North Texas officials are creating a plan to advance transit options as more than 4 million people are expected to move into the region during the next 25 years.
The Regional Transportation Council approved forming a transit subcommittee at an Aug. 7 meeting. RTC is an independent policy committee of the North Central Texas Council of Governments made up of 45 elected and appointed officials from 12 counties.
The subcommittee will be tasked with reviewing ideas that will help shape how the area spends $217 billion on various public transportation projects through 2050.
Jill Jester, a Denton City Council member, and Stephen Mason, mayor of Cedar Hill, will lead the subcommittee as chair and vice chair, respectively. Transportation council members have until Aug. 21 to indicate to RTC chair Rick Bailey, a Johnson County commissioner, if they are interested in serving on the subcommittee.
“Our roadway and transit systems need to complement each other, ensuring safety and efficiency improve as population soars to more than 12 million residents in 2050,” said Michael Morris, transportation director for the council of governments.
The RTC is working on the Transit 2.0 initiative that is examining what role public transportation plays in meeting that growth.
Fort Worth City Council member Carlos Flores, who also serves on the Regional Transportation Council, said multiple approaches to transit should be examined.
“We have to be mindful of that,” he said.
The subcommittee will determine what ideas can be advanced for transit authorities, member cities, nonmember cities and the transportation council.
The subcommittee is expected to start meeting in September.
Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org.
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