Michael Morris will resume his role as North Texas transportation director after a state district judge ruled Tuesday that his firing last week was unconstitutional.
Morris will be back on at his job at the North Central Texas Council of Governments Tuesday afternoon, said Rick Bailey, chair of the Regional Transportation Council.
“I’m elated that Michael Morris is going to be joining us as soon as today,” said Bailey, a Johnson County commissioner.
Morris, 70, could not be immediately reached for comment. He was fired April 28 by council of governments CEO Todd Little, weeks before the FIFA World Cup games in Arlington start in June. A temporary restraining order protecting Morris’ job was lifted, resulting in his firing.
Last week, the Regional Transportation Council decided during an emergency meeting to allocate $5 million for legal expenses as it joined a lawsuit filed by Denton County officials over hiring decisions.
RTC members said the suit’s intention is to change the Metropolitan Planning Organization structure in North Texas. The independent policy council composed of 45 elected and appointed officials would have the ability to hire and fire transportation department staffers, instead of the council of governments as Little maintains.
A proposed Metropolitan Planning Organization agreement under negotiation with the Texas Department of Transportation would be similar to those used in other Texas metro areas, such as Houston, San Antonio and Austin, officials said.
The council of governments then released a statement that said, in part, “We are grateful for his more than 40 years of service to the region, including 35 years of leadership that helped shape one of the nation’s most dynamic transportation systems.”
In an email to RTC members Tuesday, Bailey said today’s decision is “a positive step for the region.”
“We appreciate the Court’s order and the clarity it provides moving forward,” Bailey said in his email. “We are hopeful this matter can be resolved in a timely manner in a way that best serves the long-term transportation needs of North Texas.”
Denton County Judge Andy Eads had said the suit was filed to address “the overreach” of the council of governments board of directors and Little.
Eads said the RTC’s action “reinforces what we have maintained from the beginning.”
“Leaders from all four corners of the county, along with partners across the region, have come together in support of restoration of proper governance and keeping transportation decisions where they belong,” he said last week.
Bailey said the transportation council will move forward with the Metropolitan Planning Organization agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to confirm that the group is the policy-making body responsible for transportation decisions in North Texas.
“I look forward to putting our best foot forward,” he said.
Bailey said the group will work to put its differences with council of governments executive board aside and “work for the betterment of the region.”
With the World Cup games coming to North Texas within weeks, the region will implement a comprehensive transportation plan to move people to the games in Arlington.
“Now we have our leadership in place to make sure we have a successful World Cup,” Bailey said.
This is a developing story.
Eric E. Garcia is senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org.
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