Regional Transportation Council Seeks Public Comment on Roadway Planning and Funding

Regional outer loop among topics to be discussed

by PegNews wire

ARLINGTON — The Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, which serves as the metropolitan planning organization for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, will seek public comment on roadway planning and funding issues at three public meetings this month in Duncanville, Fort Worth, and Denton.

Topics will include an update on the regional outer loop, a 240-mile corridor around the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, and expansion of the metropolitan planning area to include adjacent areas expected to be urbanized in the next 20 years. Funding programs will also be discussed.

The following topics will be discussed:

Metropolitan Planning Area Expansion

NCTCOG is the metropolitan planning organization responsible for developing multi-modal transportation plans for the North Central Texas metropolitan planning area (MPA), an area which includes existing urbanized areas and contiguous areas. (In order to meet regional transportation needs, NCTCOG staff is federally required to review the MPA boundary and include any adjacent areas expected to be urbanized in the next 20 years.) The MPA boundary currently includes Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant and Rockwall counties as well as adjacent parts of Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman and Parker counties. Staff will discuss recommendations for a larger planning boundary based on demographic and travel data. Additional public meetings on the topic will be scheduled in Hood, Hunt, Kaufman, Parker and Wise counties.

Regional Outer Loop Status Report and Next Steps

The regional outer loop is a 240-mile corridor around the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area that was identified in the current long-range transportation plan, Mobility 2030. Staff will discuss the status and next steps for planning and technical evaluation of the regional outer loop and outline ongoing coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation and local governments. Attendees will be encouraged to provide input to assist NCTCOG and its partners at this early stage in the corridor identification process.

Financial Reporting Changes for the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program

New Federal Highway Administration regulations modify financial reporting requirements for projects included in Metropolitan Transportation Plans (MTPs) and Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs). Staff will explain how project costs and revenues are currently reported and outline modifications to the region’s TIP and MTP based on the new federal regulations.

Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Modifications

The UPWP for regional transportation planning provides a summary of the transportation and related air quality planning tasks conducted by the metropolitan planning organization. Modifications to the fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2009 Work Program will be presented.

Transportation Authority Program of Projects (POP)

• Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) POP, Fort Worth meeting only
• Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) POP, Denton meeting only

The T and DCTA are designated recipients for Federal Transit Administration funding. Agency representatives will outline how much Section 5307 federal funding is available and the associated program of projects. (Section 5307 is federal transit funds designated for urbanized areas) Attendees will be encouraged to submit comments about the proposed program of projects and budget.

More information about these topics and directions to the meetings can be found at http://www.nctcog.org/trans/outreach/meetings/.

Source: North Central Texas Council of Governments