Approval of January 12, 2017, Minutes Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 5 Presenter: Ron Jensen, RTC Chair Item Summary: Approval of the January 12, 2017, minutes contained in Reference Item 1 will be requested. Background: N/A
Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 0 2.1. Unified Planning Work Program Modifications Presenter: Dan Kessler, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of modifications to the FY2016 and FY2017 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 FY2016 and FY2017 UPWP identifies the activities to be carried out between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2017. Amendments to this document are being proposed to reflect new projects, a funding adjustment, and text updates to clarify project funding sources. The proposed amendments have been presented to the public through the December 2016 public input opportunity and are also included as Reference Item 2.1.1. Additional information is provided in Electronic Item 2.1.2. The Surface Transportation Technical Committee has recommended RTC approval. 2.2. TEXRail Contingency Loan Not Needed Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) will be asked to remove funding from the short-term contingency loan to the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA) for construction of the TEXRail project. Background: In May 2016, the RTC approved a short-term $80 million cash flow loan to FWTA for the TEXRail project while a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) was pending approval by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). On December 15, 2016, FWTA signed the FFGA with FTA. Therefore, the loan option extended to FWTA by the RTC is no longer needed, and staff proposes to remove the funds through the next Transportation Improvement Program modification cycle.
Orientation to Agenda/Director of Transportation Report Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 15 Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG 1. Texas Department of Transportation Presentation Recognition 2. Regional Transportation Council Transit Call for Projects (Electronic Item 3.1) • Funding to increase job access for low-income individuals • Funding to increase mobility options for seniors and individuals with disabilities 3. Access North Texas Fact Sheet (Electronic Item 3.2) 4. Deadline for Metropolitan Transportation Policy Bundle Survey, Final Submittal: March 3, 2017 5. Quarterly East/West Equity Report (Electronic Item 3.3) 6. Air Quality Funding Opportunities for Vehicles (Electronic Item 3.4) 7. Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Annual Reports Due March 1: Reminder (Electronic Item 3.5) 8. City of Euless Featured in Fuel Fix Magazine for Idle Reduction Efforts (Electronic Item 3.6) 9. Budget Freeze for Environmental Protection Agency Items 10. Recent Correspondence (Electronic Item 3.7) 11. Recent News Articles (Electronic Item 3.8) 12. Transportation Partners Progress Reports
Additional Information on Naming Rights for SH 360 South of IH 20 Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: Selected Regional Transportation Council (RTC) members inquired about the process of naming a roadway in the region, specifically SH 360. They requested the appropriateness of the RTC to take action. Background: The RTC is partnering to construct SH 360 as a toll road south of Sublett Road. The partners are cities along the corridor, the county, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA). Some local governments are interested in naming the roadway for Senator Chris Harris, an avid advocate for the facility for several decades. North Central Texas Council of Governments staff will discuss two approaches for the roadway to be named. One approach is that the roadway be named by NTTA and the other by the Texas Legislature. Senate Bill (SB) 558 has been introduced by Senator Kelly Hancock to name the facility Senator Chris Harris Memorial Highway. Electronic Item 4 contains a copy of SB 558.
Support Letters to the United States Secretary of Transportation: Opportunity for Partnership and Request for High-Speed Rail Funding Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) is advancing two initiatives. The first initiative welcomes the United States (US) Secretary of Transportation and outlines regional areas of success to potentially assist the nation. The second advances funding for high-speed rail in the Fort Worth/Arlington/Dallas corridor. Staff will request approval of letters to the US Secretary of Transportation. Background: As presented at the January 12, 2017, RTC meeting, the first of the top five policy initiatives for 2017 was to introduce the region and its success to the US Secretary of Transportation. The second item, RTC emphasis area three, is to request high-speed rail federal discretionary funds for the high-speed rail section between Fort Worth, Arlington, and Dallas. Reference Item 5.1 and Reference Item 5.2 contain proposed letters of support.
Federal and State Legislative Update Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Amanda Wilson, NCTCOG Item Summary: The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) will receive an update on federal and State legislative actions. Background: The first session of the 115th United States (US) Congress convened on January 3, 2017, and the Texas Legislature convened on January 10, 2017. Transportation issues will be a focus for both the US Congress and Texas Legislature. This item will allow staff to provide updates on key positions of the RTC and allow any additional positions to be taken, if necessary.
Follow Up from the Workshop on Modern Day "People Mover" and Arlington Transit Concepts Resulting from High-Speed Rail Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenters: Michael Morris and Kevin Feldt, NCTCOG Item Summary: An overview of the Workshop held prior to the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) meeting will be presented. Background: Last month, the RTC discussed the role the City of Arlington will play in high-speed rail. This item will be discussed in a broader conversation on modern day "people mover" systems.
Regional 10-Year Plan: Technical Analysis for the IH 30/IH 635 Interchange Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) staff will provide the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) with an update regarding the technical analysis requested at the December 2016 RTC meeting regarding the IH 635/IH 30 Interchange. Background: In response to a comment regarding the Regional 10-Year Plan at the December 2016 RTC meeting, NCTCOG staff committed to work with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide a technical analysis on the IH 635/IH 30 Interchange. The purpose of this analysis is to determine whether a full reconstruction of the interchange is required immediately to meet the transportation needs of the area, of if another option will suffice. Staff will provide an update on the analysis. Electronic Item 8 contains additional comments NCTCOG staff presented at the January 31, 2017, TxDOT public hearing on IH 635. NCTCOG will
December 2016 Texas Mobility Summit Overview, February 2017 Automated Vehicle Demonstration and Roundtable, and Region Named Automated Vehicle Proving Ground Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Tom Bamonte, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will provide an update on vehicle technology initiatives in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Background: The Texas Mobility Summit in early December 2016 was an opportunity for teams from Texas metropolitan areas to work through transportation challenges and share their proposed solutions with their peers, the Texas Department of Transportation, and representatives from the private sector. The region fielded two teams that submitted presentations: 1) Team Arlington, which focused on creative ways to improve mobility in that city, and 2) Team DFW, which focused on improvements to the IH 30 corridor between Dallas and Fort Worth. The participants in the Mobility Summit then worked together on a statewide application for United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) designation of a Texas network of automated proving grounds. USDOT accepted the application-one of ten in the US out of over 60 submissions. The Texas proving grounds include: 1) the University of Texas Arlington campus for low-speed; 2) Arlington streets for medium-speed; and 3) the IH 30 corridor for high-speed deployments. On February 2, 2017, the North Central Texas Council of Governments cohosted with Arlington a demonstration on an automated vehicle by the Alliance for Transportation Innovation. The event was open to the public, received extensive media coverage, and attracted much public interest.
Fiscal Year 2017 Federal Highway Administration 10 Year Preliminary Engineering Audit Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Adam Beckom, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will update the Council on the latest developments in regards to projects subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Preliminary Engineering (PE) Audit. Background: The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) District staff has begun coordination efforts with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and local implementing agencies on the FY2017 FHWA PE Audit. The purpose of this audit is to review all projects that have been funded with federal funds for engineering, but have not moved on to the next phase of implementation. If a project has not moved on to the next phase by the tenth year, the State (or implementing agency) will have to repay the engineering funds. A list of all current projects subject to the FHWA PE Audit is included in Electronic Item 10. Additional information regarding the audit and timeline will be presented at the meeting.
11. Progress Reports Action Possible Action Information Item Summary: Progress Reports are provided in the items below. • RTC Attendance (Reference Item 11.1) • STTC Attendance and Minutes (Electronic Item 11.2) • Local Motion (Electronic Item 11.3) 12. Other Business (Old or New): This item provides an opportunity for members to bring items of interest before the group. 13. Future Agenda Items: This item provides an opportunity for members to bring items of future interest before the Council. 14. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Regional Transportation Council is scheduled for 1:00 pm, Thursday, March 9, 2017, at the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
Approval of January 12, 2017, Minutes Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 5 Presenter: Ron Jensen, RTC Chair Item Summary: Approval of the January 12, 2017, minutes contained in Reference Item 1 will be requested. Background: N/A
Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 0 2.1. Unified Planning Work Program Modifications Presenter: Dan Kessler, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of modifications to the FY2016 and FY2017 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 FY2016 and FY2017 UPWP identifies the activities to be carried out between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2017. Amendments to this document are being proposed to reflect new projects, a funding adjustment, and text updates to clarify project funding sources. The proposed amendments have been presented to the public through the December 2016 public input opportunity and are also included as Reference Item 2.1.1. Additional information is provided in Electronic Item 2.1.2. The Surface Transportation Technical Committee has recommended RTC approval. 2.2. TEXRail Contingency Loan Not Needed Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) will be asked to remove funding from the short-term contingency loan to the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA) for construction of the TEXRail project. Background: In May 2016, the RTC approved a short-term $80 million cash flow loan to FWTA for the TEXRail project while a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) was pending approval by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). On December 15, 2016, FWTA signed the FFGA with FTA. Therefore, the loan option extended to FWTA by the RTC is no longer needed, and staff proposes to remove the funds through the next Transportation Improvement Program modification cycle.
Orientation to Agenda/Director of Transportation Report Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 15 Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG 1. Texas Department of Transportation Presentation Recognition 2. Regional Transportation Council Transit Call for Projects (Electronic Item 3.1) • Funding to increase job access for low-income individuals • Funding to increase mobility options for seniors and individuals with disabilities 3. Access North Texas Fact Sheet (Electronic Item 3.2) 4. Deadline for Metropolitan Transportation Policy Bundle Survey, Final Submittal: March 3, 2017 5. Quarterly East/West Equity Report (Electronic Item 3.3) 6. Air Quality Funding Opportunities for Vehicles (Electronic Item 3.4) 7. Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Annual Reports Due March 1: Reminder (Electronic Item 3.5) 8. City of Euless Featured in Fuel Fix Magazine for Idle Reduction Efforts (Electronic Item 3.6) 9. Budget Freeze for Environmental Protection Agency Items 10. Recent Correspondence (Electronic Item 3.7) 11. Recent News Articles (Electronic Item 3.8) 12. Transportation Partners Progress Reports
Additional Information on Naming Rights for SH 360 South of IH 20 Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: Selected Regional Transportation Council (RTC) members inquired about the process of naming a roadway in the region, specifically SH 360. They requested the appropriateness of the RTC to take action. Background: The RTC is partnering to construct SH 360 as a toll road south of Sublett Road. The partners are cities along the corridor, the county, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA). Some local governments are interested in naming the roadway for Senator Chris Harris, an avid advocate for the facility for several decades. North Central Texas Council of Governments staff will discuss two approaches for the roadway to be named. One approach is that the roadway be named by NTTA and the other by the Texas Legislature. Senate Bill (SB) 558 has been introduced by Senator Kelly Hancock to name the facility Senator Chris Harris Memorial Highway. Electronic Item 4 contains a copy of SB 558.
Support Letters to the United States Secretary of Transportation: Opportunity for Partnership and Request for High-Speed Rail Funding Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) is advancing two initiatives. The first initiative welcomes the United States (US) Secretary of Transportation and outlines regional areas of success to potentially assist the nation. The second advances funding for high-speed rail in the Fort Worth/Arlington/Dallas corridor. Staff will request approval of letters to the US Secretary of Transportation. Background: As presented at the January 12, 2017, RTC meeting, the first of the top five policy initiatives for 2017 was to introduce the region and its success to the US Secretary of Transportation. The second item, RTC emphasis area three, is to request high-speed rail federal discretionary funds for the high-speed rail section between Fort Worth, Arlington, and Dallas. Reference Item 5.1 and Reference Item 5.2 contain proposed letters of support.
Federal and State Legislative Update Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Amanda Wilson, NCTCOG Item Summary: The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) will receive an update on federal and State legislative actions. Background: The first session of the 115th United States (US) Congress convened on January 3, 2017, and the Texas Legislature convened on January 10, 2017. Transportation issues will be a focus for both the US Congress and Texas Legislature. This item will allow staff to provide updates on key positions of the RTC and allow any additional positions to be taken, if necessary.
Follow Up from the Workshop on Modern Day "People Mover" and Arlington Transit Concepts Resulting from High-Speed Rail Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenters: Michael Morris and Kevin Feldt, NCTCOG Item Summary: An overview of the Workshop held prior to the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) meeting will be presented. Background: Last month, the RTC discussed the role the City of Arlington will play in high-speed rail. This item will be discussed in a broader conversation on modern day "people mover" systems.
Regional 10-Year Plan: Technical Analysis for the IH 30/IH 635 Interchange Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) staff will provide the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) with an update regarding the technical analysis requested at the December 2016 RTC meeting regarding the IH 635/IH 30 Interchange. Background: In response to a comment regarding the Regional 10-Year Plan at the December 2016 RTC meeting, NCTCOG staff committed to work with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide a technical analysis on the IH 635/IH 30 Interchange. The purpose of this analysis is to determine whether a full reconstruction of the interchange is required immediately to meet the transportation needs of the area, of if another option will suffice. Staff will provide an update on the analysis. Electronic Item 8 contains additional comments NCTCOG staff presented at the January 31, 2017, TxDOT public hearing on IH 635. NCTCOG will
December 2016 Texas Mobility Summit Overview, February 2017 Automated Vehicle Demonstration and Roundtable, and Region Named Automated Vehicle Proving Ground Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Tom Bamonte, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will provide an update on vehicle technology initiatives in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Background: The Texas Mobility Summit in early December 2016 was an opportunity for teams from Texas metropolitan areas to work through transportation challenges and share their proposed solutions with their peers, the Texas Department of Transportation, and representatives from the private sector. The region fielded two teams that submitted presentations: 1) Team Arlington, which focused on creative ways to improve mobility in that city, and 2) Team DFW, which focused on improvements to the IH 30 corridor between Dallas and Fort Worth. The participants in the Mobility Summit then worked together on a statewide application for United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) designation of a Texas network of automated proving grounds. USDOT accepted the application-one of ten in the US out of over 60 submissions. The Texas proving grounds include: 1) the University of Texas Arlington campus for low-speed; 2) Arlington streets for medium-speed; and 3) the IH 30 corridor for high-speed deployments. On February 2, 2017, the North Central Texas Council of Governments cohosted with Arlington a demonstration on an automated vehicle by the Alliance for Transportation Innovation. The event was open to the public, received extensive media coverage, and attracted much public interest.
Fiscal Year 2017 Federal Highway Administration 10 Year Preliminary Engineering Audit Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10 Presenter: Adam Beckom, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will update the Council on the latest developments in regards to projects subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Preliminary Engineering (PE) Audit. Background: The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) District staff has begun coordination efforts with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and local implementing agencies on the FY2017 FHWA PE Audit. The purpose of this audit is to review all projects that have been funded with federal funds for engineering, but have not moved on to the next phase of implementation. If a project has not moved on to the next phase by the tenth year, the State (or implementing agency) will have to repay the engineering funds. A list of all current projects subject to the FHWA PE Audit is included in Electronic Item 10. Additional information regarding the audit and timeline will be presented at the meeting.
11. Progress Reports Action Possible Action Information Item Summary: Progress Reports are provided in the items below. • RTC Attendance (Reference Item 11.1) • STTC Attendance and Minutes (Electronic Item 11.2) • Local Motion (Electronic Item 11.3) 12. Other Business (Old or New): This item provides an opportunity for members to bring items of interest before the group. 13. Future Agenda Items: This item provides an opportunity for members to bring items of future interest before the Council. 14. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Regional Transportation Council is scheduled for 1:00 pm, Thursday, March 9, 2017, at the North Central Texas Council of Governments.