Joining the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) in 2007 as a communications and marketing manager, DCTA leadership soon recognized Dee Leggett's talent, creative thinking, political savvy and passion. It was not long before she was promoted to vice president of Planning and Communications, where she has worked to improve transit services, modernize the agency and build lasting community partnerships.
The 35-year-old native of Tennessee arrived at DCTA as it was in the midst of developing a 21-mile commuter rail line, now called the A-train. Leggett oversaw the branding, marketing, communications and public involvement strategy for planning, environmental review, construction and launch of this new service. This included working with local residents to resolve design dilemmas or construction complaints. Leggett's ability to develop creative solutions and negotiate acceptance helped keep the project moving. The A-train began revenue service on schedule and ridership increases every day.
Leggett has demonstrated innovative thinking and grant prowess through administration of more than $15 million in federal transit grants in the past three years. And, she successfully secured more than $275 million in competitive state and federal grants. The grants included funding for a new bus maintenance facility to help modernize operations, to the benefit of DCTA's customers and the environment.
Her oversight of DCTA's planning and public involvement efforts helped lead to implementation of new bus services and rideshare programs and modifications of existing services. This has resulted in a 15 percent growth in transit ridership.
As manager of DCTA's rail station and rail car aesthetics and DCTA's Environmental Mitigation Strategy and Community Enhancement Program, Leggett has worked to build trust and support among the residents of Denton County and the customers DCTA serves. Communication has been the cornerstone of these activities to ensure DCTA is sensitive to concerns and issues, and has the information it needs to pursue remedies.
With the pursuit of a Community Enhancement Grant to resolve concerns expressed by a low-income, minority neighborhood through which the A-train passes, Leggett attended countless meetings of the local neighborhood association and spoke with many of the residents and leaders of this historic community. Through the information she gained by these communications, Leggett submitted a grant application to fund fencing and other safety and community-enhancing improvements.
Outside the DCTA, Leggett participated in the Texas Leadership Summit for Young Professionals and Leadership Lewisville, two programs designed to build community leaders of the future.
Transportation Options
“My first exposure to transportation planning was working as a consultant for the Tennessee Department of Transportation working on a statewide long-range transportation plan. That project made me fall in love with transportation and the relationships that I developed led me to the Denton County Transportation Authority. No one day is ever the same.
“The future in public transit — and all of transportation — is tied to more comprehensive, sustainable planning and development. We can build smarter, more efficient transportation infrastructure if all modes are considered in corridor planning and land use is developed in a manner to be more supportive of transit. Today's younger generation want transportation options, but the systems need to be planned and designed in a manner to accommodate a variety of modes.”
