A-train (Denton County)

  A-train
A-train diesel multiple unit coaches at Downtown Denton
Overview
Type Commuter rail
System Denton County Transportation Authority
Locale Denton County, Texas
Termini Downtown Denton Transit Center
Trinity Mills Station
Stations 6
Daily ridership 1,900[1]
Website dcta.net
Operation
Opened June 20, 2011
Owner DCTA
Operator(s) First Transit
Rolling stock 11 Stadler GTW 2/6
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

DCTA A-train
 Downtown Denton Transit Center
Loop 288
 Medpark
Lewisville Lake
 Highland Village/Lewisville Lake
 Old Town
 Hebron
North Carrollton/Frankford (DART)
Pres. George Bush Tpk.
 Trinity Mills
  Green Line
to Buckner

The A-train is a 21-mile (34 km) commuter rail line in Denton County, Texas, United States that parallels Interstate 35E between Denton and Carrollton and acts as an extension with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Green Line at Trinity Mills Station in Carrollton. It is operated by the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) and serves Denton County. It opened on June 20, 2011.[2]

History

A formal Alternatives Analysis study conducted in 2004–2005, which included extensive community and citizen involvement, identified the proposed rail line as the best and most cost-effective mobility solution for Denton County and the region. It cited the impacts of projected population growth, growing safety, traffic congestion and air quality concerns, as well as the need to improve access to Denton County’s vital health care facilities and three major college and university campuses.

In May 2005, the DCTA Board of Directors approved the study’s recommendation to construct the rail alignment on east side of I-35E using an existing railroad corridor. The DCTA worked closely with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to meet the Federal and local regulatory requirements. In March 2008, the DCTA Board of Directors approved the Final Environmental Impact Determination that detailed the proposed measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of the rail project and the Regional Transportation Council approved funding of in August 2008. Federal funds were not used in the construction of the rail link.[3]

On April 4, 2011, the DCTA began tests of railcars, communications systems and signals on track between Carrollton and Lewisville Lake, with tests on the remainder of the route projected to begin later in the month,[4] though this date was later pushed back to mid-May.[5]

The A-train was opened on June 20, 2011 with celebrations at five train stations.[6]

FirstGroup signed an agreement with the DCTA on 20 July 2016, to operate the A-Train from 1 October 2016.[7]

Stations

Station Location Municipality Points of interest and notes
Downtown Denton Transit Center 604 E. Hickory Street Denton Connections:

Bus interchange Connect Bus Service: Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and North Central Texas College shuttle

MedPark 3220 MedPark Drive Points of interest:

Denton Regional Medical Center
Connections:
Bus interchange Connect Bus Service: Routes 2, and North Central Texas College shuttle

Highland Village/Lewisville Lake 2998 N. Stemmons Freeway Lewisville Points of interest:

Lewisville Lake recreational area
Connections:
Bus interchange Connect Bus Service: North Central Texas College shuttle

Old Town 617 E. Main Street Connections:

Bus interchange Connect Bus Service: Route 22

Hebron 952 Lakeside Circle Connections:

Bus interchange Connect Bus Service: Route 21

Trinity Mills 2525 Blanton Drive Carrollton Connections:

Metro interchange DART Light Rail:      Green Line
Bus interchange DART Buses: 534 - Addison Transit Center, 536 - Addison Transit Center

Ridership

Figures collected by the American Public Transportation Association show that 1,500 people rode the A-train on an average weekday in the third quarter of 2011.[8] As of the fourth quarter of 2015, average weekday ridership has increased to approximately 1,900 riders per day, making the A-Train the twenty-fifth most-ridden commuter rail system in the country.[1]

Rolling stock

DCTA placed an order for 11 Stadler GTW 2/6 DMUs in 2010. The first of the new trains were delivered in late 2011 for testing prior to their entry into service.[9] The full order was fulfilled by August 2012, and in September 2012 the new units replaced the Budd DMUs leased from TRE.[10]

 Class  Image  Type   Top speed   Inventory   Routes operated   Built 
 mph   km/h 
Stadler GTW 2/6 Diesel Multiple Unit 60 100 11 Denton-Carrollton 2010-2012

Past fleet

The A-Train began operations using 10 Budd RDCs leased from Trinity Railway Express, which were used until DCTA's own purpose-built fleet was delivered.

 Class  Image  Type   Top speed   Inventory   Routes operated   Built 
 mph   km/h 
Budd Rail Diesel Car Diesel Multiple Unit 75 120 10 Denton-Carrollton 1954–58

References

  1. 1 2 "Public Transportation Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2015" (pdf). American Public Transportation Association (APTA). March 2, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016 – via http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/ridershipreport.aspx.
  2. ↑ Peterson, Matt (June 20, 2011). "A-train railway begins rolling, carrying commuters from Denton to Carrollton". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
  4. ↑ "DCTA to begin testing signal, communications equipment on A-train corridor". Progressive Railroading. April 4, 2011. Archived from the original on April 5, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Denton – Dallas A-Train services to start in June". Railway Gazette International. May 16, 2011. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  6. ↑ Train stations celebrate opening of A-Train | www.pegasusnews.com | Dallas/Fort Worth
  7. ↑ https://www.firstgroupplc.com/news-and-media/latest-news/2016/20-07-16.aspx
  8. ↑ "Public Transit Ridership Report, Third Quarter 2011" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  9. ↑ BJ Lewis (August 21, 2011). "New rail cars in testing phase". Denton Record-Chronicle. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  10. ↑ 11 DMUs ordered from Stadler, July 27, 2010, archived from the original on May 10, 2010

Route map:

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