Dozens at the Regional Transportation Council meeting praised Michael Morris\u2019 skills: finding funds for transportation projects, promoting unity across North Texas cities and counties, and working hard to improve mobility across the region.<\/p>\n
During his 35-year tenure as transportation director of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, Morris garnered bipartisan support and respect from elected and appointed officials who serve on the 45-member Regional Transportation Council, an independent policymaking body.<\/p>\n
Morris, who is considering retirement after his position was discussed in a closed executive board session last month, received a standing ovation at the end of the council\u2019s Dec. 11 meeting in Arlington. <\/p>\n
Morris, 70, smiled and clapped along, nodding his head to others in appreciation.<\/p>\n
The gesture capped off a sometimes hostile meeting in which some transportation council members, angry that Morris is being forced out of his job, demanded that they be actively involved in a search for a successor.<\/p>\n
Talk of replacing a top Dallas-Fort Worth transportation director<\/a> was \u201cjust hearsay,\u201d according to the leader of the North Central Texas Council of Governments.<\/p>\n Todd Little, council of governments executive director, said he was charged with obtaining succession plans from all department heads, not just transportation<\/a>, as plans are made for the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said there was poor communication from Little and executive board members about Morris\u2019 role.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNo one spoke to this body until right now,\u201d Ross said.<\/p>\n Morris is considering retirement after his position was discussed in a closed executive board session last month.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody jumped to the conclusion Morris would be replaced,\u201d said Little, a former Ellis County judge who was appointed executive director in May.<\/p>\n Little said Morris\u2019 decades of experience as a transportation planner is why he would be retained as a senior adviser when he chooses to retire. Little said he would find funding to maintain Morris as an adviser if the Regional Transportation Council doesn\u2019t approve a one-year contract and subsequent renewals.<\/p>\n A succession plan for the council of governments\u2019 transportation department<\/a> was submitted by Morris Dec. 5 after his position was discussed in a Nov. 20 closed-session by the council of governments\u2019 executive board. That body took no action last month.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you say it\u2019s just a succession plan, I call bull—-,\u201d Ross told Little. \u201cDon\u2019t come in here and paint that picture as true.\u201d<\/p>\n Fort Worth City Council member Elizabeth Beck echoed Ross\u2019 statements.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t appreciate the way this was handled,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Carlos Flores, a Fort Worth council member who serves on the executive board of the council of governments, said other metropolitan planning organizations look at North Texas\u2019 council of governments as a best-practice system. They were surprised, he said, when they heard about Morris\u2019 possible departure.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a shock to some other systems what was going on here,\u201d he said, adding that he also had concerns.<\/p>\n Denton County Judge Andy Eads accused the council of governments executive board of a \u201cpower grab\u201d to dismiss Morris, who he described as the best transportation director in the United States. He suggested a legal review to ensure that the Regional Transportation Council maintains its authority as a policy-setting panel.<\/p>\n RTC members said they would develop a process to work with Little to interview candidates for the transportation director position.<\/p>\n Jeff Davis, chair of the Trinity Metro transit agency board, asked Little if he or executive board members had any potential candidates in mind to replace Morris.<\/p>\n \u201cZero,\u201d Little responded.<\/p>\n Rick Bailey, a Johnson County commissioner who serves as RTC chair, said transportation council members need to make sure their collective voice is heard in the selection process.<\/p>\n Members rallied around Morris, who they say has been instrumental in obtaining funding for high-impact transportation projects in the booming North Texas region as the population is expected to reach 12 million residents by 2050.<\/p>\n Morris said he would be \u201claser-focused\u201d on mobility efforts for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is expected to bring millions of sports fans to North Texas when games are played at AT&T Stadium \u2014 redubbed Dallas Stadium for the games \u2014 in the summer.<\/p>\n Morris said he was \u201cvery flattered\u201d at the amount of support he\u2019s received from regional officials and vowed to remain in his role until a new transportation director is hired. He would then work with the new director as an adviser.<\/p>\n He said the succession plan calls for him to work for the council of governments under a one-year contract that could be renewed for up to two additional years.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe this is a good win-win,\u201d Morris said.<\/p>\n Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n