2.1. Unified Planning Work Program Modifications Presenter: Dan Kessler, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of modifications to the FY2014 and FY2015 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) will be requested. Background: The Unified Planning Work Program is required by federal and State transportation planning regulations and provides a summary of the transportation and transportation-related air quality planning tasks to be conducted by Metropolitan Planning Organization staff. The FY2014 and FY2015 UPWP identifies the activities to be carried out between October 1, 2013, and September 30, 2015. Amendments to this document are being proposed to reflect new initiatives, project modifications, and funding adjustments. The proposed amendments were presented to the public during the July 14 and 17, 2014, public meetings. The proposed modifications are also included as Reference Item 2.1.1. A presentation summarizing the modifications is provided in Electronic Item 2.1.2. The Surface Transportation Technical Committee recommended RTC approval at its July 25 meeting. 2.2. Transportation Development Credits: "Type 2 – Local Agency has Federal and Local Revenue" Call for Projects – Final Recommendations Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of projects submitted during the “Type 2 – Local Agency has Federal and Local Revenue” Call for Projects. Background: There are three forms of local match for federal projects: 1) cash, 2) in-kind, and 3) Transportation Development Credits (TDCs). TDCs are assigned to states by the Federal Highway Administration to represent “value added” from tolling federal transportation facilities. This “value” can be used to reduce cash commitments associated with federal funding requirements. To this end, the RTC set aside 50 million in TDCs for use in this call for projects. In January 2014, the RTC initiated a call for projects to use TDCs to offset the federal match requirement on existing federally funded projects. The local match funds freed up would then be used on another locally implemented transportation project. Projects have been evaluated against the established goals of the call for projects, and a recommendation has been developed. The original call for projects announcement letter is provided in Electronic Item 2.2.1. A final draft recommendation is provided in Reference Item 2.2.2. Additional details are available in Electronic Item 2.2.3. 2.3. Supplemental Data Collection Revenues Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request approval of supplemental funding to support the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) grant opportunity. Background: In February 2014, the FHWA announced the fourth round of opportunities in the Strategic Highway Research Program. If awarded, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) anticipates utilizing the funds to develop an advanced network modeling tool for the region through use of Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA). Funding of $700,000 was requested as part of the grant application. In addition, $500,000 of supplemental funding to support this initiative is requested from the Regional Transportation Council if this project is funded by FHWA. 2.4. Endorsement of Comments to the Texas Department of Transportation Regarding the Transportation Alternatives Program Presenter: Karla Weaver, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request endorsement of North Central Texas Council of Governments comments to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) on proposed Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) rulemaking. Background: On June 26, 2014, the Texas Transportation Commission was provided draft rule making by TxDOT staff regarding its proposed Transportation Alternative Program for the State. This funding is to be used for bicycle and pedestrian projects, including Safe Routes to School-type initiatives. One impact of the proposed program rules was that funds would not be eligible within the large urbanized areas to agencies that submit to a Metropolitan Planning Organization for TAP funding. Staff provided comments on the proposed rules to allow for agencies in the Dallas-Fort Worth region to apply to the State program and is seeking RTC endorsement of the comments. A copy of the communication is included in Reference Item 2.4. The deadline for receipt of comments by TxDOT was August 11, 2014.
2.1. Unified Planning Work Program Modifications Presenter: Dan Kessler, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of modifications to the FY2014 and FY2015 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) will be requested. Background: The Unified Planning Work Program is required by federal and State transportation planning regulations and provides a summary of the transportation and transportation-related air quality planning tasks to be conducted by Metropolitan Planning Organization staff. The FY2014 and FY2015 UPWP identifies the activities to be carried out between October 1, 2013, and September 30, 2015. Amendments to this document are being proposed to reflect new initiatives, project modifications, and funding adjustments. The proposed amendments were presented to the public during the July 14 and 17, 2014, public meetings. The proposed modifications are also included as Reference Item 2.1.1. A presentation summarizing the modifications is provided in Electronic Item 2.1.2. The Surface Transportation Technical Committee recommended RTC approval at its July 25 meeting. 2.2. Transportation Development Credits: "Type 2 – Local Agency has Federal and Local Revenue" Call for Projects – Final Recommendations Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of projects submitted during the “Type 2 – Local Agency has Federal and Local Revenue” Call for Projects. Background: There are three forms of local match for federal projects: 1) cash, 2) in-kind, and 3) Transportation Development Credits (TDCs). TDCs are assigned to states by the Federal Highway Administration to represent “value added” from tolling federal transportation facilities. This “value” can be used to reduce cash commitments associated with federal funding requirements. To this end, the RTC set aside 50 million in TDCs for use in this call for projects. In January 2014, the RTC initiated a call for projects to use TDCs to offset the federal match requirement on existing federally funded projects. The local match funds freed up would then be used on another locally implemented transportation project. Projects have been evaluated against the established goals of the call for projects, and a recommendation has been developed. The original call for projects announcement letter is provided in Electronic Item 2.2.1. A final draft recommendation is provided in Reference Item 2.2.2. Additional details are available in Electronic Item 2.2.3. 2.3. Supplemental Data Collection Revenues Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request approval of supplemental funding to support the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) grant opportunity. Background: In February 2014, the FHWA announced the fourth round of opportunities in the Strategic Highway Research Program. If awarded, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) anticipates utilizing the funds to develop an advanced network modeling tool for the region through use of Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA). Funding of $700,000 was requested as part of the grant application. In addition, $500,000 of supplemental funding to support this initiative is requested from the Regional Transportation Council if this project is funded by FHWA. 2.4. Endorsement of Comments to the Texas Department of Transportation Regarding the Transportation Alternatives Program Presenter: Karla Weaver, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request endorsement of North Central Texas Council of Governments comments to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) on proposed Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) rulemaking. Background: On June 26, 2014, the Texas Transportation Commission was provided draft rule making by TxDOT staff regarding its proposed Transportation Alternative Program for the State. This funding is to be used for bicycle and pedestrian projects, including Safe Routes to School-type initiatives. One impact of the proposed program rules was that funds would not be eligible within the large urbanized areas to agencies that submit to a Metropolitan Planning Organization for TAP funding. Staff provided comments on the proposed rules to allow for agencies in the Dallas-Fort Worth region to apply to the State program and is seeking RTC endorsement of the comments. A copy of the communication is included in Reference Item 2.4. The deadline for receipt of comments by TxDOT was August 11, 2014.