Trinity Metro has introduced a permanent visual update for Bus Route 1, renaming it La Linea Rosa to reflect the Hispanic heritage of the area it serves. The transit authority launched the rebranded route on September 16, coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month.
Three buses now operate along the corridor with exterior and interior artwork created by Texas artist Merri Ellen Kase. The designs incorporate imagery related to lowrider culture and street art, blending traditional and contemporary elements. Specific neighborhoods highlighted in the artwork include Near Southside and La Gran Plaza de Fort Worth.
Ted Zimmerman, vice president of marketing and communications for Trinity Metro, stated that the launch timing was intentional but emphasized that the new identity is permanent. He noted that community leaders along the Hemphill Street corridor provided input during the planning phase, allowing artists creative freedom to interpret those perspectives.
The route connects Fort Worth Central Station with La Gran Plaza, which Zimmerman described as the city's second-most-visited destination. More than half of the residents living within a quarter-mile of the corridor identify as Hispanic. The selection of this route for rebranding was based on its status as having the third-highest ridership among Trinity Metro's color-coded lines.
La Linea Rosa is the third installation in the system's color-coded bus project, following the Orange Line and Blue Line. While the fare, schedule, and general route remain unchanged, boarding locations have shifted. Passengers must now board at bus bay A instead of Fort Worth Station.
