The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) is installing bus shelters along Connect local bus routes in Denton.
The shelters will provide Connect passengers with safety, comfort and protection from the elements. All 20 shelters are equipped with benches and were placed near major retail centers in Denton and areas where there is a high concentration of DCTA bus passengers.
This project came to fruition because of the partnership between DCTA and the city of Denton. The two entities worked closed to identify locations where concrete pads and shelters could be installed safely and in accordance with the American Disability Act (ADA). All shelters are accessible by all passengers, including those with mobility devices.
DCTA will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. June 20, to commemorate the installation of the first DCTA bus shelter in Denton at the Denton County MHMR located at 2519 Scripture St., Denton. The public is invited to attend.
“After many years of planning, coordination, advocacy and diligent efforts from dedicated DCTA staff, concerned citizens, and city planners, we are incredibly excited to see MHMR receive the first official DCTA bus shelter in Denton. Many of our clients use the city bus and we are thankful they can now benefit from having a safe place to wait on the bus out of the sun, or rain.” explained Carrie Breedlove, DCMHMR MCOT intensive case manager.
Installing bus shelters and improving the passenger experience in Denton has been a priority for DCTA. “We’re very excited about this project. It’s been a strong desire of our passengers in Denton,” said Jarod Varner, vice president of transit operations.
DCTA will continue adding amenities to improve passenger travel on the agency’s services. The Authority plans to provide passengers with real time travel information starting next fall. The “Where’s My Ride” real time travel information system will provide passengers with predictive arrival and trip planning information via mobile application, sms text alert, telephone interactive voice response or through the DCTA website.
DCTA has also partnered with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) in developing “GOPass,” a regional mobile ticketing application. The “GoPass” application will provide passengers with an additional option to purchase their transit pass via smartphone for any of the three transit agencies in the north Texas region.
“Improving the passenger experience is a strategic focus of this agency,” stated Varner. “Providing innovative trip planning and fare payment tools to our passengers will provide greater access to information necessary to make using DCTA services as easy as possible.”
