DCTA's Grateful for Ridership Record, Thanksgiving Schedules & More

News & Updates

November 22, 2024 Issue

DCTA Sets New Ridership Record

crosstimbersgazette.com

The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) has reported a total ridership figure of 3.19 million trips across all modes throughout its member cities of Denton, Highland Village, and Lewisville during the 2024 Fiscal Year. This achievement breaks the previous all-time record for the agency of 3.14 million trips. It also reflects a 9% increase in ridership over the previous year, and a nearly tripling of ridership in the last three years.

The significant growth in ridership is attributed to the launch of GoZone in September 2021, the agency’s microtransit service, as well as aggressive growth in the fixed route bus service following data-driven investment in the most productive bus routes on the system.

In addition, the A-train has seen double-digit ridership growth in each of the last three years, emerging as one of the top-performing commuter rail services in the country with regard to ridership growth.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit to Begin Testing Silver Line in Coppell

communityimpact.com

Dallas Area Rapid Transit is set to begin testing portions of track that run through Coppell for its Silver Line rail.

Preliminary track testing could begin in December, but DART officials won't test vehicles on the Coppell portion until January, Project Communications Manager Mario Zavala said.

The $2 billion rail spans 26 miles and traverse seven North Texas cities including Coppell, Grapevine, Plano and Richardson. Testing in Richardson is ongoing. The funding is a combination of DART sales tax, U.S. Department of Transportation loads and state and federal grants, Zavala said.

During testing crews will assess the track validity to ensure it can handle specific speeds as well as examine the track for any sections too crooked or curved, Zavala said. These tests also include checking traffic signals and railroad crossing mechanisms functionality. Additional testing will then occur with the vehicles running along the track.

DART Launches 2025 Student Art Contest with Exciting Prizes in Dallas

mytexasdaily.com

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) team has announced the launch of its 2025 Student Art Contest, inviting North Texas students from kindergarten through 12th grade to submit original artwork. The contest, now in its 28th year, offers students the chance to win prizes and have their creations featured on DART vehicles.

This year's theme, "Fantastic Journeys Start on DART," encourages students to explore travel, adventure, and the possibilities of public transportation. Entries must be 11 inches high by 17 inches wide and laid out horizontally. For submission guidelines and entry forms, visit DART.org/ArtContest.

Historic Southside Residents Want Improved Transit Options

fortworthreport.org

Fort Worth residents in the 76104 ZIP code say they need improvements to existing transit services and related infrastructure to provide them with better access to stores, schools and medical facilities.

Express bus service with faster, more direct connections — especially to hospitals and retail centers — is needed for residents to get the services and products they need. They also want to see more sidewalk improvements and safer, well-lit buses and bus stops.

Those are some of the initial recommendations from residents of the Historic Southside neighborhood, an area of persistent poverty that recorded the lowest life expectancy in Texas in 2019.

Resident input is being used for a North Central Texas Council of Governments transit study in the 76104 ZIP code, specifically looking at the historically Black Southside, Hillside and Morningside neighborhoods off Evans Avenue.

DART Buses, Light Rail to Operate on Weekend Schedule on Thanksgiving

wfaa.com

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will be operating at different times this Thanksgiving. So anyone who will be relying on transportation that day will want to double-check the schedule.

DART said its buses and light rail will be operating on the weekend schedule on both Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29. To see what the weekend schedule for your bus or line is, check DART's website here.

The Trinity Railway Express, connecting Dallas and Fort Worth, will not be operating on Thanksgiving. It will be providing Saturday service on Nov. 29.

Holiday service for DART and TRE will continue until regular transit service resumes on Nov. 30.

Trinity Metro Plans to Replace Downtown Fort Worth’s Favorite Bus

star-telegram.com

Tarrant County’s transit authority plans to rebrand and replace Molly the Trolley, downtown Fort Worth’s no-cost bus service.

Trinity Metro planners pitched the Blue Line to the organization’s board Monday afternoon. The route would follow Molly’s path, ferrying tourists and bar-hoppers between the convention center, Sundance Square, and other downtown hotspots.

“This will be the retirement of Molly the Trolley,” Melissa Chrisman, Trinity Metro’s vice president of marketing and communications, told agency leaders. “She has had a good, long life.”

The agency appears, for now, to be changing little more than the bus’ color. Blue Line rides will still be free, according to a Trinity Metro spokesperson, but run a bit more frequently — every 10 minutes instead of Molly’s 15 minute intervals. It’s unclear if Blue Line buses will follow Molly’s exact schedule — 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week — or something more expansive.

The Transit Coalition is thankful for all of our partners and sponsors, as well as our transit agencies that are moving North Texas! We wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Transit Coalition of North Texas

TransitNorthTexas.org