DCTA: A-Train

**saxman66** · 11 February 2006, 02:31 PM

Good news. I hope other cities soon follow, especially Flower Mound.

Chris

**RobertB** · 13 February 2006, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by FoUTASportscaster

That would be good news for the region, however small that city is.

SHADY SHORES, TEXAS. Shady Shores is on U.S. Highway 77 (Interstate 35 East) near the shoreline of Lewisville Lake seven miles southeast of Denton in Denton County. It was incorporated in October 1960. The community's population increased from 543 in 1970 to 813 in 1980. The increase was, in part, a result of the economic development of the area between Dallas and Denton. In 1990 the population was 1,045.

We don't know what's going on behind the scenes, but I suspect that the town is acting in its enlightened self-interest by negotiating to start early bus service to Carrollton.

Take a look at the map from NCTCOG. Shady Shores looks like a nice little place, but it lacks one important thing: a connection to I-35E. So there's no opportunity to generate sales tax with a quickie-mart on the Interstate -- in fact, a quick look at the Google aerial view shows little in the way of retail at all. I can't find so much as a bait shop, though I'd have to drive up there to see what Shady Shores is really like. I suspect much of the community's sales tax comes from aviation fuel -- there's a small airstrip on the north side of the town (take Shady Shores Road to Hidden Valley Road).

So the town can give up a half-penny of sales tax, because there's not much in the way of sales tax in the first place. But in return, they get something pretty cool... the first Park and Ride lot from Denton County to Carrollton. Say they get DCTA to pave some of that currently empty land where the city limits are close to I-35E, and then say someone builds that missing quickie-mart next to it. Any revenue the town would have lost from the DCTA sales tax bite will be more than made up for in sales of Pepsi and Pork Rinds to hungry commuters.

Very shrewd move. I need to drive up there some day at lunch and check the place out.

**saxman66** · 13 February 2006, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by RobertB

From the Handbook of Texas Online:
f=q&hl=en&q=shady+shores,+tx&t=h&ll=33.161598,-97.064638&spn=0.003871,0.010611&t=h]Google aerial view[/url] shows little in the way of retail at all. I can't find so much as a bait shop, though I'd have to drive up there to see what Shady Shores is really like. I suspect much of the community's sales tax comes from aviation fuel -- there's a small airstrip on the north side of the town (take Shady Shores Road to Hidden Valley Road).

So the town can give up a half-penny of sales tax, because there's not much in the way of sales tax in the first place. But in return, they get something pretty cool... the first Park and Ride lot from Denton County to Carrollton. Say they get DCTA to pave some of that currently empty land where the city limits are close to I-35E, and then say someone builds that missing quickie-mart next to it. Any revenue the town would have lost from the DCTA sales tax bite will be more than made up for in sales of Pepsi and Pork Rinds to hungry commuters.

Very shrewd move. I need to drive up there some day at lunch and check the place out.

I could be wrong but I think there is one marina in Shady Shores with a country club and restaurant. If its the one I've been to several times I'm thinking of. I don't have a map handy to look, but thats what it appears. It's down a back road off of 35E just south of the Lake Lewisville bridge.

Chris

**dfwcre8tive** · 14 February 2006, 01:14 AM

If you haven't seen the new website (http://www.raildcta.net) check it out. There is new information, images, and newsletter. Below is an updated map of the future rail line.

**dfwcre8tive** · 14 February 2006, 04:41 AM

Plans for rail line continue
By GORDON DICKSON
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

The Denton County Transportation Authority is pressing full steam ahead with plans to build a commuter rail line from Denton to Carrollton.

But that's not all the agency is up to nowadays. Express bus service from Denton to downtown Dallas is scheduled to start in May. The service, known in Denton as a regional connector, would include at least one stop in Denton and Lewisville, and possibly one in Carrollton.

The agency plans to lease buses with larger seats and more legroom than a traditional transit bus. Fares haven't been set but probably would be higher than those in the Fort Worth and Dallas areas, perhaps $5 each way or $85 a month. "The idea is to get residents riding the buses now, so that when trains are scheduled to arrive in 2011, they'll already be in the habit of taking public transportation, says agency Chairman Charles Emery."

"Your Commute" asked Emery for a brief update on the agency's plans, and here's some of what he said:

Rail: An environmental study is being done and is scheduled to be submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration in 2007. The preliminary design is also under way. Last year, the old MKT line that runs roughly parallel to Interstate 35E was selected as the preferred route. Denton's trains would probably be self-propelled diesel cars but would link up with Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail in Carrollton.

Local bus service: The agency took delivery last week on 12 new buses for fixed-route service in Denton and its university campuses. Also, the agency is expected to add bus routes to Lewisville and Highland Village by the end of the year.

Street repairs: About 25 percent of sales taxes collected in the agency's member cities is being set aside for street improvements and other mobility projects.

Cities that agreed to pay a half-cent sales tax include Denton, Highland Village and Lewisville.

Attracting new member cities: The agency has countywide authority, although most cities in the county didn't approve the half-cent sales tax in 2003. The agency still wants those cities to join. That is especially true of Corinth, home of North Central Texas College and a natural fit for a rail stop. Negotiations are in progress to figure out a way for Corinth to join.

gc · 14 February 2006, 10:51 AM

Thanks for the information njjeppson.

**saxman66** · 14 February 2006, 09:40 PM

Has a station been planned for the city of Corinth, or at least a place to build it, once voters approve to join DCTA. I'm sure it will pass when the residents see how convenient it will be for them, and that there will already be a rail line running smack through the center of town.

As far as a regional system goes, I think each city having the choice of joining would really cause problems for future rail and bus development. But then again at the federal level, this was Mineta's plan for intercity rail, having states fund their own rails. Like that will work when we need to integrate systems and routes. So same can sorta be said at the local level.

**dfwcre8tive** · 27 February 2006, 06:00 PM

DCTA to discuss rail line to Carrollton
Director: ‘We want to make sure everyone is aware’ of the purpose
07:15 AM CST on Monday, February 27, 2006
By Ava Thomas Benson / Staff Writer

The Denton County Transportation Authority hopes to hear from would-be commuters and other area residents at two public meetings this week.

The DCTA is stepping up work on a commuter rail line and public transportation system that is meant to connect Denton’s public transportation to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit. The DCTA is working on an environmental impact statement — a study that would assess the effects the rail line would have on area cities and residents. To complete the study, DCTA needs to hear from residents.

“We want to make sure everyone is aware of the problems we’re trying to address, make sure everyone is aware of the purpose and the need of the investment and make sure they have an avenue to that discussion — it’s critical,” said Scott Neeley, DCTA’s director of program development.

The study and some preliminary engineering of the line will take about two years and $7 million, Neeley said. Joe Roy, vice chairman of the DCTA’s board of directors, said he hopes to see good turnout and participation at the meetings. “This is the first very concrete step in beginning the rail project,” Roy said. “It is very good to get input from affected residents earlier because it is much easier to design in residents’ concerns and input at this stage, as opposed to later down the road when we get very far into the project.”

The environmental impact statement will evaluate the natural environment, existing structures, socio-economic data, air pollution, flood plains and drainage, noise and vibration, utility relocation, and other aspects of building the rail line from Carrollton to Denton. “This [public meeting] is a good opportunity for all those residents to hear the care that we’re going to be giving to this and the amount of effort we’re going to make to minimize the potential impacts,” Roy said.

The DCTA is doing the study as part of an attempt to acquire federal money to help the project along, Neeley said. “We would like for the federal government to participate in this financially, and that’s one of the reasons we’re taking the developmental approach that we are,” he said.

Residents who attend Tuesday’s or Thursday’s meeting will hear a presentation on the progress of the rail project, receive information about the upcoming environmental study, and be given the chance to ask questions or make comments.

AVA THOMAS BENSON can be reached at 940-566-6875. Her e-mail address is abenson@dentonrc.com

DCTA MEETING

What: The Denton County Transportation Authority is hosting two public input meetings to present information about the ongoing commuter rail project and to receive public feedback on it.

When: 6 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 1300 Wilson St., Denton

Details: Another meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Lewisville Senior Center, 1950 S. Valley Parkway, Lewisville. For more information or to provide feedback on the rail project, call the transportation authority at 1-888-724-5328, e-mail info@dcta.net or visit www.raildcta.net

SOURCE: Denton County Transportation Authority

**dfwcre8tive** · 01 March 2006, 08:52 PM

DCTA gathers input on rail line
11:15 AM CST on Wednesday, March 1, 2006
By Ava Thomas Benson / Staff Writer

Officials with the Denton County Tran sportation Authority on Tuesday asked members of the public to help determine the direction of the proposed commuter rail line connecting Denton to Carrollton.

DCTA officials began a series of public meetings — the first of which was at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center in Denton — to ask for community feedback on the rail line as they work on a detailed study to reveal the impacts of developing the commuter rail. “This is not an agency-driven process — we can’t do this project without your in formed involvement,” said Tim Baldwin, the consultant team project manager for the rail.

The rail line is currently set to follow the path of the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad line, part of which is currently in use as the Denton Branch Rail Trail.

The environmental impact study will include an analysis of how the rail line will affect surrounding areas, including environmental impact, effects on existing structures, communities and the local econ omy. The study also will include some preliminary engineering and will evaluate how negative impacts can be minimized or negated.

Officials said they hope to have the commuter rail running by 2010 and operating at full capacity by 2030. The train is meant to link to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit in Carrollton to provide commuters full service to downtown Dallas.

Baldwin said the rail could alleviate what is fast becoming severe traffic congestion, and would help improve air quality in the area. He said a commuter rail could easily handle 40 percent more traffic than Interstate 35E and would emit less than 4 percent of the air pollutants as the number of cars required to transport the same number of people.

Denton City Council member Charlye Heggins attended the meeting and was first to ask questions about the rail line. While her concerns seemed to echo the sentiments of others at the meeting, Heggins said she looked forward to the rail line.

“I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and I watched the progression of public transportation from street cars,” Heggins said. “In the area where I lived, it all went smoothly, and that system was designed to be as safe as possible.”

Others in attendance at the meeting voiced concerns about the proximity of the rail line to residences, communities with large numbers of children, safety on the trains, noise and vibration the trains might create, and air pollution from the diesel-fueled trains.

Baldwin said the environmental impact study will take a close look at concerns community members have about the rail line, and emphasized that the goal was to minimize or mitigate negative impacts. He said in doing the study, engineers would find ways to design around potential problems.

He said the trains have an average speed of 40 mph and would probably run from 5 a.m. to midnight, though details about the rail line’s hours of operations have not been finalized. He said during rush hour times — from about 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. — about six trains an hour would pass through a given area, but the rest of the day stations would likely see just one train per hour.

Public input also will help determine the location of rail stations.

The next public meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Lewisville Senior Center. Anyone with questions or feedback on the rail line can call 1-888-724-5328 or e-mail info@dcta.net.

AVA THOMAS BENSON can be reached at 940-566-6875. Her e-mail address is abenson@dentonrc.com

**FoUTASportscaster** · 01 March 2006, 09:11 PM

I like how they are really covering their bases and are committed to the rail line. Good for Denton County. Good for the region too.

**RobertB** · 02 March 2006, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by njjeppson

Officials said they hope to have the commuter rail running by 2010 and operating at full capacity by 2030. The train is meant to link to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit in Carrollton to provide commuters full service to downtown Dallas.

I wonder what the difference is between "running" and "full capacity"? I suppose it'll have something to do with the need to double-track the line in order to provide more frequent service. 20 years seems like a long time to wait for double-tracking, but if there's no freight customer to share the costs and benefits, they'll have to go slow.

Others in attendance at the meeting voiced concerns about the proximity of the rail line to residences, communities with large numbers of children, safety on the trains, noise and vibration the trains might create, and air pollution from the diesel-fueled trains.

Air pollution may be even less of an issue if the trains fuel up at Denton's biodiesel facility. Biodiesel has lower particulate emissions and zero heavy metals (diesel comes from petroleum which picks up metals and other compounds from the surrounding rock). Plus, the train will smell like a rolling Fry Daddy!

He said the trains have an average speed of 40 mph and would probably run from 5 a.m. to midnight, though details about the rail line’s hours of operations have not been finalized. He said during rush hour times — from about 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. — about six trains an hour would pass through a given area, but the rest of the day stations would likely see just one train per hour.

Wow! That's a better frequency and longer hours than the TRE. Is this due to lack of freight on the line -- would the TRE run that often if it could? Or does Denton see itself differently -- as a source of commuters rather than as a co-equivalent destination with Dallas? And if this is the starting point, what's the 2030 "full capacity", I wonder?

**FoUTASportscaster** · 02 March 2006, 07:46 PM

The TRE runs a little more than once an hour for the most part. The only difference is the greater frequency during rush times. If they don't double track, that could really be difficult to runs that many times an hour, especially initially.

**texcolo2** · 02 March 2006, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by texman

Uh, I've always though of DFW metro as a sqaure-rectangle. You've got Collin, Dallas, Tarrant, then Denton. I've never heard of this 'golden triangle.'

Um... that would make Collin, Dallas, Tarrant and Denton the 'Golden Parallagram.'

**dfwcre8tive** · 05 March 2006, 11:27 PM

Corinth down to the wire on DCTA
Council schedules special session about next step to join transit authority
07:25 AM CST on Friday, March 3, 2006
By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe / Staff Writer

CORINTH — The Corinth City Council will take its deliberations over Denton County Transportation Authority membership down to the wire by deliberating its next step in a special session March 9.

The council has until March 13 to call for a sales tax election on the May 13 ballot. Corinth must rescind some portion of its current sales taxes in order to make room for a half-cent DCTA tax. And that tax election must be held in November in order for Corinth to join the transit authority in 2006. “For us to be able to call the election in November, there has to be that percent available,” John Hedrick, executive director of DCTA, told the council Thursday.

Texas caps the sales tax at 8.25 percent.

Hedrick outlined the services that would be offered, including a rail stop, should the city join by Dec. 31. Commuter bus service, which begins in May, could begin as soon as Corinth pays its $197,038 recovery fee.

Council member Randy Monden asked that next week’s special session include information on where the money for the recovery fee would come from.

Corinth Economic Development Corporation member Jerry Goodale said that he thinks all three choices should go before the voters: no participation in DCTA, rescinding the half-cent sales tax devoted to economic development, or restructuring the sales tax with one-quarter cent for economic development and one-eighth cent each going to streets and crime control. “The voters can decide. That way, it takes the pressure off the council,” Goodale said.

Some grass-roots support for transit has begun. According to Paul Ruggiere, Corinth’s representative to the DCTA board, Corinth resident Mike Daniels has launched a Web site, www.corinthtransit.com, to promote DCTA membership. Daniels could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Hedrick told the council that a rail line would provide a focal point for the city and a greater sense of place. “Corinth is split by I-35E and has no real downtown core,” he said. “A rail station could create a downtown focal point and provide links to your parks, sidewalks and trails.” He also said that for the time being, DCTA continues to include Corinth in the environmental impact study under way for the rail line. “As long as you keep moving forward, DCTA will keep studying the rail stop,” Hedrick said.

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com

**FoUTASportscaster** · 06 March 2006, 02:47 PM

Keep us informed. For such a small insignificant city in the scope of things, this is kind of a big story. The more of the area included in a transit agency, the better.

**RobertB** · 07 March 2006, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by FoUTASportscaster

For such a small insignificant city in the scope of things...

I wonder how many people said the same thing about the little farming town of Frisco, once upon a time...

**FoUTASportscaster** · 07 March 2006, 01:35 PM

Isn't Corinth landlocked though, keeping their potentiality of a Frisco to a minimum?

**dfwcre8tive** · 07 March 2006, 07:10 PM

Neighbors want independent consultant on rail line
08:15 AM CST on Tuesday, March 7, 2006
By Cliff Despres / Staff Writer

Southeast Denton Neighborhood As so ciation leader Carolyn Phillips said Monday her group plans to get a consultant to take an “independent look” at how a proposed commuter rail system would impact their homes and lives.

The Denton County Transportation Authority is currently seeking public input on its proposed rail line to connect Denton to Carrollton by 2010. The line would follow the path of the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad line, which goes through Southeast Den ton, a primarily minority neighborhood.

The authority has begun a two-year study to reveal project impacts. However, Phillips said residents want an unbiased party to address their concerns of the proximity of the rail line to homes, train noise and potential property loss. “The rail’s goal is to get the rail line through. Our goal is to make sure residents are treated fairly,” Phillips said. “It’s not that the rail will treat them unfairly, but it’s the responsibility of the residents to educate themselves and make sure it’s fair.”

A DCTA official said it’s good that neighbors might bring in a consultant. It could help “sharpen their perspectives on our project” so they can better communicate key issues to DCTA, said Scott Neeley, DCTA’s director of program development.

Getting input from residents is critical as the authority works on a $7 million environmental impact study to assess the effects the rail line would have on area cities and residents, Neeley said. It would evaluate the natural environment, existing structures, socio-economic data, air pollution, flood plains and drainage, noise and vibration, utility relocation and other aspects. “The whole purpose is to garner public involvement,” Neeley said.

Southeast Denton neighbors have begun looking to bring in a consultant who might offer services for free, Phillips said. If they can’t find one, they plan to raise money to hire one. The consultant would review DCTA plans, the rail line and the neighborhood and estimate potential impacts to the area, Phillips said. The consultant then would present findings to neighbors and other interested people and answer questions, she said.

Residents also have expressed interest in property rights and eminent domain rules. “We want their rights upheld if the rail is going to affect them or their properties,” Phillips said. “The residents don’t want surprises.”

CLIFF DESPRES can be reached at 940-566-6876. His e-mail address is cdespres@dentonrc.com

**RobertB** · 08 March 2006, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by njjeppson

A DCTA official said it’s good that neighbors might bring in a consultant. It could help “sharpen their perspectives on our project” so they can better communicate key issues to DCTA, said Scott Neeley, DCTA’s director of program development.

I agree... let the folks bring in all the consultants their money can buy. Just watch out -- does Wendell Cox do consulting? (Or does he just walk along his beloved highways turning heavy metals from exhaust into gold coins?) Note: link is safe for transit lovers -- it's an article titled "Intellectual Terrorism From Sprawl Shills".

**FoUTASportscaster** · 08 March 2006, 07:16 PM

Why is it that transit people seem more level-headed, while pro-automobile people seem to be the more militant?

**sogod** · 09 March 2006, 12:30 AM

Cause they are established in the ways of the car, and have strong financial intrests keeping the status que around

**RobertB** · 09 March 2006, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by FoUTASportscaster

Why is it that transit people seem more level-headed, while pro-automobile people seem to be the more militant?

Maybe it's the stress. I'm a lot more amiable when I've ridden the bus -- just ask my kids. I chalk it up to the extra couple of hours I've spent sleeping, reading, or playing video games instead of driving.

**dfwcre8tive** · 03 April 2006, 12:27 AM

COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLES TO CONSIDER STATION, FACILITY AND BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN PATH ISSUES
(Updated March 27, 2006 with new times.)

The RailDCTA project will hold two “community roundtable” meetings in April. The workshops will solicit public comment on proposed locations for passenger stations and operations/maintenance/layover facilities. Workshop participants also will provide input to begin planning for the relocation of the bicycle path in the northern part of the project’s study area, and bicycle access at all stations. The roundtable meetings will be held as follows:

Denton/Corinth-Area Roundtables
Thursday, April 27
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Fred Moore High School Gym
815 Cross Timbers Street
Denton, TX 76205

Lewisville/Highland Village-Area Roundtables
Saturday, April 29
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m./noon
Greater Lewisville Association of Realtors
997 S. Edmonds Lane
Lewisville, TX 75067

You are invited to attend – please send an e-mail to info@dcta.net, or call the RailDCTA hotline at 1-888-RailDCTA (724-5328) to sign up. Also, please contact us if you have special needs to fully participate in the roundtable.

PUBLIC MEETINGS HELD IN DENTON AND LEWISVILLE
Meetings were held in late February and early March to discuss the scope of the DCTA Rail project, explain this next phase of activity, answer questions, and get your thoughts.

Learn more by accessing the meeting reports at Information from Rail Study.

You can comment on various topics of interest to you at Submit Your Comments Here. You also may send comments directly to DCTA at info@dcta.net.

**dfwcre8tive** · 29 April 2006, 12:59 AM

Residents weigh in on rail station plans
Denton County: Officials seek input on 6 sites along commuter line
09:00 AM CDT on Friday, April 28, 2006
By AVA THOMAS BENSON / Denton Record-Chronicle

Residents told Denton County Transportation Authority officials Thursday night where they would like to see train stations along the proposed commuter rail line connecting Denton to Carrollton.

DCTA officials hosted the meeting at Fred Moore High School in Denton to allow public input as the agency begins to plot sites for the stations.

Tim Baldwin, the consultant team project manager for the rail, said the transportation authority hopes to build six stations on the rail line. The train is meant to link to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit station in Carrollton to provide service to downtown Dallas.

Stations are planned for downtown Denton, south Denton near Loop 288, Corinth, north Lewisville near FM407 and south Lewisville.

The downtown Denton station will probably be east of Bell Avenue between Sycamore and Hickory streets. Most residents at the meeting were concerned about finding enough room for parking near the downtown station.

In south Denton, engineers are considering several sites east of Interstate 35E near Denton Regional Medical Center and Golden Triangle Mall. Residents from that area were concerned about the rail line's proximity to homes. Building the station closer to the commercial development at Loop 288 would be better, residents said.

In Corinth, officials must wait until November to find out whether city residents will pass the sales tax to pay for a station. For now, engineers are considering several sites east of I-35E near Corinth Parkway and North Central Texas College.

Officials have said they hope to have the rail running by 2010.

E-mail abenson@dentonrc.com

**CTroyMathis** · 29 April 2006, 11:17 PM

Thread editing note:

Fixed the thread title to show DCTA vice Dcta.

Ok, that is all.

**dfwcre8tive** · 25 May 2006, 07:15 PM

City tags funds for train stations
08:06 AM CDT on Thursday, May 25, 2006
By Lowell Brown / Staff Writer

Proposed train stations in downtown and south Denton have moved another step closer to becoming reality.

The Denton City Council has earmarked $1.4 million for the acquisition of land for the stations, two of several that the Denton County Transportation Authority plans to build along a proposed commuter rail line connecting Denton to Carrollton. The stations’ exact locations have not been finalized. “It’s not really a major step [but] it’s a necessary step,” former Denton Mayor Euline Brock said of the council’s action May 16.

The train would provide a link to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system in Carrollton, offering Denton commuters service to downtown Dallas. DCTA expects to have stations in downtown Denton, south Denton near Loop 288 and several points south to Carrollton.

The downtown Denton station could be built east of Bell Avenue between Sycamore and Hickory streets, officials have said. For the south Denton station, engineers are looking at several sites east of Interstate 35E near Denton Regional Medical Center and Golden Triangle Mall.

The council approved the $1.4 million from the city’s general fund reserves, but funds available later this year through certificates of obligation will reimburse the cost, said Jon Fortune, assistant city manager.

Eventually, DCTA may help foot the bill, city officials said. “There will be some reimbursement for city expenditures later on down the line, but we’re not altogether certain how that will work,” Brock said.

DCTA spokeswoman Kelly Doherty said she couldn’t say whether DCTA would reimburse the city. “We weren’t really involved in their decision to make that purchase because we’re still in the public comment phase,” Doherty said. “We appreciate Denton’s partnership with us, but until we finish the EIS [environmental impact study], we’re not going to state where we’re putting our stations.”

The environmental impact study will include an analysis of how the rail line will affect surrounding areas, including environmental impact, effects on existing structures, communities and the local economy. The study also will include some preliminary engineering and will evaluate how negative impacts can be minimized or negated.

A DCTA Commuter Express bus service will begin Tuesday, with park-and-ride locations in both Denton and Lewisville, and bus routes that run from the University of North Texas to downtown Dallas.

Officials said they hope to have the commuter rail in Denton by 2013 and operating at full capacity by 2030. Officials said they hope the expanded rail service will ease traffic congestion on area highways and improve air quality.

Staff writer Ava Thomas Benson contributed to this report.

LOWELL BROWN can be reached at 940-566-6882. His e-mail address is lmbrown@dentonrc.com

**NThomas** · 09 June 2006, 01:00 PM

Because it seems Dallas doesen't "need" a connection with Denton

**dfwcre8tive** · 21 June 2006, 09:49 PM

The newest plans, RailDCTA Newsletter 3, is now available online.

**FoUTASportscaster** · 22 June 2006, 09:00 PM

Thank you.

**RobertB** · 23 June 2006, 04:41 PM

I saw the DCTA bus pull up to the stop near the West End Station this morning. Big, pretty coach, nice green & white color scheme. At least one person was getting on... I hope he wasn't the only rider to Denton today!

Also noticed that the DCTA Bus Stop sign on Woodall Rodgers is mounted on a DART Bus Stop pole, below the DART sign. It's good to see the agencies cooperating -- a good start, since they'll be sharing a platform in Carrollton soon.

**FoUTASportscaster** · 23 June 2006, 10:08 PM

Yes, DART seems to be a good cooperator with regional transit agencies. First with the T and now DCTA.

**dfwcre8tive** · 25 June 2006, 04:08 PM

DCTA participation gets rolling
Group’s officials say passenger load growing by the day
08:41 AM CDT on Saturday, June 24, 2006
By Ava Thomas Benson / Staff Writer

For many Denton County commuters, a new bus service is taking the stress out of the daily battle with the highway turned rush-hour parking lot that is Interstate 35E. “It’s such a stressful drive,” Denton graduate student Colleen Moynihan said. “You never know what you’re getting into — it could be 45 minutes, or it could be two hours.”

Moynihan commutes from Denton to Dallas for an internship.

The Denton County Transportation Authority began its Commuter Express service May 30. DCTA’s buses take passengers from Denton to downtown Dallas and back, from Lewisville to downtown Dallas and back, and from Dallas to Carrollton to Denton and back.

Andrew Essington, who bought a monthly pass for his trips from Denton to Dallas, said that, by-and-large, the biggest benefit of taking the DCTA bus was avoiding the stress of driving in heavy traffic.

DCTA’s major goal is to develop a commuter rail line between Denton and Carrollton that will link to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) line that stops in Carrollton. The line is meant to alleviate traffic congestion on I-35E and improve air quality.

DCTA is providing the bus service for commuters until the rail line is open. DCTA officials hope to begin rail service to Lewisville as early as 2010, with service to Denton not likely until 2013. They hope to have the line operating at full capacity by 2030.

Kelly Doherty, DCTA spokeswoman, said the buses transport between 60 and 75 people daily, but could easily accommodate four times that many. Doherty said each week the number of Denton-area residents who ride the buses increases slightly.

Since the service began nearly a month ago, more than 2,200 one-way trips have been made, and more than 80 monthly and 20-ride passes have been sold.

The most popular bus route is between Denton and Dallas; it serves about two-thirds of the Commuter Express customer base. The bus route between Lewisville and Dallas serves a little more than one-third of the riders, and the reverse commute — from Dallas to Denton — serves the remainder, Doherty said.

Bill Smith takes the trip from Lewisville to downtown Dallas almost daily, and said in previous years, he drove to the DART station in Carrollton to ride to Dallas. “It doesn’t save much time, but you can relax, read the paper or close your eyes,” Smith said. “You can do a lot of things on the bus that you can’t do when you’re behind the wheel. It’s like having a chauffer.”

Smith said there are usually no more than a dozen riders on the bus with him, but said he hopes the number will grow. “People have a hard time doing something different,” Smith said. “They’re used to driving. It’s like a bad habit that’s hard to change.”

After the first week of service, DCTA officials opted to add three stops to the reverse commute service, which runs from downtown Dallas to Denton, with a stop in Carrollton. Initially, the bus stopped only at the University of North Texas, but after hearing requests from commuters, officials added three stops — one near the Square in Denton, one at Golden Triangle Mall and the last at Denton Regional Medical Center.

Doherty said use of the reverse commute has been light at best. “When school comes back into session and people aren’t on vacation anymore, we’ll see a more dramatic bump in ridership,” Doherty said. “But we were able to add those stops to our service without making any dramatic changes to our other services, so we saw the benefit in giving more opportunities for people to get on the bus.”

Gustavo Hernandez is often the lone rider on his trek back to Dallas from Denton in the afternoon. Hernandez, who works in the Carroll Courts Building on Hickory Street, said there are considerably more people on the bus up to Denton in the morning who just don’t share the same 3:45 p.m. return trip.

Hernandez said that before DCTA added the stop near the Square, he was running — literally — the mile from his office to the UNT stop at the end of the day, hoping to catch his bus.

Hernandez tweaked his schedule a little — working through lunch and driving to Denton for one longer workday each week to compensate for lost hours — to accommodate the bus schedule, but said the extra effort was worth it. “You get the benefit of not driving, not putting gas in your car, and not putting miles on your car,” he said.

Walt Henry, who is a driver on one of the reverse-commute routes, said most of his passengers come from UNT and that he hasn’t picked anyone up from the hospital, the mall or the downtown Denton stop since those stops were added. “It just started a week ago, so maybe it just takes time,” Henry said. “There are just more people coming out of downtown [Dallas] in the afternoons instead of going into it.”

Stephanie Chester, who rides from Lewisville to Dallas and back almost daily, said she avoids driving on I-35E because the heavy traffic is dangerous. “When I first moved here, I drove for like two months and got in three near-accidents and decided that was enough,” Chester said.

She said after that, she only drove as far as the Carrollton DART station, and now counts herself lucky to have the convenience of Commuter Express, which uses the HOV lanes.

Commuter Express has two park-and-ride locations, one in Denton at the Cinemark movie theater and one in Lewisville at Movies 8. Commuters can park for free for the day, but may not park overnight.

A one-way fare is $5, a 20-ride pass is $45 and a monthly pass is $85. Tickets can be purchased at Denton and Lewisville Minyard Food Store locations, by mail or at the park-and-ride locations the first and last three days of each month. DCTA officials hope to have the passes available for sale on the organization’s Web site by the end of the summer. For more information, visit www.dcta.net or call 927-221-4600.

AVA THOMAS BENSON can be reached at 940-566-6875. Her e-mail address is abenson@dentonrc.com .

**FoUTASportscaster** · 25 June 2006, 04:26 PM

Hope more people *ahem* get on the bus.

**RobertB** · 27 June 2006, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by FoUTASportscaster

Yes, DART seems to be a good cooperator with regional transit agencies. First with the T and now DCTA.

And earlier, they made nice with Grayson County -- remember when they were fighting over access to the rail stations? As I recall, DART tried to keep the foreign buses out of "their" turf, until someone realized that the regional transit authorities are in this thing together. And they need to act like it, if they want something other than the status quo in the state legislature.

Check out the extremely cautious wording of this March 2003 press release -- "The agreement with TAPS [the Grayson County transit authority] is not a statement of policy or policy guidance, and DART can terminate the agreement at any time upon 30-day notification." I'm very glad DART has decided to be a partner with neighboring agencies, and not an adversary. You know, Kaufman County has a paratransit agency...

**dfwcre8tive** · 12 July 2006, 01:29 PM

Concerns aired at DCTA meeting
Transportation authority quizzed about funding, rail crossings, children’s safety
07:13 AM CDT on Wednesday, July 12, 2006
By Ava Thomas Benson / Staff Writer

Safety, future growth and funding were the primary concerns for residents who attended the Denton County Transportation Authority’s public meeting about the proposed rail line from Carrollton to Den ton on Tuesday.

Residents gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center in Denton asked about rail crossings and safety of children, as well as where the DCTA would get the money necessary to build rail stations.

The money for the DCTA — and thusly, the rail line — came out of a 2003 election, when Lewisville, Highland Village and Denton voters approved a one-half cent sales tax to fund the project. The rail service will never be — and was never intended to be — self-sufficient, and will always re quire the tax money, said Tim Baldwin, the consultant team project manager for the rail. “Transit is a service a community chooses to provide for its citizens, like police, fire and schools,” Baldwin said.

He said commuter lines generally recoup some costs through fares, but not enough to pay for the service in its entirety.

DCTA officials plan to build six stations on the rail line. The train will link to Dallas Area Rapid Transit in Carrollton to provide commuters service to downtown Dallas. The sixth station, in Corinth, will only be built if the residents of the city vote in November to levy the necessary sales tax to pay for the station.

DCTA has been hosting meetings to allow public input on the stations, and is encouraging public feedback. “We are here to listen,” DCTA Executive Director John Hedrick said. “We want you to be aware of the project and know what’s going on.”

Corinth resident Lisa Clawson said, while she doesn’t support Corinth’s participation in DCTA, she does think the DCTA is at least paying attention to the public’s concerns. “It appears they are taking some suggestions and listening,” Clawson said.

DCTA officials are planning for the proposed diesel-run trains to be compatible with the DART system to make cooperation between the two lines more likely.

The look and feel of the DCTA rail stations is beginning to take shape, too, but plans for the stations are both basic and tentative. Stations likely will include a rail platform, a canopy, ticket-vending machines and access for bicycle, bus and park-and-ride commuters. Two stations are tentatively planned for Denton, one for Corinth and three for Lewisville.

DCTA officials are conducting an environmental study to determine ways to lessen or avoid negative impacts to the areas around the rail line’s path. Successful completion of the study will allow the project to be eligible for federal money.

The study also will help DCTA officials answer questions about safety concerns, Baldwin said, and will likely be available for public perusal by the end of the year.

Officials have said service to Denton on the commuter rail likely will not begin until 2013. They hope to have the line operating at full capacity by 2030.

DCTA officials will have another public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Highland Village City Hall. More definite plans for stations will take shape in the fall.

AVA THOMAS BENSON can be reached at 940-566-6875. Her e-mail address is abenson@dentonrc.com .

**FoUTASportscaster** · 12 July 2006, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by njjeppson

Corinth resident Lisa Clawson said, while she doesn’t support Corinth’s participation in DCTA, she does think the DCTA is at least paying attention to the public’s concerns. “It appears they are taking some suggestions and listening,” Clawson said.

Well, that's something at least, but it still amazes me that there are people out there like this.

**RobertB** · 13 July 2006, 10:45 AM

How come whenever there's a train involved, there's always someone saying "what about the children's safety?", but you can't even get *sidewalks* built along new roads? It's as though cars came with automatic child-avoidance equipment, which sadly isn't the case: one site quotes a statistic saying that 35 percent of all auto-pedestrian accident victims are toddlers, adding up to 500 deaths a year. Seems the safest thing you could do for your kids is sell the car and take the train.

**FoUTASportscaster** · 13 July 2006, 08:21 PM

But then they couldn't be isolated from their surroundings.

**sogod** · 14 July 2006, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by RobertB

How come whenever there's a train involved, there's always someone saying "what about the children's safety?", but you can't even get *sidewalks* built along new roads? It's as though cars came with automatic child-avoidance equipment, which sadly isn't the case: one site quotes a statistic saying that 35 percent of all auto-pedestrian accident victims are toddlers, adding up to 500 deaths a year. Seems the safest thing you could do for your kids is sell the car and take the train.

Its just something people are not used to. I mean, most people in the US have spent all their lives far away from rail transit. Given time, and some good examples by DART and DCTA, they will come around. Also, statistics like that can't hurt.

**dfwcre8tive** · 15 July 2006, 01:42 PM

Corinth wants help in rail deal
Denton County: Council hopes college will offer funding in transit plan
12:00 AM CDT on Friday, July 14, 2006
By PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE / Denton Record-Chronicle

The Corinth City Council made it clear Thursday that it wants help from North Central Texas College as the city reconsiders membership in the Denton County Transportation Authority.

The negotiations between Corinth and the transportation agency have all but assured that if voters approve a sales tax, the commuter train will make a stop at North Central Texas College when the rail line opens around 2010. But the city wants some concrete help from NCTC.

"We raised the question with [Provost] Lee Ann Nutt already, and we hope to get us a timely response," Mayor Vic Burgess said.

Promotion from college
Council members suggested not only money, but also shared parking and ridership promotion should be part of an agreement. Mr. Burgess encouraged college representatives to send a message that the City Council would vote on the sales-tax ballot measure next week.

Corinth and Shady Shores are planning to schedule votes on whether to put the issue before voters again this November. The two cities are the only ones taking the final steps to secure transit service for their residents next year, even though DCTA offered amnesty to all of the area cities that first rejected membership in a 2003 countywide election.

Meanwhile, a growing commuter bus service is available to member cities, which includes Denton, Lewisville and Highland Village.

Shady Shores council
The Shady Shores Town Council directed staff during a regular town meeting Monday to bring an ordinance for the election to its regular meeting in August.

Both cities must call for the November vote before the end of August to meet a statewide deadline for general elections.

Because the proposed rail line goes through Corinth, Shady Shores residents learned they would not be able to count on a rail stop inside their corporate limits. However, DCTA would continue to provide bus service to Shady Shores seniors and the disabled as well as an on-call bus service that takes residents to the nearest station, probably the proposed NCTC station, said John Hedrick, executive director at the transportation authority.

"On the surface, it doesn't appear that we would provide a whole lot," Mr. Hedrick told the Town Council on Monday. "However, the dial-a-ride would be a real benefit to the community."

Preferred parking
The transportation authority may be able to offer preferred parking spots at rail stations for residents of member cities, he said. But it would probably be a long time before Shady Shores would have sufficient demand to make intra- and inter-city routes viable. About 1,500 people live in Shady Shores.

E-mail pheinkel-wolfe@drc.com

**dfwcre8tive** · 22 July 2006, 11:07 AM

Corinth tables DCTA election
Council voices concerns over budget, funding for transportation authority
09:09 AM CDT on Saturday, July 22, 2006
By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe / Staff Writer

PROPOSED CORINTH RAIL STATION

CORINTH — Several council members ramped up the rhetoric at Thursday night’s council meeting, citing budget concerns and ultimately tabling until mid-August whether to call a November election to join the Denton County Transportation Au thority.

They voiced concerns over the city’s fund balance and whether the city could afford the DCTA proposition. Corinth would have to come up with $199,428 to join DCTA, and then give up a half-cent of its current sales tax revenue to fund the ongoing operation of DCTA.

The fee is less than half of what Corinth would have owed if it had joined three years ago, when Denton County cities had the first opportunity to join.

In addition, North Central Texas College upped its offer to help Thursday, pledging $40,000 if the rail stop in the city of Corinth is within walking distance of the Corinth campus.

DCTA is already providing bus service from Denton to Carrollton, where commuters hook up with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) rail to downtown Dallas. DCTA’s plans are to bring rail commuter service to Denton County by 2010.

Council member Ronnie Glasscock, who campaigned in favor of mass transit, said he was having second thoughts, even after NCTC upped its pledge. “In exchange for that one-time contribution, we’ll pay that much every month,” Glasscock said.

Council members Joe Harrison and Shannon Bryant also expressed concern over the loss of commercial land to the proposed railway station in the city, as well as the city’s current financial state. “The contribution amount has a great bearing for me when the immediate problem is, how do we provide the basics?” Harrison said, adding that news of the bad financial position had “dropped on our doorstep. Maybe in a year or two we could finance it [DCTA membership].”

Mayor Vic Burgess downplayed the financial concerns Friday, saying that the city didn’t have the discretionary funds that city leaders would like for new projects. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t get there,” he said, adding that some of the belt-tightening was linked to longtime problems the city has had with its water and sewer rates. We’ve been making up the difference out of the general fund and that has to stop,” Burgess said.

For three years, utility costs the city absorbed have approached $1 million annually. While the council raised water rates two years ago, the city lowered its rates in 1997 from an all-time high of $2.40 per thousand gallons that was in place since 1990. The current base rate is $1.75 per thousand gallons.

Council member Paul Ruggiere initially opposed rail transit, but said that a lot has changed since DCTA announced that the rail line would come through Corinth. He cautioned other council members that the city may still incur costs associated with DCTA rail lines even if the city does not join, since the rail lines will be passing through the city. He pointed to the $1.9 million recently spent by the city of Irving — which is not a member of DART – on four railroad crossings in its city for the DART line.

“If we did not have a sales tax cap, I want you to ask yourselves, would you have difficulty making this decision?” Ruggiere said.

Representatives from the Corinth Economic Development Corporation urged the council to consider the big picture.

“Put it on the ballot and put it before the people; give people the choice,” Jerry Goodale said. “I’m not happy, but it’s bigger than me and it’s bigger than you.”

The council intends to discuss the matter again at its Aug. 17 council meeting. If the council decides to call for a public vote on whether or not to join DCTA, the council must do so by the end of August – or at least 62 days prior to the Nov. 7 general election.

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com .

**Quiz03** · 22 July 2006, 11:59 AM

Does anyone know why DCTA requires a buy in fee for new member cities while DART does not? Making new member communities go to the back of the line for services is certainly reasonable, but a fee on top of future sales tax revenues seems absurd and counterproductive when it causes communities to not join the authority.

**FoUTASportscaster** · 22 July 2006, 12:22 PM

Corinth rejected the DCTA's offer before. Had they joined in the beginning, they would have paid twice that amount. The cities that said yes since the beginning would have paid more and during that time have nothing to show, then a couple of years later, they join and everyone gets the same thing at the same time. The existing cities just want them to pay something for the system like they have. DART can't do that as much, since it would have to go back to 1983.

**Quiz03** · 22 July 2006, 01:04 PM

He cautioned other council members that the city may still incur costs associated with DCTA rail lines even if the city does not join, since the rail lines will be passing through the city. He pointed to the $1.9 million recently spent by the city of Irving — which is not a member of DART – on four railroad crossings in its city for the DART line.

That must be news to everyone.

**FoUTASportscaster** · 23 July 2006, 03:09 PM

Totatlly missed that. When did that happen?

**RobertB** · 24 July 2006, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by FoUTASportscaster

Corinth rejected the DCTA's offer before. Had they joined in the beginning, they would have paid twice that amount. The cities that said yes since the beginning would have paid more and during that time have nothing to show, then a couple of years later, they join and everyone gets the same thing at the same time. The existing cities just want them to pay something for the system like they have. DART can't do that as much, since it would have to go back to 1983.

The agencies were also put together under different state laws, so the rules are different. I'm not sure it's even possible, under current law, for DART to require a buy-in fee from a city that decides to join. Nobody seems to be moving in that direction, so it hasn't come up in a while.