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Briefing on Regional Transit StudiesPlanning & Capital Programs CommitteeNovember 16, 2021

Kay Shelton, AICP

Interim Vice President, Capital Planning

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• The purpose of this briefing is to:– Review DART policies related to regional service or

Service Area expansion– Provide an update on regional transit studies recently

completed, underway or planned that may relate to DART policies or interface with DART services

– Planning and policy discussion

Today’s Briefing

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DART Policies

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• Policy III.07 issued in 1995 and has been amended five times (following slides)

• 1995 Policy was simple and in response to requests for service outside the Service Area:

“Transit Service, except for Charter and Special Events services as approved by separate policy, will not extend beyond the boundaries of the DART Service Area. D/FW Airport is considered to be part of the DART Service Area.”

DART Policy III.07DART Fixed-Route Service Beyond Service Area Boundary

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Amendments

Year Amendment1997 Extension of fixed routes to serve publicly-funded, post-secondary

educational institutions that are contiguous and the institution enters into agreement to pay fully allocated costs.

2004 DART will consider contracting with other entities to provide commuter rail services outside DART Service Area; agreement will consider value of access to system, funding source stability, full reimbursement of costs.

2011 Adds express bus service based on city interest and introduces concept of connection fee into agreement.

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AmendmentsYear Amendment2013 • Expands to bus, rail, paratransit service

• More fully describes equitable reimbursement of costs of services consumed by non-residents – access fee (value of connecting services) and impact fee (if additional costs to DART)

• 48-month agreement and must prepare system plan/financial plan within 36 months (50% funded by entity)

• Service will not continue beyond 48 months unless entity calls and holds election to add territory to Service Area, with ultimate goal of 1% sales tax to DART

2015 In response to Texoma Area Paratransit System (TAPS) and Collin County need for emergency service without an election, removed election requirement sections from the Policy but added requirement for a plan for DART membership within three years

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• Allen, Fairview, Wylie – Expires September 30, 2022– Continuation subject to Policy III.07 – NCTCOG Collin County Transit Plan effort would fulfill requirement

of service and financial plan– Following completion of NCTCOG Plan, cities shall develop plan for

membership in DART• Inland Port TMA – Agreement with STAR Transit began November 2020• McKinney Urban Transit District (starts January 1, 2022)• Prior agreements that were terminated:

– City of Mesquite– City of Arlington

Service Agreements related to Policy III.07

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• Policy IV.13 – New Member City Admission (2002)– Process for responding to formal resolution of interest– DART conducts preliminary transit assessment outlining Immediate

Action Plan and long-range opportunities– DART has right to deny if financial imposition

• Policy IV.14 – Access by Non-DART Shuttle Services from Outside of the Service Area (2003)– High ridership (30/hour+) shuttle connections require agreement

outlining cost impacts and cost-sharing

Related Policies

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Regional Transit Studies

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NCTCOG Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)

• Policy - Public transportation needs should be met by existing transportation authorities and providers through a comprehensive, coordinated, and cooperative approach to maximize existing transportation resources. Alternative implementation approaches may be necessary if existing transportation authorities and providers are unable to provide needed services in a timely manner

• Mobility 2045, contains several transit corridors partially within or outside of the DART Service Area

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• Collin County Transit Study (complete)– Irving-Frisco Corridor Study (complete)

• Southern Dallas County Transit Planning Study (complete)• Future Studies:

– Eastern Dallas, Kaufman and Rockwall County Transit Study

– Denton County Transit Study• Dallas-Fort Worth High-Speed Transportation Connections

Study (in process)

NCTCOG Regional Studies

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Collin County Transit Study Background• The study began in April

2020 and focused on identifying:– Transit options– Funding options– Implementation

strategies – Governance structure

strategies • Final report completed in

October 2021

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• There is no “one size fits all” transit solution for Collin County

• A combination of high-capacity transit “trunk” services (rail, bus rapid transit) will be needed in combination with traditional fixed route and mobility on demand services

• A small portion of Collin County is transit-supportive today and in the near term

• Growth and development will determine mobility future– Collin County Transit Oriented

Development (TOD) guidelines

Collin County Transit Study Mobility Needs Findings

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• For transit in Collin County, the suggested approach is to make use the knowledge and expertise of DART and/or DCTA’s LGC capabilities – Not hindered by the sales tax restrictions that make directly joining

a transit agency infeasible in the near term• Options:

– Develop an LGC to provide a near-term transit governance and funding solution for one or more jurisdictions within Collin County, and/or

– Develop an LGC as an interim solution while working towards a more sustainable and regionally coordinated approach (likely transit agency membership)

Collin County Transit Study Recommendations

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Collin County Transit StudyPotential Phasing Approach

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Collin County Transit StudyPotential Phasing Approach

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• Traditional regional rail– Capital costs of $1.2-1.6B– Annual O&M costs up to $24M

• Suggested “supply-side” approach (limited rail service) working with freight windows as lower cost early implementation– Likely not conducive to ridership

• Considerations for 2045 Mobility Plan Update– Interlining with west leg of TRE toward Fort

Worth– Northern limits of Irving to Frisco/Celina

corridor

Irving-Frisco Corridor Study

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Southern Dallas County Transit Planning Study

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Southern Dallas County Transit StudyPhase 1 (Years 1-5)

UNT Dallas Station

To Downtown Dallas

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• Expand routes and service levels

• DART Red Line Connection

Southern Dallas County Transit Study Phases 2 and 3

Westmoreland Station

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Future NCTCOG Transit Studies

Source: AECOM

• Eastern Dallas, Kaufman and Rockwall County Transit Study

• Denton County Transit Study

Source: NCTCOG

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• Study to evaluate North Texas alignment and technology alternatives in support of a state-wide high-speed transportation system

• Phase 1 alignment/technology evaluation complete– Trinity Railway Express (TRE) corridor eliminated due to:

o Travel time, infrastructure, and maximum speed constraintso Access to major mid-corridor activity center

• Phase 2 underway (24-month schedule) – 30% design – Environmental document

Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) High-Speed Transportation Connections Study

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Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) High-Speed Transportation Connections Study

Source: NCTCOG

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Summary

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• Is Policy III.07 still serving the purpose intended?– Microtransit is desired by many as a near-term solution– Policy refers to agreements for rail, bus or paratransit– The policy refers to agreements between a municipality or county,

not a district or group of cities– The policy refers to a plan prepared by DART, but NCTCOG prepared

Collin County plan– Microtransit may be appropriate solution beyond 36-months and

benefit DART and non-DART residentso Should policy allow more time to create political will?

– Should DART be more proactive in promoting the benefits and value of transit and work with cities to grow into being part of DART?

Discussion

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