DCTA reports record ridership, pushes A-train enhancements and Old Town Lewisville development

Denton County Transportation Authority Chief Executive Officer Paul Christina told the Lewisville City Council on Monday that DCTA recorded an all‑time high of 3,200,000 passenger trips in fiscal 2024 and is pursuing service and development changes intended to increase connectivity and regional access.

Christina said the agency will pursue an A‑train enhancement program that aims to shorten run times and move toward a 15‑minute headway, and is studying a roughly 2‑mile extension that would tighten a connection to Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s planned Silver Line. “When the schedule is running on a 15 minute frequency, it means you don't care what the schedule is,” Christina said.

The DCTA CEO said the authority’s GoZone microtransit — a demand‑responsive service operated with partner Via — delivered about 860,000 trips last year and has allowed the agency to reallocate fixed‑route hours where appropriate. Christina said GoZone ridership is flat overall but that ridership dropped in Denton and rose in Lewisville and Highland Village after the agency rebalanced service: “Reducing ridership 12% in Denton drove 14% ridership growth in Lewisville, and 25% ridership in Highland Village.”

Why it matters: Christina told council members that the A‑train remains primarily a commuter rail, with most boardings at end‑of‑line stations, and that the 2‑mile extension plus regional fare integration could make the A‑train a one‑seat option to DFW Airport for many riders. He also framed the Old Town Lewisville station area as a transit‑oriented development opportunity on about 13 acres DCTA owns adjacent to the station.

Details of planned changes and finances

- Ridership: Christina said DCTA delivered 3,200,000 trips across services in fiscal 2024 and that A‑train ridership has posted multiple consecutive years of double‑digit growth.

- A‑train enhancement program: The program will study run‑time improvements, frequency increases (targeting a 15‑minute schedule), potential service hour extensions and a possible new station tied to the Silver Line connection. Christina noted later service requires addressing interoperability with freight operations and additional cost analysis.

- GoZone microtransit: DCTA’s GoZone service remains the region’s largest Via‑operated microtransit deployment in North America. Christina said DCTA used GoZone data to optimize where fixed routes are the better, more cost‑effective option and to reallocate capacity from Denton into Lewisville and Highland Village.

- Paratransit and vulnerable riders: Christina said paratransit usage has remained consistent and that GoZone can substitute for some trips for riders who do not require the higher cost paratransit service. He listed common trip purposes as medical, education and employment.

- TRIP program and funding: Christina said the agency has obligated about $14.7 million of roughly $19.2 million available since the TRIP program began; fiscal 2025 had about $7.7 million available and the DCTA board voted to extend the TRIP program into perpetuity so funds may be considered annually.

Local reaction and questions

Council members asked about GoZone pickup locations, virtual stops and safety; Christina and Austin Frith, DCTA vice president of planning and development, said staff will review virtual stops around Old Town station and consider safety and walkability parameters. Council members asked about Sunday and late‑night A‑train service; Christina said Sunday service and later hours are feasible but depend on maintenance scheduling, positive train control solutions and additional budget.

Ending

Christina closed by thanking Lewisville officials for local support and said DCTA will continue optimization work and coordination on Old Town Lewisville station planning. “We appreciate the support that we've gotten from, obviously, the city of Lewisville,” he said. The presentation preceded a short question period from council members.