Legislative and Finance Partnership Subcommittee

Legislative and Finance Partnership Subcommittee

Call to Order

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Item 1

Approval of February 11, 2016, Minutes
Presenter: Mark Riley, RTC Chair
Item Summary: Approval of the February 11, 2016, minutes contained
in Reference Item 1 will be requested.
Background: N/A

Consent Agenda

2.1. Lawsuits Against Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Audi of
America, LLC, and Porsche Cars of North America
Presenters: Chris Klaus and Ken Kirkpatrick, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will request Regional Transportation
Council (RTC) approval to submit correspondence to
the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and
Texas Attorney General (AG) related to emission
test-cheat devices installed in certain Volkswagen,
Audi, and Porsche diesel vehicles.
Background: Late last year, certain 2.0 liter and 3.0 liter diesel
engines in Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche vehicle
models were identified to have emissions test-cheat
devices allowing tailpipe emissions up to 40 times
the legal level of nitrogen oxides (NOX). In response
to these findings, both the Texas AG and the United
States DOJ have separately filed lawsuits against
the auto manufacturers. Elsewhere in Texas, Harris
County filed a separate suit for actions related to
Harris County. Reference Item 2.1.1 is correspondence to the
United States DOJ and Texas AG requesting if any
settlement funds are awarded as a result of the
lawsuits against Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche,
these funds be dispersed to nonattainment regions
for air quality projects and/or programs. Last month,
the Surface Transportation Technical Committee
took action supporting the RTC transmit the
correspondence to the United States DOJ and Texas
AG. Additional information is provided in Electronic

2.2. Final Action Regarding the Texas Department of Transportation
Congestion Relief Program
Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC)
approval of final changes to the Texas Department
of Transportation (TxDOT) Congestion Relief
Partnership with the RTC is requested.
Background: In February 2016, the Texas Transportation
Commission (TTC) approved statewide funding of
$1.3 billion for partnerships with metropolitan areas
of the State for congestion projects. The Dallas-Fort
Worth region’s share of the total funding is $163.8
million for the western subregion and $364 million for
the eastern subregion, or $527.8 million total.
Through this agenda item, staff requests RTC action
on changes to specific projects resulting from the
larger dollar amount as shown in Reference Item 2.2.
Associated adjustments to the region’s east/west
equity are included in a later agenda item (see
Electronic Item 3.4).2.2. Final Action Regarding the Texas Department of Transportation
Congestion Relief Program
Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Regional Transportation Council (RTC)
approval of final changes to the Texas Department
of Transportation (TxDOT) Congestion Relief
Partnership with the RTC is requested.
Background: In February 2016, the Texas Transportation
Commission (TTC) approved statewide funding of
$1.3 billion for partnerships with metropolitan areas
of the State for congestion projects. The Dallas-Fort
Worth region’s share of the total funding is $163.8
million for the western subregion and $364 million for
the eastern subregion, or $527.8 million total.
Through this agenda item, staff requests RTC action
on changes to specific projects resulting from the
larger dollar amount as shown in Reference Item 2.2.
Associated adjustments to the region’s east/west
equity are included in a later agenda item (see
Electronic Item 3.4).

2.3. Clean Fleets North Texas 2015 Call for Projects Funding
Recommendations
Presenter: Shannon Stevenson, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will request Regional Transportation
Council approval of funding recommendations for
the Clean Fleets North Texas 2015 Call for Projects
(CFP).
Background: The North Central Texas Council of Governments
(NCTCOG) opened the Clean Fleets North Texas
2015 CFP to provide approximately $2.5 million in
grant funds for fleet projects in North Central Texas.
Applications were accepted from August 2015
through October 2015. Staff has completed review
and emissions quantification of the proposed
projects and developed recommendations regarding
projects to be funded. This CFP is funded through
the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program and Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality Supplemental Environmental
Project program. This initiative is an extension of
clean vehicle efforts listed as weight-of-evidence in
the Dallas-Fort Worth 2010 Eight-Hour Attainment
Demonstration document. Last month, the Surface
Transportation Technical Committee took action to
recommend funding for the Clean Fleets North
Texas CFP. Electronic
Item 2.3.1 provides an overview of the call for
projects. Additional detail is available in Reference
Item 2.3.2.

2.4. Approval of Personal Services Agreement for Transit Planning
and Programming Assistance
Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Jessie Huddleston, Transportation Program
Manager for Regional Transit Coordination and
Operations, has moved her family outside the
region. Regional Transportation Council (RTC)
approval of a one-year personal services agreement
with Ms. Huddleston for an amount not to exceed
$60,000 is requested.
Background: The North Central Texas Council of Governments
Transportation Director has identified a business
need to extend a personal services agreement to
assist the Regional Transportation Council in the
performance of its triennial review with the Federal
Transit Administration and upcoming transit
developments within the region.

Item 3

Orientation to Agenda/Director of Transportation Report

Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG
1. Earth Day: North Texas Tollway Authority Thank You
2. Jessie Huddleston's Departure
3. Legislation and Finance Partnership Subcommittee Follow Up: Chair
Jungus Jordan (Electronic Item 3.1)
4. 2016 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery VIII
Call for Projects: Deadline April 14, 2016 (Electronic Item 3.2)
5. United States Department of Transportation Requests Applications for
the $800 Million New FASTLANE Grant Program: Deadline April
14, 2016 (Electronic Item 3.3)
6. East/West Equity Update (Electronic Item 3.4)
7. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Update (Electronic Item
3.5) and Completion of the $885 Million (Electronic Item 3.6)
8. First Responder Alternative Fuel Vehicles Trainings (Electronic Item
3.7)
9. Air Quality Funding Opportunities for Vehicles (Electronic Item 3.8)
10.February Public Meeting Minutes (Electronic Item 3.9)
11.March Public Meeting Notice (Electronic Item 3.10)
12.Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act Fact Sheet (Electronic
Item 3.11)
13.Recent Correspondence (Electronic Item 3.12)
14.Recent News Articles (Electronic Item 3.13)
15.Recent Press Releases (Electronic Item 3.14)
16.Transportation Partners Progress Reports

Item 4

Mobility 2040, 2016 Transportation Conformity, and 2015-2018
Transportation Improvement Program Projects Affected by Mobility
2040
Presenters: Chad McKeown and Chris Klaus, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will request Regional Transportation Council
(RTC) approval of a resolution adopting Mobility 2040 and
the corresponding 2016 Transportation Conformity results.
A copy of the resolution is provided in Reference Item 4.1.
Final Plan recommendations and air quality conformity
analysis results are summarized in Electronic Item 4.2.
The Mobility 2040 document is available for review in
Electronic Item 4.3. Impacts to the Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP)/Statewide Transportation
Improvement Program (STIP) affected by Mobility 2040 will
also be discussed. This action includes:
Adoption of Mobility 2040
Adoption of 2016 Transportation Conformity results
Inclusion of the RTC Policy Bundle in Mobility 2040
Inclusion of the RTC Policy Position on the Cotton
Belt corridor in Mobility 2040
Provision for Transportation Improvement Program
projects impacted by Mobility 2040
Background: One of the primary responsibilities of the Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO) is the development and
maintenance of a Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP).
The last comprehensive update of the MTP occurred in
2011 with the adoption of Mobility 2035. Since then,
Mobility 2035 has gone through two revisions: an update
in 2013 and an amendment in 2014, along with two
successful Conformity determinations. Work has been
underway since early 2015 on the development of a new
MTP, Mobility 2040. This Plan reassesses existing recommendations and includes new demographics,
financial forecasts, and planning initiatives.
Mobility 2040 also seeks to achieve transportation goals
through policies that complement infrastructure
development. This effort includes the RTC Policy Bundle, a
voluntary initiative to encourage local cities, counties, and
transportation providers to enact measures that enhance
the region’s maturing transportation system. The policies
are identified in Electronic Item 4.4. Additional policy
development has occurred in parallel with Mobility 2040.
This includes a policy to expedite project delivery on the
Cotton Belt corridor. If the Cotton Belt corridor cannot be
advanced, the policy outlines a plan to review other
implementation options. This policy is outlined in
Reference
Item 4.5.
Scope, timing, and funding changes in Mobility 2040 will
impact a subset of projects in the 2015-2018 TIP/STIP.
Projects that are impacted by changes in Mobility 2040 are
provided in Electronic Item 4.6 for the Council’s
information. All impacted projects will be amended in the
2017-2020 TIP.
Due to the region’s ozone nonattainment status, MPOs
must perform a transportation conformity analysis to
ensure the MTP will not cause any new violations of the air
quality standard, increase the frequency or severity of
violations of the standard, or delay timely attainment of the
standard. The Transportation Conformity document is
available for review in Electronic
Item 4.7.

Item 5

Recommendation for Revenue Sharing on the Y Connection Being
Constructed within the IH 35E/IH 635 Interchange

Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG
Item Summary: The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
has requested Regional Transportation Council (RTC) staff
facilitate a resolution of the revenue sharing between
TxDOT and the LBJ Infrastructure Group associated with
the increase in revenues to the LBJ Project due to the IH
35E/IH 635 “Y Connection.” Staff is requesting an RTC
resolution approving the principles to guide staff in
facilitating a fair revenue sharing position.
Background: As part of the IH 35E Project, the RTC recommended and
TxDOT exercised an option to construct the Y Connection
(sometimes referred to as the Wishbone Connection) that
connects the IH 35E managed lanes through the IH 35E/IH
635 Interchange. The Y Connection is designed to allow
IH 35E/LP 12 managed lane users to continue through the
IH 35E/IH 635 Interchange on a continuous managed lane
facility as opposed to exiting the managed lanes, mixing
with general purpose traffic through the interchange, and
reentering the managed lanes after the interchange. The Y
Connection increases revenue to the LBJ Project and the
LBJ Comprehensive Development Agreement provides for
the allocation of increased revenue on such projects.
TxDOT is requesting RTC staff assist TxDOT and the LBJ
Infrastructure Group in facilitating a fair revenue sharing
position. Electronic Item 5.1 is a map showing the location
of the Y Connection. Reference Item 5.2 is a draft
resolution.

Item 6

Federal Transit Administration Direct Recipient Status for the
McKinney Urbanized Area

Presenters: Michael Morris and Sarah Chadderdon, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will request Regional Transportation Council
concurrence of the North Central Texas Council of
Governments serving as the direct recipient for Federal
Transit Administration (FTA) funds in the McKinney
Urbanized Area (UZA).
Background: The FTA has specific roles and responsibilities for
allocating and receiving federal funds in small urban areas,
like the McKinney UZA. Direct recipients of FTA funds
decide how transit services get provided, ensure that
service complies with State and federal rules, and
drawdown available funding from FTA directly. The City of
McKinney considered filling this role, but has indicated it
does not wish to pursue it at this time. It is staff’s
recommendation to have the North Central Texas Council
of Governments serve as the direct recipient for the
McKinney UZA in order to keep the $2.6 million annual
federal allocation generated by the residents of the
McKinney UZA from being redistributed to other small
urban areas across the State. Details are provided in
Reference Item 6.

Item 7

High-Occupancy Vehicle Subsidy Report and Modification to Toll
Managed Lane Policy

Presenter: Dan Lamers, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will provide an update to the Regional
Transportation Council (RTC) on the most recent managed
lane performance report and will request the RTC modify
the Toll Managed Lane Policy to extend the date for
implementation of the
3+ requirement to receive the peak period high-occupancy
vehicle (HOV) discount.
Background: As part of the adoption of the Toll Managed Lane and
High-Occupancy Vehicle/Express Managed Lane policies,
the RTC requires regular reports provided by the Texas
Department of Transportation regarding the amount
expended for the HOV subsidy on the comprehensive
development agreement managed lane facilities, as well
as the North Texas Tollway Authority customer service
demands. Staff will present an overview of the
performance of operational managed lanes in the region.
In addition, the RTC’s Toll Managed Lane Policy requires
that the occupancy level required to be eligible to receive
the peak period HOV discount be increased from 2+ to 3+
on or before June 1, 2016. As the amount expended to
date has been less than anticipated, staff is recommending
that the implementation of the 3+ requirement be
postponed until
June 1, 2018, or sooner if expenditure levels increase
faster than now expected.

Item 8

DFW Connector Pilot Study Update

Presenter: Ken Kirkpatrick, NCTCOG
Item Summary: The Regional Transportation Council will be briefed
on the status of the DFW Connector Pilot Program related
to pay-by-mail surcharges.
Background: The DFW Connector Pilot Project was initiated with the
commencement of tolls on the project in July 2015. The
pilot seeks to test whether increasing the pay-by-mail toll
surcharge will offset the toll collection risk associated with
users of the managed lanes who do not have toll tags.
Lessons learned in the pilot could be applied to the IH 35W
managed lanes, when open, in order to reduce the toll
collection risk that the Texas Department of Transportation
has in that corridor.

Item 9

Project Milestone Policy Update

Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will brief the Council on the latest developments
regarding the Project Milestone Policy.
Background: In June 2015, the Regional Transportation Council
approved the Project Milestone Policy that focused on
reviewing projects that were selected ten or more years
ago. The policy will remove low-priority projects from the
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)/Statewide
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and leave
funding capacity for higher-priority projects that are ready
to proceed to implementation within the current TIP/STIP.
Since November 2015, staff has been working with local
implementing agencies to assess the status of projects.
Electronic Item 9.1 contains the preliminary findings from
the review of projects identified through the Project
Milestone Policy. Additional information is provided in
Electronic Item 9.2.

Items 10 - 14

Try Parking It Web Site Relaunch and Employer Trip Reduction
Program

Presenter: Natalie Bettger, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will present information on the newly relaunched
TryParkingIt.com Web site and provide an update on the
Regional Employer Trip Reduction (ETR) Program.
Background: The NCTCOG TDM Program focuses on implementing
alternative forms of transportation that assist in the
reduction of drive alone vehicle trips on regional roadways
in North Central Texas. The Try Parking It Web site and
the Regional Employer Trip Reduction Program are major
components of the TDM Program. TryParkingIt.com, the
region’s commuter tracking and ride-matching Web site,
was originally launched in 2006 and was updated in 2010
with a ride-matching component that allowed commuters to
locate both carpool and vanpool matches throughout the
region. In December 2015, TryParkingIt.com was
relaunched as a hosted Web site with more modern
functionality and with the addition of transit, biking, and
walking matches/mentors; multi-modal trip logging; and an
integrated rewards system. The ETR Program has also
recently undergone a change in the implementation of the
Program.

11. Progress Reports
Item Summary: Progress Reports are provided in the items below.
RTC Attendance (Reference Item 11.1)
STTC Minutes and Attendance (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, April 14, 2016, at the North
Central Texas Council of Governments.