Category: Light Rail / Commuter

Ridership on Denton County Transportation Authority’s A-train spiked significantly from October to December 2012, giving transit agency officials hope that good things are to come when widening of the I-35 corridor through Denton, TX, begins later this year. – Tim Blackwell/Cowcatcher Magazine

Denton Country Transportation Authority officials hope that increased ridership on the A-train that resulted in 3 percent growth for the agency October-December 2012 is a preview of what will come when construction starts later this year to widen I35 between Dallas and the Red River. According to a fiscal-year, first-quarter report released in February, ridership on the A-train improved 42 percent during the same period compared to the previous fiscal year.

Also, ridership maintained its upward climb in January, with the A-train carrying 43 percent more than in January 2012.

DCTA officials attribute the growth to recent service changes. In August, the agency added midday rail service closing the 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. gap in the schedule, as well as expanding Friday night and Saturday service. In January, a weekday evening southbound departure was added to the schedule to better serve university evening classes and later work schedules.

“Our recent changes were in direct response to customer feedback,” DCTA President Jim Cline said. “Clearly, our customers have responded positively to these changes. As we plan for the next stages of service improvements, we are excited about what the future holds.”

In late February, DCTA staff presented proposed updates to the agency’s five-year operating and capital plan while addressing upcoming widening of I35  to as many as eight lanes from Cooke County to Dallas County. In addition to addressing capital needs and maintenance of the system, the plan focuses on improving the passenger experience with improved amenities and expanded bus and rail services.

Cline says the A-train is in perfect position to offer commuters an alternative when dirt starts flying and until normal traffic resumes on the highway.

“We see the planned expansion of I35 as an opportunity to grow ridership by providing an alternative,” Cline said. “Our next series of improvements will position us to attract and retain the new users.”

While Cline hesitates to project the specific impact of the I-35E project, he feels confident that DCTA can meet commuter rail needs at current scheduling and equipment levels. Trains are made up of two Stadler GTW 2/6 Diesel Multiple Units that have a combined passenger capacity of 400 riders. DCTA operates four of the sets with a fifth as a “hot standby” that could be used if ridership demand exceeds two-car sets.

Stellar performance of the Swiss-built articulated cars have given DCTA officials a high level of operational comfort since the DMUs were placed in service last fall. With the exception of some block detection issues that have been corrected, the cars have operated seamless for the most part and are a hit with riders.

“Passengers love them,” Cline said. “The cars are operating well. Every system has issues, but we seem to be working through those in good step. We’re quite happy.”

AUSTIN, TX – With double the ridership on its light rail line, Austin’s Capital Metro closed out 2012 with a ridership increase that exceeds the nationwide pace of mass transportation growth.

Capital Metro reported today that the agency posted ridership growth of 4.7 percent in 2012, almost double the increase for national public transportation. Capital Metro increased trips 1.5 million over 2011 to finish the year with more than 34 million boardings. Nationally, public transportation ridership increased by 2.6 percent during the first three quarters of 2012, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

MetroRail hit a milestone of its one millionth passenger trip, and ridership increased nearly 50 percent in 2012 over 2011. Ridership has increased in part due to extended evening service on Fridays and Saturdays, which is now averaging 2,200 trips per weekend.

MetroRail ridership has tripled since service began in 2010.

“We are attracting new daytime riders from our evening service,” said Vice President of Marketing and Communications Dan Dawson. “People are experiencing the ease and comfort of riding the rails at night, and get hooked and decide to try it for getting back and forth to work.”

Transit officials say MetroRail is a key part of the larger overall regional system for high-capacity transit in Central Texas. In addition to ridership milestones, Capital Metro it is contributing to the economic vitality of the region, with more than $95 million in new development built near MetroRail stations, and another $283 million in various stages of new development planning.

System-wide, Capital Metro provided an average of 112,000 rides each weekday.

“The ultimate endorsement of our service is that so many people choose to ride with us,” says Capital Metro President/CEO Linda S. Watson. “High gas prices and a strong local economy are certainly factors, but we’ve also improved nearly every aspect of our business, with updated and streamlined routes, new buses and better information at bus stops.

Fixed-route bus ridership is on a 22-month growth streak, due, in part, to the agency’s implementation of ServicePlan2020, a comprehensive roadmap to reinvent Capital Metro’s bus system by 2020. As part of overall gains in trips taken, the agency saw a marked increase in ridership among Austin Community College students and faculty (eight percent increase) and city of Austin employees (30 percent increase).

“Every bus line in the system was reviewed, and thanks to the strong leadership of our board and President Watson, we’ve been systematically incorporating changes to routes since 2010 to improve the efficiency and productivity of the bus system,” says Vice President of Planning Todd Hemingson.

Capital Metro is currently engaged in a regional planning effort through Project Connect, a collaboration of Central Texas transit and government organizations. MetroRapid, MetroRail, express lanes and additional rail projects are some of the components included in the vision of Project Connect.

From news releases and online reports
Dallas Area Rapid Transit opened two more rail segments today, extending the Blue Line to Rowlett and the Orange Line farther into Irving and closer to DFW International Airport. DART has built more than 40 miles of track in the last three years to enhance transit accessibility throughout the Dallas area.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit expanded into Rowlett, TX with its Blue Line and closer to DFW International Airport on the Orange Line today. – Courtesy DART

The Downtown Rowlett Station marks the first expansion of the Blue Line since it reached Garland in November 2002. The 4.5-mile, $360 million segment completes the build-out of the northeast corridor and increases access to and from the largely residential community.

“Rowlett residents had the foresight and wisdom to invest in alternatives to driving around this sprawling region,” said John Carter Danish, chair of the DART Board. “They knew public transit was more than an amenity, but a ‘must’ for preserving their city’s small-town charm while also providing access to big-city resources and opportunities.”

New Orange Line stations opened on Monday, including one at North Lake College and another on Belt Line Road in Irving on airport property. The openings marked DART’s first connection to Terminal A at the airport through direct bus services from the stations.

The $1.3 billion Orange Line – the first section of which opened in July with three stations – grew nearly four miles with the new stops. DFW Station, the final stop planned on the current expansion, is scheduled to open in December 2014 at Terminal A. Once complete, DART will join just a few transit agencies in the U.S. with direct rail service into a major airport.

Community and civic leaders are optimistic that DART will pay off in increased visitors and commercial growth, both of which are critical to broadening the city’s tax base. Downtown Rowlett Station’s opening likewise has prompted zoning changes and development guidelines to attract transit-oriented, walkable mixed-use development near the rail station.

In late 2016, DART will lengthen the Blue Line south from Ledbetter Station to connect to the University of North Texas at Dallas.