Denton County Transportation Authority approves rail line favored by UNT

The Denton County Transportation Authority, which was created in 2001 to develop a public transportation plan for Denton County, approved the rail alignment favored by the university and  university system as the locally preferred route for future development during its public meeting May 26.

The "MKT" eastern alignment approved by the DCTA uses the former Union Pacific right-of-way that runs generally parallel to Interstate 35 from north Carrollton to Denton. It will allow the DCTA rail system to connect directly with DART rail systems from south Carrollton to Dallas. The goal is for initial portions of the DCTA rail line to be operational in 2010-11, the same time DART service is scheduled to open in Carrollton.

The MKT eastern alignment calls for a rail station in south Denton (possibly near the intersection of Mayhill and I-35) and in downtown Denton (possibly near the Arts Center and the square).

With an express bus route from the proposed downtown Denton station to the UNT main campus, the alignment would directly connect the UNT campus with Dallas via public transportation.

"After studying all issues, the university found the eastern rail alignment the most efficient, cost-effective and timely means of bringing rail services to Denton County," says UNT System Chancellor Lee Jackson. "In addition, the alignment appears to best meet federal standards for cost effectiveness per rider and its capital costs are more affordable than other options."

Even though ridership forecasts for some of the other proposed routes might be higher, none of those routes appear to be as practical or cost effective, Jackson says.

"The university endorses the proposed MKT eastern rail alignment as beneficial to our students, faculty, staff and visitors wishing to access our campus," Jackson says.

However, he says the endorsement comes with the understanding that "maximizing university-affiliated ridership will require some form of express bus service between the proposed downtown Denton rail terminus and the UNT main campus."

BY KELLEY REESE kreese@unt.edu

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• Committee continues to examine Responsibility Center Management
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• Faculty Senate elects officers for 2005-06

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