for the event, from June 14 to July 24.
Monica Paul, president of the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee, said cities like Arlington, Fort Worth, Mansfield, Frisco and Irving, along with the airports, will have “an increased load for operating during the World Cup.”
NCTCOG, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Trinity Metro, Texas Department of Transportation, Trinity Railway Express and the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington will be key factors in moving fans throughout the tournament, Paul said.
Residents from Fort Worth to Dallas and the areas in between should expect increased traffic from additional drivers and public transportation services, a news release from the NCTCOG states.
“Transit is the backbone of this particular plan because of the magnitude of international guests we are going to have,” said Michael Morris, the NCTCOG’s director of transportation.
Zooming in
Trinity Metro, which operates train services and buses in the Fort Worth area, approved a $5.54 million contract with AJL International, a Dallas-Fort Worth transportation company, to lease 40 coach buses for World Cup operational needs.
Anette Landeros, Trinity Metro’s chief strategy officer, told Fort Worth officials April 28 that leased buses on non-World Cup game days would become enhanced shuttles to take visitors to nearby areas, like the Fort Worth Stockyards and to the Tanger Outlets and Buc-ee’s in north Fort Worth.
“If anybody cannot get to where they need to be, that’s going to be [how] people will remember and ... judge us,” said Caroline Mays, TxDOT senior director of planning and modal programs.
The cost
The city of Fort Worth is emphasizing five areas of focus as officials prepare for the World Cup to begin in North Texas.
Sonny Saxton, the city of Fort Worth’s emergency management and communications director, said those areas are hospitality, beautification, communications and engagement, infrastructure, and safety and security.
Fort Worth documents state the anticipated costs for the city’s World Cup preparations are $7.03 million, with nearly $5.1 million expected to be reimbursed from federal funding, leaving the city responsible for more than $1.92 million.
“We also care a lot about our residents who are not going to the game; how do we make sure that we’re not impacting them, as well?” Saxton said.
What’s happening
Mohamed Charkas, executive vice president of chief infrastructure and development for Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, said the airport hopes to debut nine new gates in Terminal C as early as May 20. That $3 billion update will also add new shops, restaurants and security checkpoints.
“Many projects we believe will impact our traveling guests, we are intentionally finishing them before the World Cup,” he said.
Looking ahead
Morris said the NCTCOG plan could change if there are issues after the first game, and fans should add in extra travel time to get to games. Trinity Metro will increase train rides to every 30 minutes on game days.
“We want people to travel back ... and remember Fort Worth for the welcoming city it is, not the traffic,” Fort Worth District 10 council member Charlie Lauersdorf said.
