Winter/Spring A-train 2015

the Your Future Is Riding On Us.

MAGAZINE Winter/Spring 2015

Need to report a concern?

Want to pay a compliment?

Have a question about a route or schedule?

Download the new GoRequest™ app

Make your opinion matter with DCTA’s GORequest mobile application available on iPhone, Android and www.RideDCTA.net.

Denton County t ransportation a uthority • rideDCTA.net

Play.

Eat. Shop.

Repeat.

Looking for something different to do?

Take the A-Train to the Trinity Mills Station, then catch the DART Green Line to the Downtown Carrollton Station. Spend the day shopping and dining in Carrollton boutiques and specialty restaurants. Find anything from treasured antiques and designer labels, to spa gift certificates and unique accessories—all just a train ride away!

Keep up with the latest news and activities at cityofcarrollton.com OR Follow us on

Our technology is far ahead.

And close to home.

Right here in Denton At Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, we’ve grown with our growing community. So we’ve brought the same technology found at major metropolitan hospitals to your local hospital. We offer advanced medical technologies, like robotic surgery, so you can receive these advanced solutions close to home. And we’ve earned a Bronze Texas Health Care Quality Improvement Award in recognition of our gains in key clinical areas. Plus, 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. So when you need them, the medical staff and advanced technology are in your own backyard ready to care for you and your family.

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. Electrophysiology Endovascular . Neck and Back Care . Neonatology . Oncology Open–Heart Surgery . Pediatric Unit . Robotic Surgery 1-877-THR-WELL TexasHealth.org/Denton Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital. © 2015 AN

Moving towards the track to success Dear Customers and Stakeholders, As we move into our next fiscal year, myself and the rest of the DCTA staff have taken some time to reflect on the many ideas and initiatives that were implemented this past year that greatly benefited our passengers, stakeholders and the community.

We’ve had many great successes and have improved many aspects of our system that have enhanced the passenger experience.

However, we do acknowledge that we have made some decisions that have inconvenienced some of our passengers.

We’re proud of the many successes and improvements we’ve made this year, including opening a new Bus Operations & Maintenance facility, launching a responsive and passenger-friendly website, installing new bus shelters in Denton and expanding existing routes such as the UNT Shuttle Colorado Express. Even with the many improvements made, some of our passengers voiced their concerns with our recent August service changes and vehicle reliability issues, which we’ve acknowledged and plan to make top priorities to improve.

Here at DCTA, we’ll never be completely content and will continuously work to improve our system and services to better

James C. Cline, Jr. improve the passenger experience. A few key improvements we’re focusing on this year include: 1.

Better synchronize Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), our Connect bus service and A-train to optimize our system’s efficiency.

2.

Maintain a strong focus to improve vehicle readiness and reliability.

Properly launch and manage 3.

Where’s My Ride, our vehicle tracking tool that will provide invaluable real-time predictive arrival time information to passengers and help with scheduling planning.

I’m personally appealing to everyone in our community to provide us with feedback to help us better improve our system.

One simple way to do this is through our GORequest mobile application that allows passengers to input feedback and track their submissions. You can access the app on our website – www.RideDCTA.net – or download it on the Apple and Google Play stores. All requests submitted through the GoRequest system are sent to the appropriate DCTA staff member and answered within 7-10 business days. Another option is to call our Customer Service team at (940) 243-0077.

As we move forward on this track towards success, we ask for your continued support for our system. It takes time and a strong partnership with you (our community) to expand and improve services that will ultimately improve mobility solutions.

Thanks for your continued support, James C. Cline, Jr., P.E., President of Denton County Transportation Authority

A-train 5

Staff Spotlight: Get to know Reca Oliver Sitting behind the glass in the Eulene Brock Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC), Customer Service Representative Reca Oliver has heard it all.

And she’s not tired of it yet.

“I just like to hear about people’s travels,” Oliver said. “I like it when people come in and say that they’ve ridden transportation in Chicago or New York.

It’s interesting to hear about it.

Of course, we’re a smaller city than those, but we’re expanding.”

Oliver has been a lifelong Denton resident and has worked at DCTA for five years.

In that five years, she has seen a lot of expansion within the company.

“When I was hired in, I was part-time and I did tallies for about a year before the DDTC opened,” she said. “They’ve added the A-train since I started. That was big-time, having this facility for our customers.

The Central Bus Station used to be in a parking lot up the road, so it’s been good for customers to have a place to rest and wait for their buses and use the restroom.”

Prior to DCTA, Oliver spent 20 years working in data processing at Jostens Incorporated until they closed the local order

processing office. She calls herself a “computer pioneer” because she has seen technology go from key-punch to the computers we have today.

“I went to trade school for keypunch – the old machines where they ran the cards through,” she said. “I learned how to do that and after, I wanted to get a job in data entry and that’s how I ended up at Jostens. We had Mohawk tape machines and the information would be on tape and then it would transfer to the home office through a phone line.”

Michael Chinn, general manager of bus operations for DCTA, said Oliver’s tenacity to solve problems and help passengers is what truly sets her apart.

“Reca does everything so well,” Chinn said. “What I like most about her is her patience and ability to interact with customers. These traits help her excel at her position.”

In addition to keeping the transit center in top shape every day, Oliver cites her favorite part of the job as introducing transit to new passengers and helping them navigate the DCTA and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) rail lines.

“We have many passenger tools for going into Dallas,” she

said. “We have the DART map and show passengers where to transfer. Sometimes, we do still

have to do a trip planner, but I’m willing to do that to help passengers.”

Q: What is your favorite sports team?

A: The Dallas Cowboys. I’ve been watching them because my youngest grandson is really into it. It’s funny because his father doesn’t like them.

Q: Who is your favorite music artist?

A: Blake Shelton.

Q: What is your favorite color?

A: Green. I live out in the country and I put a nice green roof on our house.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Mexican food.

Q: Where is your dream vacation?

A: To take a tour through the New England states. I think that would be very nice.

6 A-train

Riders board the A-Train at Hebron Station in Lewisville.

KN

A-train 7

Texas Woman’s UniversiTy DenTon n Dallas n HoUsTon

“i chose TWU because it has an excellent reputation in health care and offers the program i wanted. also, everyone here is so nice and helpful, and the campus is gorgeous. Choosing TWU was the best decision i ever made.”

Angelica Reyes Dental Hygiene, 2015

1-866-809-6130 admissions@twu.edu n www.twu.edu 8 A-train

AD INFORMATION

Riders can now get to airport via rail

By Tim Blackwell For the Denton Record-Chronicle

Spending five bucks has never felt so good. At least for some Denton County commuters, spending a Lincoln to get to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport via rail is well worth it.

With the purchase of a $5 regional pass from Denton County Transportation Authority, riders can take the A-train to a connection with a Dallas Area Rapid Transit train that stops at Terminal A at the airport. At the A-train’s Trinity Mills Station stop in Carrollton, passengers can connect with DART’s Green Line, then ride to Bachman Station just south of Northwest Highway in Dallas for a transfer to the Orange Line with service to the airport.

The trip takes about 90 minutes and spares riders of potential slowdowns along I-35E and other major thoroughfares.

Shortly after DART and the airport opened the station in August, long-time Denton resident Stephen Howard hopped the A-train on his way to Amarillo. The hour-and-a-half ride spared his wife from

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fighting early morning traffic to and from the airport so he could catch his plane. It also gave Howard some time to listen to his favorite morning sports talk radio show and read the newspaper.

“It was a breeze,” the 34-year-old

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University of North Texas employee said. “I would recommend that to anybody.”

And so he did. Afterward, he tweeted how easy it was to take the rails. He’s since taken the train to the airport for another trip.

See AIRPORT on Page 10

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A-train 9

From Page 9 AIRPORT No stranger to intercity train travel, Howard believes riding the A-train to the airport will grow in popularity. He has taken train systems to catch flights in New York, Washington, D.C., and Berlin, and already has noticed a growing number of Dallas area riders who are toting luggage on trains.

“I think once more people realize that you eliminate the traffic headache by jumping on the train, it will become more popular,” he said. “Yes, it may take a few minutes longer, but you don’t have to worry about parking and traffic. You pay five dollars and you’re at the airport. I think it should catch on for sure.”

DCTA vice president Kristina Brevard said riders can not only avoid traffic going to the airport but also save on parking fees.

“Five dollars. You can’t pay that per day for parking at an airport,” she said.

DCTA launched a pilot parking program that will enable passengers to park for 24 hours at the Med Park, Old Town Lewisville and Hebron stations. Passengers needing to park for longer than that can register on

DCTA’s website to avoid being towed. Cars parked at the stations without registering are subject to tow.

“It allows us to have information about the vehicle and owner so we know (the vehicle) hasn’t been abandoned,” she said.

While DCTA hasn’t done any ridership projections for passengers traveling to the airport, the success of airport travel may be judged in the number of long-term registrations.

“I don’t think we’ll see anything drastic, but it will be interesting,” she said.

Howard, who works in UNT’s athletic department, is definitely sold on the idea of taking the train to the airport.

He looks forward to the next time he catches the A-train and DART to DFW, because he won’t have to worry about fighting traffic.

He’ll seize the opportunity to relax and pass the time by listening to the latest sports talk on The Ticket, such as he did on the way to Amarillo.

“I’m big 1310 Ticket guy,” he said. “I just had the Ticket on my phone, had my headset on. You were (at the airport) before you knew it.”

After all, he said, the price is right.

FROM DENTON TO DFW AIRPORT * Take the A-train to Trinity Mills Station * Transfer to DART Green Line to Bachman Station * Transfer to DART Orange Line to DFW Airport Station * If flying American Airlines or only traveling with carry-on luggage, enter through Terminal 1.If not, take the Terminal Link airport shuttle bus to appropriate terminal.

Let the good times roll!

Arts

&

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Festival

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FRIDAY, AP

2 0 1 5 , Dentons Texa dentonjazzfest

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APRIL 24, 25 & 26

RANDY BRECKER

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 201

5 – 9:00 PM – JAZZ

STAGE

• 7 STAGES • FINE ARTS • CRAFTS • ART TENT • FOOD • GAMES • FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!

DR. JOHN & THE NITE TRIPPERS

SATURDAY, APRIL 25,

2015 – 9:00 PM JAZZ STAGE

BRAVE COMBO

SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015 – 7:00 PM JAZZ STAGE

APRIL 24, 25 & 26

Friday 5-11p.m. • Saturday 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. • Sunday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Quakertown Park • 321 E. McKinney • 2 blocks NE of the Courthouse Square

Denton Festival Foundation P.O. Box 2104 • Denton, Texas 76202 940-565-0931 • 1-940-566-7007 fax www.dentonjazzfest.com

TAKE THE A-TRAIN! An easy 3-block walk to the park!

No Coolers or Dogs!

A Litter-Free & Recycling Event!

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10 A-train

Why I ride DCTA

Brian Boyle, a resident of Carrollton, TX and long-time DCTA passenger, recently sat down with DCTA executives to share his story about why he rides DCTA:

What do you enjoy the most about riding DCTA? I’ve been riding DCTA for the past six years, and what I enjoy the most about riding DCTA is having time to relax during

my morning commute to work.

Once I board the train, it gives me a chance to rest and get prepared for the second part of my journey to work, in which I ride my bike.

What DCTA service(s) do you use most often?

The A-train is the only service I use at this time. When I started traveling to Denton back in 2008 for work, DCTA launched its Commuter Express service that I used before the A-train came about. I do not own a car, so I travel to and from work using the A-train and my bike.

With the A-train, I don’t have to worry about traffic during my commute.

What are some of your favorite things to do while riding DCTA? Like many others, I have my own personal smartphone or “electronic toy” that I enjoy using during my commute. I also enjoy looking out the window to see the different scenic

views and construction taking place along Interstate 35E. Other times, I just like to be alone with my thoughts and ponder about what the future holds for me.

Do you have any advice to offer about riding DCTA to current and non-passengers?

Simply obey the rules and signs that are posted around the A-train and platforms. For example, there are corridors situated in between the train cars that are only to be used in case of emergency, and passengers should not use them unless they get permission from authorized DCTA personnel.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

It’s because of DCTA that I have completed my 20th year of employment with the Fastenal company. We relocated to Denton back in 2008, and DCTA has helped me get to work for the last six years.

Thank you!

A-train 11

EULENE BROCK DOWNTOWN DENTON TRANSIT CENTER (DDTC)

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Ride the A-Train to fun festivals

By Randy Cummings

For the Denton Record-Chronicle

Denton has long been known for its great music offerings.

At the same time, Denton has become a destination attraction where visitors can enjoy an every-expanding list of festivals each year sure to quench their musical thirst and provide entertainment memories that will last a lifetime.

And since 2011, getting to Denton to enjoy its calendar of events has never been easier.With the A-Train commuter rail, music fans and festival-goers can bypass the construction and traffic delays on Interstate 35 and arrive within walking distance of the many festivals held on or near the Denton’s historic Downtown Square.

“Denton is an original, independent place,” said Kim Phillips, vice president of the Denton Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We embrace our diverse population and celebrate cultures, traditions, music and food year-round through scores of festivals and events.

Many of these take place down-

Dallas band Somebody’s Darling plays at the annual 35 Denton music festival. town in the Square area which I Whether it’s for a one-day event venues throughout the day and or a multi-day celebration, visi- night. find apropos.

MARCH “We often refer to the Square tors to Denton now have stressTexas Storytelling Festival are our community living room, free access to the central hub of and it adds a significant layer of Denton and the opportunity to (Mar. 12-15, 2015; www.tejassmeaning when we gather here enjoy a wide range of festival torytelling.com) -- Started in to celebrate our collective differ- events hosted in the city.

1985, this event has grown to “We are a festival city, a music become the premier event for ences,” she added.

Many of Denton’s annual city, an original, independent Texas storytellers. It is the creevents are held in the down- city with lots of local food and ation of the Texas Storytelling town area, the Square or in flare unmatched in most des- Association and annually held nearby Quakertown Park, all tinations,” Phillips said. “Our at the Denton Civic Center. of which are centrally located festivals are affordable, often Featuring some of the most in the city and within walking free, easily accessible from the intriguing, captivating storydistance of the A-Train station. A-Train andwalkable to a large tellers in the state, the festival radius of the Square and sur- promotes storytelling as an “oral tradition, a performing art and rounding area.”

Here is a list of events sched- an educational tool,” according uled for 2015 which visitors can to the TSA. 35 Denton (Mar. 13-15, 2015; enjoy through the ease and fun www.35denton.com) -- Making of the A-Train commuter rail: a return after taking a year off, FEBRUARY Thin Line (Feb. 18-22, 2015; this music festival has gained www.thinlinefest.com) -- A one- international acclaim by giving of-a-kind arts festival that offers stage time to an eclectic assortfive days of viewing and listening ment of musical acts in genres pleasure, this event showcases ranging from rock, pop and hip an array of film documentaries, hop to experimental and indie. live music and photography -- The festival has previously been all on or near the downtown staged at various downtown Square. Since its start in 2007, venues, but has discussed posthe festival has grown to fea- sibly moving to another site. It’s ture locally produced film doc- become a must-see for music umentaries shown in Denton’s fans hoping to catch bands and historic Campus and Fine Arts performers on the verge of startheaters downtown, as well as dom. live music performances and Motoko performs at the Texas Storytelling Festival. photography contests at various See FESTIVALS on Page 15

14 A-train

From Page 14 FESTIVALS APRIL Denton Redbud Festival (April 18, 2015; www.kdb.org) -Denton embraces its title as the Redbud Capital of Texas and for lovers of all things outdoor, this event is for you. Sponsored

by Keep Denton Beautiful, this festival is the city’s official Arbor Day event that is free to the public. It’s evolved into a community home and garden show, featuring plant sales, gardening products, home improvement items and landscaping services.

Denton Arts & Jazz Festival (April 24-26, 2015; www.dentonjazzfest.com) -- This threeday free event is held every spring in Quakertown Park near downtown and continues to attract record crowds every year.

Professional and amateur musicians keep the tunes coming from six stages throughout the day and night while attendees can enjoy booths featuring all types of food and drink as well as arts, crafts and games.

Nighttime headliners this year include Randy Brecker (Friday), Dr. John the Night Tripper (Saturday) and local favorites Brave Combo (Sunday).

MAY Denton Cinco de Mayo (May; www.dentoncinco.org) -Denton’s annual party celebrat-

Day of the Dead Festival

The Arts, Antiques & Autos Extravaganza is held every September. ing the Mexican victory over the French army in 1862 is held at Quakertown and highlighted by a parade through the downtown area.The event celebrates the cultural traditions, music, dance and food of the Hispanic community and also includes a soccer tournament as well as a Little Miss Cinco de Mayo contest.

JUNE Denton Juneteenth (June; www.dentonjuneteenth.org) -- Celebrating its 45th anniversary in Denton this year, this two-day event combines music, live bands, children’s games and food and crafts booths for a weekend of family fun.

Although it’s a little bit longer of a walk from the A-Train station, the Juneteenth festival is held at Fred Moore Park at the corner of Bradshaw and East Prairie streets. A annual parade kicks off the fun that also includes softball and basketball tournaments in the park.

SEPTEMBER Arts, Antiques & Autos Extravaganza (Sept.; www. dentonmainstreet.org) -- Some

of the coolest cars, trucks and motorcycles you’ll ever see will be lined up along Hickory Street on the Square when this event gets revved up in September.

This 16th annual event will showcase classic and customized vehicles of all sorts and sizes along with live music and booths featuring games, art and crafts.Attendees can also have their family treasures and heirlooms looked at by antique appraisers. A silent auction of downtown merchandise will also be held inside the Courthouse on the Square.

Denton Blues Festival (Sept.; www.dentonblackchamberonline.org) -- This free event at Quakertown Park near downtown is two full days of the blues -- both live performances and recorded DJ music. Sponsored by the Denton Black Chamber of Commerce, the Blues Festival also includes plenty of good food and fun contests such as a Blues Idol event and Apollo Night for the children. Last year’s headliners included Denise LaSalle and Joe Louis Walker.

Oaktopia (Sept. 24-25, 2015;

www.oaktopiafest.com) -- Now in its third year, Oaktopia offers up a combination of live music and comedians in a festival format. Held downtown on the Square and in surrounding nearby venues, this festival features bands and individual performers along with comedy shows and plenty of community vendors.

OCTOBER Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival (Oct. 31, 2015; www. dentondayofthedeadfestival. com) -- Held annually on the last Saturday of October, this is a celebration of all things Halloween. Located just off the Square near Hickory and Industrial streets, this fun fest features everything from live music to coffin races. A lantern-lit parade at twilight is held after a day filled with music and dancing, street performers, games for kids, arts and crafts, and various offerings of food and drink. The festival is free and a portion of the sponsorships are donated to a local charity.

See FESTIVALS on Page 16

A-train 15

From Page 15 FESTIVALS DECEMBER Denton Holiday Lighting Festival (Dec.; www.dentonholidaylighting.com) --Bring the family and meet up with friends on the Square when the Christmas Tree on the Courthouse lawn comes alive during the official lighting ceremony. There will be live music and horse drawn carriage rides and kids will get to visit Santa.

Also for children, there is a arts and crafts area to enjoy.

Wassail Fest (Dec.; www.dentonholidaylighting.com) -- This event expands to two days this year. In the past it was held in conjunction with the Friday night Holiday Lighting event, but in 2015 the Wassail Fest will carry over to the next day when downtown merchants will create their favorite Wassail recipes and serve it to thirsty holiday visitors.

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16 A-train

Onward Ho! on the Rail Trail

By Tim Blackwell

For the Denton Record-Chronicle

DCTA and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are making progress to complete the remaining 13 miles of the winding, picturesque Rail Trail, a planned bike and pedestrian trail that will parallel the entire length of the A-train.

Two sections − Swisher Road south to Kelton in Hickory Creek and the Highland Village/Lewisville Lake Station south to Hebron Station – have yet to be completed.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is funding the Swisher RoadKelton project, while DCTA is paying for the other.

In the spring, DCTA submitted two grant applications to help cover a shortage of funding for the $6-$8 million price tag to construct the rail trail portion from Highland Village to Old Town Station and south to Hebron Station.

In April, a request was submitted for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program, more widely known as TIGER grants, in partnership

with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG).

With the grant, DCTA hopes to become a part of the Regional Bicycle/Pedestrian Multimodel Network that includes 10 regional partners.

At the end of May, DCTA applied for a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant which is sponsored by NCTCOG. Pending grant approval, DCTA anticipates that Rail Trail construction from Highland Village/Lewisville Lake Station to Old Town Station will be finished in 2016, with the remainder to be done by 2017.

Farther north, plans are in the works for TxDOT to complete a third phase of the project which includes bike and walking trails from Kelton Crossing to Swisher Road.

When the trails are complete, residents and visitors will be able to move about the length of the A-train’s 21-mile network either by or a combination of rail, foot or bicycle. The trail will connect each section and provide bike riders an opportunity to cycle all the way or take a break and ride

the train.

All DCTA vehicles accommodate bikes whenever possible on a space-available basis.

The current section of the Rail Trail that runs eight miles from the Eulene Brock Downtown Denton Transit Center to Swisher Road is popular, Brevard says.

DCTA and the City of Denton work together to maintain the trail.

“It’s heavily used,” she said. “Denton is a pretty bike-centric community, so the Rail Trail is a perfect amenity for residents.”

The Denton Branch Rail Trail is constructed on the right-of-way of the former Denton branch of the Missouri-KansasTexas Railroad between Denton and Lake Dallas. The 8-foot-wide concrete trail generally parallels I-35 and the A-train while it passes schools, shopping centers, medical facilities, manufacturing plans and residential areas.

The trail extends from the Downtown Transit Center on Hickory Street south to Swisher Road in Lake Dallas, with many trail access points at public streets.

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A-train 17

Campus shuttles provide transportation alternative

By Tim Blackwell

For the Denton Record-Chronicle

Denton County residents don’t have to pretend that they are students to take advantage of one bus route that connects Highland Village and Lewisville to the DCTA A-train.

The North Central Texas College (NCTC) Shuttle is intended to move college students, faculty and staff from Lewisville and Denton to the campus, but anyone can ride.

DCTA has a contract with the school to provide shuttle service between the Corinth and Flower Mound campuses, Lewisville and the Denton MedPark Station. That service will resume in August as students flock to area universities for the fall semester.

NCTC Shuttle is running buses destined for NCTC campuses that will traverse along a

desirable route to several area attractions and medical centers.

For the last few years, the bus has provided nearby access to the Flower Mound Performing Arts Center, Denton Regional Medical Center, Atrium Medical Center of Corinth and Civic Circle in Lewisville.

The public can hop aboard and avoid the glut of cars along the route. The only difference is instead of riding with an NCTC I.D., non-NCTC riders would pay cash fare upon boarding.

Kristina Brevard, DCTA Vice President of Marketing & Communications, says area residents have a great opportunity to relax and enjoy the ride.

“Many are unaware that our college shuttle routes to NCTC and UNT are open to the public,” she said. “Everybody is welcome. It’s a worthwhile alternative to traffic and parking

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hassles.”

To improve frequency and encourage more riders, DCTA added another bus to the route.

Also, the NCTC Shuttle provides connectivity to not only the A-train but other bus routes that traverse Denton and Lewisville.

In Denton, NCTC Shuttle passengers may transfer to the A-train at MedPark Station, as well as from DCTA Connect via Route 2 and UNT Shuttle Colorado Express. In Lewisville, passengers may transfer to and from any DCTA Connect route and Connect RSVP at Summit and Civic Circle.

During the academic year, the NCTC Shuttle operates Monday through Friday, with exception of holidays. Depending on the discretion of NCTC, the Shuttle may operate during mini-mesters in the winter and

spring.

For the general public, the cost is $3.00 for adults or $1.50 for elderly, disabled or Medicare cardholders and students (ages 5-18, students over the age of 14 require valid high school or DCTA issued ID). Valid DCTA Local System and Regional fare options are accepted, including DART, The T and TRE Regional Passes. NCTC students, faculty and staff with a valid NCTC ID ride the NCTC Shuttle and Connect bus service for no additional fare.

In addition to the NCTC Shuttle, DCTA also services the UNT campus with the UNT Shuttle. This system is comprised of 9 routes and is open to the general public with accepted fare upon boarding.

Visit www.RideDCTA.net for more information about DCTA’s campus shuttles.

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18 A-train

Analysis to determine future growth

By Tim Blackwell For the Denton Record-Chronicle

The day may soon come when green and yellow buses and rail cars cruise I-35W or make their way farther into Denton County.

Or maybe roll all the way to Fort Worth, or at least make a connection into Cowtown.

If and when that day comes will be determined by a comprehensive analysis of the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) this year. And if some or all of those scenarios or others make sense, DCTA will act quickly to ensure the transit agency keeps pace in one of the fastest growing counties in Texas.

Denton County’s population grew 10 percent from 2010-13, according to U.S. Census figures, and ridership along DCTA’s bus and rail lines have increased accordingly. A-train ridership for 2014 increased 11.27 percent to 568,338, while Connect Bus was up 8.7 percent to 595,390.

With more population growth projected, DCTA is looking at ways to better service its existing Denton County base, plus reach other areas and link residents to other destinations.

The service analysis, one of a number of initiatives adopted for the 2015 budget, is the first step. A particularly intriguing possibility is linking DCTA with the Fort Worth T, Fort Worth’s transportation authority, to better move Denton and Fort Worth residents to large employment centers, learning institutions and other locales along I-35W. “We’re trying to investigate how that might be, how we can make that happen,” DCTA President Jim Cline said. “We’re looking at how a partnership with the Fort Worth T might work to service the communities and universities along the way.

There are a lot of ways we can investigate to make that happen. But we need to do some detail to figure that out, and that’s one of the things that the study will do for us.”

DCTA’s success as a bi-directional rail carrier helps make a strong case for expansion south, Cline says. Unlike many commuter lines, DCTA trains have near equally spread mixes of riders going north and south. Many are going to and from universities and employment centers within the current coverage area.

Similar learning centers and large employers exist in Tarrant County, which potentially makes a case to offer services

to Denton and Fort Worth residents who commute between the two cities.

“A lot of it is the linkage between Denton and Fort Worth, coming from the south to the north,” Cline said. “We’ve got a lot of students and employees going to the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University, and people who work in Fort Worth are coming north to Denton.

These are some of the things we need to consider.”

The smart play, Cline said, would be to start with bus service, such as DCTA did when Denton County’s transit plan was implemented a few years ago. An eventually connection of the A-train with the planned TexRail commuter rail system proposed to run along the old Cotton Belt route could be an option.

However, any of DCTA’s plans to expand southward, or anywhere for that matter, won’t necessarily hinge on if and when another area transit rail line is completed.

“Our discussion on 35W is not dependent on TexRail,” Cline said. “But TexRail would certainly be a factor in that. If TexRail comes up to the airport, it would be another way from Fort Worth depending on where you are coming from. That could provide some unique opportunities with TexRail, and we’re going to try to seize them.”

Before the A-train’s launch in 2011, DCTA moved passengers by bus, and any kind of new service to Fort Worth would likely follow that same model before building rail.

Kristina Brevard, DCTA’s vice president

planning & strategic development, says that the success of express bus service between Denton and Fort Worth would determine whether the A-train one day rolls along I-35W. “You have to have some type of commuter express service to make sure rail is validated,” she said.

But before DCTA takes that step, identifying any gaps in existing bus and rail service is just as much a priority.

Cline said DCTA officials want to revisit parts of the system to determine if there are ways to improve service so that riders can move about the system more fluidly. Bolstering bus service to make better connections with trains in Lewisville, for example, is something that Cline would like to see explored.

Also, the analysis will include looking at whether the future DCTA transit footprint should revolve around the Denton Transportation Center as a hub, or if it would make more sense for the transportation center to be somewhere else.

“Does every ting have to come through the DTC?” Cline asked. “That makes it easy in a lot of ways and convenient for some people, but it also makes it not so convenient for other people.”

These questions and others will be explored as DCTA looks to further embed in a North Texas public transportation landscape that also is undergoing review. Last fall, DCTA and other area transit agencies took part in a regional transit survey conducted by the North Central Texas Council of Governments to help transportation planners better understand demand for rail and bus service through the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

In September, DCTA passengers on Connect buses, the UNT shuttle system and A-train were asked to participate in stop-tostop surveys. Also, questionnaire/interview surveys were conducted on DCTA, UNT Shuttles, A-train in October and November.

Results of the survey could play a role in the big picture of DCTA and the service analysis, which will take three to five years to complete. No stones will be left unturned.

“We’re taking a look at the whole thing and see what we can come up with,” Cline said. “Is there a better way to do it, better way to meet our customer’s needs?”

Time will tell.

A-train 19

Tracking tool provides real-time information

By Tim Blackwell

For the Denton Record-Chronicle

In a world that revolves around big data, Denton County Transportation Authority is about to get its fair share. When the much anticipated Where’s My Ride portal launches this year, DCTA will literally be able to watch the data stream from its trains and buses. The data will help the agency better plan for the future.

The vehicle tracking tool provides passengers real-time travel information accessible by phone, online and mobile devices. Passengers can obtain predictive arrival information for DCTA’s Connect bus or A-train service at a specific stop.

The tool has been in the works in recent years and is nearing launch. DCTA beta tested the software in October and November with the help of Denton County riders.

While Where’s My Ride will assist riders in planning trips, the tool will also give DCTA critical information such as more accurate on-time performance and ridership tracking by stop.

Before the portal went into testing, bus drivers were counting riders individually by making tick marks in a log.

Also, Where’s My Ride will note cyclists on board, which can help the agency get a better feel for bike riders as Denton

explores adding a bike share program to the city. In the summer, Denton began evaluating the locations for nine stations, including some near A-train stations, for a possible service launch.

“Where’s My Ride is really going to be a game changer,” said Kristina Brevard, DCTA Vice President, Planning and Strategic Development. “It will help us improve route structure because we will have an abundance of data to help us plan. It will also help us plan for amenities for riders.”

The program is a big step for DCTA and puts the transportation agency on a technological plateau where much larger transit providers nationally are going. Close to home, Dallas Area Rapid Transit employs the technology it for the agency’s Where’s My Bus feature.

“I think DCTA is on the cutting edge of this technology, especially within the industry,” Brevard said. “When we attend industry meetings, people can’t believe that DCTA is doing this.”

The software, unlike a mobile application, uses accurate location data provide by a GPS device that is mounted inside each DCTA Connect bus and A-train railcar. Users can receive notifications of bus or train arrival times, call in to hear arrival times and track vehicles in real time.

Passengers can receive up-todate information via text messages, an online portal, via email or text travel alerts or through dial up.

The program should roll out in early 2015. Later in the year, DCTA intends to debut an additional travel alert feature that riders can access via subscription.

DCTA President Jim Cline says the technology has been a long time coming and that the agency is striving provide the best tool possible.

Much time and effort has been put into fitting the software’s capabilities to the DCTA’s specific needs. That’s even involved looking at what others have done with it.

“We’re trying to take some of the lessons that others have already learned,” he said. “We want to take advantage of what others have learned and have something that is very usable for

DCTA and its customers.”

In an information-crazed society, the technology is the perfect tool to help DCTA attract new riders and grow, Brevard says.

“We have a lot of passengers who are new to public transit,” she said. “The more amenities like this that we can offer only further enhances the travel experience and convenience for our customers.”

Main features of Where’s My Ride Online Portal — Where’s My Ride’s online portal feature enables passengers to access real-time bus and train location data from most web-enabled devices.

Travel Alerts — This feature allows passengers to subscribe to a wide range of DCTA notifications in their preferred format of email or text.

Voice — Similar to text stop prediction, Where’s My Ride’s voice stop prediction feature allows passengers to dial in for an up to the minute prediction of a bus or train at a chosen stop. Call (940) 243-0077, enter your stop ID and receive real-time information on the next bus or train scheduled for that location and its expected arrival time.

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