Denton County Transportation Authority Enhances Service Offerings to Meet Growing Community Transit Needs
DENTON, TX, JULY 24, 2024 – The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) is implementing significant service changes in August to meet the increasing demand for public transit in our growing community. These changes will enhance transportation options throughout Denton, Highland Village, and Lewisville, marking a crucial advancement in optimizing service offerings and increasing accessibility and convenience for residents and commuters alike.
The Connect Bus service in Denton will see increased frequency and expanded hours of service. The change also enables additional GoZone resources to be deployed in Highland Village and Lewisville. “We have seen GoZone demand increase in Highland Village and Lewisville, so additional GoZone capacity in those areas enable us to maintain our high quality of service and provide additional rides to even more customers,” said Paul Cristina, Chief Executive Officer.
In fiscal year 2023, ridership for the Connect Bus in Denton rebounded dramatically to 133,170, showing a remarkable 77% increase from the previous year's total. This upward trend continues into 2024, with ridership further growing an additional 70% through June. At the same time, the GoZone service has continued to perform well and demonstrates strong demand across all the member cities.
“This service change is the result of an intensive, 18-month effort to analyze GoZone and bus passenger data, articulate the costs of moving an increasing passenger demand across both services, and designing bus network enhancements that enable DCTA to move as many people as cost-effectively as possible. Our data-driven approach to understanding and leveraging the benefits of fixed route and microtransit makes DCTA a leader in the transit industry,” Cristina said.
These substantial increases in ridership underscore the community's growing demand for public transit and indicate greater satisfaction with improved services. For DCTA, these rising numbers validate the success of strategic enhancements in service frequencies and operational efficiency. “The first phase of the intermediate service plan allows greater frequency on our Connect Bus route service, providing better connections to our other modes,” says Austin Frith, Vice President of Planning and Development. “This equates to a better rider experience, with less wait times and a more consistent and reliable transit network.”
“Our current ridership is trending towards record levels never seen before here at DCTA,” notes Frith. “The time to invest in transit service is now, as our communities grow.”
The increase in fixed route service means it is important for DCTA to recruit and retain bus operators. A recent pay raise and direct employment of operators into the agency has enabled new operators to come aboard to provide the service starting in August.
For more information on these service enhancements and their impact on your commute, please visit DCTA.net/service-updates. Or, if you are interested in one of our many open positions, including Bus Operators, please visit www.dcta.net/about-dcta/careers.
Social Media Hashtags: #RideWithConnect #YouAskedWeListened #RideDCTA #ConnectBus
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About Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA): Formed in 2002, Denton County Transportation Authority is a leader in advancing mobility initiatives while improving air quality, economic development, and livability to serve its communities. The agency operates 18 fixed bus routes, a 21-mile A-train commuter rail line, on-demand rideshare, paratransit, and additional services throughout Denton County and surrounding areas. IN FY23, DCTA served just over 2.9 million passengers system wide.
To learn more about how DCTA is driving the future of Denton County, visit RideDCTA.net, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, or LinkedIn.