Denton County transit agency's rail service coming around the bend

Dallas and other cities have long held the transportation spotlight in North Texas. But Denton County has grand ambitions of its own. Eight years after county leaders first envisioned a multimillion-dollar rail line from Denton into Dallas, the concept is nearing reality. Stakes and spray paint mark the 21-mile train line's path, which runs not far from Interstate 35E on an old freight route. Details such as where stations will be built and what the sound barriers will look like are just about decided. Construction could start as soon as next month. And a far-flung slice of the region now reachable only by asphalt will soon become connected to Dallas by rail. "With this ribbon of transit, we will become more focused on the metropolitan area," Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs said. Not all have bought into the $314 million project, known as the "A-train" and managed by the fledgling Denton County Transportation Authority. Some believe the succession of sprawling malls and subdivisions along I-35 is hardly ideal terrain for train service. Others think the line will fail to draw many passengers when it launches in December 2010. And though local leaders have secured the funding, critics are skeptical of whether the county can pull it off. "We're way too early for rail," Corinth City Council member Jim Mayfield said. "Rail is the future, but it's way in the future." Path of the A-train Still, the vision keeps unfolding. The diesel line will start in downtown Denton and move south through five stops – one south of Denton, one in Highland Village and two in Lewisville – before ending in Carrollton around Trinity Mills. Getting from the A-train to DART's future Green Line will take a short walk across the station platform. A typical trip from Denton to downtown Dallas using both lines will take some 70 minutes. Denton retirees Gary and Cheryl Christopherson said a rail option has become all but a necessity for the fast-growing county – population 600,000 and rising. "This is a good first step," said Gary Christopherson, 68, a retired computer engineer. Supporters believe the A-train will help curtail air pollution and give commuters a welcome alternative to I-35E, a snarling river of traffic, ramps and merging lanes. The train line is pegged to open just as the interstate is scheduled for a major face-lift. "The big game plan is getting as many people off the roads as possible," said Dianne Costa, mayor of Highland Village. The University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University also stand to benefit. Both Denton schools are home to many students and staff whose only option right now is to drive between Dallas and Denton County. "This project will make it clear that we are part of the vibrant growth of the region," said UNT President Gretchen Bataille. Quick action Big-ticket public projects often take decades to build. This endeavor has come at lightning speed. State lawmakers passed a measure in 2001 allowing Denton to form a local transportation authority. County voters later overwhelmingly supported the idea. In 2003, Denton, Highland Village and Lewisville approved a half-cent sales tax increase to help pay for the project. That money, plus a $250 million infusion from the State Highway 121 toll road deal, will help cover construction. DCTA has yet to receive the toll road money, fueling anxiety that the state may attempt to spend the proceeds elsewhere. Moreover, the authority is coping with a sudden change in leadership. President John Hedrick resigned Thursday after a four-year tenure. But project officials remain hopeful. "We're closer to doing this than we ever have been," said Charles Emery, the authority's board chairman. The speed of the project has irritated some. Five Denton County communities, including Flower Mound, opposed the 2003 sales tax measure. As a result, those cities will not have rail stations. The staunchest opposition has radiated from Corinth, where the rail line will chug past brick subdivisions. At a recent public meeting, homeowners bombarded engineers with their concerns: noise, traffic and project aesthetics. "You work hard all your life to get a piece of the American dream. And then all of a sudden you get a train going through your back yard," said Steve Reid, a 40-year-old Corinth package service driver. Counting the days Others, such as DART executive Wayne Friesner, feel differently. Friesner, DART's vice president for commuter rail, takes the county's express bus service every day from Denton to Dallas' West End. "The people I ride with and talk with are counting down the days," he said. Meanwhile, planners continue to move quickly. The county hopes to launch the service using older Trinity Railway Express train cars. Later on, the line will get new cars that resemble DART's. Transportation officials also have discussed the possibility of having A-train cars head directly into downtown Dallas without the need to transfer to DART. But the idea was deemed complicated and expensive and has been shelved. "We don't want to turn the dirt too late," said state Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, a strong backer of the project. "Unless you've got the ball rolling, you're always going to be behind."