JULY 2013 A-TRAIN: Going Mobile Denton Record-Chronicle • www.dentonrc.com Light. It marks the start of a new day. A new life. A new season. It brings new discoveries and stimulates growth. It shines at the Aha! moment, when everything starts to make sense and the wheels of success start turning. It symbolizes what is good in life and the hope for a brighter future. At UNT, we light the way so you can achieve your greatness. unt.edu AA/EOE/ADA © 2013 UNT Keeping the hearts of Denton in rhythm. Comprehensive heart and vascular services At Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, we offer advanced techniques and a compassionate approach to patient care, making us the destination in Denton for quality cardiac care. Our unique approach of shared leadership between the hospital and the physicians is designed to better coordinate care and enhance each patient’s experience. And as a Cycle IV Chest Pain Center, our patients receive the highest level of cardiovascular care around.We offer advanced procedures ranging from vascular treatments to open-heartsurgery.And ourupdated electrophysiology lab allows us to identify and correct electrical abnormalities like arrhythmias. So when you need us, we’re here for you. 1-877-THR-well TexasHealth.org/Denton-Heart Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital. © 2013 Denton County Transportation Authority INSIDE A PUBLICATION OF THE DENTON RECORD-CHRONICLE Food Truckin’ Tuesdays Find fun for the whole family . Page 6 Growth A-train ridership numbers climbing . Page 8 Advance notice A-train schedule changes effective Aug. 26 . Page 11 Traffic concerns? A-train offers respite from I-35E construction work . Page 12 Enforcement Fare Enforcement Program targets evaders . Page 13 Safety DCTA programs educate on rail safety . Page 14 Fall debut New mobile apps to bring information to fingertips . Page 23 Education DCTA works with schools, community groups . Page 26 CREDITS Editor: Dawn Cobb Advertising Director: Sandra Hammond Retail Advertising Manager: Shawn Reneau Writers/photographers/designers: Tim Blackwell with Ballpark Impressions LLC, Bj Lewis, Peggy Heinkel- Wolfe, Kaycee Key, Jason Lee, Al Key, David Minton. G5 A-train 5 Denton County Transportation Authority Food Truckin’ Tuesdays held at transit center enton County Transportation DAuthority is hoping that Denton County workers and residents work up an appetite to the ride the A-train. In early July, the agency host- ed the second of three Summer Food Truckin’ Tuesdays at the Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC) in Denton. Area food trucks serving every- thing from sushi to sliders were on hand to feed the hungry while the A-train rolled in and out of the station. The pilot program is designed to acquaint new riders with DCTA commuter rail and other transportation services while tickling the taste buds. “Our focus is getting people to the Downtown transit cen- ter,” said DCTA Marketing & Communications Manager Kristina Brevard, who helped conceive the event. “It’s they heard about it by following trucks set up shop at the DDTC proponent of food trucks in designed to be a community the food trucks on Facebook. around the lunch hour. Word Denton and a key organizer of venue. Really, it’s getting people There were a lot of food truck spread and locals dropped by for Food Truckin’ Tuesdays. there so we can talk to them fans. A couple of people called in a quick bite during a two-hour “The Downtown Denton about DCTA services.” their orders in advance and impromptu event. Transit Center, with its commu- While chefs on wheels dropped by to pick them up.” “They loved the idea,” Brevard nity room and outdoor perform- whipped up a number of tasty Brevard said each of the three said. “It was very spur of the ance areas, was designed to be a dishes, DCTA staff was on hand Denton-based trucks on hand moment. That was our first downtown activity center and to answer questions and explain did brisk business. One ran out lunch time event and it went place for community gather- how the A-train and other tran- of food and another got close. In very well. So, we decided we’d ings,” he said. “We had such a sit options work within the all, nearly 200 food items were do a summer pilot program.” great response from the previ- agency. DCTA hasn’t been able sold. The program follows the city’s ous food truck events that we to measure new ridership The program, which gives largely successful food truck created this summer pilot pro- attributed to the events but offi- preference to local trucks, was event hosted in October. About gram.” cials took note that the first food for thought for Brevard, 3,000 were on hand for Nite The table is being set for the Food Truckin’ Tuesday in June who saw an opportunity to mar- Bites, which celebrated the last chance to catch lunch and a attracted a few hundred food- ket DTCA in April while a return and expansion of the A- ride on Aug. 6 at the DDTC. ies, including some from as far Dallas television station filmed a train’s Friday night service. Brevard hopes it will feature at away as Lewisville. story on the city’s iconic culture About a half-dozen trucks least four trucks, including “Some Lewisville school dis- and heritage. While filming parked at the festival, which also some that haven’t rolled into trict staff members rode the began focusing on the Square promoted Denton’s food truck Denton for previous events. train to attend the event,” and other downtown areas, culture, for the six-hour event Trucks will serve from 11:30 Brevard said. “That was really Brevard suggested printing the that lasted well into the evening. a.m. to 1:30 p.m. neat to see. And some of the city’s flavor in a different way. Denton City Councilman individuals were there because She suggested that a few food Kevin Roden has long been a See TRUCKS on Page 7 6 A-train Denton County Transportation Authority From Page 6 Trucks No timeline has been set for future events, although DCTA is already fielding requests. Brevard said DCTA hopes to find the right recipe for more mobile feasts but doesn’t want the Food Truckin’ Tuesday pro- motion to go stale by having it too often. Like mom’s signature meat loaf, too much of a good thing isn’t always the best answer. “It helps give food trucks exposure, and it’s a really good partnership between DCTA, the food truck commu- nity and the City of Denton,” Brevard said. “But it’s a novelty item and we have to find that balance of what works best for the community and DCTA.” Tim Blackwell FWC 0570 7/13 G5 A-train 7 Denton County Transportation Authority A-train ridership numbers continue to climb By Tim Blackwell ith July’s start of the third year of A-train Woperations, Denton County Transportation Authority officials are hoping to stay on a roll. More Denton County riders have taken to the rails since July 2012 than pro- jected and the upcoming con- struction on Interstate 35 could mean even more take the train. A-train ridership is 38 per- cent higher than it was in 2012 with 95,000 more riders, according to data released in late May. Through the first eight months of fiscal year 2013, 342,499 trips were made, compared to 247,803 for the same period last year. “It’s much greater than we and Saturday service. By “We see the planned expan- end riders are returning, Varner anticipated,” said Jarod Varner, January, a weekday evening sion of I-35 as an opportunity to said. DCTA’s outgoing vice president southbound departure was grow ridership by providing an “They try it and like it,” he of operations. “We would have added to better serve university alternative,” Cline said. “Our said. “On the weekend it’s con- never expected 38 percent evening classes and later work next series of improvements will venient and cost effective to ride growth starting our third year schedules. position us to attract and retain our services.” of ridership.” “Our recent changes were in the new users.” DCTA is currently offering a Ridership began spiking last direct response to customer Even at the current pace, A- couple of promotions to help fall and continued after the first feedback,” said Jim Cline, DCTA train ridership is closing in on boost the numbers. Through of the year. The A-train experi- president. “Clearly, our cus- daily ridership projections made Aug. 17, families can purchase enced 42 percent growth from tomers have responded positive- when the rail line was in its the Family Fun Pass and six can October-December 2012 com- ly to these changes. As we plan infancy. ride for the price of one. The pared to FY2012. The surge for the next stages of service DCTA followed the lead of the deal - purchase of an adult day continued in January when 43 improvements, we are excited North Central Texas Council of pass for $6 local or $10 regional percent more passengers about what the future holds.” Government’s travel demand - is good for not only the A-train boarded than in January 2012. In February, DCTA began lay- model and set ridership at an but with partnering agencies. Through the spring, numbers ing the groundwork to accom- average 2,800 per day, a num- The cost includes two adults were equally encouraging. modate more riders during ber largely driven by “seasonal” and four children for a ride on “It’s just the maturing of the upcoming I-35E construction.