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Denton County Transportation Authority edit
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| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | 1660 South Stemmons, Suite 250 Lewisville, Texas 75067 |
| Service area | Denton, Highland Village, Lewisville |
| Service type | Bus, Demand Response |
| Routes | 9 UNT, 8 Denton, 3 Lewisville, 1 Commuter Express, 1 NCTC |
| Daily ridership | 13,840 (Average weekday) |
| Fuel type | Primarily diesel |
| Web site | dcta.net |
The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) is the transit authority that operates in Denton County, Texas, USA, which is northwest of Dallas County. Along with operating bus service in three cities within Denton County, the agency is also developing the A-train, a regional commuter rail line.
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History
DCTA was created by House Bill 3323, under Chapter 460 of the Texas Transportation Code, approved by the 77th Texas Legislature and signed into law by the Governor in 2001. On November 5, 2002, the voters in Denton County approved the confirmation of DCTA by 73%. The DCTA Board of Directors represents every geographic area of the county.
In 2006, DCTA absorbed LINK, the mass transit service operated by the City of Denton since 2002. LINK's bus routes were absorbed into DCTA's local Denton services (now called Connect). Paratransit services in the three member cities were also absorbed and renamed DCTA Access. Neither Lewisville nor Highland Village (the other current members of DCTA) operated bus lines prior to DCTA's formation.
Board of Directors
The Denton County Transportation Authority is governed by a 14-member board appointed by respective entities (there is no requirement that a member come from a DCTA-member city, but the member must come from Denton County):
- Three members are appointed by "small cities" (population <= 17,000)
- Eight members are appointed by "large cities" (population > 17,000)
- Two members are appointed from unincorporated areas of the county
- One member represents the county at-large
All members serve two-year terms. Board members must have professional experience in the field of transportation, business, government, engineering or law. In accordance with DCTA By-laws, the Board adopts the annual operating budget and is responsible for setting policy. The president oversees the day-to-day operations of the DCTA and implements policies set forth by the Board.
Transportation Services
The Denton County Transportation Authority offers several services to the general public in the Greater Lewisville and Denton area. These services include fixed-route service in Denton and Lewisville, an on-demand service in Highland Village, shuttle routes serving UNT and NCTC and a regional commuter service connecting Denton, Lewisville, Carrollton, and downtown Dallas. Additionally, DCTA offers demand response/paratransit service in Denton, Lewisville, Highland Village, Hickory Creek and Corinth.
Route 101: Commuter Express
Commuter Express takes passengers to downtown Dallas from Park & Ride locations in Denton and Lewisville. Reverse trips from downtown Dallas stop at Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s North Carrollton Transit Center, the Lewisville Park and Ride, the University of North Texas, Texas Woman’s University and DCTA's downtown Denton transit center.
Most Commuter Express trips serve the central business district of downtown Dallas. However, the mid-day and late evening Commuter Express trips only go as far south as the North Carrollton Transit Center. Transfers to DART services can be made in both downtown Dallas and north Carrollton, but DART and DCTA do not yet honor each other's tickets and passes. That is expected to change when both systems' rail lines reach north Carrollton.
Commuter Express Park & Ride Locations
Dallas-bound Commuter Express customers can park free at one of three Park & Ride lots. The Denton Park & Ride is located at the Cinemark 14 in Denton at 2825 Wind River Lane. There are two park & ride lots in Lewiville: 420 Oak Bend Boulevard (Lewisville Movies 8) and 1951 Summit Avenue (Texas Twister).
Connect
DCTA Connect offers local fixed-route services operating in the cities of Lewisville and Denton. The routes were configured to provide easy access to many destinations within these cities. The agency currently operates eight routes in Denton, three routes in Lewisville, and an on-demand service called Connect RSVP in Highland Village.
Connect Routes
- 1-8 (Denton Connect)
- 21-23 (Lewisville Connect)
UNT Shuttle
In addition to the previously mentioned services, the Denton County Transportation Authority also operates nine shuttles that serve University of North Texas students.
UNT Shuttle Routes
- Mean Green
- North Texan
- Discovery Park
- Eagle Point
- Campus Cruiser
- Bernard St
- Sam Bass
- Colorado Express
- Centre Place
NCTC Shuttle
DCTA operates a shuttle service for commuting North Central Texas College students in Denton and Lewisville to the Corinth campus.
Access
DCTA offers curb to curb ADA paratransit service in Denton and Lewisville and demand-response (Non-ADA) service in Lewisville, Highland Village, Denton, Hickory Creek and Corinth for the disabled and elderly (65 years and older) patrons.
Access passengers can schedule trips to begin and end anywhere in the following cities:
- Denton
- Lewisville
- Highland Village
- Corinth
- Hickory Creek
ADA Paratransit service is provided within three-quarters of a mile on either side of the Connect local fixed routes in Lewisville and Denton. All other trips within the service area are classified as Non-ADA. Non-ADA demand response trips are provided on a first-come first-served basis and are subject to capacity constraints.
A-train
DCTA’s priority project for the future is the construction of a regional passenger rail line connecting Carrollton and Denton, called the A-train that will meet growing transportation demands in eastern Denton County. The A-train will parallel Interstate 35E and act as a logical extension with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Green Line at Trinity Mills Station in Carrollton.
Five stations (Hebron, Old Town, Highland Village/Lewisville Lake, Medpark and Downtown Denton Transit Center) have been planned, and construction has begun at the southern terminus 1. All five stations are set to have simultaneous openings in late 2010.
Ridership
DCTA ridership fluctuates greatly with the academic calendar, as a considerable portion of passengers are UNT and TWU students, faculty, and staff. As an example, DCTA average daily fixed-route ridership in September 2008 was 13,840 passenger trips, while in July 2009 it was 2,695.
Member cities
The following cities voted to join the DCTA on September 13, 2003 and levy a half cent sales tax to finance the system.
No other cities have joined DCTA since its inception, and none of the original cities have held elections to pull out.