Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Denton County Transportation Authority sees 53 percent increase in Commuter Express ridership

By Minnie Payne

According to John Hedrick, Denton County Transportation Authority president, more and more Denton County residents are seeing the benefits of public transportation as an alternative commute into downtown Dallas. As gas prices have teetered near $4 a gallon, DCTA has experienced record ridership on its Commuter Express service which runs between Denton, Lewisville and the Dallas Central Business District.

In June, DCTA’s Commuter Express carried 8,018 passengers, which broke a previous record set in April of this year and is 53 percent more passengers than carried in June of last year (5,235). The trend of record ridership has resulted in a year-to-date increase of 38 percent. This record is even more impressive considering that a large share of DCTA’s daily ridership is typically made up of students commuting on the reverse trips into Denton for classes at the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University, which are both on summer break.

Denton County residents are likely trying Commuter Express because of the cost savings. On average, Denton County commuters are now spending over $800 a month traveling into downtown Dallas in their personal automobiles. The $85 monthly pass or $800 annual pass on Commuter Express offers tremendous savings.

“Commuter Express is a great alternative commute into downtown Dallas,” said Hedrick. “Our passengers not only benefit from a cost savings, but also save time and stress.

“Because we utilize the HOV lanes, our customers spend less time sitting in traffic on heavily congested Interstate I-35E.”

Hedrick said that DCTA was an idea that originated in 2001 among Denton County leaders when they felt an alternative form of transportation was needed in order to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, quality of life and provide for economic development. Legislation was created for a coordinated county transportation authority and a service plan was developed and taken to Denton County voters in November 2002, which passed by a 73 percent margin. In September 2003, a sales tax election for Denton, Lewisville and Highland was held, and passed, with DCTA receiving 80 percent of the available sales tax in Denton County.

“This set the May 2006 Commuter Express launch in motion,” said Hedrick. “The cornerstone of the about 70 vehicles service is to provide interim Denton-Lewisville-Dallas service.

"In 2010 DCTA will institute rail service between Denton-Lewisville- Carrollton with a connection to DART rail providing service into Dallas.”

Commuter Express currently offers passengers three express coach trips to downtown Dallas from park and ride locations in Denton and Lewisville. Three reverse trips from downtown Dallas stop at Dallas Rea Rapid Transit’s North Carrollton Transit Center, the Lewisville Park and Ride, Texas Woman’s University, the University of North Texas and downtown Denton.

See more stories in:

• Transportation
• Transportation > DART