JANUARY 2013
Denton Record-Chronicle • www.dentonrc.com
DENTON - CORPORATE 400 N. Carroll Blvd. 940.591.1200 ARGYLE 100 S. Old Town Blvd. 940.464.4200 GRAPEVINE 1002 Texan Trail 682.325.5225 LEWISVILLE 543 W. Main Street Suite 100 940.686.5023
DENTON - SOUTH 3301 Teasley Lane 940.383.6234
COLLEYVILLE 6110 Colleyville Blvd. 682.325.5200
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Rest assured, experienced specialists are our specialty. Close to home At Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, we’ve grown with our growing community. Now, we’re more than just your local hospital. We’ve earned a Bronze Texas Health Care Quality Improvement Award in recognition of our gains in key clinical areas. You will find over 300 physicians on the medical staff representing more than 45 specialties ranging from neonatology, for our tiniest citizens, to electrophysiology, for the very beat of your heart. Plus, we offer the same medical technologies, like robotic surgery, you’d find at major metropolitan hospitals, with a much shorter commute. So when you need them, the medical staff and advanced technology are in your own backyard ready to care for you and your family. Bariatrics • Critical Care • Electrophysiology • Endovascular • Neck and Back Care • Neonatology Oncology • Open–Heart Surgery • Robotic Surgery
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Denton County Transportation Authority INSIDE A PUBLICATION OF THE DENTON RECORD-CHRONICLE Upcoming Events Find fun for the whole family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7 University Pass Package deal for students, faculty and staff . . . . . . . . . Page 10 Looking Ahead DCTA President plans for 2013 and beyond . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 Trip Technology New apps, more help riders plan ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Memory Lane Denton councilmen recall train trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Project Beautify Denton receives $750,000 grant for enhancements . Page 19 Plan Your Commute DCTA offers vanpooling for commuters . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 23 Downtown Perks Transit Center part of Denton Hub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26
CREDITS Editor: Dawn Cobb Advertising Director: Sandra Hammond Retail Advertising Manager: Shawn Reneau Writers/photographers: Tim Blackwell with Ballpark Impressions LLC, Bj Lewis, Karina Ramirez, Al Key and David Minton.
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Upcoming events for the whole family
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rea cities along the Denton County Transportation Authority’s A-train line are planning a busy spring and summer in 2013. From Carrollton to Lewisville and Highland Village to Denton — not to mention surrounding communities — riders can find many events to plan family trips using DCTA transportation services. Here are some of the upcoming events: CARROLLTON Feb. 8 — Wine Walk. Stroll through the shops of Historic
Downtown Carrollton, 1102 W. Main St. and sample local and imported wines. Event will also take place June 14. For more information, visit http://www.historicdowntowncarrollton.com April 12 — Chocolate Walk. The Historic Downtown Carrollton shops will feature chocolate and tea and tempt guests to find vintage clothing, gifts and much more. For information, visit http://www.historicdowntowncarrollton.com April 27 — Live jazz musicians from throughout North Texas will play from the Downtown
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MEDIEVAL TIMES’ ANDALUSIAN HORSES ARE PART OF DENTON COUNTY’S HORSE COUNTRY
Carrollton gazebo. http://www.historicdowntowncarrollton.com DENTON Feb. 8 -18 — The only international documentary film festival in Denton, the Thin Line Film Festival, offers 11 days of diverse screen screenings held at the Denton Campus Theatre, 214 W. Hickory St. For more information, visit www.thinlinefilmfest.com March 2 — Guided Tour of the North Texas Horse Country. Meet at the Historical Park in the morning and tour working horse ranches in the Denton County area. For more information, visit www.horsecountrytours.com. March 7 — “Maps, Music and Mayhem” is the theme of the 28th Annual Texas Storytelling Festival. Guests will hear the stories of the world, especially those from Japan and Africa. Denton Civic Center, 321 E. McKinney St. For more information, visit http://www.tejasstorytelling.com /festival/index.html March 7 - 10 — 35 Denton, the
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4-day walkable music festival features the best of indie music with concerts held at various venues in downtown Denton. Downtown Denton Entertainment District, 103 Industrial St. For more information, visit http://35denton.com April 13 — Guided Tour of the North Texas Horse Country. Meet at the Historical Park in the morning and tour working horse ranches in the Denton County area. For more information, visit www.horsecountrytours.com. April 20 — Denton Redbud Festival, a home and garden show celebrates the City of Denton’s Official Arbor Day Celebration. http://www.kdb.org/redbud_festival.shtml April 27 — 65th Annual “Lab Band Madness” Spring Concert. Quakertown Park, 321 E. McKinney St. For more information call 940-566-3743 April 26 - April 28 — David Sanborn, Blues Brothers Band and Brave Combo will be the headliners of the annual Denton
Arts & Jazz Festival, Quakertown Park, 321 E. McKinney St. Free. For more information, visit www.dentonjazzfest.com May — 26th Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Denton Quakertown Park, 321 E. McKinney. For more information, visit www.dentoncinco.org May 4 — Guided Tour of the North Texas Horse Country. Meet at the Historical Park in the morning and tour working horse ranches in the Denton County area. For more information, visit www.horsecountrytours.com. May 31- June 1 — Celebrate man’s best friend with a canine couture fashion show , live entertainment, demos and performances by canines and their trainers, and much more during the 20th Annual Dog Days of Denton Celebration, 321 E. McKinney St. For more information, visit http://dentondogdays.com June 13 — Static aircraft and airborne aircraft demonstrations, a children’s pavilion, displays, and other activities take part in the
annual Denton Air Show Airport, 5000 Airport Rd. For more information, visit www.denton.schultzairshows.co m FARMERS BRANCH March — Camping Under the Stars. Star viewing, a communitycampfire and a performance of a singing cowboy bring many to Farmers Branch Historical Park. For more information, visit https://www.farmersbranch.info May — Liberty Fest. Held during Memorial Day weekend, the event offers headliners concerts, outdoor activities, a car, truck and motorcycle show and much more. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/fblibertyfest FLOWER MOUND April 13 — 14th Annual Father/Daughter Prom. Fathers and their daughters (ages 4-13) are invited to dress to impress for a memorable evening of dancing, food and fun. For more information call 972-874-7275. April 20-21 — 4th Annual
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Running Moms Rock 5K and Funfest at The Shops at Highland Village, 1701 Shoal Creek. The event includes music, face painting, raffle prizes, and fun. Each 5K participant will receive a Running Moms Rock Technical race shirt. The event will benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center for Denton County. For more information, visit www.runningmomsrock.com HIGHLAND VILLAGE Jan. 12 — Make a resolution to get healthier, spend more time outdoors, and quality time with the family and pets during the Resolution Run at McAuliffe Elementary, 2300 Briarhill Blvd. For more information, visit https://www.terrafirmaracingtickets.com June 1 — Bring area families,
outdoor and entertainment enthusiastic together, the Red, White & Blue Festival, Red will hosts its 14th year. For more information, visit http://www.highlandvillage.org LEWISVILLE Feb. 2 — Princes, and princesses, ages 4-14, accompanied by their kings and queens (parents or guardians) may attend the Hearts & Roses Ball Hearts & Roses Ball. Hilton Garden Inn, 785 SH 121. Music provided by a DJ, dancing, crafts and a special time with your sweetheart in a beautiful ballroom setting. Souvenir photos and carnations will be available for an additional charge. For more information, call Monica Winters at 972.219.5063 or email mwinters@cityoflewisville.com. May 10 — Firefighters from
35DENTON - MARCH
across the country will participate in the annual Keeping Tradition Alive Old Town Jam Session held in Old Town Lewisville. For more information call 972-219-3401. LAKE DALLAS Feb. 12 — The “Big Easy” parade will roll down the streets of Lake Dallas and the distinctive
sounds of New Orleans jazz will fill the air during Mardi Gras ‘Fat Tuesday. The event features a mask contest and offers food and a vendor market. For more information contact Julie Chapman, City of Lake Dallas at 972-4972226 x 132 or visit http://www.lakedallas.com/mard igras.html
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University Pass
Program offers package deal for students, faculty and staff By Tim Blackwell For the Denton Record-Chronicle
Denton County Transportation Authority is making it easier – and cheaper – to get to and from school in the New Year. Beginning in January, Local System University Passes valid on all DCTA fixed route buses and the A-train will be reduced as much as 33 percent, plus another train is being added to serve those needing to be on campus later in the evening. Five semester, summer and annual passes are being reduced, effective Jan. 14, to encourage more students, faculty and staff to utilize DCTA, says DCTA Marketing Manager Kristina Brevard. Fares have been reduced for
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three student passes and a pair of faculty/staff packages. Savings range from $35-$65, including a $50 reduction on the Student Full Semester Pass. Local System Passes are valid on A-train, Connect, Connect RSVP and UNT Shuttle. The rate cut doesn’t affect Regional University Passes, which are necessary for trips taken out of the DCTA system on DART, Trinity Railway Express and the Fort Worth T. “We really want to encourage travel within the DCTA system,” Brevard said. “For students, faculty and staff who live in the DCTA service area, it’s a cost-effective option to take the A-train and Connect Bus Service in Lewisville and Denton.”
With a University Pass, students and faculty/staff at the Denton County campuses of the University of North Texas, Texas Woman’s University and North Central Texas Collage can board the A-train within the DCTA system or connect through Dallas Area Rapid Transit in Carrollton. Bus connections at the Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC) provide access within short walking distances of TWU and UNT and are connected by three regular bus routes that run every few minutes. NCTC is also accessible via bus or a shuttle. TWU is serviced by bus routes 4, 5 and 6 service and UNT by 7, 8 and 9. Passengers needing access to NCTC can take the A-train or Route 2 to the MedPark Station and trans-
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fer to the NCTC Shuttle. As an added incentive, DCTA is reaching out to faculty/staff and students who are on campus later in the evening Monday through Friday by adding another train. The last southbound train from the Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC) will leave at 9:15 p.m. and run the length of the system to Trinity Mills. In all, there are now nine southbound trains that leave downtown after 5 p.m., including eight with service to Trinity Mills where riders can connect to Dallas. The 8:30 p.m. departure runs only as far as Old Town. “By having the additional train in the evening, DCTA will enable students and faculty with evening classes to take the A-train,” Brevard said. “It will also serve those individuals who have later
work schedules.” DCTA has served Denton County higher education institutions since 2010 with the University Pass Program. More than 1,500 passes have been issued, contributing largely to DCTA’s northbound ridership. With a link to DART’s system at Trinity Mills, DCTA also provides an opportunity for students to commute into Dallas for the weekend. University Passes may be purchased on DCTA’s website (www.RideDCTA.net or at the Downtown Denton Transit Center (604 E. Hickory, Denton) during regular business hours. Local System University Student Full Semester Pass** $125
Local System University Faculty/Staff Full Semester Pass** $170
Local System University Student Summer Semester Pass** $80
Local System University Faculty /Staff Annual Pass** $420
Local System University Student Annual Pass** $300 **Students, faculty and staff of colleges with physical campuses within Denton County are eligible to participate in the University Pass Program. Proof of enrollment/employment is required.
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Looking ahead to 2013 A-train in perfect position for start of I-35E construction By Tim Blackwell For the Denton Record-Chronicle
When bulldozers arrive and traffic on Interstate 35E begins to snarl later this year, Denton County Transportation Authority’s A-train will keep on rolling alongside what is expected to be a virtual parking lot. At least that’s what transit agency officials are banking on. Last year’s start of mid-day service and a few bus and train schedule tweaks in the New Year have positioned the 1-year-old rail line to provide a sound alternative to commuting from
Denton to Lewisville and points south during the highway’s expansion. Widening of I-35 to as many as eight lanes from Cooke County to Dallas County is expected to go on for the next few years. DCTA President Jim Cline says the A-train is in perfect position for when dirt starts flying and until the last lane marker is tamped down. Instituting midday service in August plus adding an evening train and changing some bus routes in January gives commuters more options throughout the day to take the
train. “All of that is in preparation for when I-35E goes under construction,” Cline said. “There is great opportunity and we’re well poised for that right now. We now have the scope of service for the Atrain, and that’s certainly at the right period of time. Because we added mid-day, I believe we’re well-positioned to support commuters and students during the I-35E construction.” Closing the afternoon gap of train service on the original Atrain schedule last summer has already paid dividends. The two
to three northbound and southbound trains added between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., plus expanded Friday and Saturday evening trains, helped boost DCTA’s system-wide ridership 17 percent from 2011 to 2012. The A-train hauled 411,389 passengers in its first full year of operation, and Cline believes ridership will grow in 2013 because the line is now an established part of Denton County’s landscape and is building a reputation for dependable service. October, the first month of Fiscal Year 2013, got off to a good start
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with a 52 percent increase in boardings from October 2011. Ridership, fueled by double-digit increases in mid-day service, jumped from 36,430 to 55,515. Southbound mid-day boardings were up 36 percent; northbound up 24 percent. “The midday service is the key, because it brought the opportunity for more people to use it on a consistent basis,” Cline said. “It was a big jump. The system has now been in place for a year, and we’ve been able to provide very reliable service for folks through word of mouth,” he said. “People are seeing that it’s working, seeing that it’s an ongoing deal, seeing that they can depend on it.” While Cline hesitates to look into his crystal ball and project the specific impact of the I-35E project, he feels confident that
“We’ll be looking at what makes sense to improve our service delivery and how we bring that together.” — Jim Cline, president of DCTA
DCTA can meet commuter rail needs at current scheduling and equipment levels. Trains are made up of two Stadler GTW 2/6 Diesel Multiple Units that have a combined passenger capacity of 400 riders. DCTA operates four of the sets with a fifth as a “hot standby” that could be used if ridership demand exceeds two-car sets. Stellar performance of the Swiss-built articulated cars have given DCTA officials a high level of operational comfort since the DMUs were placed in service last
fall. With the exception of some block detection issues that have been corrected, the cars have operated seamless for the most part and are a hit with riders. “Passengers love them,” Cline said. “The cars are operating well. Every system has issues, but we seem to be working through those in good step. We’re quite happy.” Such service dependability only makes convincing potential riders that the A-train can provide an efficient means of transportation during the I-35E
rebuild easier. In the meantime, DCTA will hone its rail-to-bus connections so that transfers are convenient and riders can stay on the move as much as possible. Planning to improve service after the I-35E project begins is under way. “I think we will be responding to the needs for the I-35E expansion work,” Cline said. “We will continue to look at how we can better link the bus to the train, and improve those connections. We’ll be looking at what makes sense to improve our service delivery and how we bring that together. “And it’s really important that we not just look at the train. You have to look at the whole trip. That’s the benefit of having the bus changes and everything else that goes with it in place.”
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Trip technology
New apps and more help riders plan ahead By Tim Blackwell For the Denton Record-Chronicle
Appy days are ahead for Denton County Transportation Authority. DCTA plans to roll out several techno gadgets for riders with cell phones and smart phones to determine real-time location of their bus or train and buy tickets. The programs, which are scheduled to begin as early as summer, not only sends DCTA deeper into the digital age but will also provide new data resources to help the agency plan for the future.
The Where’s My Ride and Mobile Ticketing applications are expected to roll out before the end of 2013, and DCTA Vice President of Operations Jarod Varner hopes their arrivals will better help the public to realize that using public transportation is easier than thought. “Our customers are evolving to technology, so we’re creating as many tools as we can to eliminate the unknowns of public transportation,” he said. “There is some trepidation when using transit, but we want to make it so that we take guess work out of it with new technology.” The Where’s My Ride app, due to come out by fall, is expected to provide a real-time passenger information system for riders who take buses and the A-train and use iPhones and
Androids. Through a GPS-like device mounted in buses and trains, up-to-date information on the next arrival or departures and the next two scheduled trips will be provided based on the rider’s location. For those who don’t use smart phones, DCTA is also rolling out interactive voice and text updates with the same information. Regular cell phone users can dial a * number and get an automated voice response, while those with text capabilities can get updates. Varner said each bus stop and station will have a number that riders will reference using either the interactive voice or texting systems. At the voice or text prompt, the rider enters the stop number and the system replies with real-time information.
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A web-based solution accessible from laptops and desktops is also in the works. “We want to make sure we take care of the folks who don’t have smart phones,” Varner said. “The system will respond with the same information that one would get with a smart phone.” Varner is hopeful that the Where’s My Ride program will be ready by fall of 2013, although there are many details to work out. An update to DCTA’s current rider alert system should be out beforehand, however. DCTA is revamping the current system for buses and trains to include texts. Riders now can sign up for alerts on the website and receive emails about route changes, construction delays, detours, fare change and anything else that can affect a trip via
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email. The new program will send the same information by text. “Once we have the system in place, they can select whether to receive by email or text,” said DCTA Marketing Manager Kristina Brevard. “It’s just another way for us to stay in communication with our passengers.” RFPs were expected to go out in December for a targeted summer implementation date. About the same time, the first phase of the Mobile Ticketing app that will eventually tag onto the Where’s My Ride app should roll out. The application allows smart phone users to purchase tickets, store ticket passes and tickets that have been bought but not activated. The app will also enable riders to plan trips and get region-wide alerts.
In addition to purchasing tickets for DCTA services, app users can buy fares from Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Fort Worth T. A second phase of the app that will incorporate special events will be rolled out later, Varner said. Another initiative that hasn’t quite been ironed out is incorporating fare payments other than by cash or pass on buses. Varner envisions riders one day boarding buses and swiping their credit cards to pay fares. Deciding on the appropriate technology is currently under review. “It’s very much a moving target, but we hope to come up with more options for people to pay their fares while boarding the bus,” Varner said. Once the technology changes are in place, DCTA is hopeful that it can gain faster access to
critical rider information by bus or train stop that can help with future planning. Today, the agency has limited resources to get detailed ridership information at each of the 245 bus stops in the system. With the new technology, DCTA officials should be able to pin-point the number of riders and better determine peak- or low-volume patterns, as well as how much revenue is being generated. “We’ll get more information by stop,” Varner said. “All the stops will be GPS-located and tell us how many people get on and off and how much they paid. It’s streamlining and greatly improving data collection that we use to make very important decisions that affect our customers. It’s how we can better serve our customers.”
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City councilmen recall recent train trips By Bj Lewis Staff Writer
The trip was a few years ago, but Denton city councilman Kevin Roden easily recalls his trip from Denton to Austin using purely public transportation. “I’m a strong proponent of public transportation,� he said. “Anytime I can come up with a crazy schedule to take the train somewhere, I will. In that case, I thought how can I get from my house to Austin without getting into a car?� Roden noted that the trip from Denton on
Denton County Transportation Authority‘s A-train to Dallas Area Rapid Transit and then to Amtrak was not a quick trip. “I could have gotten their much quicker if I drove, but Roden it was a comfortable ride,� he said. “I got a lot of work done.� The relative ease of using the public transportation services is one of many reasons why Roden and other councilmen are staunch supporters of public transportation in Denton County, though they know that it will take continued work and effort to help others see the benefits of the DCTA “We’re in Texas. We’re in a difficult place for several reasons,� he said. “People are very much committed to their cars. It makes the perception of public transportation difficult
compared to Boston or New York City.� Roden said people generally see driving in the car as the thing that gives them the most freedom, while he thinks that if he can keep his car in one place, not have to worry about gas, parking spots and if he is out walking more, that is where the freedom lies. There are a lot of factors contributing to people wanting to maintain a firm grip on the keys to their vehicles, Roden said. One of them is how cities are built and developed. “We build our cities with the car in mind. Everything is so spread apart, it’s difficult to connect,� he said. “Now we need to rethink that when we’re planning cities. How do we keep things tighter together? We have to be disciplined on how we plan cities going forward and making sure we’re not contributing to sprawl.� Roden said the presence of the A-train has
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already caused a lot of new apartment developments and restaurants near main stops. “Slowly the market will start to catch up, and in planning, cities will put a lot of density around the core and build out from there.” Dalton Gregory has been an avid user of the A-train and said it must be doing a good job for its ridership to keep growing. “I think especially in the south, especially in Texas and especially folks in my generation, I’m 60, we don’t think first of all about busses or trains or bicycles often times being a viable option for getting ourselves from one place to the other,” Gregory said. “And there may be sometimes a stigma attached, that buses are for poor people. I have ridden the buses and trains in Dallas. There are a lot of folks clearly not poor riding those trains. I’ve been on the line from downtown out towards Plano and it’s nothing but suits on that train.” Gregory said it is just a matter of people being a little more open-minded about that being a choice. “It’s a chicken/egg thing. Until there are
more frequent buses on a route, it is less convenient and less likely people using the buses as an option are going to use it as opposed to people who use it out of necessity. I think as the Gregory routes get more frequent, people will use it more.” DCTA officials have said they are taking steps to adjust routes and bump up frequency on some routes and trains. The latest schedule change is set for Jan. 14. As for gaining new riders, Roden has said he has talked back and forth between city and DCTA officials on how to increase ridership and people trying public transportation for the first time. Roden said there could be a number of fun initiatives, a number of free days or being able to simply take a cup of coffee on the buses which is currently banned. “I suggested the A-train should create Friday evening bar car, like in the old days - a
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car dedicated to cocktails,” he said. “There’d be a lot of brainstorming that needs to take place but it will take some initiative to focus on those people” BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-5666875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com.
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Project Beautify DCTA receives $750,000 grant for community enhancement By Bj Lewis Staff Writer
Local officials hope to use a grant the Denton County Transportation Authority received to beautify areas of Southeast Denton near the Atrain tracks and the planned bus and maintenance facility. When the transit agency received a $750,000 grant from the Texas Department of Transportation for a community enhancement project, discussions with the city on how to spend that grant turned the focus toward the Southeast Denton
“DCTA is trying to be a good neighbor to this community moving forward with the A-train and bus and mainenance operation facility.” — Dee Leggett, DCTA spokeswoman
area. “DCTA is trying to be a good neighbor to this community moving forward with the A-train and bus maintenance and operation facility,” said DCTA spokeswoman Dee Leggett. “So we wanted to give back to the com-
munity in a way that would benefit the Southeast Denton area, but also users of the [hike and bike] trail that would be entering into the area and downtown.” Some of the improvements to the area will include additional security fencing in some areas,
landscape improvements and trees to provide shade along the trail, among other things, Leggett said. In addition, a committee formed by Denton’s Historic Landmark Commission has been working on historical markers for the trail to note some of the key points in the city’s history. Some of those include the history of Quakertown as well as Fred Moore and his contributions to the community. “In the last couple months, we
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A-TRAIN SCHEDULE
For information on DCTA services, trip planning assistance or disability services, please call 940-243-0077 Monday through Friday 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Informaciòn sobre A-train
Effective January 13, 2013 Please note: schedule subject to change. Check website for latest schedule information.
RideDCTA.net
Northbound to Denton Norte a Denton Monday - Friday
STATION
Friday Night
lunes - viernes
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6:50 7:12 7:58 8:42 11:02 1:19
Southbound to Carrollton Sur a Carrolton Monday - Friday
STATION
Friday Night
lunes - viernes
Viernes par la noche
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Southbound to Carrollton Sur a Carrolton Saturday
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DDTC MedPark Denton HV/LL Old Town Hebron Trinity Mills Green Line Departs
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1:04
10:02 11:38 2:02 3:38 5:58 7:38 9:38 11:38
1:09
1 Downtown Denton Transit Center
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(DDTC) - Served by all Denton Connect
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2525 Blanton Drive, Carrollton
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2998 N. Stemmons Frwy., Lewisville
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- Served by Connect Route 23
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- Served by Connect Route 2 dp
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Routes and A-train
Denton
sábado
READ 5973 5975 5977 5979 5981 5983 5985 5987 5389 DOWN AM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM/AM AM
STATION
9:40 11:16 1:40 3:16 5:36 7:16 9:16 11:16 12:47
Informaciòn sobre A-train
35W
1:30
7:53
A-TRAIN SYSTEM MAP
N
11:55
8:04
READ 5372 5974 5976 5978 5980 5982 5984 5986 5988 DOWN AM AM PM PM PM PM PM PM AM
Green Line Arrives Trinity Mills Hebron Old Town HV/LL MedPark DDTC
5957 5359 PM/AM AM
5:09 5:30 5:53 6:15 6:37 6:59 7:21 7:43 8:02 8:55 9:39 11:35 1:20 3:05 3:49 4:11 4:33 4:55 5:17 5:39 6:01 6:22 6:43 7:07
Saturday
STATION
7:48
5955 PM 9:15
5:20 5:41 6:04 6:26 6:48 7:10 7:32 7:54 8:13 9:06 9:50 11:46 1:31 3:16 4:00 4:22 4:44 5:06 5:28 5:50 6:12 6:33 6:54 7:18
Northbound to Denton Norte a Denton estaciones
5353 PM 8:30
TRANSIT FARE STRUCTURE Effective January 14, 2013
RideDCTA.net
CONNECT ONLY
UNIVERSITY PASS PROGRAM
Connect Passes can be purchased to travel on Connect local bus routes in Denton and Lewisville.
Students, faculty and staff of colleges with physical campuses within Denton County are eligible to participate in the University Pass Program. Proof of enrollment/employment is required. Visit the Downtown Denton Transit Center for more details.
Connect One-Way Connect One-Way Reduced* Ten Ride Connect Book
$1.50 $0.75 $13.00
Monthly/31-Day Connect Pass
$45.00
Monthly/31-Day Connect Pass Reduced*
$25.00
Annual Connect Pass
$450.00
LOCAL SYSTEM Local System Passes allow a passenger to travel on DCTA services; Connect, Connect RSVP, UNT Shuttle and the A-train.
Local System University Student Full Semester Pass
$125.00
Local System University Student Summer Semester Pass
$80.00
Local System University Student Annual Pass
$300.00
Local System University Faculty/Staff Full Semester Pass
$170.00
Local System University Faculty/Staff Annual Pass
$420.00
Local System 2 Hour Pass
$3.00
Local System 2 Hour Pass Reduced*
$1.25
Regional University Student Full Semester Pass
$250.00
Local System Day Pass
$6.00
Regional University Student Summer Semester Pass
$160.00
Local System Day Pass Reduced*
$2.50
Regional University Student Annual Pass
$600.00
Local System 7-Day Pass
$25.00
Regional University Faculty/Staff Full Semester Pass
$340.00
Local System 10 Pack of Day Passes
$40.00
Regional University Faculty/Staff Annual Pass
$840.00
Local System Monthly Pass
$90.00
Local System Monthly Pass Reduced*
$40.00
Local System Annual Pass Summer Youth Pass
$650.00 $30.00
REGIONAL SYSTEM Regional Passes provide a passenger complete access to bus and rail service on DCTA, DART, TRE and The T (except paratransit services). Regional 2 Hour Pass Regional Day Pass Regional Day Pass Reduced* Regional 10 Pack of Day Passes Regional 7-Day Pass Regional Monthly/31-Day Pass Regional Monthly/31-Day Pass Reduced* Regional Annual Pass Regional Annual Pass Reduced*
$5.00 $10.00 $2.50
NCTC SHUTTLE NCTC Shuttle serves the North Central Texas College - Corinth and Flower Mound Campuses with stops in Denton and Lewisville. Passengers can pay the cash fare upon boarding or show the bus operator their NCTC ID. NCTC Shuttle One-Way
$3.00
NCTC Shuttle One-Way Reduced*
$1.50
DEMAND RESPONSE ACCESS Access is a curb to curb ADA paratransit service for the elderly and disabled in Denton and Lewisville/Highland Village.
$70.00
Access One-Way
$3.00
$50.00
Ten Ride Book
$30.00
$160.00 $40.00 $1600.00 $480.00
DCTA fares and passes may be purchased online, at ticket vending machines located at all A-train station platforms, or at one of the ticket outlets listed below. • Downtown Denton Transit Center, 604 E. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76210 • TWU Student Union, 304 Administration Dr., Ste. 209, Denton, TX 76204 • Lewisville City Hall, 151 W. Church St., Lewisville, TX 75057 • Highland Village City Hall, 1000 Highland Village Rd., Highland Village, TX 75077
*REDUCED FARES ARE AVAILABLE TO • Youth ages 5-14 or students with a valid high school or DCTA-issued ID • Seniors age 65+
• People with disabilities who show: - A Medicare card - A Texas DMV notification - A disabled veteran ID card
STAY INFORMED Sign up for customized DCTA Rider Alerts at RideDCTA.net and receive new information regarding the A-train and other DCTA services. And don’t forget to follow DCTA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and FourSquare.
Ticket vending machines and some ticket outlets do not sell all fare types.
22
A-train
Denton County Transportation Authority
Plan your commute DCTA offers vanpooling program for commuters By Tim Blackwell For the Denton Record-Chronicle
Even though gas prices are dropping, the cost for driving independence isn’t getting any cheaper. U.S. drivers are reaching more into their pocketbooks to own and operate a car, making mass transit and carpool options more attractive to some. So much that Denton County
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Transportation Authority’s vanpooling program is noticing growth as commuters are teaming to shuttle themselves to work from Denton County to parts of Dallas/Fort Worth and beyond. Currently eight vanpools run within the Denton County system and three more are on the way. DCTA’s vanpools, operated in conjunction with Arlington-based VPSI, Inc., are designed for groups of six to 15 people to share costs of commuting to and from work while also having a little downtime during the ride. About 55 riders participate in the program – commuting from Denton County to as far away as Marietta, Okla., – and that number is
expected to grow in January with two vanpools serving Peterbilt and another at Labinal, Inc., which recently relocated to Denton from Corinth. Depending on the size of van used, commuters pay as little as $33.79 per month to share a ride. The cost pales in comparison to average annual expenses to own and operate a car. According to AAA’s annual “Your Driving Costs” study released in April, U.S. drivers spent 1.9 percent more in expenses associated with using their own sedan. Average costs rose 1.1 cents per mile to 59.6 cents per mile, or $8,946 per year, based upon 15,000 miles of annual driving. SUV
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A-train
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AI
23
Denton County Transportation Authority
costs jumped to $11,360 yearly, 75.7 cents per mile. “Commuting with a vanpool is a cost savings,” says DCTA Marketing Manager Kristina Brevard. “Plus, you can do other things during the ride, like reading the paper, checking your email and texting.” Anyone who lives and works along an existing route and is willing to share the ride are prime vanpool candidates. To qualify, passengers should have at least a 30-minute drive or travel more than 15 miles one-way to work and maintain a consistent work schedule. VPSI spokeswoman Michelle Saye said that participants don’t have to work at the same company, but just be commuting to and from the same general area. The current list of vanpools serving
“The driver can take it (DCTA van) home and use it on the weekends for a limited number of miles.” — Kristina Brevard, DCTA Marketing Manager
DCTA make trips from Denton, Lewisville and Coppell to Irving, St. Jo/Muenster, Grand Prairie, Dallas, Marietta, Okla., Gainesville and Sherman. Persons interested in the program should contact vRide to determine basic route, schedule and passenger costs. Once requested, the route is advertised and riders are signed. Each vanpool is assigned a captain who coordinates usage with VPSI and DCTA and passengers. Drivers must be 25 or older, have a valid license in the
state they reside, five years of consecutive driving history and proof of personal auto insurance (to show they are insurable). A credit check is run on the primary driver, who cannot have more than one moving violation or at-fault accident in the last 12 months. Each van is allowed up to five alternate drivers who are subject to the same criteria as the primary driver. If the primary driver is unavailable, one of the alternate drivers would drive. VPSI owns the eight- and 15-
passenger vans and provides insurance, maintenance, repairs, license and registration.? Brevard likens the process to renting a van, and being the captain has its perks. The captain not only has driving duties but is entitled to partial use of the loaner van after work and on the weekends. “The driver can take it home and use it on the weekends for a limited number of miles,” said Brevard, who added that some drivers choose to park the van at a convenient location overnight where participants meet for the ride. DCTA’s vanpool program is only a couple of years old and slowly growing, but Brevard
See VANPOOL on Page 32
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Downtown perks
Transit center part of Denton hub By Bj Lewis/Staff Writer
Those who live here are already in the know, but for those of you using the A-train or those thinking of using the A-train, there’s a number of reasons why your last stop should be the Downtown Denton Transit Center. “We see the DDTC as the eastern anchor of downtown and the clock tower as the eastern gate-
way into the downtown area,” said Dee Leggett, vice president of communications and planning
Integrity
Doctors of Audiology
• • • •
have some activity on the east side of the Union Pacific tracks.” Downtown Denton combines all the best elements anyone could want in a small town atmosphere but with a real twist and the twist is entertainment, said Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs. “Denton offers unparalleled entertainment for the size city we are — married between a historic downtown that has all of the best charm, the definition of the center of a small town city, but with the vibrancy of a growing, happening place.”
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for Denton County Transportation Authority. “We’re starting to see through the city’s efforts, private developers and small business…things filling in. Restaurants, entertainment, store fronts, it’s creating that urban walkable environment especially when you add the city street improvements.” The changes invite people to come to downtown Denton whether they walk or take the bus, she said. “Hopefully that will spark some additional development around the transit center so you
•
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Denton County Transportation Authority
Burroughs noted that within a two-block radius of the Courthouse on the Square there are 25 live music destinations in addition to the Hickory Street corridor where the city is investing significant resources to expand the walkway into grand plaza area “We have numerous new dining and entertainment destinations that have grown up with DCTA and, in my belief, in great measure because of DCTA and the opportunity it brings.� He said there are events like 35Denton that are a child of the A-train and the concept of having the walkable community and arts and entertainment district. “We are attracting an unprecedented number of visitors,� Burroughs said. “It’s the best of all worlds. You feel safe and it’s a place you can bring your family but also a place you can really enjoy yourself. We didn’t have to make it artificial like so many other cities. We have this incredible charming downtown with a lot of unique local business and destinations.� BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com.
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A-train Tips Sit back and enjoy the passing scenery Catch up on reading, homework or prepare for an office meeting. Take a nap (but make sure you don’t snooze through your intended stop) Meet new people Rest your legs between bicycle rides (the trains now have handy racks to stash bicycles during the trip) Read “The Little Train That Could� to your youngster while on the train. Propose to your seatmate, preferably someone you know and have dated awhile and want to spend many more rides with. Whip out the handy calculator app on your phone and calculate how much you’re saving in gasoline. Listen to those songs (with ear buds please) that you’ve stored on your iphone or ipod that have been piling up. Note that all could apply to a bus ride as well.
Sign up for DCTA Ride Alerts to be alerted of service/schedule issues Travel with a friend, everything is more fun with a friend Ask for a copy of the schedule to keep
Make sure you have the appropriate fare Allow plenty of time to buy your ticket and board the train If you require a connection with DCTA bus or the DART train plan approrpriately
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Denton County Transportation Authority Lewisville’s theatre sits in the city’s main Old Town Lewisville square.
Downtown highlights
Farmers Branch celebrates with the Christmas Tour of Lights with some 300,000 lights on display.
Carrollton’s annual Festival at the Switchyards in November draws crowds to its downtown district.
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Denton County Transportation Authority From Page 24
Vanpool believes interest will increase as Interstate 35E begins its makeover later in 2013. “We’d like for vanpooling to grow, especially when I-35E gets torn up,” she said. “The more cars we get off the road the better for everybody. It’s just fitting the right person with the right schedule.” Vanpools operate on a monthto-month basis and offer assistance to riders who have extenuating circumstances, like overtime or an illness, that would prevent riding at assigned times. The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) Program provides a subsidized ride home in the case of an emergency or unexpected overtime on a day the person used DCTA services to get to work. The program is an attempt to ease the concerns of some commuters using public trans-
portation who are worried about how they will get home when an emergency arises, Brevard said. “It’s really a good deal.” How to start a vanpool in 10 easy steps: Call us at 1-800-VAN-RIDE. Determine basic route, schedule and estimated costs. Advertise the route and sign on riders. Hold group meeting with potential riders. Identify candidates for volunteer and alternate drivers. Set policies and payment of each rider’s share of the cost. Select your vanpool vehicle. Set start date and collect first month’s payment. Establish the ground rules and, if available, register all participants in a Guaranteed Ride Home program. Get the van and go!
From Page 19
trees can be planted. “There are some areas where we’re proposing some fencing where we have to work with some private property owners,” Leggett said. Denton City Council member Kevin Roden, who has been working with DCTA and the historical commission on the project, said the transit agency has brought a lot of change to the area and he has seen opinions on those efforts become more positive in recent weeks. More people are using the trail to hike and bike, he said. “We’re starting to see there are certain aspects that are beneficial. And I think it’s very important we try to add to the natural beauty that was taken away,” he said. “That is DCTA’s goal, and we’re trying to find out where DCTA wants to put that effort.”
Beautify have been meeting with them to see how we can integrate these historical markers,” Leggett said. She said an idea was to place the markers at the entrances to the trail to help freshen up the visual transition from the trail to the community. DCTA has been meeting with representatives from the Southeast Denton Neighbor hood Association on these changes to get feedback and ideas as the project continues to evolve. The project must receive environmental clearance from TxDOT, and DCTA must work with the city on addressing issues such as the location of utility lines and what types of
32
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Denton County Transportation Authority
Cotton Belt Corridor DCTA works with others on expanding regional transportation To keep up with the needs and demands of a growing region, transportation officials are starting to look at ways to connect to the Cotton Belt Corridor.North Central Texas Council of Governments transportation director Michael Morris lauds the opportunities presented in this corridor to expand transportation in the region and better accommodate the rapid population growth. The Cotton Belt connection would provide a 62-mile corridor extending from southwest Fort Worth to Plano and Richardson and provide a connection to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Morris recently briefed the Denton County Transportation Authority board members on the Cotton Belt plan. “We are working with our regional partners to find good solutions for the whole area,�
“As we look at expanding the regional rail system, it’s going to take innovative solutions to deliver for our public. We need to be open to alternatives.� — Jim Cline, DCTA president
DCTA President Jim Cline said. “As we look at expanding the regional rail system, it’s going to take innovative solutions to deliver for our public. We need to be open to alternatives. “We have established a good partnership between DART, DCTA and the Forth Worth T [Fort Worth Trans por ta tion Authority] and we feel the three agencies working together can continue to expand the system.� Cline could not get into specific details sur-
rounding the possible expansion as he and other members of the board signed nondisclosure agreements. Morris said planning for the Cotton Belt began about three years ago. DART officials had said they could not get to the eastern side of the Cotton Belt Corridor until 2035. Coupled with some other areas in the region that have not had rail service in a number of years and Forth Worth trying to get to the airport by 2015, Morris said there had to be ways to
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Denton County Transportation Authority develop partnerships for everyone to benefit. “Where we are now, the next phase of the report is to do the financial analysis [on how] to involve the money and then pay it back,” Morris said in a Tuesday interview. Morris said there is interest on the part of the private sector to do their own financial analysis on the costs of constructing the new connection, saving the transportation agencies anywhere from $5 million to $20 million. “The companies involved in this are the largest in the world,” Morris said. “These aren’t mom-and-pop organizations. “They are putting in an awful lot of time; they probably have 20 people working on it right now. They are betting on themselves that they will somehow be able to
get it across the goal line.” Morris said with millions of people still moving into the region, there’s an opportunity to build a rail line across the spine of the region and create higher densities around the rail stations. These developments will help reduce highway costs and vehicle emissions, Morris said. Morris said future steps would involve talking to DART about rail right of way to help with the connection. In Denton County, talks would focus on finding a seamless way from Denton to the airport, requiring some conversations with officials in the Carrollton area. Morris said Grapevine is putting in money. The Regional Transportation Council and the Texas Depart ment of Transportation are investing $100 million combined.
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Jan. 25, 26, 27, 31 & Feb. 1, 2, 3
Morris said officials also hope to get federal funding. In addition, Morris noted that officials are looking at building a rail manufacturing plant in the region. Morris said many people around the country are watching
Texas to see and take notes on how things develop. “We anticipate an unsolicited proposal somewhere in the Thanksgiving-Christmas time frame, and then everyone will be able to see what the proposal is,” he said. - Bj Lewis/Staff Writer
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Denton County Transportation Authority
Rate changes
Mid-January timetable for DCTA fare increases Denton County Transportation Authority customers are set to see a bump in some local and regional fares. Fare increases were recommended to keep up with fare changes at Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (the T), with which the DCTA is in a partnership. Fare changes will be effective Jan. 14, though no changes will be made to Connect, Connect RSVP or Access fares. “We did have three public meetings on this, receiving feedback and through social media. While [transit users] certainly don’t like the increase in fares, they do value the importance of the regional system,” said Jim Cline, DCTA president. One of the new initiatives will allow passengers on DCTA’s local system to buy a two-hour
pass instead of a one-way pass, allowing unlimited travel during that two-hour period. DCTA also is implementing a midday pass to encourage travel during that time. This new pass is valid for unlimited travel from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a weekday. Those two new passes are valid on the Atrain, Connect bus service, Connect RSVP and UNT Shuttle, and are only available from ticket vending machines at the five A-train stations. Cline said the two-hour pass does two things. It gives riders more options over the shorter time of the one-way passes, and it helps standardize the passes alongside DCTA’s transit partners. “When we look at what DART and the T are doing, it makes it easy for everyone to understand and build that picture of a seamless tran-
sit system,” Cline said. Passengers regularly traveling the regional system will see an increase in the monthly and annual regional day pass retail rate. DCTA officials are touting the benefits of the university pass program or DCTA bulk pass program, as rates within those programs will not increase in 2013. The 2013 fare structure also will implement changes to the reduced fares available for seniors over the age of 65, the disabled, Medicare cardholders and children. A new reduced annual pass will be offered in addition to slightly higher reduced fares on the local and regional systems. “We do think we have a good balance to address keeping the solid, seamless system and at the same time providing new options and sustaining the old options to serve our citizens,” -By Bj Lewis/Staff Writer Cline said.
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Campus locations in Gainesville, Corinth, Flower Mound, Bowie and Graham
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