Transit Solution to the Traffic Nightmare and Getting to the State Fair of Texas!

News & Updates

October 6, 2023 Issue

North Texas’ Growth is Creating a Traffic Nightmare

dallasnews.com

Every day it seems new clusters of homes pop up near farm-to-market roads somewhere in North Texas.

Collin County communities that barely had a stoplight two decades ago have doubled or tripled in population as growth edges closer to the Red River. And cities like Dallas face slow growth, worn-out roads and congestion.

Long trips, far-flung destinations and automobile dependency are part of life here in North Texas. But it is also true that North Texas’ mobility challenges and inefficiencies are not going to be solved one new road at a time or city by city. The reason is that much of the region’s population growth is occurring in areas that are becoming increasingly dependent on cars and generating new levels of congestion.

Planners estimate that roughly 60% of the estimated 11.5 million people who will live in North Texas in 2045 will reside in areas that currently lack access to the existing public transportation services of the region’s three regional authorities — Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Trinity Metro and the Denton County Transportation Authority. And according to the benchmark Mobility 2045 Update adopted by the Regional Transportation Council, the annual cost of congestion will soar from roughly $13 billion now to nearly $60 billion by 2045 if significant changes aren’t made.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s $1.8B Budget Takes Effect

communityimpact.com

The board of directors approved the fiscal year 2023-24 budget in an 8-5 vote during a Sept. 28 meeting. The budget includes about $1.8 billion in planned expenses and about $1.16 billion in projected revenue.

The board will vote on the agency’s 20-year financial plan in October after members voted to table it.

The budget includes funding for DART’s Mobility Plus program, a series of initiatives aimed at expanding and improving the agency’s transit network. In 2024, DART plans to add 40 bus operators and two bus routes in Plano and Irving.

Texas State Fair Travel Discount Available Through DCTA

dentonrc.com

Denton County residents who purchase the $25 State Fair of Texas combo deal through the Denton County Transportation Authority will get a free DCTA agency regional pass.

The fair opened its doors Friday morning and will run through Oct. 22 at Fair Park in Dallas.

The cost of admission varies by day of the week with prices starting at $15 for adults and $10 for children, as well as an additional $20 for parking.

The DCTA combo deal could save locals money because they won’t have to worry about paying for parking or commuting through the expected heavy traffic in Dallas.

David Magaña, DCTA director of marketing and communications, said the agency usually sells out of the ticket combo.

“The best part is you don’t have to worry about the parking at the fair,” Magaña said.

DCTA Board Approves $10.4 Million Contract Extension for GoZone

communityimpact.com

The board approved the extension unanimously as part of its consent agenda during a Sept. 28 meeting. This is the first of two one-year extensions available under the contract which was awarded in 2021, according to the meeting agenda.

The action extends the program through Sept. 30, 2024.

Urban Transport Industry News Round-Up

railwaygazette.com

Fort Worth’s Trinity Metro has named Reed Lanham as Vice-President of Rail, responsible for the quality, reliability and consistency of Trinity Railway Express and TEXRail services. He joined Trinity Metro in 2015, and was most recently Deputy Vice-President of Rail.

Transit Coalition of North Texas

TransitNorthTexas.org