August 2016
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REGIONAL News
High-speed rail planning moving forward
Progress on plans to bring high-speed rail to the Dallas-to-Houston corridor continues. While this effort has drawn much of the attention in recent months, transportation planners are working to facilitate movement on connections that would open the technology to residents throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and other fast-growing metropolitan areas.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments hosted an industry forum in June bringing together potential proposers for a planned Fort Worth-to-Dallas segment that eventually could link to other parts of Texas and the Southwest. While no federal money was allocated for high-speed rail in the current federal transportation act, Washington is soliciting proposals for projects across the nation from the private sector.
The industry forum was intended to help public- and private-sector groups interested in submitting proposals gather information needed to make their pitches.
The proposals are due to the Federal Railroad Administration August 31. The FRA will review proposals within 90 days and determine which options should be forwarded to the Secretary of Transportation, who could decide whether to recommend any to Congress. It is believed high-speed rail between Fort Worth and Dallas is a prime candidate for funding through this initiative.
NCTCOG’s role in advancing high-speed rail includes:
- Serving as a resource to entities interested in making proposals
- Providing information about regional policies and the Mobility Plan
- Making technical information available
Before the proposals are due to Washington, NCTCOG will host a Texas Department of Transportation public hearing where information on a separate Oklahoma-to-South Texas project will be discussed. An environmental impact statement, which lays out potential options for rail service in the Interstate Highway 35 corridor, has been issued and will be reviewed at the hearing. It is scheduled for 5:30 pm August 11 at NCTCOG’s Arlington offices, 616 Six Flags Drive, with presentations set to begin at 6 pm.
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NCTCOG is facilitating efforts to bring high-speed rail to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The agency will host a public hearing August 11 to gather input on an environmental impact study of the Oklahoma-to-South Texas corridor. |
| Photo: Getty Images |
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Alternative fuel vehicle procurement
NCTCOG is looking for fleet representatives and fleet procurement staff to participate in a working group for a new initiative known as Fleets for the Future. |
The project goal is to administer a regional cooperative procurement effort for alternative fuel vehicles to help fleets acquire these vehicles at a lower cost.
NCTCOG and the Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition are participating in this national partnership funded by the US Department of Energy, under contract with the National Association of Regional Councils.
If you work in fleet management or fleet procurement and are interested in participating, contact Amy Hodges at ahodges@nctcog.org or 817-704-2508.
To learn more, see the Fleets for the Future website at NARC.org/f4f.
Argonne National Laboratory AFLEET tool
By using a simple spreadsheet tool, fleet managers are able to estimate petroleum use, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutant emissions and cost of ownership of on-road vehicles.
Argonne National Laboratory has designed the Alternative Fuel Life-Cycle Environmental and Economic Transportation (AFLEET) Tool on behalf of the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program.
The AFLEET tool aims to provide fleets with the ability to see the environmental and economic costs and benefits of incorporating alternative fuel vehicles into their fleets.
For more information on the AFLEET tool, visit AFDC.ENERGY.gov and click on the tools section.
PUBLIC Involvement
Join us for National Drive Electric Week
Electric Vehicle enthusiasts are invited to help set another record this year as part of the annual National Drive Electric Week event from 10 am to 2 pm September 17 at Grapevine Mills Mall.
At last year’s event, North Texas electric vehicle owners established the Texas record for most EVs in one place. This year, the North Central Texas Council of Governments and DFW Clean Cities Coalition invite all North Texans to learn more about electric vehicles and charging options, while potentially witnessing another record-breaking gathering.
Attendees can get up close and personal with this cutting-edge technology and participate in activities such as informational displays from organizations and technologies, hands-on activities for adults and children, entertainment, and ride-and-drive opportunities for available EV models. They may even win the use of an EV for a day!
Additional information and registration details can be found at DFWCleanCities.org/ndew
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Mobility Matters looks at FWTA master plan |
The summer issue of Mobility Matters is available in print and online. This issue of the NCTCOG Transportation Department’s semiannual newsletter features articles about the Fort Worth Transportation Authority’s master plan, the Look Out Texans safety campaign and more. Scott Mahaffey, chairman of the FWTA board, is also profiled in this issue.
Read the newsletter online at NCTCOG.org/mobilitymatters. For printed copies, contact Brian Wilson at bwilson@nctcog.org.
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