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Content from our friends over at The Collin County Observer

Monday, October 12, 2009

Is mass transit sinking in Collin County?

by Bill Baumbach of The Collin County Observer

While DART expands its network with a new Green Line train, and Denton County prepares for the debut of the A-Train, Collin County appears to have missed the bus.

Last year Frisco ended its sole bus route.

McKinney has limited week day service (PDF) on five routes run by CCART (Collin County Area Regional Transit).

CCART is not a government agency, it's run by a charity, the Collin County Committee on Aging (CCCOA). Most of the funding for CCART comes from federal, state, and local governments, but it does not have access to its own tax revenue source. The CCCOA also runs the Collin County Meals on Wheels and other programs for senior citizens and their caregivers.

KTEN Channel 10 in Denison reports that last week the Texoma Area Public Transportation Service (TAPS) received a $1 million grant from TxDOT in the form of nine used buses. Where did the buses come from? CCART.

The nine buses were surplus vehicles donated by TxDOT because they've sat unused by CCART for several months.

TAPS director Gary Underwood is quoted as saying, "[TxDOT] got together and knew we needed the vehicles and they knew we were expanding so rapidly and so quickly, there's such a demand in the Grayson County area for service so we went and got the vehicles and are putting them to good use".

TAPS hired more than 30 new employees last month and is still looking to add more.

Meanwhile Collin County, which appears to have no need for public transportation, is watching its ability to provide mass transit sink.

What's the difference in the transit needs of Collin, Grayson, and Denton Counties? Very little.

What's the difference in the will of the elected leaders of these three counties to provide a network of public transit? Huge.

Except for in Plano, which is a long time member of DART, Collin County's political and business leaders don't seem to have the political will nor the vision to provide their citizens with a mass transit solution.

Our short sightedness will, not may, but will impact the future growth prospects, the air, and the quality of life in our county.

As Pogo was fond of saying, "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

Pegasus News content partner - The Collin County Observer

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Their solution is toll roads. Plain and simple.

John McClelland Verified

1 month, 1 week ago
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I'm sure their thinking is "it keeps the undesirables out". But at least Plano has some rail stops.

Scott Doyle Verified

1 month, 1 week ago
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Didn't bother reading any of this. Tried to take the DART from Addison to the State Fair to find out that it would take an hour and a half each way. Two hours if you're going from UTD.

<strong>Ridiculous and retarded.</strong>

I literally don't understand how all those people I see riding the bus live. They're wasting a third of their life at work, a third of their life asleep, and most of the rest sitting on the bus.

Pavel Lishin Verified

1 month, 1 week ago
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Apparently you don't understand not being able to afford a vehicle. Bus/rail is the only option a lot of peeps have. Concur that time-frame to get anywhere is ridiculous and retarded, but if I didn't have a car I'd appreciate having public transportation available.

Hence suspicion that Collin Co leaders are actively trying to keep out the riff-raff. Pretty harsh, but I wouldn't put it past 'em.

Scott Doyle Verified

1 month, 1 week ago
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I'm not saying I don't understand how they get around. I'm saying I don't understand how they keep from throwing themselves under the wheels.

Pavel Lishin Verified

1 month, 1 week ago
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Scott,

Harsh?

Not

Bill Baumbach Verified

1 month, 1 week ago
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that ploy of "keeping out riff raff" by blocking rail has always failed, no matter what the city.

Example: Lake Highlands didn't want a rail stop when DART was first built. Now, we're retrofitting the Lake Highlands Town Center area with...a DART station.

The train stations inside of Plano are always packed. People from Allen, Mckinney, and Plano flood the DART Parker Road station to the point where people are parking illegally just to make the train.

Collin County is putting itself at a disadvantage by ignoring mass transit, especially as other suburban counties embrace the concept.

Michael Davis Verified

1 month, 1 week ago
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*I'm saying I don't understand how they keep from throwing themselves under the wheels.*

And I'm saying people who can't afford an alternative likely appreciate the fact they have transportation to begin with rather than whining about it. At least it's something.

Try getting out of Frisco with no car and only a few bucks in your pocket (disregard sodomy as an option). Pretty sure you'd pray to see a DART bus while walking. Article isn't about efficiency, it's about availability.