Since last August, DCTA has been working diligently on beautifying their A-train rail stations with enhanced landscaping to improve their sustainability efforts that will greatly benefit the communities they serve. The project work includes mulching, irrigation repair, and plant and tree replacement at their five rail stations – Euline Brock Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC), MedPark, Highland Village/Lewisville Lake, Old Town and Hebron. The total project cost is $419,000 and DCTA is working with All Around Landscape and Construction (AALC Inc.) to make all the necessary landscape improvements.
Landscaping Project Phases
DCTA's goal is to complete the project this spring! Below are three main project phases in which they are working to improve and maintain landscaping at their A-train stations:
- Phase One – Irrigation Repair: During this phase which occurred last August/September, DCTA fixed irrigation issues at the DDTC, MedPark, Highland Village/Lewisville Lake, Old Town and Hebron Stations which will help improve their sustainability efforts by using less water.
- Phase Two – Hardscaping: This winter DCTA did extensive mulching to help with erosion control at the DDTC, MedPark, Highland Village/Lewisville Lake, Old Town and Hebron Stations. In order to enhance security efforts, they replaced high shrubs at some of their rail stations with ballast rock (decomposed granite) to improve passenger’s line of sight when they park their car.
- Phase Three – Plant and Tree Replacement: This spring, DCTA will replace non-native plants with native and drought tolerant plants that are easy to maintain that and will help cut back on water costs at MedPark, Highland Village/Lewisville Lake, Old Town and Hebron Station.
Currently, DCTA is in phase three of the project – replacing and planting new trees and plants at MedPark, Old Town and Hebron Stations.
DCTA Goes More "Green"
DCTA says all project phases will greatly help with their goal of operating a sustainable system. The extensive mulching will enable DCTA to retain and use less water, and help with erosion control that will decrease runoff to nearby storm sewers and creeks. In addition, by replacing old plants with new sun-friendly and drought-tolerant plants (i.e. gold mound spirea flowers and Mexican feather grass) DCTA will be “more green” by using less water to maintain our plants. Last by not least, their irrigation system maintenance program will use less water at our rail stations with the insertion of new tree rings, irrigation bubbles and enhanced weather station with irrigation clocks.
