Local News
TAPS Public Transit begins service in Collin County
By Dan Acree, Manager, Office of Public Information - TAPS Public Transit
Jul 3, 2013

McKinney -- At 6:00 a.m. Monday morning, July 1, 2013, TAPS Public Transit picked up its first passengers on the Blue Route and Red Route, initiating intercity bus service for the City of McKinney.

Meanwhile, at the transit agency’s newly opened park and ride lot on Gateway Blvd. near US Hwy 75 and Texas State Hwy 121, a signature blue and green bus pulled out, headed for the DART station on Parker Road in Plano.

For many Collin County residents, TAPS provides a vital connection to work, school and community activities. The event was marked by a low-key ceremony this morning just after 7:00 a.m., at the Gateway Blvd. Park and Ride, as about a dozen county and city officials and TAP Public Transit executives gathered to take a test ride on a the “Parker Road Express,” the express shuttle service from McKinney to DART in Plano.

Brad Underwood, TAPS CEO and Executive Director, told the group that Monday marked three important events in public transportation for North Texas.

“Today, we’re launching on-demand, curb-­to-­curb service for the disadvantaged, elderly and disabled citizens who have a right to dependable, affordable, transportation,” said Underwood. “For the City of McKinney, TAPS is beginning a new era of improved intercity public transportation for a growing community, and finally, our agency is connecting southern Oklahoma with the Dallas-­Fort Worth Metroplex on a unified system.”

Brad Underwood, TAPS CEO and Executive Director

After several months of negotiations, TAPS Public Transit, headquartered in Sherman, entered into agreements with Collin County and McKinney to take over service from C-­CART (Collin County Area Regional Transit) after the agency declined in service and became financially unviable.

TAPS Public Transit is a community-led, multi-­modal, customer-centric transportation agency serving a seven-county area that includes Clay, Collin, Cooke, Fannin, Grayson, Montague, and Wise counties in the North Texas region.

"This has been a long time coming," remarked Collin County Commissioner Chris Hill. "TAPS, we're very excitied to have you here. Brad, we welcome you and your team."

Because TAPS is partially subsidized by federal and state transportation funds, rates are below market value and extremely affordable. A roundtrip ride on a TAPS bus within the rider’s county of residence can cost as little as $2.

Ribbon cutting at the Gateway Blvd. Park and Ride

For more information about TAPS Public Transit, visit the website at www.TAPSbus.com

Collin County Judge Keith Self prepares to board the TAPS bus for the ride to the DART station on Parker Road in Plano .