The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) will celebrate the opening of its newly constructed bus operations and maintenance facility in Denton, Texas, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 20. DCTA executives and staff will join city leaders and community partners for the official opening of DCTA’s new facility.
The brand-new, $8.2 million bus and operations maintenance facility replaces DCTA’s previously leased facility located at the landfill on Mayhill Road in Denton where bus operations shared facilities with the city of Denton’s Solid Waste department. The new location is situated on 15 acres of land purchased in 2008 by DCTA located at 1101 Teasley Lane, which is approximately one mile east of the agency’s downtown denton transit center (DDTC). The 22,000 square foot building provides facilities for vehicle repair, maintenance, wash, fueling, parking, and bus operations; and houses six maintenance bays and administrative office space.
Construction of the new facility began in 2011 and concluded early January 2014.
“The opening of our new bus operations and maintenance facility is a landmark achievement for DCTA and will greatly improve the quality and efficiency of our bus operations,” said Jim Cline, president of DCTA. “Not only will the new facility greatly enhance our ability to continue providing outstanding bus service to the community, it allows us to provide a better work environment for our valued front-line employees.”
DCTA received a federal grant – State of the Good Repair Bus and Bus Facilities Initiative Program – which funded the construction costs associated with the agency’s new bus and operations maintenance facility. The federal grant allowed for an expedited project delivery with construction and enabled DCTA to more quickly address its long-term maintenance, operations, security and technology needs; and more efficiently provide alternative transportation solutions for the growing community.
Environmental consideration was also key to the design of the DCTA’s new bus and operations maintenance facility as the location itself saves almost 20,000 of fuel and eliminates 217 tons of CO2 emissions annually through more efficient routing of vehicles. Other key sustainable design features include: highly insulated roof and wall structures; high-efficiency motors; high-efficiency lighting fixtures for interior and parking lot lighting; occupancy sensors that can control lighting in offices, conference rooms, break rooms, restrooms and similar areas; and plumbing fixtures providing water and energy savings.
“The opening of this new facility is a reflection of all the hard work from every DCTA staff member,” said Bob Neander, director of operations of DCTA. “We are very customer-oriented, and our new bus operations and maintenance facility will enable us to provide better service to our passengers.”
DCTA’s Bus and Operations Maintenance facility marks the second new facility the agency has opened in the last few years. In early 2012, DCTA celebrated the opening of its newly constructed rail operation and maintenance facility in Lewisville, Texas.
