What’s happening?
Staff from the North Central Texas Council of Governments are requesting the RTC’s approval of transportation measures to be included in a grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency. NCTCOG plans to apply for up to $199 million on behalf of the region for implementing measures from the air quality improvement plan, according to the March 21 agenda.
If approved by the RTC on March 21, the Executive Board is expected to vote on the item on March 28. The grant application is due April 1, according to the agenda.
The background
The air quality improvement plan was published in March. If all measures from the plan are fully implemented, the region could see gas components of ground-level ozone reduced by 1,000 metric tons each year.
The improvement plan is one part of NCTCOG’s air quality improvement efforts and focuses on short-term priorities. Staff are also working on a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan with a further outlook that is due in 2025.
Also on the agenda
- Staff is also expected to give an update on the 2024 Regional Roadway Safety Targets and review actual performance of the 2022 safety targets. In its 2022 annual safety performance report, NCTCOG reported rising automobile crashes and fatalities in some parts of North Texas.
- Efforts are underway to develop Mobility 2050, NCTCOG’s next metropolitan transportation plan. Federal standards require NCTCOG to update its long-range plan every four years and cover at least 20 years in the future. Staff will deliver an update on efforts to develop the next plan.
The RTC will meet at 1 p.m. on March 21 at 616 Six Flags Drive, Arlington. A livestream of the meeting will be accessible via the council’s website.
