Progress North Texas 2010

Transit Increasing Accessibility, Reliability
Region Increasingly Connected, But Still Short Funding

Recent Success, Remaining
Challenges >>>

Planning Transportation for 12 Counties >>>

Statewide, Federal Funding Shortfalls >>>

Air Quality Improving, More Work Needed >>>

Partnerships Keep Projects Moving
Forward >>>

Preserving Quality of Life for North Texas >>>

Transit Increasing Accessibility,
Reliability

Economic Recovery Funds Building Transportation
Legacy >>>

Continue the
Conversation — Your Opinion Counts >>>

Rail Map Legend

Dallas-Fort Worth's 83-mile rail network is growing, with about 154 miles planned, funded or under construction. But 250 miles of rail remains unfunded. North Texas transportation leaders have worked for several years on proposals that would provide the region more money for commuter and light rail service. Those efforts continue.

Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, but its transportation system is still maturing.

Passenger rail connects large segments of the eastern part of the region. And Tarrant County is linked to Dallas by the Trinity Railway Express commuter line.

Despite the progress in recent years, more work is ahead as planners and – ultimately – residents decide how best to build out the region’s multimodal system. Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the Denton County Transportation Authority and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority are all in the midst of large-scale transit expansions. DART opened four Green Line stations in September and is completing the line this year. DCTA has broken ground on rail stations in Denton and Lewisville, part of its A-Train service. FWTA plans rail service from southwest Fort Worth to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Table: 2009 Weekday Transit Ridership

The region boasts an expanding public transportation system that includes buses, light rail, and commuter rail. Below is a look at the ridership numbers of each agency's vehicles from December 2008 to December 2009.

Projects Affected by Current Funding Constraints

Map: Possible Rail Projects Affected by Current Funding Constraints

What's Next:
Rail Expansion

The completion of the DART Green Line is expected by December, giving residents rail access to Dallas Love Field. The DART orange line will open to Las Colinas in 2011 and is planned to reach Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in the future. It will eventually meet FWTA's Southwest-to-Northeast rail line at the airport. Denton County

Photo (DART): Green Line Lake June Station

Transportation Authority's rail line will connect in Carrollton, giving its riders access to DFW Airport. The long-term future of the passenger rail system rests in the ability to secure more funding.

Cities are able to use up to a penny of sales tax to fund rail service, but many municipalities in the region have allocated their discretionary sales tax revenue to economic development and other purposes. North Texas leaders are working to secure the funding necessary to expand rail to the cities that want service but lack the tax capacity to pay for it. Areas where rail is not the best option for improving mobility could pursue roadway improvements under this scenario.

In some places where rail has been established for several years, it is difficult for residents without cars to reach stations. Building pedestrian-friendly facilities will help connect potential riders with mass transit. Sidewalk projects in Plano and Richardson will help connect potential customers to the DART service in those cities.

First Person: Laura Rusnok
University of North Texas Senior

Traffic and congestion on roadways continue to increase. How does this affect your daily activities? Do you do anything to try to avoid traffic and congestion?

High traffic volume and congestion incentivize me to use Denton's DCTA public transportation system on a daily basis.

Laura Rusnok says
traffic congestion has
led her to rely on public transportation to get around.

To avoid traffic congestion, I utilize the DCTA public bus transportation system dedicated to university students. The scheduled bus system is one of the most convenient and efficient means for me to attend daily classes at the University of North Texas. The buses routed for UNT use meet my daily transportation needs,

and because of frequent scheduling, have a positive impact on my daily activities.

As somone living in the Denton area, which will be served by the DCTA A-Train, what do you think about having a new transportation option soon?

I think the integration of a regional commuter rail system has great potential to reduce North Texas’ dependence on oil, and consequently, reduce associated highway congestion and pollution. I also believe the expansion of the proposed feeder bus network will complement any city-to-city rail service and help make commuter rail viable.

What three things do you think transportation officials should concentrate on improving when planning for the future of the transportation system in North Texas?

Transportation officials should focus on:

1. Fast transit times and frequent scheduling, as those qualities will be required to draw
    people from automobile travel.
2. Optimizing the accessibility and flexibility of feeder buses to include several service
    points.
3. Informing the public of the advantages of rail and public transport over automotive
    commutes (i.e., advertising and promotion).

Describe what you have observed about driving and traffic in the North Texas area and highlight what you think is the most significant problem. What changes do you hope to see in the transportation system of the future?

Based on observation and personal experience, I believe congestion to be the most significant problem plaguing North Texas transportation. Ideally, I hope to see a reduction of North Texas’ dependence on automobile travel. Consequently, traffic congestion and air pollutants could be reduced, leading to a more efficient and effective transportation network.

The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors who are responsible for the opinions, findings, and conclusions presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration or the Texas Department of Transportation. This document was prepared in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Trasnportation, Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration.