1. Approval of May 14, 2015, Minutes ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 5 Presenter: Mike Cantrell, RTC Chair Item Summary: Approval of the May 14, 2015, minutes contained in Reference Item 1 will be requested. Background: N/A 2. Consent Agenda ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 0 2.1. 2015-2018 Transportation Improvement Program Modifications Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) ratification of a May 2015 administrative amendment to the 2015-2018 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is requested. Background: A May 2015 administrative amendment to the 2015-2018 TIP is provided as Reference Item 2.1 for RTC ratification. This modification was processed during the May 2015 TIP cycle as an emergency action due to late notification of a scope change. This modification has been reviewed for consistency with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, air quality conformity determination, and financial constraint of the TIP. 2.2. Unified Planning Work Program Modifications Presenter: Dan Kessler, NCTCOG Item Summary: A recommendation for Regional Transportation Council 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 have been presented to the public through the May 11, 2015, online public input opportunity, and are also included as Reference Item 2.2.1. The Surface Transportation Technical Committee has recommended RTC approval. Additional information is provided in Electronic Item 2.2.2.
Orientation to Agenda/Director of Transportation Report ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 15 Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG 1. Recognition of Linda Koop for Service on the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) 2. Recognition of Bill Hale for Service on the RTC 3. Freeway Incident Management Instructor Recognition, Chief Gary Lindsey and Chief Scott Thompson 4. Passing of Former Commissioner Ron Harmon, May 31, 2015, RTC Chair from 2000-2001 5. 2015 Ozone Season Update (Electronic Item 3.1) 6. Air Quality Funding Opportunities for Vehicles (Electronic Item 3.2) 7. Clean Air Action Day, June 26 (Electronic Item 3.3) 8. SH 161 Shoulder Project (Electronic Item 3.4) 9. Progress North Texas (Handout) 10. Public Meeting Notice (Electronic Item 3.5) 11. May Public Input Opportunities Minutes (Handout) 12. Recent Correspondence (Electronic Item 3.6) 13. Recent News Articles (Electronic Item 3.7) 14. Recent Press Releases (Electronic Item 3.8) 15. Transportation Partners Progress Reports
Proposed Implementation of a Project Milestone Policy During the 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program/Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (TIP/STIP) Development Process ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG Item Summary: Council approval is requested for the proposed Project Milestone Policy to be implemented as part of the 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement (TIP)/Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) development process. Background: Staff proposes to implement a Project Milestone Policy with the intent to expedite project implementation by reviewing projects ten years or older. The policy will remove low-priority projects from the TIP/STIP and leave funding capacity for higher-priority projects that are ready to proceed to implementation within the current TIP/STIP timeframe. This policy will be implemented through the 2017-2020 TIP/STIP development effort. Reference Item 4.1 is a listing of projects identified as being funded ten or more years ago (from 1992 to 2005) that have not yet been implemented. Projects on this list have been placed into one of two categories: 1) projects with an undetermined status and 2) projects with a known status. Under the proposed policy, projects in both categories will need to be reapproved or slated for cancellation. Agencies can justify their projects by providing: 1) a realistic, achievable project schedule, and 2) a recent policy board action that confirms the agency’s commitment to the project and demonstrates the availability of local matching funds. Funds released through this effort will be returned to the regional pool and made available for future projects. Details of the Project Milestone Policy are available in Reference Item 4.2.
United States Department of Transportation Issues Positive Transportation Conformity Determination ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenters: Chris Klaus and Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: On Friday, May 29, 2015, the region received a positive transportation conformity determination for the Mobility 2035-2014 Amendment and the 2015-2018 Transportation Improvement Program, allowing project changes as previously adopted by the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) to proceed. Background: Transportation conformity, as required by the Clean Air Act due to the region's ozone nonattainment designation, ensures that federally funded or approved transportation plans, programs, and projects conform to the air quality objectives established in the region’s State Implementation Plan. Since the RTC’s approval back in November 2014, staff has been coordinating with interagency consultation partners to show all technical and procedural requirements have been satisfactorily met. Reference Item 5 is a copy of the transportation conformity determination letter from the United States Department of Transportation. In addition, staff will outline the process to fund these air quality emission reduction needs and commitments for future conformity.
Demographic Forecast for Mobility 2040 ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Dan Kessler, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will present information regarding Forecast 2040, the Regional Demographic Forecasts for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Background: In May, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Executive Board approved the updated demographic forecasts out to the year 2040. The forecasts of future population and employment for the 12-county metropolitan area have been developed by NCTCOG staff in cooperation with local governments and partner agencies and will be used to support the ongoing development of Mobility 2040: The Metropolitan Transportation Plan for North Central Texas. RTC will be provided a brief presentation regarding these forecasts highlighting those areas of the region expected to have dramatic growth in the coming years, as well as any changes predicted in growth patterns from previous forecasts.
Mobility 2040 ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Dan Lamers, NCTCOG Item Summary: Work is underway on the region’s next long-range transportation plan. Staff will provide an update on the continuing evaluation of policy considerations being developed across program areas. A preliminary review of the impact of recent state legislative activity on the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) will also be provided, along with an update on the MTP project schedule. Background: One of the primary responsibilities of the Metropolitan Planning Organization is the development and maintenance of a metropolitan transportation plan. The last comprehensive update of the MTP occurred in 2011 with the adoption of Mobility 2035. Since then, Mobility 2035 has gone through two revisions, an update in 2013, and an amendment in 2014. Staff has initiated the development of a new MTP, Mobility 2040. This plan will reassess existing recommendations and include new demographics, financial forecasts, and planning initiatives. Development will continue over the next 10 months with draft recommendations expected later this year. The Regional Transportation Council is expected to take action on Mobility 2040 in March 2016
State and Federal Legislative Update ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Amanda Wilson, NCTCOG Item Summary: The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) will receive an update on State and federal legislative actions. The 84th Session of the Texas Legislature adjourned on June 1, 2015, and approved important pieces of legislation. The United States (US) Congress convened January 6, 2015, and is in session at the time of the June RTC meeting. Background: Transportation issues are a focus for both the Texas Legislature and US Congress. This item will allow staff to provide updates on recently passed legislation, key positions of the RTC, and allow any additional positions to be taken.
Development of the FY2016 and FY2017 Unified Planning Work Program ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Dan Kessler, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will present a summary of the proposed FY2016 and FY2017 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), including staff recommendations on local government and transportation agency project submittals for consideration of inclusion in the document. Background: In order to obtain federal transportation planning funds, North Central Texas Council of Governments staff, in conjunction with the local governments and transportation agencies, prepares the UPWP. Staff is currently developing the FY2016 and FY2017 UPWP, which identifies the activities to be carried out by the Metropolitan Planning Organization staff between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2017. A draft copy of the document will be provided to the Regional Transportation Council prior to a request for approval in July. A copy of the draft, as submitted to the Texas Department of Transportation for review and comment, is also available online for Regional Transportation Council review at www.nctcog.org/trans/admin/upwp.
Election of Regional Transportation Council Officers ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 5 Presenter: Lee Kleinman, Nominating Subcommittee Chair Item Summary: Approval of Regional Transportation Council (RTC) officers for the next 12-month period will be requested. Background: According to the RTC Bylaws and Operating Procedures, the officers of RTC are elected to serve for a term of one year. The Nominating Subcommittee is charged with providing a slate of officers to the full Council for consideration in June of each year. The Nominating Subcommittee is tasked with confirming that the current Vice Chair and Secretary should move up to the office of Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, and nominate a new Secretary. The Nominating Subcommittee, in its deliberations, shall address issues of diversity, including sensitivity to gender, ethnicity, and geography in its recommendations. Officers shall be elected public officials appointed by and from the governing body of the member government. The slate of officers shall reflect leadership in rough proportion to the revenue distribution between the Eastern and Western Subregions. This will not be measured on a year-to-year basis, but will be aggregated over longer periods of time.
1. Approval of May 14, 2015, Minutes ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 5 Presenter: Mike Cantrell, RTC Chair Item Summary: Approval of the May 14, 2015, minutes contained in Reference Item 1 will be requested. Background: N/A 2. Consent Agenda ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 0 2.1. 2015-2018 Transportation Improvement Program Modifications Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) ratification of a May 2015 administrative amendment to the 2015-2018 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is requested. Background: A May 2015 administrative amendment to the 2015-2018 TIP is provided as Reference Item 2.1 for RTC ratification. This modification was processed during the May 2015 TIP cycle as an emergency action due to late notification of a scope change. This modification has been reviewed for consistency with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, air quality conformity determination, and financial constraint of the TIP. 2.2. Unified Planning Work Program Modifications Presenter: Dan Kessler, NCTCOG Item Summary: A recommendation for Regional Transportation Council 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 have been presented to the public through the May 11, 2015, online public input opportunity, and are also included as Reference Item 2.2.1. The Surface Transportation Technical Committee has recommended RTC approval. Additional information is provided in Electronic Item 2.2.2.
Orientation to Agenda/Director of Transportation Report ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 15 Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG 1. Recognition of Linda Koop for Service on the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) 2. Recognition of Bill Hale for Service on the RTC 3. Freeway Incident Management Instructor Recognition, Chief Gary Lindsey and Chief Scott Thompson 4. Passing of Former Commissioner Ron Harmon, May 31, 2015, RTC Chair from 2000-2001 5. 2015 Ozone Season Update (Electronic Item 3.1) 6. Air Quality Funding Opportunities for Vehicles (Electronic Item 3.2) 7. Clean Air Action Day, June 26 (Electronic Item 3.3) 8. SH 161 Shoulder Project (Electronic Item 3.4) 9. Progress North Texas (Handout) 10. Public Meeting Notice (Electronic Item 3.5) 11. May Public Input Opportunities Minutes (Handout) 12. Recent Correspondence (Electronic Item 3.6) 13. Recent News Articles (Electronic Item 3.7) 14. Recent Press Releases (Electronic Item 3.8) 15. Transportation Partners Progress Reports
Proposed Implementation of a Project Milestone Policy During the 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program/Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (TIP/STIP) Development Process ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG Item Summary: Council approval is requested for the proposed Project Milestone Policy to be implemented as part of the 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement (TIP)/Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) development process. Background: Staff proposes to implement a Project Milestone Policy with the intent to expedite project implementation by reviewing projects ten years or older. The policy will remove low-priority projects from the TIP/STIP and leave funding capacity for higher-priority projects that are ready to proceed to implementation within the current TIP/STIP timeframe. This policy will be implemented through the 2017-2020 TIP/STIP development effort. Reference Item 4.1 is a listing of projects identified as being funded ten or more years ago (from 1992 to 2005) that have not yet been implemented. Projects on this list have been placed into one of two categories: 1) projects with an undetermined status and 2) projects with a known status. Under the proposed policy, projects in both categories will need to be reapproved or slated for cancellation. Agencies can justify their projects by providing: 1) a realistic, achievable project schedule, and 2) a recent policy board action that confirms the agency’s commitment to the project and demonstrates the availability of local matching funds. Funds released through this effort will be returned to the regional pool and made available for future projects. Details of the Project Milestone Policy are available in Reference Item 4.2.
United States Department of Transportation Issues Positive Transportation Conformity Determination ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenters: Chris Klaus and Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: On Friday, May 29, 2015, the region received a positive transportation conformity determination for the Mobility 2035-2014 Amendment and the 2015-2018 Transportation Improvement Program, allowing project changes as previously adopted by the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) to proceed. Background: Transportation conformity, as required by the Clean Air Act due to the region's ozone nonattainment designation, ensures that federally funded or approved transportation plans, programs, and projects conform to the air quality objectives established in the region’s State Implementation Plan. Since the RTC’s approval back in November 2014, staff has been coordinating with interagency consultation partners to show all technical and procedural requirements have been satisfactorily met. Reference Item 5 is a copy of the transportation conformity determination letter from the United States Department of Transportation. In addition, staff will outline the process to fund these air quality emission reduction needs and commitments for future conformity.
Demographic Forecast for Mobility 2040 ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Dan Kessler, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will present information regarding Forecast 2040, the Regional Demographic Forecasts for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Background: In May, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Executive Board approved the updated demographic forecasts out to the year 2040. The forecasts of future population and employment for the 12-county metropolitan area have been developed by NCTCOG staff in cooperation with local governments and partner agencies and will be used to support the ongoing development of Mobility 2040: The Metropolitan Transportation Plan for North Central Texas. RTC will be provided a brief presentation regarding these forecasts highlighting those areas of the region expected to have dramatic growth in the coming years, as well as any changes predicted in growth patterns from previous forecasts.
Mobility 2040 ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Dan Lamers, NCTCOG Item Summary: Work is underway on the region’s next long-range transportation plan. Staff will provide an update on the continuing evaluation of policy considerations being developed across program areas. A preliminary review of the impact of recent state legislative activity on the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) will also be provided, along with an update on the MTP project schedule. Background: One of the primary responsibilities of the Metropolitan Planning Organization is the development and maintenance of a metropolitan transportation plan. The last comprehensive update of the MTP occurred in 2011 with the adoption of Mobility 2035. Since then, Mobility 2035 has gone through two revisions, an update in 2013, and an amendment in 2014. Staff has initiated the development of a new MTP, Mobility 2040. This plan will reassess existing recommendations and include new demographics, financial forecasts, and planning initiatives. Development will continue over the next 10 months with draft recommendations expected later this year. The Regional Transportation Council is expected to take action on Mobility 2040 in March 2016
State and Federal Legislative Update ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Amanda Wilson, NCTCOG Item Summary: The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) will receive an update on State and federal legislative actions. The 84th Session of the Texas Legislature adjourned on June 1, 2015, and approved important pieces of legislation. The United States (US) Congress convened January 6, 2015, and is in session at the time of the June RTC meeting. Background: Transportation issues are a focus for both the Texas Legislature and US Congress. This item will allow staff to provide updates on recently passed legislation, key positions of the RTC, and allow any additional positions to be taken.
Development of the FY2016 and FY2017 Unified Planning Work Program ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Dan Kessler, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will present a summary of the proposed FY2016 and FY2017 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), including staff recommendations on local government and transportation agency project submittals for consideration of inclusion in the document. Background: In order to obtain federal transportation planning funds, North Central Texas Council of Governments staff, in conjunction with the local governments and transportation agencies, prepares the UPWP. Staff is currently developing the FY2016 and FY2017 UPWP, which identifies the activities to be carried out by the Metropolitan Planning Organization staff between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2017. A draft copy of the document will be provided to the Regional Transportation Council prior to a request for approval in July. A copy of the draft, as submitted to the Texas Department of Transportation for review and comment, is also available online for Regional Transportation Council review at www.nctcog.org/trans/admin/upwp.
Election of Regional Transportation Council Officers ? Action ? Possible Action ? Information Minutes: 5 Presenter: Lee Kleinman, Nominating Subcommittee Chair Item Summary: Approval of Regional Transportation Council (RTC) officers for the next 12-month period will be requested. Background: According to the RTC Bylaws and Operating Procedures, the officers of RTC are elected to serve for a term of one year. The Nominating Subcommittee is charged with providing a slate of officers to the full Council for consideration in June of each year. The Nominating Subcommittee is tasked with confirming that the current Vice Chair and Secretary should move up to the office of Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, and nominate a new Secretary. The Nominating Subcommittee, in its deliberations, shall address issues of diversity, including sensitivity to gender, ethnicity, and geography in its recommendations. Officers shall be elected public officials appointed by and from the governing body of the member government. The slate of officers shall reflect leadership in rough proportion to the revenue distribution between the Eastern and Western Subregions. This will not be measured on a year-to-year basis, but will be aggregated over longer periods of time.