3.1. Modifications to the FY2022 and FY2023 Unified Planning Work Program Presenter: Vickie Alexander, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of modifications to the FY2022 and FY2023 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) will be requested. Direction for staff to also administratively 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 related air quality planning tasks to be conducted by Metropolitan Planning Organization staff. The FY2022 and FY2023 UPWP was approved by the Regional Transportation Council and North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Executive Board in July 2021 and identifies the activities to be carried out between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2023. Amendments to this document are being proposed to reflect new initiatives, project updates, funding adjustments, and updated Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration Planning Emphasis Areas. The proposed amendments have been posted on the NCTCOG website for public review and comment as part of the October public outreach opportunity and are also included as Electronic Item 3.1.1. Additional information is provided in Electronic Item 3.1.2. Public comments received as a result of the public outreach process, if any, will be provided prior to requesting RTC approval. The Surface Transportation Technical Committee took action at its October 28, 2022, meeting to recommend Regional Transportation Council approval. Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Administrative 3.2. Argonne National Lab Cooperation Approval Presenter: Arash Mirzaei, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request approval by the Regional Transportation Council to sign an agreement with the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. The goal of the agreement with Argonne is to prepare a simulation-based travel model for planning purposes in the Metropolitan Planning Area. In this three-year cooperative, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) will provide data and practical planning expertise to Argonne researchers as in-kind match. The Department of Energy will provide $1.5 million in funding. Background: The regional travel model is NCTCOG’s main tool for transportation planning. The model is continually updated with the latest technology and data. This project is an effort toward improvement of planning analytical tools within the regional travel model using Argonne National Laboratory research products. Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Administrative 3.3. Fiscal Year 2023 Education Campaigns for Transportation Initiatives: Phase One Presenter: Mindy Mize, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will seek the Council’s support of a recommendation to the NCTCOG Executive Board to approve funding up to $278,700 for education campaigns for transportation initiatives. If approved, Phase 1 will initiate in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. Background: Since 2014, the NCTCOG Executive Board has been authorizing annual large-scale advertising purchase and placement initiatives for the Transportation Department. The first phase of education campaigns is for public involvement and support activities such as notifications of opportunities for public input/public meetings, and commuter education focused on congestion management. Efforts in this first phase will be funded by a combination of Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funds, Transportation Planning Funds, RTC Local funds, and RTC Transportation Development Credits in lieu of cash match. Education campaigns will be in multiple languages and may be presented through out-of-home advertising, print, screen, online, audio, and social media mediums. Electronic Item 3.3 provides more detail. Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Administrative, Safety 3.4. Traffic Signal Retiming in Tarrant County Presenter: Natalie Bettger, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval to receive approximately $1,066,000 in funding from Tarrant County for traffic signal retiming along corridors in Tarrant County. Background: Tarrant County has identified funding through its 2006 and 2021 Bond Programs and has approached NCTCOG to utilize this funding for traffic signal retiming along selected corridors in Tarrant County. NCTCOG has existing, active consultant contracts that may be used to develop and implement traffic signal retiming. The consultants will work with local jurisdictions and Texas Department of Transportation to develop, review and implement signal timing. Tarrant County will provide approximately $1,066,000 to fund the consultant work as well as NCTCOG staff time to administer the project. Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Roadway, Safety
Strengthening Mobility and Revolving Transportation Grant Program: Approval of North Central Texas Council of Governments Applications
12. Progress Reports Action Possible Action Information Item Summary: Progress Reports are provided in the items below. RTC Attendance (Electronic Item 12.1) STTC Attendance and Minutes (Electronic Item 12.2) 13. Other Business (Old or New): This item provides an opportunity for members to bring items of interest before the group. 15. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Regional Transportation Council is scheduled for 1:00 pm on December 8, 2022, in the Transportation Council Room.
3.1. Modifications to the FY2022 and FY2023 Unified Planning Work Program Presenter: Vickie Alexander, NCTCOG Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval of modifications to the FY2022 and FY2023 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) will be requested. Direction for staff to also administratively 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 related air quality planning tasks to be conducted by Metropolitan Planning Organization staff. The FY2022 and FY2023 UPWP was approved by the Regional Transportation Council and North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Executive Board in July 2021 and identifies the activities to be carried out between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2023. Amendments to this document are being proposed to reflect new initiatives, project updates, funding adjustments, and updated Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration Planning Emphasis Areas. The proposed amendments have been posted on the NCTCOG website for public review and comment as part of the October public outreach opportunity and are also included as Electronic Item 3.1.1. Additional information is provided in Electronic Item 3.1.2. Public comments received as a result of the public outreach process, if any, will be provided prior to requesting RTC approval. The Surface Transportation Technical Committee took action at its October 28, 2022, meeting to recommend Regional Transportation Council approval. Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Administrative 3.2. Argonne National Lab Cooperation Approval Presenter: Arash Mirzaei, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request approval by the Regional Transportation Council to sign an agreement with the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. The goal of the agreement with Argonne is to prepare a simulation-based travel model for planning purposes in the Metropolitan Planning Area. In this three-year cooperative, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) will provide data and practical planning expertise to Argonne researchers as in-kind match. The Department of Energy will provide $1.5 million in funding. Background: The regional travel model is NCTCOG’s main tool for transportation planning. The model is continually updated with the latest technology and data. This project is an effort toward improvement of planning analytical tools within the regional travel model using Argonne National Laboratory research products. Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Administrative 3.3. Fiscal Year 2023 Education Campaigns for Transportation Initiatives: Phase One Presenter: Mindy Mize, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will seek the Council’s support of a recommendation to the NCTCOG Executive Board to approve funding up to $278,700 for education campaigns for transportation initiatives. If approved, Phase 1 will initiate in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. Background: Since 2014, the NCTCOG Executive Board has been authorizing annual large-scale advertising purchase and placement initiatives for the Transportation Department. The first phase of education campaigns is for public involvement and support activities such as notifications of opportunities for public input/public meetings, and commuter education focused on congestion management. Efforts in this first phase will be funded by a combination of Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funds, Transportation Planning Funds, RTC Local funds, and RTC Transportation Development Credits in lieu of cash match. Education campaigns will be in multiple languages and may be presented through out-of-home advertising, print, screen, online, audio, and social media mediums. Electronic Item 3.3 provides more detail. Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Administrative, Safety 3.4. Traffic Signal Retiming in Tarrant County Presenter: Natalie Bettger, NCTCOG Item Summary: Staff will request Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approval to receive approximately $1,066,000 in funding from Tarrant County for traffic signal retiming along corridors in Tarrant County. Background: Tarrant County has identified funding through its 2006 and 2021 Bond Programs and has approached NCTCOG to utilize this funding for traffic signal retiming along selected corridors in Tarrant County. NCTCOG has existing, active consultant contracts that may be used to develop and implement traffic signal retiming. The consultants will work with local jurisdictions and Texas Department of Transportation to develop, review and implement signal timing. Tarrant County will provide approximately $1,066,000 to fund the consultant work as well as NCTCOG staff time to administer the project. Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Roadway, Safety
Strengthening Mobility and Revolving Transportation Grant Program: Approval of North Central Texas Council of Governments Applications
12. Progress Reports Action Possible Action Information Item Summary: Progress Reports are provided in the items below. RTC Attendance (Electronic Item 12.1) STTC Attendance and Minutes (Electronic Item 12.2) 13. Other Business (Old or New): This item provides an opportunity for members to bring items of interest before the group. 15. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Regional Transportation Council is scheduled for 1:00 pm on December 8, 2022, in the Transportation Council Room.