Approval of September 12, 2019, Minutes Minutes: 5 Presenter: Andy Eads, RTC Chair Item Summary: Approval of the September 12, 2019, minutes contained in Reference Item 2 will be requested. Background: N/A
3.2. FY2020 and FY2021 Unified Planning Work Program Modifications Presenter: Vickie Alexander, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of modifications to the FY2020 and FY2021 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) will be requested. Direction for staff to also amend the Transportation Improvement Program and other administrative/planning documents, as appropriate, to reflect the approved modifications will also be sought. 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 FY2020 and FY2021 UPWP identifies the activities to be carried out between October 1, 2019, and September 30, 2021. Amendments to this document are being proposed to reflect project updates and funding adjustments. The proposed amendments have been posted on the NCTCOG website for public review and comment, and are also included as Electronic Item 3.2.1. Additional information is provided in Electronic Item 3.2.2. Comments received as a result of the public outreach process, if any, will be provided as a handout at the meeting. The Surface Transportation Technical Committee is scheduled to take action on the modifications at its October 4, 2019, meeting.
Transportation Improvement Program Modifications Presenter: Ken Bunkley, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of revisions to the 2019-2022 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the ability to amend the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and other planning/administrative documents with TIP-related changes will be requested. Background: November 2019 revisions to the 2019-2022 TIP are provided as Electronic Item 3.1 for the Council’s consideration. These modifications have been reviewed for consistency with the Mobility Plan, the air quality conformity determination, and financial constraint of the TIP.
Orientation to Agenda/Director of Transportation Report 1. Thank You to the City of Irving for Hosting the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) at the Irving Transportation Investment Summit 2. Upcoming Workshops/Subcommittees Approved by the RTC Chair 3. Design Conflicts: Ongoing Conversations on IH 345 and Dallas Area Rapid Transit D2 Line 4. 2018 Safety Performance Report (Electronic Item 4.1) 5. Traffic Incident Management Executive Level Course November 2019 Training Invitation (Electronic Item 4.2) 6. Air Quality Funding Opportunities for Vehicles (www.nctcog.org/trans/quality/air/funding-and-resources/fundingvehicle) 7. Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Events (www.dfwcleancities.org/dfw-cleancities- meetings) 8. Status Report on Ozone (Electronic Item 4.3) 9. Environmental Protection Agency Recognition of SmartWay Affiliation (www.nctcog.org/smartway) 10. East/West Equity Update (Electronic Item 4.4) 11. 511DFW Fact Sheet (Electronic Item 4.5) 12. October Public Meeting Notice (Electronic Item 4.6) 13. September Online Input Opportunity Minutes (Electronic Item 4.7) 14. Public Comments Report (Electronic Item 4.8) 15. Recent Correspondence (Electronic Item 4.9) 16. Recent News Articles (Electronic Item 4.10) 17. Recent Press Releases (Electronic Item 4.11) 18. Transportation Partners Progress Reports
Next Steps with the Texas Department of Transportation Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) to reengage the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Transportation Commission on innovative transportation funding policies. Background: With the completion of this year's Unified Transportation Program (UTP) in August 2019, staff would like to reinitiate previously successful policies that led to an aggressive combination of projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Efforts are underway to develop these policy elements in order to influence project programing for next year's UTP. Such policy items as the importance of partnership, innovative funding, and formula allocation, as well as good government principles to advance tolled managed lanes, will be discussed.
Regional 10-Year Plan Commitments Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will brief the Council on the status of funding commitments on several projects in the Regional 10-Year Plan. Background: In the spring of 2019, the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approved a series of updates to the Regional 10-Year Plan. Among the changes were the temporary removal of funding from a few projects in the region. Some of this funding was moved to other projects temporarily in order to help leverage additional Category 12 funding from the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC). Other funding was removed permanently. Staff will discuss which projects are proposed to be refunded in the next 10-Year Plan update and which are proposed to remain unfunded. Electronic Item 6 provides additional details about this effort. A copy of the draft letter to Commissioner Duncan Webb, approved at the September 2019 RTC meeting, will be distributed at the meeting.
7. High-Speed Rail Work Plan: Dallas/Arlington/Fort Worth Presenters: Michael Morris and Sandy Wesch, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will present a draft work plan for advancing high-speed rail technology between Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth. Background: The Tier 2 environmental document Request for Proposal is anticipated to be sent out for consultant assistance this fall. Staff would like to present the major work tasks to update the environmental work previously conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation. Additional information is provided in Electronic Item 7. 8. Hyperloop Certification Facility Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will present a status report on how the Dallas-Fort Worth region will respond to the anticipated Request for Proposals for a hyperloop certification facility. Background: It is anticipated that Virgin Hyperloop One will request a partnership with a local entity to build a certification facility for the new hyperloop technology. Staff will engage the Greater Dallas Chamber to address non-certification requirements and the Regional Transportation Council will retain the presentation of potential certification track locations. Staff will also transmit a call for candidate locations to governmental entities within the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
Volkswagen Settlement Update and New Call for Projects Presenter: Lori Clark, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will present an overview of the Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program funding distribution to date. Background: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was designated by the Governor as the lead agency for administration of Texas’ share of funds under the Environmental Mitigation Trust, which is approximately $209 million. The Dallas-Fort Worth area was allocated $33,385,160, of which $11,684,806 was reserved for bus projects and $8,346,290 will be allocated to refuse haulers. Electronic Item 9 provides an overview of the trust and a status update of the funding rounds thus far.
Transportation 101 Presenters: Andy Eads, RTC Chair and Amanda Wilson, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) Chair Andy Eads will provide an overview of a public education campaign requested for the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) staff to prepare. Background: A request has been made for NCTCOG staff to develop a Transportation 101 public education campaign. Previously, education campaigns have been developed on TEXpress Lanes and Funding 101. Elements of these prior efforts will be used. Additional presentation materials, brochures, and videos may be developed. An ongoing effort to develop an enhanced community engagement program that pairs education with seeking public comments earlier in the planning process, as outlined in the Public Participation Plan, will be expedited as part of the Transportation 101 campaign. Elements will be available to RTC and Surface Transportation Technical Committee members to use within their communities, as well as NCTCOG staff.
AirCheckTexas Funding Presenter: Chris Klaus, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regarding locally generated funds from the AirCheckTexas Program, staff will highlight further communication recommended to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Background: On August 14, 2019, the TCEQ responded to the Regional Transportation Council’s (RTC) request that locally generated interest and rebate funds remain in the region for further emission reductions. The response is provided in Electronic Item 11.1. As specified in intergovernmental contracts amongst the TCEQ and the participating counties, funds generated through use of grant funding are treated as grant funds. Unexpended grant funding goes back into Clean Air Account 151. Electronic Item 11.2 is a draft letter to the TCEQ requesting its continued review of all options. Staff will bring this item back at the November 10, 2019, meeting for RTC consideration. Electronic Item 11.3 provides additional details.
Other Business (Old or New): This item provides an opportunity for members to bring items of interest before the group.
Approval of September 12, 2019, Minutes Minutes: 5 Presenter: Andy Eads, RTC Chair Item Summary: Approval of the September 12, 2019, minutes contained in Reference Item 2 will be requested. Background: N/A
3.2. FY2020 and FY2021 Unified Planning Work Program Modifications Presenter: Vickie Alexander, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of modifications to the FY2020 and FY2021 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) will be requested. Direction for staff to also amend the Transportation Improvement Program and other administrative/planning documents, as appropriate, to reflect the approved modifications will also be sought. 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 FY2020 and FY2021 UPWP identifies the activities to be carried out between October 1, 2019, and September 30, 2021. Amendments to this document are being proposed to reflect project updates and funding adjustments. The proposed amendments have been posted on the NCTCOG website for public review and comment, and are also included as Electronic Item 3.2.1. Additional information is provided in Electronic Item 3.2.2. Comments received as a result of the public outreach process, if any, will be provided as a handout at the meeting. The Surface Transportation Technical Committee is scheduled to take action on the modifications at its October 4, 2019, meeting.
Transportation Improvement Program Modifications Presenter: Ken Bunkley, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of revisions to the 2019-2022 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the ability to amend the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and other planning/administrative documents with TIP-related changes will be requested. Background: November 2019 revisions to the 2019-2022 TIP are provided as Electronic Item 3.1 for the Council’s consideration. These modifications have been reviewed for consistency with the Mobility Plan, the air quality conformity determination, and financial constraint of the TIP.
Orientation to Agenda/Director of Transportation Report 1. Thank You to the City of Irving for Hosting the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) at the Irving Transportation Investment Summit 2. Upcoming Workshops/Subcommittees Approved by the RTC Chair 3. Design Conflicts: Ongoing Conversations on IH 345 and Dallas Area Rapid Transit D2 Line 4. 2018 Safety Performance Report (Electronic Item 4.1) 5. Traffic Incident Management Executive Level Course November 2019 Training Invitation (Electronic Item 4.2) 6. Air Quality Funding Opportunities for Vehicles (www.nctcog.org/trans/quality/air/funding-and-resources/fundingvehicle) 7. Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Events (www.dfwcleancities.org/dfw-cleancities- meetings) 8. Status Report on Ozone (Electronic Item 4.3) 9. Environmental Protection Agency Recognition of SmartWay Affiliation (www.nctcog.org/smartway) 10. East/West Equity Update (Electronic Item 4.4) 11. 511DFW Fact Sheet (Electronic Item 4.5) 12. October Public Meeting Notice (Electronic Item 4.6) 13. September Online Input Opportunity Minutes (Electronic Item 4.7) 14. Public Comments Report (Electronic Item 4.8) 15. Recent Correspondence (Electronic Item 4.9) 16. Recent News Articles (Electronic Item 4.10) 17. Recent Press Releases (Electronic Item 4.11) 18. Transportation Partners Progress Reports
Next Steps with the Texas Department of Transportation Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) to reengage the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Transportation Commission on innovative transportation funding policies. Background: With the completion of this year's Unified Transportation Program (UTP) in August 2019, staff would like to reinitiate previously successful policies that led to an aggressive combination of projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Efforts are underway to develop these policy elements in order to influence project programing for next year's UTP. Such policy items as the importance of partnership, innovative funding, and formula allocation, as well as good government principles to advance tolled managed lanes, will be discussed.
Regional 10-Year Plan Commitments Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will brief the Council on the status of funding commitments on several projects in the Regional 10-Year Plan. Background: In the spring of 2019, the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approved a series of updates to the Regional 10-Year Plan. Among the changes were the temporary removal of funding from a few projects in the region. Some of this funding was moved to other projects temporarily in order to help leverage additional Category 12 funding from the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC). Other funding was removed permanently. Staff will discuss which projects are proposed to be refunded in the next 10-Year Plan update and which are proposed to remain unfunded. Electronic Item 6 provides additional details about this effort. A copy of the draft letter to Commissioner Duncan Webb, approved at the September 2019 RTC meeting, will be distributed at the meeting.
7. High-Speed Rail Work Plan: Dallas/Arlington/Fort Worth Presenters: Michael Morris and Sandy Wesch, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will present a draft work plan for advancing high-speed rail technology between Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth. Background: The Tier 2 environmental document Request for Proposal is anticipated to be sent out for consultant assistance this fall. Staff would like to present the major work tasks to update the environmental work previously conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation. Additional information is provided in Electronic Item 7. 8. Hyperloop Certification Facility Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will present a status report on how the Dallas-Fort Worth region will respond to the anticipated Request for Proposals for a hyperloop certification facility. Background: It is anticipated that Virgin Hyperloop One will request a partnership with a local entity to build a certification facility for the new hyperloop technology. Staff will engage the Greater Dallas Chamber to address non-certification requirements and the Regional Transportation Council will retain the presentation of potential certification track locations. Staff will also transmit a call for candidate locations to governmental entities within the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
Volkswagen Settlement Update and New Call for Projects Presenter: Lori Clark, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will present an overview of the Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program funding distribution to date. Background: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was designated by the Governor as the lead agency for administration of Texas’ share of funds under the Environmental Mitigation Trust, which is approximately $209 million. The Dallas-Fort Worth area was allocated $33,385,160, of which $11,684,806 was reserved for bus projects and $8,346,290 will be allocated to refuse haulers. Electronic Item 9 provides an overview of the trust and a status update of the funding rounds thus far.
Transportation 101 Presenters: Andy Eads, RTC Chair and Amanda Wilson, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) Chair Andy Eads will provide an overview of a public education campaign requested for the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) staff to prepare. Background: A request has been made for NCTCOG staff to develop a Transportation 101 public education campaign. Previously, education campaigns have been developed on TEXpress Lanes and Funding 101. Elements of these prior efforts will be used. Additional presentation materials, brochures, and videos may be developed. An ongoing effort to develop an enhanced community engagement program that pairs education with seeking public comments earlier in the planning process, as outlined in the Public Participation Plan, will be expedited as part of the Transportation 101 campaign. Elements will be available to RTC and Surface Transportation Technical Committee members to use within their communities, as well as NCTCOG staff.
AirCheckTexas Funding Presenter: Chris Klaus, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regarding locally generated funds from the AirCheckTexas Program, staff will highlight further communication recommended to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Background: On August 14, 2019, the TCEQ responded to the Regional Transportation Council’s (RTC) request that locally generated interest and rebate funds remain in the region for further emission reductions. The response is provided in Electronic Item 11.1. As specified in intergovernmental contracts amongst the TCEQ and the participating counties, funds generated through use of grant funding are treated as grant funds. Unexpended grant funding goes back into Clean Air Account 151. Electronic Item 11.2 is a draft letter to the TCEQ requesting its continued review of all options. Staff will bring this item back at the November 10, 2019, meeting for RTC consideration. Electronic Item 11.3 provides additional details.
Other Business (Old or New): This item provides an opportunity for members to bring items of interest before the group.