Client Denton County Transporation Authority (DCTA) has been awarded an $8.2 million Federal Transit Administration grant to construct a new bus operations and maintenance facility, which is critically needed in face of soaring ridership. 

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Denton Record-Chronicle

DCTA gets grant for bus facility

08:14 AM CDT on Thursday, October 20, 2011

By Bj Lewis / Staff Writer

Thanks to a hefty grant from the Federal Transit Administration, Denton County Transportation Authority officials can build a new bus maintenance and operations facility sooner than anticipated.

On Monday, the agency received an $8.2 million State of Good Repair grant from the transit administration, one of two grants officials applied for.

The grant will expedite construction of the maintenance facility and will free up money for some of DCTA’s other capital needs, said Dee Leggett, a DCTA spokeswoman.

Agency officials submitted an application for the State of Good Repair grant as well as a Bus Livability grant at the end of July.

Currently, the buses are maintained at a shop at the city landfill off Mayhill Road.

The new 22,000-square-foot facility will be built at a 15-acre site at Teasley Lane and Shady Oaks Drive. The facility is expected to house administrative offices for bus staff as well as maintenance, fueling and cleaning services for the bus fleet.

“Being able to construct the facility allows us to better meet the needs of our current services and enables us to expand our services,” Leggett said.

While DCTA has not yet set a start date, she said it would be much sooner than 2015 or 2016, as originally planned.

The agency continues to get requests for expanded service, she said, and this move will help make that possible and be a better location for staff.

The facility will offer improved security, allowing the agency to protect its vehicles better.

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com .