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Despite pushback from liquor stores, Fort Worth City Council passed a zoning ordinance to limit certain new businesses.

During the Jan. 27 City Council meeting, all 11 council members voted in favor of the change to help limit the proliferation of certain businesses such as vape stores, liquor stores and payday loan businesses.

A closer look: Distance requirements are now mandatory for smoke shops, credit access businesses and liquor stores, according to city documents. Council looked at the changes at the Jan. 6 work session meeting, according to previous reporting.

What they're saying: Austin Rankin, regional director of operations for Specs Liquor, said he was speaking on behalf of his employer and the Texas Package Store Association, which represents more than 3,700 liquor stores in the state.

“The ordinance that would severely impact the liquor store industry in Fort Worth by limiting the distance between liquor stores in certain zones, while running counter to the state alcohol laws, came in the middle of the game after we legally entered the Fort Worth market,” he said.

Check out six transportation updates for projects happening in Keller, Roanoke and northeast Fort Worth.

Ongoing
Golden Triangle Boulevard
Project: The construction includes an updated four-lane road from I-35 to Misty Redwood Trail with traffic signal improvements at Harmon Road and Golden Heights, 10-foot shared-use paths in each direction, drainage improvements and water line improvements.

Update: The contractor finished construction of the eastbound lanes and is now working on westbound lanes. One lane in each direction will be open for traffic throughout construction.

• Timeline: construction to be completed December 2026
• Cost: $12 million
• Funding source: city of Fort Worth

Medical City facilities across Dallas-Fort Worth will host blood drives in February and March to continue to bring aid to the region, according to a news release.

The details: Severe winter weather at the end of January has created a significant need for blood donations in North Texas after forcing many donor centers and blood drives to close for several days, according to previous reporting.

The winter months are already a slow time for blood donor turnout, which is why Medical City officials are asking for eligible donors to consider donating at one of these drives.

Locations and dates for upcoming blood drives include:

Medical City Alliance

• Feb. 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• 3025 N. Tarrant Parkway, Fort Worth

Trinity Metro’s TEXRail ridership set a new record in December.

The Fort Worth-based transit authority provided 129,115 rides last month, beating the previous mark set in December 2024 with 103,312 rides, according to a news release.

The details: TEXRail, which began operating in January 2019, runs between Fort Worth's T&P Station and Terminal B at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Christmas activities in Grapevine and holiday travels to the airport also contributed to record ridership, according to the news release.

Quote of note: “This season was incredible; trains arrived filled with families and couples using the convenience of TEXRail,” said Paul W. McCallum, executive director of the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re thrilled to see more people experiencing TEXRail and seeing just how easy it is to safely arrive at Historic Main Street without the drive, making the ride part of the fun.”