Call to Order

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Item 2

Approval of November 12, 2020, Minutes
Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 5
Presenter: Roger Harmon, RTC Chair
Item Summary: Approval of the November 12, 2020, minutes contained in
Electronic Item 2 will be requested.
Background: N/A

Consent Agenda

Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 5
3.1. Grand Prairie Incident Management Vehicles
Presenter: Sonya Landrum, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will request approval to use $65,900 in Regional
Transportation Council (RTC) local funding to fund the
Grand Prairie Incident Management Blocking Equipment
Pilot Project.
Background: In July 2020, the RTC approved the list of project
recommendations submitted as part of the 2020 Incident
Management Equipment Purchase Call for Projects
(CFP). In support of the North Central Texas Council of
Governments Traffic Incident Management Training
Program, funding was made available for the purchase
of equipment and technology to be used to mitigate
traffic incidents in the North Central Texas
Nonattainment Area. A component of the CFP included
the opportunity to participate in a special pilot project to
purchase equipment used to provide blockage during
incident response (e.g., crash barriers, attenuators, etc.).
Due to Buy America compliancy restrictions associated
with Federal Highway Administration funding, projects
selected under the special pilot project were approved to
be funded with Regional Toll Revenue (RTR) funding.
Due to unforeseen timing constraints associated with the
City of Grand Prairie accessing the RTR funding, staff is
requesting to fund the Grand Prairie Pilot Project with
RTC local funds. Additional information on this funding
source request is provided in Electronic Item 3.1.
Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Safety

Item 4

Orientation to Agenda/Director of Transportation Report
Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 15
Presenter: Michael Morris, NCTCOG
1. Moment of Silence for Rockwall County Commissioner David Magness
2. Air North Texas Partner Awards (Whitney Vandiver)
3. Correspondence Regarding Comments on the Mid-Year Fiscal Year 2021
Unified Transportation Program
4. Follow-Up Correspondence to the Texas Transportation Commission on
the Six-Point Partnership Program
5. Regional Transportation Council (RTC) Legislative Position Follow Up:
• Marketing Version Being Finalized
• RTC Member/Legislature Member Mapping Table Being
Transmitted
• Several Legislators Engaging with North Central Texas Council of
Governments Staff
6. 2021 RTC Meeting Schedule (Electronic Item 4.1)
7. Changing Mobility: Data, Insights, and Delivering Innovative Projects
During COVID Recovery (Electronic Item 4.2)
(www.nctcog.org/pm/covid-19)
8. Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Upcoming Events
(https://www.dfwcleancities.org/dfw-clean-cities-meetings)
9. Air Quality Funding Opportunities for Vehicles
(https://www.nctcog.org/trans/quality/air/funding-andresources/
fundingvehicle)
10. Status of the Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program
Funding Programs (Electronic Item 4.3)
11. October Public Input Opportunity Minutes-Additional Comments
(Electronic Item 4.4)
12. November Online Input Opportunity Minutes (Electronic Item 4.5)
13. December Online Input Opportunity Notice (Electronic Item 4.6)
14. Public Comments Report (Electronic Item 4.7)
15. Recent Correspondence (Electronic Item 4.8)
16. Recent News Articles (Electronic Item 4.9)
17. Recent Press Releases (Electronic Item 4.10)

Item 5

Federal Highway Administration – Pavement/Bridge Condition Target
Reaffirmation or Revisions
Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10
Presenter: Jeff Neal, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will request approval by the Regional Transportation
Council (RTC) to reaffirm support for adjusted statewide
pavement and bridge condition (PM2) targets on National
Highway System (NHS) facilities, as established by the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in accordance with
Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act
rulemaking for federally required performance measures.
Background: Subsequent to its execution in December 2015, FAST Act
rulemaking requires certain performance measures, including
pavement and bridge condition ratings for designated NHS
facilities, be addressed in the long-range metropolitan
transportation planning process. In 2018, the RTC affirmed
regional support for TxDOT’s statewide 2022 good and poor
condition pavement and bridge (PM2) targets, and it also
agreed to collaborate with TxDOT and local governments on
project planning and programming that would contribute toward
accomplishment of NHS pavement and bridge performance
goals.
The rulemaking established an October 1, 2020, deadline for
State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to consider midrange
adjustments to statewide 2022 pavement and bridge
targets as they each submit a Mid-Performance (MPP)
Progress Report to the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA). TxDOT adjusted five of the six PM2 targets according
to their submittal, and as a result, Texas Metropolitan Planning
Organizations (MPOs) have a new 180-day window to report
whether they will affirm support for the adjusted targets or
establish their own quantifiable regional targets. Considering
received public/agency feedback, analysis of observed
regional and statewide performance trends, and potential
effects on project development and implementation, staff
recommends reaffirmation of support for TxDOT’s adjusted
statewide PM2 targets, as well as consensus for ongoing
collaborative activities with partners that would further
contribute toward accomplishment of NHS pavement and
bridge performance goals. Electronic Item 5 includes PM 2
information and proposed RTC action
Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Administrative, Roadway

Item 6

2020 Metropolitan Planning Organization Milestone Policy Implementation
(Round 2)
Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10
Presenter: Christie Gotti, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will brief the Council on the next steps for implementing
the second round of the Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MPO) Milestone Policy.
Background: The MPO Milestone Policy was adopted by the Regional
Transportation Council (RTC) to ensure that projects that have
been funded are being implemented in a timely manner and
funding is available for other projects in the region. The first
MPO Milestone Policy implementation resulted in 51 of the
57 projects on the list advancing to construction. Since then, a
second round of projects have been identified by staff as
Milestone Policy projects. These projects were funded between
2006 and 2010 and have not begun construction. Letters were
sent to all agencies with a project on the Milestone Policy List
notifying them of the action needed to ensure that these
projects remain funded. As with the first set of Milestone Policy
projects, agencies were asked to review their projects and
provide: 1) a realistic, achievable project schedule, 2) a new
policy board action that reconfirms the agency’s commitment to
the project, and 3) a demonstration of the availability of local
matching funds. Staff has reviewed the responses and the
draft list of proposed recommendations for these projects can
be found in Electronic Item 6.1. Details on the MPO Milestone
Policy can be found in Electronic Item 6.2.
Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Roadway, Transit

Item 7

End of Ozone Season, Compliance with Federal Requirements, and Future
Outlook
Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10
Presenter: Chris Klaus, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will provide a summary of the 2020 ozone season activity
and other air quality updates for the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
region. The ozone season is from March 1 to November 30.
Background: The end of November concluded another ozone season for the
DFW region. The region continues to work towards compliance
for ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Staff has been tracking the exceedance days at each monitor
and will provide a summary of the 2020 ozone season data for
the North Central Texas 9- and 10-county nonattainment
areas.
As a reminder, the region remains in nonattainment for both
the 2015 and 2008 NAAQS for ozone. The attainment dates for
both standards are in 2021 and rely on ozone data from 2018,
2019, and 2020. Staff will discuss outcomes related to the
standards, and current and future analyses relating impacts on
air quality. For further information see Electronic Item 7.
Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Air Quality

Item 8

Overview of Next Steps Involving the Travel Demand Management
Program
Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10
Presenter: Sonya Landrum, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will introduce the development of a Regional
Transportation Council resolution that supports establishing a
regional trip reduction goal that aims to reduce single
occupancy vehicle commute trips through increased
implementation of Travel Demand Management strategies.
Background: As a result of changes in traffic and commute patterns
experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Central
Texas region recorded a decrease in traffic congestion and a
small improvement in our region’s air quality. In an effort to
sustain the positive impacts of the traffic and commute pattern
changes post COVID-19, staff is exploring opportunities to
retain benefits associated with the current commuter behavior.
Trip reduction strategies such as carpooling, vanpooling,
biking, walking, taking transit, teleworking, and flexible work
schedules reduce the number of vehicles that travel on
roadways, assist in improving air quality, and reduce peakperiod
travel by shifting drive-alone travel to other modes or
technologies. Urban lifestyle is a critical factor to consider
when proposing changes to commuter habits. Because
successful trip reduction programs require strong public
support, promotion, and participation, staff wishes to engage in
a dialog regarding the tradeoffs associated with the Travel
Demand Management Program.
Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Air Quality

Item 9

Update on Air Quality Initiatives – Electric Vehicles and Energy Reporting
Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 5
Presenter: Lori Clark, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will give a brief overview of local electric vehicle (EV)
initiatives, including local trends, project highlights, and
National Drive Electric Week activities. Efforts to increase local
responses to required local government energy reporting will
also be highlighted, along with energy management resources.
Background: The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)
continues to encourage EV adoption as a strategy to improve
local air quality by reducing transportation system emissions.
Adoption of this technology continues to grow in the region
across both light-duty consumer markets, and also heavier
fleet vehicles. Staff recently collaborated on several virtual
National Drive Electric Week activities, including a
livestreamed event targeted to the general public and
workshops for local governments covering fleet electrification
as well as how to plan for infrastructure that supports broader
EV adoption across the community. Recordings for all events
are available through www.driveelectricdfw.org. A case study
highlighting a local municipality EV fleet is available in
Electronic Item 9.1.
To reduce emissions impacts from electricity generation, as
well as grid demand, local governments in and near
nonattainment areas are required by State law to set a goal to
reduce their electricity consumption by five percent every year
and report annually to the Texas State Energy Conservation
Office. To increase awareness of, and compliance with, this
reporting requirement, NCTCOG staff has developed
resources, offered trainings, and provided technical assistance
to affected local governments. A white paper summarizing
reporting challenges and best practices is available in
Electronic Item 9.2. The next report will be due in February
2021. Affected local governments recently received a copy of
the correspondence linked in Electronic Item 9.3, which details
the requirements and highlights an upcoming webinar.
More information on both efforts is detailed in Electronic
Item 9.4.
Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Air Quality

Items 10 & 15

10. Unmanned Aircraft Systems Safety and Integration Update
Action Possible Action Information Minutes: 10
Presenter: Ernest Huffman, NCTCOG
Item Summary: Staff will provide an overview of a proposed future Regional
Transportation Council resolution to support the safe and
efficient integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into
the Dallas-Fort Worth transportation system.
Background: With the growing number of UAS operators and use cases, the
North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)
would like to engage public-sector partners to support and
advocate for UAS activities within the region through the
adoption of a Unmanned Aircraft System Resolution.
UAS activities could include delivery of medical supplies and
packages, air taxi services, public safety uses, accident
reconstruction and surveying, among others. This effort
supports the North Texas UAS Safety and Integration Task
Force comprised of public and private-sector organizations that
discuss best practices, UAS technologies and possible use
cases. This resolution will support a coordinated approach to
UAS planning activities and implementation opportunities.
Performance Measure(s) Addressed: Safety, Transit

15. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Regional Transportation Council is
scheduled for 1:00 pm, Thursday, January 14, 2021.