Your Train is Arriving

DART restores one of its most popular and reassuring travel features

The signs announcing the next DART train are back.

Photo by Claire St. Amant

As of May 10, a vital feature of the DART rail system is back online, one that provides riders with reassuring information on when the next train will arrive.

The real-time arrival system displays times on DART's message boards at each rail station platform, showing a list of trains and what time they'll arrive. The feature had been down since January, after a breakdown in DART's computer system that at the time was attributed to hackers.

"DART was hit with what's called a 'denial of service' attack that affected a number of our systems," says DART spokesman Morgan Lyons. "None of the safety systems were compromised, but one area that was affected was our customer communications, including the one that lets us provide real-time information train arrival information."

The message boards were not completely dysfunctional; it was just that one teensy, tiny feature they couldn't provide.

"The boards were still able to display clock time and share information about station closures or shuttle service," Lyons says. "But not the thing that customers are most interested in, which is the train arrival times."

Riders with smartphones could use alternatives such as the Transit app, Google Map schedules, and the texting function. But those are less convenient than being able to see the times on a sign.

Arrival times are common on most large rail systems in cities such as New York and San Francisco. DART introduced them about five years ago.

"We've had message board capabilities on some stations since the system was launched, but in 2011 we made a commitment to put them at every station," Lyons says. "Knowing that a train is arriving gives you a sense of reassurance."

The main obstacle to getting them back online was to guarantee that the system would not be open to similar episodes in the future. "It was not only unclogging a pipeline but making sure it's secure," he says.

The corresponding feature for DART's bus service, which went down the same time as the trains, is still not functioning. "We're still working on that one, it's a different system, and I don't have an estimated return for that tool," Lyons says.

transportation

Animal News

Wills Point, Texas man charged with cruelty for abandoning 18 animals

Facebook

Lucas Wayne Penrod, charged with animal cruelty

Another animal cruelty case has emerged from Van Zandt County, resulting in the arrest of a Wills Point man: Lucas Wayne Penrod was charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals, a 3rd degree felony.

It began on Friday, October 24, when the Wills Point Police Department performed a welfare check at a mobile home within the city limits. Officers became concerned when they heard multiple dogs barking along with a foul odor of animal waste.

On October 25, after obtaining a search warrant, Wills Point PD and the SPCA of Texas ACI Unit entered the residence and found multiple animals living in deplorable conditions.

The mobile home was filled with trash and animal feces. The team discovered a total of 8 cats, 2 guinea pigs, 4 adult dogs, and 4 puppies, cruelly confined to the unsanitary living conditions on the property.

Two dogs were confined to filthy crates with no access to water.
Three puppies were in a small bathroom covered in urine and feces; one of the puppies was deceased and decomposing.
The guinea pigs were found in a cage without access to food or water.

Most of the animals showed signs of long-term neglect and were in dire need of urgent medical intervention. The animals were seized by the SPCA of Texas and transported to the organization's Dallas location for veterinary care.

Dog in cage Wills Point Lucas Wayne Penrod Dog abandoned in Wills Point by Lucas Wayne Penrod.SPCA

On October 26, Lucas Wayne Penrod, the owner of the animals, contacted an SPCA of Texas Investigator regarding the animals. The Investigator determined that Penrod had unlawfully allegedly abandoned the animals, failing to provide them with proper care, resulting in the death of one of the puppies and the critical state of the surviving animals.

On October 28, the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit obtained an arrest warrant for Penrod, who was apprehended by Tyler Police Department and booked into the Smith County Jail with a $50K bond. Penrod was charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals, a 3rd degree felony.

On November 1, at a civil custody hearing at the Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 courthouse in Wills Point, Penrod relinquished custody of the 18 allegedly abandoned, cruelly treated animals to the SPCA.

"The squalid conditions these beautiful animals were living in were abhorrent--locked in spaces without food or water, in their own excrement," said SPCA of Texas ACI Unit Chief Investigator Courtney Burns, CAWA. "This is some of the worst mistreatment of domestic animals I've seen in my extensive career in animal cruelty investigations. In no small part, these pets owe their lives to the Wills Point Police Department. If it wasn’t for their quick thinking to involve us right away, I don't think the animals would have made it."

"This case perfectly illustrates the team effort that investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty cases in Texas is," Burns added. "We are extremely thankful to the Tyler Police Department for their efficient assistance in apprehending Penrod so that he can be brought to justice in the timeliest manner possible. And we are especially grateful to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and court system with whom we continue to partner to get justice for abused animals in their jurisdiction."