MAGAZINE Winter/Spring 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 transportation authority • 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 ﬁ nd 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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14-PHDT-0118_GenServ_DtnMedSocHlthGud_7-5x9.875.indd 1 12/2/14 9:53 AM Moving towards the track to success Dear Customers and Stakeholders, Where’s My Ride, our vehicle tracking tool As we move into our next fiscal year, that will provide invaluable real-time pre- myself and the rest of the DCTA staff have dictive arrival time information to passen- taken some time to reflect on the many gers and help with scheduling planning. ideas and initiatives that were implemented I’m personally appealing to everyone in this past year that greatly benefited our pas- our community to provide us with feed- sengers, stakeholders and the community. back to help us better improve our system. We’ve had many great successes and have One simple way to do this is through our improved many aspects of our system that GORequest mobile application that allows have enhanced the passenger experience. passengers to input feedback and track However, we do acknowledge that we have their submissions. You can access the app made some decisions that have inconve- on our website – www.RideDCTA.net – or nienced some of our passengers. download it on the Apple and Google Play We’re proud of the many successes stores. All requests submitted through the and improvements we’ve made this year, GoRequest system are sent to the appro- including opening a new Bus Operations priate DCTA staff member and answered & Maintenance facility, launching a within 7-10 business days. Another option is responsive and passenger-friendly website, to call our Customer Service team at (940) James C. Cline, Jr. installing new bus shelters in Denton and 243-0077. expanding existing routes such as the UNT improve the passenger experience. A few As we move forward on this track towards Shuttle Colorado Express. Even with the key improvements we’re focusing on this success, we ask for your continued support many improvements made, some of our year include: for our system. It takes time and a strong passengers voiced their concerns with our 1. Better synchronize Dallas Area partnership with you (our community) to recent August service changes and vehicle Rapid Transit (DART), our Connect bus expand and improve services that will ulti- reliability issues, which we’ve acknowledged service and A-train to optimize our system’s mately improve mobility solutions. and plan to make top priorities to improve. efficiency. Thanks for your continued sup- Here at DCTA, we’ll never be complete- 2. Maintain a strong focus to improve p o r t , J a m e s C . C l i n e , J r . , P . E . , ly content and will continuously work to vehicle readiness and reliability. President of Denton County Transportation improve our system and services to better 3. Properly launch and manage Authority

A-train 5 Staff Spotlight: Get to know Reca Oliver Sitting behind the glass in processing office. She calls the Eulene Brock Downtown herself a “computer pioneer” Denton Transit Center because she has seen technol- (DDTC), Customer Service ogy go from key-punch to the Representative Reca Oliver has computers we have today. heard it all. “I went to trade school for key- And she’s not tired of it yet. punch – the old machines where “I just like to hear about peo- they ran the cards through,” she ple’s travels,” Oliver said. “I like said. “I learned how to do that it when people come in and say and after, I wanted to get a job that they’ve ridden transporta- in data entry and that’s how I tion in Chicago or New York. ended up at Jostens. We had It’s interesting to hear about it. Mohawk tape machines and the Of course, we’re a smaller city information would be on tape than those, but we’re expand- and then it would transfer to the ing.” home office through a phone Oliver has been a lifelong line.” Denton resident and has Michael Chinn, general worked at DCTA for five years. manager of bus operations for In that five years, she has seen DCTA, said Oliver’s tenacity to a lot of expansion within the solve problems and help pas- company. sengers is what truly sets her “When I was hired in, I was apart. part-time and I did tallies for “Reca does everything so about a year before the DDTC well,” Chinn said. “What I like opened,” she said. “They’ve most about her is her patience added the A-train since I start- and ability to interact with cus- ed. That was big-time, having tomers. These traits help her this facility for our customers. excel at her position.” The Central Bus Station used to In addition to keeping the be in a parking lot up the road, transit center in top shape every so it’s been good for custom- day, Oliver cites her favorite part ers to have a place to rest and of the job as introducing transit wait for their buses and use the to new passengers and help- restroom.” ing them navigate the DCTA Prior to DCTA, Oliver spent and Dallas Area Rapid Transit 20 years working in data pro- (DART) rail lines. said. “We have the DART map have to do a trip planner, but cessing at Jostens Incorporated “We have many passenger and show passengers where to I’m willing to do that to help until they closed the local order tools for going into Dallas,” she transfer. Sometimes, we do still 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

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8 A-train AD INFORMATION Job No.: A14-12-05-140 Subject: Angelica Reyes A Train Mag Publication: A Train Mag Size: 7.5x9.875 4c CR: Dec 19 Publish: Jan 2015 City of Publication: Denton Client: M&C Designer: RT 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. fighting early morning traffic to and from University of North Texas employee said. “I Shortly after DART and the airport the airport so he could catch his plane. It would recommend that to anybody.” opened the station in August, long-time also gave Howard some time to listen to his And so he did. Afterward, he tweeted how Denton resident Stephen Howard hopped favorite morning sports talk radio show and easy it was to take the rails. He’s since taken the A-train on his way to Amarillo. The read the newspaper. the train to the airport for another trip. hour-and-a-half ride spared his wife from “It was a breeze,” the 34-year-old See AIRPORT on Page 10

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AN A-train 9 From Page 9 DCTA’s website to avoid being towed. Cars FROM DENTON TO DFW AIRPORT AIRPORT parked at the stations without registering * Take the A-train to Trinity Mills Station are subject to tow. * Transfer to DART Green Line to No stranger to intercity train travel, “It allows us to have information about Bachman Station Howard believes riding the A-train to the the vehicle and owner so we know (the vehi- * Transfer to DART Orange Line to airport will grow in popularity. He has cle) hasn’t been abandoned,” she said. DFW Airport Station taken train systems to catch flights in New While DCTA hasn’t done any ridership * If flying American Airlines or only trav- York, Washington, D.C., and Berlin, and projections for passengers traveling to the eling with carry-on luggage, enter through already has noticed a growing number of airport, the success of airport travel may be Terminal 1.If not, take the Terminal Link Dallas area riders who are toting luggage judged in the number of long-term regis- airport shuttle bus to appropriate terminal. on trains. trations. “I think once more people realize that you “I don’t think we’ll see anything drastic, eliminate the traffic headache by jumping but it will be interesting,” she said. on the train, it will become more popular,” Howard, who works in UNT’s athletic he said. “Yes, it may take a few minutes department, is definitely sold on the idea of longer, but you don’t have to worry about taking the train to the airport. parking and traffic. You pay five dollars and He looks forward to the next time he you’re at the airport. I think it should catch catches the A-train and DART to DFW, on for sure.” because he won’t have to worry about fight- DCTA vice president Kristina Brevard ing traffic. said riders can not only avoid traffic going He’ll seize the opportunity to relax and to the airport but also save on parking fees. pass the time by listening to the latest sports “Five dollars. You can’t pay that per day talk on The Ticket, such as he did on the way for parking at an airport,” she said. to Amarillo. DCTA launched a pilot parking program “I’m big 1310 Ticket guy,” he said. “I just that will enable passengers to park for 24 had the Ticket on my phone, had my head- hours at the Med Park, Old Town Lewisville set on. You were (at the airport) before you and Hebron stations. Passengers needing knew it.” to park for longer than that can register on After all, he said, the price is right.

ArtsLet the good times roll! &

THE UNT ONE O’CLOCK BAND RANDY BRECKER Festival FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 – 7:00 PM – JAZZ STAGE FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 – 9:00 PM – JAZZ STAGE

• 7 STAGES • FINE ARTS • CRAFTS 2 0 • ART TENT • FOOD • GAMES 1 • FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! 5 DR. JOHN & BRAVE COMBO THE NITE TRIPPERS SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015 – 7:00 PM APRIL SATURDAY, APRILAPRIL 25, 25, 2015 2015 – 9:00– 9:00 PM PM JAZZ STAGE Denton, JAZZ STAGE Texas 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

APRIL Denton FeFestivalstival FoFoundationundation No Coolers dentonjazzfest.com 24, 25 & 26 P. O. Box 2104 • Denton, Texas 76202 TAKE THE A-TRAIN! or Dogs! 940-565-0931 • 1-940-566-7007 fax An easy 3-block walk to the park! A Litter-Free & www.dentonjazzfest.com Recycling Event! AN 10 A-train Why I ride DCTA my morning commute to work. views and construction taking Once I board the train, it gives place along Interstate 35E. me a chance to rest and get pre- Other times, I just like to be pared for the second part of my alone with my thoughts and journey to work, in which I ride ponder about what the future my bike. holds for me. What DCTA service(s) do Do you have any advice to you use most often? offer about riding DCTA to The A-train is the only service current and non-passengers? I use at this time. When I start- Simply obey the rules and ed traveling to Denton back in signs that are posted around 2008 for work, DCTA launched the A-train and platforms. For its Commuter Express service example, there are corridors sit- that I used before the A-train uated in between the train cars came about. I do not own a car, that are only to be used in case so I travel to and from work of emergency, and passengers using the A-train and my bike. should not use them unless they With the A-train, I don’t have to get permission from authorized worry about traffic during my DCTA personnel. commute. Is there anything else you’d What are some of your like to share? favorite things to do while rid- It’s because of DCTA that ing DCTA? I have completed my 20th Brian Boyle, a resident of What do you enjoy the most Like many others, I have year of employment with the Carrollton, TX and long-time about riding DCTA? my own personal smartphone Fastenal company. We relocat- DCTA passenger, recently sat I’ve been riding DCTA for the or “electronic toy” that I enjoy ed to Denton back in 2008, down with DCTA executives to past six years, and what I enjoy using during my commute. I and DCTA has helped me get share his story about why he the most about riding DCTA also enjoy looking out the win- to work for the last six years. rides DCTA: is having time to relax during dow to see the different scenic Thank you!

A-train 11 EULENE BROCK DOWNTOWN DENTON • MEDPARK • HIGHLAND VILLAGE/ • • OLDTOWN lRINITY MIU.S TRANSIT CENTER (DDTC) LEWISVILLE LAKE (HV/ LL) ~ HEBRON 8

A-TRAIN• STATION• LOCATIONS• • • EULENE BROCK HIGHLAND VILLAGE/ HEBRON 0 DOWNTOWN DENTON LEWISVILLE LAKE 952 Lakeside Circle, Lewisville DENTON Emily fowler library TRANSIT CENTER 2998 N. St emmons Frwy, Lewisville Served by Connect Route 21 CityHall 1 Ouailcreek 288 604 East Hickory Street, Denton Served by Connect RSVP Bluebonnet :1! 0 ~ McKinney St. 05 1'1"' Served by Connect Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & NCTC Shutt le DART TRINITY MILLS ·~ Windsor Oak St. Leafy 7, 8, 9 & NCTC Shutt le 2525 Blanton Drive, Carrollton ,g Blue Jay Hickory St. Served by DART Routes 534 University ~ IJ University ~~ OLD TOWN ~ Mulberry St. MEDPARK 617 East M ain Street, Lewisville and 536 288 Edwards Ad. • Scripture Sycamore St. 3220 Medpark Drive, Denton Served by Connect Route 23 ::4 DDOENWTNOTNOWN A _ -~ Served by Connect Route 2, al TRANSIT CENTER 'f;.;_.<} DOWNTOWN DENTON TRANSI T CENTER MEDPARK Airp<>rt Eagle .5 NCTC Shutt le & Colorado Express 0 ~ i ~ Rosela'NO FARE INFO~MATION

*Reduced =Seniors (6S+), disabled, Medicare cardholders and students {Ages Local System Valtd on A-tratn Connect Connect RSVP NCTC Shu ttle and 5-18, students over the age of14 require a valid high school or DCTA issued ID). G MEDPARK UNT Shuttle excludtng paratranstt Pinehurst **Students attending colleges with physical campuses within Denton Bogard Ln. County are eligible to participate in the University Pass Program. Proof Regional System of enrolment is required. Falcon Dr. Valt d on Connect UNT Shuttle Connect RSVP and A-tratn + ReqUi red for Blue Jay Dr. trtps taken outstde of DCTA servtce area + Includes access to fixed route bus Country Club Teasley and ratl servtces operated by DART TRE and The T. excludtng paratranstt ***Faculty and staff worki ng at colleges with physical campuses within HIGHLAND VILLAGE/ LEWISVILLE LAKE Denton County are eligible to participate in the University Pass Program. Proof of employment is requi red. I Local S stem Regional S stem Fare Type Reduced Fare Reduced Fare TPasses purchased in a ten pack must be validated by a DCTA bus HIGHLAND Rate Rate Rate Rate operator or passengers can self-validate the pass by using a hole punch VILLAGE 2-Hour Pass $1.25* $3.00 S1.25* S5.00 to mark the month and day. Day Pass $2.50* $6.00 S2.50* $10.00 7-Day Pass $25.00 $50.00 Justin - - Free Fares 10 Pack of Day Pass - S40.001 - S70.001 • Sworn peace officer in uniform or with visible badge Monthly/31-Day Pass S40.00* $90.00 S40.00* S160.00 • Ch~dren under five with fare paying adult 121 College St. j Annual Pass S480.00* S650.00 $480.00* S1,600.00 • ADA certified riders with valid IDs Walters St. • NCTC IDs accepted on NCTC Shuttle and Connect in lieu of fare Main Summer Youth Pass - $30.00 - Church St. • UNT IDs accepted on Connect and UNT Shuttle in lieu o f fare University & College Fares l egacy Dr. LEWISVILLE HEBRON Full Semester Pass $125.00** $175.00** onse Access RooodGrove " Hebron Pkwy. Summer Semester Pass $80.00** $150.00** Pumei!St. . Annual Pass $300.00** $400.00** One-Way Trip $3.00 OLDTOWN Full Semester Pass S170.00*** S340.00*** Ten Ride Book -$30.00 Annual Pass S420.00*** S840.00*** MacArthur Dr. t2 1 Trinity Mtlls Ad. Connect & UNT Shuttle NCTC Shuttle . .

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 three- day free event is held every spring in Quakertown Park near downtown and continues The Arts, Antiques & Autos Extravaganza is held every September. to attract record crowds every year. ing the Mexican victory over of the coolest cars, trucks and www.oaktopiafest.com) -- Now Professional and amateur the French army in 1862 is held motorcycles you’ll ever see will in its third year, Oaktopia offers musicians keep the tunes com- at Quakertown and highlighted be lined up along Hickory Street up a combination of live music ing from six stages throughout by a parade through the down- on the Square when this event and comedians in a festival the day and night while attend- town area.The event celebrates gets revved up in September. format. Held downtown on ees can enjoy booths featuring the cultural traditions, music, This 16th annual event will the Square and in surround- all types of food and drink as dance and food of the Hispanic showcase classic and custom- ing nearby venues, this festival well as arts, crafts and games. community and also includes ized vehicles of all sorts and features bands and individual Nighttime headliners this year a soccer tournament as well as sizes along with live music performers along with comedy include Randy Brecker (Friday), a Little Miss Cinco de Mayo and booths featuring games, shows and plenty of community Dr. John the Night Tripper contest. art and crafts.Attendees can vendors. (Saturday) and local favorites JUNE also have their family trea- OCTOBER Brave Combo (Sunday). Denton Juneteenth (June; sures and heirlooms looked at Denton’s Day of the Dead MAY www.dentonjuneteenth.org) by antique appraisers. A silent Festival (Oct. 31, 2015; www. Denton Cinco de Mayo -- Celebrating its 45th anniver- auction of downtown merchan- dentondayofthedeadfestival. (May; www.dentoncinco.org) -- sary in Denton this year, this dise will also be held inside the com) -- Held annually on the Denton’s annual party celebrat- two-day event combines music, Courthouse on the Square. last Saturday of October, this live bands, children’s games Denton Blues Festival (Sept.; is a celebration of all things and food and crafts booths www.dentonblackchamberon- Halloween. Located just off for a weekend of family fun. line.org) -- This free event at the Square near Hickory and Although it’s a little bit longer of Quakertown Park near down- Industrial streets, this fun fest a walk from the A-Train station, town is two full days of the blues features everything from live the Juneteenth festival is held at -- both live performances and music to coffin races. A lan- Fred Moore Park at the corner recorded DJ music. Sponsored tern-lit parade at twilight is held of Bradshaw and East Prairie by the Denton Black Chamber after a day filled with music streets. A annual parade kicks of Commerce, the Blues Festival and dancing, street perform- off the fun that also includes also includes plenty of good food ers, games for kids, arts and softball and basketball tourna- and fun contests such as a Blues crafts, and various offerings of ments in the park. Idol event and Apollo Night for food and drink. The festival is SEPTEMBER the children. Last year’s head- free and a portion of the spon- Arts, Antiques & Autos liners included Denise LaSalle sorships are donated to a local Extravaganza (Sept.; www. and Joe Louis Walker. charity. Day of the Dead Festival dentonmainstreet.org) -- Some Oaktopia (Sept. 24-25, 2015; See FESTIVALS on Page 16 A-train 15 From Page 15 FESTIVALS

DECEMBER Denton Holiday Lighting Festival (Dec.; www.denton- holidaylighting.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 cer- emony. 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.den- tonholidaylighting.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 rec- ipes and serve it to thirsty holiday visitors.

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HM AN 16 A-train Onward Ho! on the Rail Trail By Tim Blackwell with the North Central Texas Council of the train. For the Denton Record-Chronicle Governments (NCTCOG). All DCTA vehicles accommodate bikes DCTA and the Texas Department of With the grant, DCTA hopes to become whenever possible on a space-available Transportation (TxDOT) are making prog- a part of the Regional Bicycle/Pedestrian basis. ress to complete the remaining 13 miles Multimodel Network that includes 10 The current section of the Rail Trail of the winding, picturesque Rail Trail, a regional partners. that runs eight miles from the Eulene planned bike and pedestrian trail that will At the end of May, DCTA applied for a Brock Downtown Denton Transit Center parallel the entire length of the A-train. Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to Swisher Road is popular, Brevard says. Two sections − Swisher Road south to grant which is sponsored by NCTCOG. DCTA and the City of Denton work togeth- Kelton in Hickory Creek and the Highland Pending grant approval, DCTA antic- er to maintain the trail. Village/Lewisville Lake Station south to ipates that Rail Trail construction from “It’s heavily used,” she said. “Denton is a Hebron Station – have yet to be completed. Highland Village/Lewisville Lake Station to pretty bike-centric community, so the Rail The Texas Department of Transportation Old Town Station will be finished in 2016, Trail is a perfect amenity for residents.” (TxDOT) is funding the Swisher Road- with the remainder to be done by 2017. The Denton Branch Rail Trail is con- Kelton project, while DCTA is paying for Farther north, plans are in the works structed on the right-of-way of the former the other. for TxDOT to complete a third phase of Denton branch of the Missouri-Kansas- In the spring, DCTA submitted two the project which includes bike and walk- Texas Railroad between Denton and Lake grant applications to help cover a short- ing trails from Kelton Crossing to Swisher Dallas. The 8-foot-wide concrete trail gen- age of funding for the $6-$8 million price Road. erally parallels I-35 and the A-train while tag to construct the rail trail portion from When the trails are complete, residents it passes schools, shopping centers, medical Highland Village to Old Town Station and and visitors will be able to move about facilities, manufacturing plans and residen- south to Hebron Station. the length of the A-train’s 21-mile network tial areas. In April, a request was submitted for either by or a combination of rail, foot or The trail extends from the Downtown the Transportation Investment Generating bicycle. The trail will connect each section Transit Center on Hickory Street south to Economic Recovery program, more widely and provide bike riders an opportunity to Swisher Road in Lake Dallas, with many known as TIGER grants, in partnership cycle all the way or take a break and ride trail access points at public streets.

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AN 18 A-train Analysis to determine future growth By Tim Blackwell planning & strategic development, says that For the Denton Record-Chronicle the success of express bus service between The day may soon come when green and Denton and Fort Worth would determine yellow buses and rail cars cruise I-35W or whether the A-train one day rolls along make their way farther into Denton County. I-35W. Or maybe roll all the way to Fort Worth, or “You have to have some type of commuter at least make a connection into Cowtown. express service to make sure rail is validat- If and when that day comes will be deter- ed,” she said. mined by a comprehensive analysis of the But before DCTA takes that step, iden- Denton County Transportation Authority tifying any gaps in existing bus and rail (DCTA) this year. And if some or all of those service is just as much a priority. scenarios or others make sense, DCTA will Cline said DCTA officials want to revisit act quickly to ensure the transit agency parts of the system to determine if there keeps pace in one of the fastest growing are ways to improve service so that riders counties in Texas. can move about the system more fluid- Denton County’s population grew 10 ly. Bolstering bus service to make better percent from 2010-13, according to U.S. connections with trains in Lewisville, for Census figures, and ridership along DCTA’s example, is something that Cline would like bus and rail lines have increased accord- to see explored. ingly. A-train ridership for 2014 increased Also, the analysis will include looking 11.27 percent to 568,338, while Connect to Denton and Fort Worth residents who at whether the future DCTA transit foot- Bus was up 8.7 percent to 595,390. commute between the two cities. print should revolve around the Denton With more population growth projected, “A lot of it is the linkage between Denton Transportation Center as a hub, or if it DCTA is looking at ways to better service and Fort Worth, coming from the south would make more sense for the transporta- its existing Denton County base, plus reach to the north,” Cline said. “We’ve got a tion center to be somewhere else. other areas and link residents to other des- lot of students and employees going to “Does every ting have to come through tinations. the University of North Texas and Texas the DTC?” Cline asked. “That makes it easy The service analysis, one of a number of Woman’s University, and people who work in a lot of ways and convenient for some initiatives adopted for the 2015 budget, is in Fort Worth are coming north to Denton. people, but it also makes it not so conve- the first step. A particularly intriguing pos- These are some of the things we need to nient for other people.” sibility is linking DCTA with the Fort Worth consider.” These questions and others will be T, Fort Worth’s transportation authority, to The smart play, Cline said, would be to explored as DCTA looks to further embed in better move Denton and Fort Worth resi- start with bus service, such as DCTA did a North Texas public transportation land- dents to large employment centers, learning when Denton County’s transit plan was scape that also is undergoing review. Last institutions and other locales along I-35W. implemented a few years ago. An eventually fall, DCTA and other area transit agencies “We’re trying to investigate how that connection of the A-train with the planned took part in a regional transit survey con- might be, how we can make that happen,” TexRail commuter rail system proposed to ducted by the North Central Texas Council DCTA President Jim Cline said. “We’re run along the old Cotton Belt route could of Governments to help transportation looking at how a partnership with the Fort be an option. planners better understand demand for rail Worth T might work to service the com- However, any of DCTA’s plans to expand and bus service through the Dallas/Fort munities and universities along the way. southward, or anywhere for that matter, Worth area. There are a lot of ways we can investigate to won’t necessarily hinge on if and when In September, DCTA passengers on make that happen. But we need to do some another area transit rail line is completed. Connect buses, the UNT shuttle system and detail to figure that out, and that’s one of the “Our discussion on 35W is not dependent A-train were asked to participate in stop-to- things that the study will do for us.” on TexRail,” Cline said. “But TexRail would stop surveys. Also, questionnaire/interview DCTA’s success as a bi-directional rail certainly be a factor in that. If TexRail surveys were conducted on DCTA, UNT carrier helps make a strong case for expan- comes up to the airport, it would be another Shuttles, A-train in October and November. sion south, Cline says. Unlike many com- way from Fort Worth depending on where Results of the survey could play a role muter lines, DCTA trains have near equally you are coming from. That could provide in the big picture of DCTA and the service spread mixes of riders going north and some unique opportunities with TexRail, analysis, which will take three to five years south. Many are going to and from univer- and we’re going to try to seize them.” to complete. No stones will be left unturned. sities and employment centers within the Before the A-train’s launch in 2011, DCTA “We’re taking a look at the whole thing current coverage area. moved passengers by bus, and any kind and see what we can come up with,” Cline Similar learning centers and large of new service to Fort Worth would likely said. “Is there a better way to do it, better employers exist in Tarrant County, which follow that same model before building rail. way to meet our customer’s needs?” potentially makes a case to offer services Kristina Brevard, DCTA’s vice president Time will tell. A-train 19 Tracking tool provides real-time information By Tim Blackwell explores adding a bike share Passengers can receive up-to- For the Denton Record-Chronicle program to the city. In the sum- date information via text mes- In a world that revolves mer, Denton began evaluating sages, an online portal, via email around big data, Denton County the locations for nine stations, or text travel alerts or through Transportation Authority is including some near A-train dial up. about to get its fair share. When stations, for a possible service The program should roll out the much anticipated Where’s launch. in early 2015. Later in the year, My Ride portal launches this “Where’s My Ride is really DCTA intends to debut an addi- year, DCTA will literally be able going to be a game changer,” tional travel alert feature that to watch the data stream from said Kristina Brevard, DCTA riders can access via subscrip- its trains and buses. The data Vice President, Planning and tion. will help the agency better plan Strategic Development. “It will DCTA President Jim Cline for the future. help us improve route structure says the technology has been a The vehicle tracking tool because we will have an abun- long time coming and that the provides passengers real-time dance of data to help us plan. It agency is striving provide the travel information accessible by will also help us plan for ameni- best tool possible. DCTA and its customers.” phone, online and mobile devic- ties for riders.” Much time and effort has In an information-crazed es. Passengers can obtain pre- The program is a big step for been put into fitting the soft- society, the technology is the dictive arrival information for DCTA and puts the transpor- ware’s capabilities to the perfect tool to help DCTA DCTA’s Connect bus or A-train tation agency on a technologi- DCTA’s specific needs. That’s attract new riders and grow, service at a specific stop. cal plateau where much larger even involved looking at what Brevard says. The tool has been in the transit providers nationally are others have done with it. “We have a lot of passengers works in recent years and is going. Close to home, Dallas “We’re trying to take some who are new to public transit,” nearing launch. DCTA beta Area Rapid Transit employs the of the lessons that others have she said. “The more amenities tested the software in October technology it for the agency’s already learned,” he said. “We like this that we can offer only and November with the help of Where’s My Bus feature. want to take advantage of what further enhances the travel Denton County riders. “I think DCTA is on the cut- others have learned and have experience and convenience for While Where’s My Ride will ting edge of this technology, something that is very usable for our customers.” assist riders in planning trips, especially within the industry,” the tool will also give DCTA Brevard said. “When we attend critical information such as industry meetings, people can’t more accurate on-time perfor- believe that DCTA is doing this.” mance and ridership tracking The software, unlike a by stop. mobile application, uses accu- Before the portal went into rate location data provide by testing, bus drivers were count- a GPS device that is mount- ing riders individually by mak- ed inside each DCTA Connect ing tick marks in a log. bus and A-train railcar. Users Also, Where’s My Ride will can receive notifications of bus note cyclists on board, which or train arrival times, call in can help the agency get a better to hear arrival times and track feel for bike riders as Denton vehicles in real time. 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. ( with this coupon ~ expires 6/30/15 ) 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. 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Your Future Is Riding On Us. MAGAZINE Winter/Spring 2015