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For Immediate Release - October 1, 2008
Lewisville, TX - The Denton County Transportation Authority is moving closer toward construction of its 21-mile passenger rail project named the A-train. The project which is slated to open in December 2010 is nearing the completion of the design phase and the DCTA took recent steps that will allow the agency to quickly advance construction.
On September 25th, the Board of Directors selected the North Texas Rail Group (NTRG) to provide preconstruction services and construction services for the A-train, its rail stations and adjacent bicycle and pedestrian trail. NTRG is a team led by the joint venture of Herzog Contracting Corp and Archer Western Contractors, a member of the Walsh Group of companies. While contract details have not been finalized, DCTA intends that NTRG will provide pre-construction services to help finalize design; serve as general contractor during the construction of the A-train; and operate and maintain the system for the first five years of service operation.
NTRG combines two local firms with significant rail transit construction experience. “Herzog and Archer Western have an excellent working relationship. Both firms’ long-established Dallas area presence provides significant advantages with construction resources and equipment, and in working relationships with area agencies such as DART, NTTA and TxDOT, as well as area subcontractors and vendors. We are very pleased that DCTA has selected NTRG for the A-train project. We look forward to the opportunities and challenges and to a long and successful relationship with DCTA,” said Al Landes, Senior Vice President for Herzog Contracting Corp.
The NTRG is joined by Herzog Transit Services (HTSI), located in Irving, TX as the provider of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Services, including providing critical O&M input during preconstruction for current and long-term operational planning for design and operations. HTSI has been operating and maintaining the Trinity Railway Express between Dallas and Fort Worth for almost 12 years. The firm anticipates beginning construction on the project early 2009.
DCTA also recently finalized a contract with On-Track 2010, a joint partnership by Lockwood Andrews & Newman, Inc., Urban Engineers, Inc., and Bowman Engineering to provide professional support services during final design and throughout construction of the rail project. These services will supplement agency personnel and will provide a variety of services in conjunction with the A-train and DCTA’s bus operations. The firms represented in this contract have over 30 years of transit experience working with agencies such as Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), VIA Metropolitan Transit, New Jersey Transit and Capital Metro. “We are excited to help DCTA implement a passenger rail that will provide residents of Denton County with viable transportation choices,” stated Patrick Jolly, PE, On-Track 2010 Joint Venture Board.
“The teams that we added to see us through construction and implementation of the A-train bring a depth of construction management and rail service development experience to our organization. The firms involved know the North Texas region and are committed to working with DCTA and our communities to deliver the A-train by December 2010,” stated Scott Neeley, DCTA Executive Vice President, Rail Development.
The A-train has been the central focus of the DCTA since the agency’s formation in 2001. The immediate objective of the project is to have full service between Denton and Carrollton to interface with DART in December 2010. This timing will coincide with DART’s opening of that section of its Green Line. Initially, DCTA passengers will transfer onto DART at the Trinity Mills station. However, DCTA has long-term goals of offering more direct service into Dallas and connectivity with the entire region. This project is a major transportation priority for the region and is expected to begin revenue operations in December of 2010.
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