A-train (Denton County)
The A-train is a commuter rail line in Denton County, Texas, United States. It is the third-busiest commuter rail line in Texas and twenty-eighth in the United States. It runs parallel to 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 First Transit under the authority of the Denton County Transportation Authority and serves Denton County. It opened on June 20, 2011.
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 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.
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, though this date was later pushed back to mid-May.
The A-train was opened on June 20, 2011 with celebrations at five train stations.
First Transit signed an agreement with the DCTA on July 20, 2016, to operate the A-train from October 1, 2016. The contract is for nine years with five additional option years.
Motive power
The line uses Diesel-Electric Hybrid motive power.Future
The North Central Texas Council of Governments Mobility 2045 plan calls for the A-train to be extended south to interchange with the DART Silver Line.Fares
Fares are fully integrated with the rest of the DCTA system, with single rides costing $1.50. Two free transit zones exist on the system: between Downtown Denton Transit Center and MedPark, as well as Hebron Station to Trinity Mills.Services
The A-train operates with 30 minute headways every weekday, with 34 trains round trip per day. Saturday has reduced service with nine trains per direction and long headways. There is no service on Sundays and major holidays. Interchanges with the DART Green Line are irregularly timed.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. 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.Stations
| Station | Location | Municipality | Points of interest and notes |
| Downtown Denton Transit Center | 604 E. Hickory Street | Denton | Connections: Connect Bus Service: Routes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and North Central Texas College shuttle |
| MedPark | 3220 MedPark Drive | Denton | Points of interest: Denton Regional Medical Center Connections: Connect Bus Service: Routes 2, and North Central Texas College shuttle |
| Highland Village/Lewisville Lake | 2998 N. Stemmons Freeway | Lewisville | Points of interest: Lewisville Lake recreational area Connections: Connect Bus Service: North Central Texas College shuttle |
| Old Town | 617 E. Main Street | Lewisville | Connections: Connect Bus Service: Route 22 |
| Hebron | 952 Lakeside Circle | Lewisville | Connections: Connect Bus Service: Route 21 |
| Trinity Mills | 2525 Blanton Drive | Carrollton | Connections: DART Light Rail: DART Buses: 534 - Addison Transit Center, 536 - Addison Transit Center |