Progressive Railroading's Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in Tennessee and Texas

TENNESSEE

Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee (RTA)

Has operated Music City Star commuter-rail service between Nashville and Lebanon, Tenn., since 2006.

Route miles: 32.6 commuter rail

Rolling stock: 4 locomotives, average age 32 years; 7 rail cars, average age 51 years

Annual ridership: 276,000

Annual operating cost: $1.6 million

Annual capital cost: $1.1 million (FY14)

Number of stations: 6

RTA plans to spend $1.6 million to replace jointed rail with welded rail on remaining sections of the route that have jointed rail.

TEXAS

Capital Metro

Operates rail, bus, paratransit and vanpool service in Austin, Texas. MetroRail service launched in 2010.

Route miles: 32 commuter rail

Rolling stock: 6 diesel multiple units, average age 6 years

Annual ridership: 766,858 (FY13)

Annual operating cost: $12.4 million (FY14); $14.3 million (FY15)

Annual capital cost: $9.2 million

Number of stations: 9

The following capital projects are either under way or on the docket:

• central subdivision electric locks, $100,000
• central subdivision quiet zone, $512,500
• commuter corridor obsolete communication equipment replacement program, $75,000
• commuter operation risk reduction rail, $300,000
• crossing improvements (reimbursed by Texas Department of Transportation), $105,757
• crossing state of good repair, $50,000
• diesel multiple unit powertrain component rebuild, $50,000
• diesel multiple unit overhaul, $225,000
• East End track rehabilitation, $639,994
• flashing lights and gates at mile post 79.05, $273,142
• nearside crossing gate downtown reduction project, $125,000
• positive train control, $2.1 million
• private crossing signalization at mile post 69.04, $200,000
• private crossing signalization on commuter-rail corridor, $200,000
• public crossing surface renewal program, $70,000
• rail drainage improvements, $25,000
• rail replacement program, $2.5 million
• railroad bridge repair/upgrade, $383,021
• surge suppression for signal and communication network, $125,000
• timber and surface program, $1 million
• West/East haul road crossing surface rehabilitation, $125,000

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

Public transportation agency for Dallas and 12 surrounding cities that delivers light rail, Trinity Railway Express commuter rail (in partnership with the Fort Worth Transportation Authority), bus and paratransit services. Light-rail service launched in 1996.

Route miles: 90 light rail

Rolling stock: 163 light-rail vehicles, average age 11 years

Annual ridership: 29.5 million (FY2013)

Annual operating cost: $141.7 million (FY2013)

Annual capital cost: $112.9 million (FY2013)

Number of stations: 62

DART is serving as the contractor for the city of Dallas' streetcar project, which will connect downtown with the city's Oak Cliff section, south of downtown. The line is scheduled to open in early 2015.

DART soon will begin construction on a three-mile southern extension of the DART Blue Line from Ledbetter Station to the Dallas campus of the University of North Texas. It will include two stations and is scheduled to open in 2016.

Denton County Transportation Authority

A coordinated county transportation authority that operates the A-Train, a 21-mile regional rail system connecting Denton and Dallas counties. Service launched in 2011.

Route miles: 21 commuter rail

Rolling stock: 11 diesel multiple units, average age 2.5 years

Annual ridership: 510,738 (FY13)

Annual operating cost: $19.6 million

Annual capital cost: $3 million

Number of stations: 5

Capital project information not provided.

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO)

Serves a 1,303-square-mile area with rail, bus and paratransit services. METRO's initial 7.5-mile light-rail line linking the central business district and NRG Stadium and Park opened in 2004; the Red Line extension to the north opened in late 2013.

Route miles: 23 light rail

Rolling stock: 37 Siemens light-rail vehicles; 18 are 10 years old and the remainder are 1 year old

Annual ridership: 12.7 million (2014, projected)

Annual operating cost: $18.4 million (2013)

Annual capital cost: $512.9 million

Number of stations: 24

METRO is expanding its existing light-rail system with two new lines. The 3.3-mile East End (Green) Line and 6.6-mile Southeast (Purple) Line are expected to open in April 2015. The cost for those two lines, in addition to the Red Line that opened in late 2013, is $2.1 billion.

Trinity Railway Express

A commuter-rail line jointly owned by Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, connecting downtown Dallas with downtown Fort Worth. Service launched in 1996.

Route miles: 34 commuter rail

Rolling stock: 9 locomotives, 17 rail cars, average age 20 years

Annual ridership: 2.1 million (FY2013)

Annual operating cost: $24.2 million (FY2013)

Annual capital cost: $10.8 million (FY2013)

Number of stations: 10

Capital project information not provided.

Part 1: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Preface

Part 2: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Amtrak and transit agencies in California

Part 3: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in Colorado and Florida

Part 4: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in Georgia, Illinois and Missouri

Part 5: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in New York

Part 6: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in Tennessee and Texas

Part 7: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Transit agencies in Virginia and the state of Washington

Part 8: Passenger Rail at a Glance 2014: Metrolinx in Ontario, Canada