A-train (Denton County Transportation Authority)

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	www.mya-train.com
Operation
Opened	June 20, 2011
Owner	DCTA
Operator(s)	DCTA
Rolling stock	11 Stadler GTW 2/6
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

DCTA A-train
Legend Downtown Denton Transit Center Loop 288 Medpark Station Lewisville Lake Highland Village/Lewisville Lake Station Old Town Station Hebron Station Green Line to North Carrollton/Frankford Station President George Bush Turnpike Trinity Mills Station Green Line to Buckner Station

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 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]

Stations

Downtown Denton Transit Center

Located in downtown Denton, this station is bordered by Hickory and Sycamore streets (north to south) and Bell and Railroad avenues (west to east).^[7] The DCTA held a ground breaking ceremony at this station on March 22, 2010.^[8]

Medpark Station

Located in south Denton, serving the Denton Regional Medical Center and nearby medical offices, along with Golden Triangle Mall and shuttle service to North Central Texas College's Corinth campus. Land for this station was purchased from the Medical Center on December 16, 2008 for $3.2 million.^[9]

Highland Village/Lewisville Lake Station

Located in north Lewisville near Garden Ridge Road, serving the Lewisville Lake and Highland Village area.

Old Town Station

Located near the Old Town district of Lewisville (its downtown area).

Hebron Station

Located in south Lewisville near Hebron Parkway; this station serves several apartment complexes and warehouses as well as Lewisville's main retail district including Vista Ridge Mall. Ground was broken on this station in a ceremony held March 27, 2009.^[10]

Trinity Mills Station

The Trinity Mills Station, part of the DART Green Line, is the southern terminus of the A-Train.

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.^[11] 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.^[12] The full order was fulfilled by August 2012 and in September 2012, the new units replaced the Budd DMUs leased from TRE.^[13]

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Inventory	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Stadler GTW 2/6		Diesel Multiple Unit	75	120	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	1949-62

References

1. "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. "Denton to hold public meeting about downtown transit center". Pegasus News. December 5, 2008. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
8. The Denton County Transportation Authority breaks ground on the Downtown Denton Transit Center, March 22, 2010
9. DCTA Purchases Site From Denton Regional Medical Center To Serve As Medpark Station, December 16, 2008
10. DCTA to break ground on Hebron A-train station, March 24, 2009
11. "Public Transit Ridership Report, Third Quarter 2011" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
12. BJ Lewis (August 21, 2011). "New rail cars in testing phase". Denton Record-Chronicle. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
13. 11 DMUs ordered from Stadler, July 27, 2010

External links

Route map: Bing / Google

• My A-train, DCTA