Rail options split transit board - Cost, convenience among factors in deciding 2 routes

By JAY PARSONS - The Dallas Morning News - Thursday, March 31, 2005
Two long-awaited commuter rail options divide Denton County's landscape like scissors. They also have split a 12-member board that must select the best proposal for commuters craving efficient mass transit.
A divided Denton County Transportation Authority may be tilted by the municipalities least affected by commuter rail, notably The Colony and Little Elm. Officials from those areas say they would probably favor the cheaper route.
Which route that will be remains unclear. The authority will release a report next month outlining the costs and impacts of both routes. From there, the board will hold public hearings, choose a route and apply for federal funding in hopes of constructing most of the rail line by 2011.
Both start in Denton and connect to Dallas Area Rapid Transit in Carrollton, linking to a planned DART stop and connecting Denton County commuters with downtown Dallas. One route hugs Interstate 35E; the other traces the Kansas City Southern (KCS) rail line to the west, through Copper Canyon and Highland Village.
City councils in Denton and Highland Village didn't wait for the study's release to pass resolutions urging DCTA to choose a route.
Denton favors the I-35E option, hoping it will spur development. Highland Village wants the KCS line, believing it could lure shoppers to its future commercial corridor at FM407 and FM2499.
The two routes merge in northern Lewisville, so the county's second-biggest city will choose a route based on technology and costs, said DCTA Chairman Charles Emery, who represents Lewisville.
Choosing a route is more complicated than scanning a map. Each route has obstacles:
•Denton's choice is the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas rail line along I-35E. Most of that line was removed years ago, creating nine miles of nature trails through Corinth.
DART owns most of the right of way, leaving this route fewer obstacles.
"MKT serves the heart of the congestion," said Tom Spencer, who lives in Shady Shores and represents small cities on DCTA. "We're filled in here. My personal feelings are you serve the growth you have, that just
makes sense."
Highland Village's choice is the KCS rail line, still owned and operated by the rail company. DCTA could try to buy the line or lease it during certain hours. A second line would be built for two-way traffic.
This option is clouded by KCS. Freight lines are more crowded than ever, and KCS will not negotiate until DCTA chooses this route.

"It would be a great incentive for people to relocate to Highland Village," said City Manager Michael Leavitt, a DCTA member. "This is a very corporate city with people used to the L in Chicago or the Metro in D.C."
Highland Village also hopes a rail station near the FM407 and FM2499 intersection would attract shoppers – and sales tax revenue – to a planned commercial corridor.
Highland Village hopes the KCS line will woo Flower Mound and Corinth. The Highland Village station would be very close to the Flower Mound border.
A Flower Mound DCTA member said he will follow the orders of the City Council, which has yet to discuss the routes.
Corinth sides with Highland village. The city would keep its nature trail and be within easy driving distance of the Highland Village station once the FM2499 extension connects the cities.
"A Highland Village station will at least provide some access to Corinth commuters living on the western side of the city without hurting the lifestyle of people on the eastern side," said Paul Ruggiere, a Corinth DCTA member.
The Corinth City Council will vote Thursday on a resolution supporting the KCS line, said Mayor Vic Burgess, who said he strongly favors that route.
At least four DCTA board members indicated they would favor the MKT line. Most reasoned: That's where most of the population is. If Flower Mound sides with Highland Village, the KCS line should get at least three votes.
That leaves five other board members. Two could not be reached, and three said they are undecided. The biggest factor for the undecided cities will be cost, representatives from The Colony and Little Elm said.
"If we don't get matching funds, we're not going anywhere," said Randy Hunt, who lives near Krum and represents unincorporated territory. "A half-cent sales tax isn't enough to make anything happen."
A preliminary DCTA cost estimate for the rail line was $240 million.
Three cities – Denton, Highland Village and Lewisville – are contributing sales taxes for the commuter rail.
DCTA officials hope most of the money will come from state bonds and federal funding.

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