Texas Transit Association

Denton County Transportation Authority chair Charles Emery states the case for a one-half cent local transit sales tax to get the area moving with greater mobility.

DCTA board has formed plan with expert advice
By Charles Emery , DCTA chairman 08/27/2003

The Denton County Transportation Authority, managed by a 12-member Executive Committee, consisting of volunteers selected by local government officials to represent all areas of the county, has successfully passed critical milestones in it’s two-year life.

Recently the confirmation of the authority on Nov. 5, 2002 by a 73 percent voter approval; the approval by the executive committee of its Service Plan in July, 2003; and the call of a sales-tax election of one-half cent in Copper Canyon, Corinth, Denton, Double Oak, Flower Mound, Highland Village, Lewisville, and Shady Shores on Sept. 13 have set the framework for an important step forward in public transportation for our County.

The approved plan is rail based supported by three layers of bus service, including regional connector service, local routes, and demand response service as well as a network of park-and-rides for regional rail and bus facilities to serve citizens in Denton County.

The Service Plan was developed in a “grass-roots”/”bottom-up” format with input and advice from citizens throughout the county in approximately 125 public meetings. Professional guidance and direction was obtained from URS, a national level transportation planning and engineering firm. DCTA’s service plan incorporates planning concepts from the North Central Texas Council of Government’s, DART, and Fort Worth T on seamless connectivity in regional rail. The executive committee is now actively involved with these future partners in developing a regional rail plan.

In developing the service plan the DCTA used a simplified template that focused on determining public transportation needs of Denton County first. Subsequently, an effective plan was developed to address such needs, followed by a proposed program of implementation.

Findings in the initial needs assessment are summarized below:

Traffic Congestion

*Severe traffic congestion will be experienced in the populated areas of southern Denton county by 2010 (North Central Texas Council of Governments - “NCTCOG”)

Demographics

*Denton county’s population will increase by 154 percent by 2030 while employment will increase by 171 percent by 2030 (NCTCOG)

*Population growth in Region - approximately 5.6 million now will expand to approximately 8.4 million by 2030 (NCTCOG)

Highway Expansion

*TxDOT funding now for highways in Region is only 30 percent of critical needs

*There is not enough time, land, and money to meet demands for highway capacity expansion

Air Quality

*Denton County and the DFW region are not in compliance with EPA air quality regulations with rapidly approaching deadlines

*Public transportation improves air and the environment (American Public Transportation Association -”APTA”)

*A full bus can remove up to 60 autos from roadways.

*A full rail car can remove up to 100 autos

Ridership estimates for DCTA transit are increasing:

*Total of original DCTA estimates in 2002 have now been exceeded by University of North Texas commuters alone on I35E

*North Central Texas College in Corinth - 4000 students now - All commuters

*Texas Women’s University - 50 percent commuters

Ridership ahead of projections - locally and other areas (APTA):

Dallas 38 percent

Salt Lake 43 percent

Denver 60 percent

Public transportation conserves energy

*For every passenger mile traveled public transportation uses about one-half of the fuel consumed by automobiles (APTA)

*Cost of Owning and Operating an Automobile (Surface Transportation Policy Project - DMN 8/3/03)

*DFW - highest cost in nation at $10,516/year

*Cost of driving autos in DFW area is approximately three to four times the cost of riding rail

Public Transportation Operations Create Jobs

Property Values (APTA - 2003 UNT study)

*Office property values near DART stations increased 53 percent

*Residential property values near DART stations increased 39 percent, cmpared to properties not served by rail)

Lost mobility results in lost economic development lost quality of life

A solution to address the above needs and deficiencies best comes through the DCTA with a service plan for public transportation - Why?

*DCTA has been created by the state legislature to do just that

*DCTA now has a “seat at the table” in regional transit planning - it was awarded the Regional Cooperation Award at the North Central Texas Council of Government’s 37th Annual General Assembly Meeting on June 6, 2003

*DCTA allows Denton County to maintain local control of its public transportation future

Other approaches considered for Denton County follow:

*Let the state provide public transportation. This was proposed in the 78th. Legislature and was soundly defeated. It would have created another costly layer of bureaucracy.

*Let the federal government do something. They provide significant funding but require local planning, local participation in funding, and local plan implementation (Sales tax most common local funding)

*Wait for some other agency to solve problem. Tax (funding) parity, governance, and service priorities are next to impossible to resolve in near term

*We can just do nothing. We’ve been doing that and look where we are!

Whatever the approach, we, the taxpayers of Denton County, are going to have to pay for solutions to our transportation issues one way or the other. The DCTA plan for public transportation facilities and services is the most effective and efficient way to do that.

Conclusions:

*The immediate need for public transportation has been clearly established.

*A good and affordable service plan has been created by and for the whole county.

*There are no other plans providing feasible, workable solutions.

*Denton County voters gave a strong message in November, 2002, that public transportation alternatives are necessary by confirming the DCTA with 73 percent approval.

*The executive committee, consisting of citizen volunteers; city managers; engineers; former mayors/council members; small business owners; representatives from large businesses; economic development officials; educators; and city planning officials, has done it’s “homework.”

Investing nearly two years and approximately 8,000 hours of personal time and significant personal resources and expenses, the Executive Committee has established its position with commitment and focus for the benefit of the citizens of Denton County.

In the process, it has held approximately 200 meetings with citizens throughout the county of which 50 plus meetings were dedicated to work sessions where citizens could participate with the Executive Committee, its legal counsel, and technical consultants to develop the most affordable, efficient and effective Service Plan possible.

The executive committee obtained advice and consultation from representatives from the U.S. and state legislatures; Denton County and cities therein; TxDOT (state and local reps); North Central Texas Council of Governments; North Texas Commission; DART; Ft. Worth “T”; University of North Texas, North Central Texas College; Texas Woman’s University; Federal Transit Administration; three reputable transportation consulting firms; and two reputable bond underwriting firms.

On Sept. 13, Denton County has the opportunity to take the first steps in implementing important solutions to mitigate traffic congestion; cleaning up the air; and providing more affordable alternatives for a commuting public, all of which will support economic development and quality of life.

The question is not “Can we afford it?” or “Is it the right thing to do now?” The real question is can we afford not to do it now? Our detailed research; counsel from experts in transportation planning; and intense expressions of interest throughout Denton County from commuting citizens, the business community, universities, college and civic groups send the message that there is only one answer: We must take the first step now into our future of public transportation.

Vote “Yes” for 1/2 cent sales tax on Sept. 13. It is the last item on second page of ballot.

Charles Emery is chairman of the Denton County Transportation Authority executive committee.

Another news article:

DCTA sales tax goes to voters
By Nicole Bywater , Staff Writer 08/27/2003

Early voting for a half-cent sales tax increase to fund the Denton County Transportation Authority begins Thursday. Voters in Lewisville, Flower Mound, Highland Village, Denton, Corinth and three smaller cities will decide whether mass transit will come to the county.

Also, 22 proposed amendments to the Texas constitution are on the ballot.

“We’ve worked for nearly two years to get this ready for a vote,” said DCTA chairmen Charles Emery. “It is beyond question that we need this right now. It’s time to step up to the future.”

The DCTA’s plan is based on three levels of bus service, including regional connector service, local routes and demand response, as well as a network of park-and-rides for regional rail and bus service. The agency itself was approved last November by a countywide 73 percent vote.

However, many are concerned with the need for and the cost of the system.

“The plan is not viable,” said Patty Mizeur, president of the Flower Mound Citizens for Conservative Spending political action committee. “Rail travel is better suited for higher-density areas like New York City. We don’t have a concentrated population that travels to one particular area.

“A lot of people have said that we just need to get started. But, no, we need to start with a good plan,” she continued.

“It doesn’t meet the needs of our town, nor is it fiscally responsible,” said Kimberly Bradfield, another member of the committee.

In addition to the sales-tax revenue, DCTA costs will also be covered through bond elections that will take place over the next five years and through federal grants, which is “standard operating procedure,” Lewisville City Councilman Mike Nowels said.

Nowels said he is 110 percent behind the DCTA plan and that initial rail service could begin in five to seven years.

“It may seem like a long time, but there’s a lot of work to be done,” he said. “I also expect that DART will get their lines up to Carrollton by then and that you’ll start to see all of these arms and legs of the system come together. The goal is for a regional community, with everyone working together.”

Currently, sales tax in Lewisville is 7.5 percent, with a cap of 8.25 percent. City voters in September 2002 approved a quarter-cent sales-tax hike for parks and library projects. Flower Mound’s sales tax is 7.25 percent.

The DCTA is managed by a 12-member executive committee, consisting of local government officials to represent all areas of the county, according to Emery.