The full story
The DCTA’s board of directors approved a task order with Lochner, an engineering consultant company, in the amount of $386,255.56 during a Jan. 23 meeting. Lochner will complete initial steps for an A-Train enhancement program that the transit agency has been working on since 2022.
The enhancement program aims to improve performance, efficiency and regional connectivity between the communities served by the A-Train. Lochner will act as a consultant for the enhancement program’s initial tasks, said Austin Frith, vice president of planning and development.
Initial tasks include designing curve and speed enhancements for the rail line. Those improvements could be implemented in late fall of 2025, Frith said.
“Key takeaway here is we’re trying to get this train faster along the corridor,” he said. “What that’s gonna hopefully allow us to do is get a 3-5 minute runtime improvement.”
The specifics
As consultant on the project, Lochner is expected to:
- Complete design work for curve and speed improvements for the rail line
- Coordinate with stakeholders such as the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration
- Deliver technical reports with recommendations and next steps
- Define scope and timing of next steps for the enhancement program
About the program
DCTA officials began discussing A-Train enhancement in March 2022. The board of directors hired Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam in April 2022 to develop a study for enhancing the service.
The enhancement program aims to improve headway to 15 minutes on the rail line and extend the rail line to downtown Carrollton, according to a board memo.
The A-Train is a 21-mile commuter rail that extends from Denton to Carrollton and includes stops in Highland Village and Lewisville, according to DCTA’s website. The train currently operates with 30-minute headways on weekdays and hour-long headways on Saturdays.
