DCTA gets FRA clearance to begin PTC revenue demonstration service

Jan. 24, 2019
A-train schedule will be modified so the transit agency can continue testing and progress toward full implementation of PTC by June 2020.

The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) has moved to the revenue service demonstration (RSD) phase of its Positive Train Control (PTC) plan following approval of its RSD application by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). 

DCTA says it is the first agency in Texas to have RSD on its rail line and is currently operating select train runs in RSD. RSD entails operating revenue trains with PTC technology and is a key step in its progress to have PTC implemented on its 21-mile A-train line by June 2020. 

“I’m proud of our talented and dedicated team that has been working diligently to keep DCTA moving forward with PTC testing and implementation,” said Raymond Suarez, DCTA CEO. “PTC is a significant safety upgrade to our system, and we will continue to prioritize this project to ensure our A-train has the highest level of safety technology.” 

DCTA will temporarily modify A-train service in order to maintain its progress on PTC testing and full implementation. DCTA notes that in addition to being the first public transit agency in Texas to begin testing on PTC, it ranks in the top third of public transit agencies in the U.S. for PTC implementation progress.

Railroads that were mandated by law to have the technology were required to meet a series of criteria by Dec. 31, 2018, in order to qualify for an alternative schedule to have the technology installed no later than Dec. 31, 2020. 

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content. 

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.  

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.