Media Relations Contact:
Amanda Wilson, NCTCOG
Arash Mirzaei, NCTCOG

August 22, 2014

Region's bus, train riders asked to provide input to improve system

Transit Agencies Continue Surveys to Gauge Demand, Meet Needs

August 22, 2014 (Arlington, Texas) - The next phase of a regional transit survey intended to help planners better understand the demand for rail and bus service throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area will begin in late August.

Passengers of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), jointly operated by DART and The T, will be asked to participate in two types of surveys over the next several months. DART and TRE passengers participated in these studies earlier this year, but more input is needed to meet the goal of capturing responses from 10 percent of riders.

As with the first phase of the project, two types of surveys are being conducted. Stop-to-stop surveys are meant to determine demand. Bus passengers will be given cards when they board and asked to return them when they get off. Rail passengers will be asked at what station they plan to depart.

The interview phase will seek more detailed information. Passengers will be asked by surveyors to provide specifics about their trips and fares, as well as demographic information.

The surveys will be conducted in the following phases:

• Late August to late September - DART and TRE passengers will be asked questions as part of the supplemental interview surveys.
• Early September - Passengers of DCTA, including its Connect bus service, UNT shuttle system and A-train, will be asked to participate in stop-to-stop surveys.
• Mid-September to early October - Stop-to-stop surveys will be conducted on The T's buses.
• October and November - Interview surveys will be conducted on The T and DCTA vehicles.