March 2012
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OUR REGION
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Clean Cities survey seeks information about AFVs
Do you own a vehicle powered by alternative fuel or advanced technology?
If so, we have a few questions for you. If you don’t have an alternative-fuel vehicle or hybrid, your participation in the Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities survey would also provide valuable information.
The Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition public participation survey is now online. The survey is about alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies and the general public is encouraged to take the survey. |
The results will help the DFW Clean Cities gain better insight regarding where the public stands with alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. It will also help with strengthening the DFW Clean Cities objectives, which are to facilitate the development of alternative fuel vehicles, to support the installation of alternative fuel refueling infrastructures, to increase the use of fuel blends, to accelerate sales of hybrid or electric vehicles, to promote informed consumer choice on fuel economy and to encourage the use of idle reduction technologies.
Developing a deeper understanding about the general public will also help the DFW Clean Cities learn more about how to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security and create energy related jobs in Texas and the United States.
Related link: Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Alternative Fuels and Advanced Technology Public Perception Survey
Grant funding for school bus projects now available
Applications are being accepted for NCTCOG’s Clean School Bus 2012 Call for Projects for a few more days. Public and private schools, school districts and school bus operators in the 16-county NCTCOG region are encouraged to apply. Eligible projects include replacement, repower, retrofit and idle-reduction projects that cut emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). To be eligible, public entities must adopt the Regional Transportation Council’s Clean Fleet Vehicle Policy by the close of the call. Applications will be accepted until 5 pm March 16. |
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More information about the 2012 Call for Projects is available here or by contacting Russell Garner at 817-704-2508 or rgarner@nctcog.org.
Related link: North Central Texas Clean School Bus Program
RTC POLICYMAKERS
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AirCheck celebrates 25,000th
vehicle repair
The AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine Program is expected to offer vouchers for vehicle-replacement assistance for a limited time this spring. The program, which provides assistance to qualifying motorists who need vehicle emissions repairs, celebrated its 25,000th repaired vehicle in December 2011. |
AirCheckTexas has been successful in North Texas, and this milestone represents its significance to the region’s improving air quality. The program continues to accept applications for repair assistance. For more information and to apply, visit www.nctcog.org/airchecktexas or call 800-898-9103.
Related link: AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine
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Education a focus of 5th Aviation Summit
North Texas should continue to collaborate on an integrated aviation education system as it looks to keep pace with the industry’s growth over the next 20-plus years, officials said last month at the fifth annual NCTCOG Aviation Summit.
The summit celebrated the culmination of NCTCOG’s long-term aviation plan, which it began developing five years ago. |
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The study determined that if expected improvements are made to the region’s aviation infrastructure, North Texas will be able to handle the forecast growth through 2035. However, planners cautioned that close coordination and system-performance monitoring must be completed to ensure capacity is adequate. Hillwood Chairman Ross Perot Jr. delivered the keynote address, encouraging those in attendance that the aviation industry in North Texas is strong and its future bright.
Related link: Aviation Summit
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
NCTCOG to host natural gas workshop
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) will host a Natural Gas Transportation workshop March 8 to discuss potential roadway and air quality impacts of natural gas-related trucking activity in the Barnett Shale. Presentations will include research on roadway impacts recently completed by the Texas Transportation Institute and information about an NCTCOG truck traffic and emissions inventory study currently being conducted. The workshop will be held from 3-4:30 pm in the Transportation Council Room at NCTCOG offices, located at 616 Six Flags Drive, Arlington. For more information, please visit www.nctcog.org/barnettshale.
Related link: Natural Gas Transportation Workshop
White House honors DFW Connector's Swan
Sam Swan, project manager of the DFW Connector, was recognized last month by the White House as a Champion of Change. Swan was among 11 people honored for using innovation to create jobs and improve the nation’s infrastructure. The DFW Connector, a multi-highway corridor north of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is being expanded in part with more than $250 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
“Initially seen as highly experimental, the DFW Connector project has elevated expectations and established the standards of success and excellence for transportation projects across the state and county,” Swan wrote in a blog post published on WhiteHouse.gov.
Related link: Champions of Change - Innovation in Transportation
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