NCTCOG PRIORITIZES SAFETY AS NORTH TEXAS STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Wilson
817-704-2511
bwilson@nctcog.org
Regional agency equips local communities with funding and safety resources
August 10, 2026 (Arlington, Texas) – With summer winding down and families across North Texas preparing for a new school year, thoughts turn from vacations and pool parties to classrooms, school buses and morning routines. The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is urging motorists, parents and students to keep safety top of mind as daily commutes to and from school begin.
To support safer journeys to and from campus, NCTCOG continues to lead regional efforts to provide infrastructure funding, planning resources and public education across the 12-county metropolitan area.
One of the ways NCTCOG supports safer school travel is through Safe Routes to School, a nationwide movement that encourages children to walk or bicycle to school safely. Walking and biking not only help students establish healthy physical activity habits that can improve their health and even academic performance, but they also reduce traffic congestion around schools and improve air quality.
NCTCOG partners with schools and local governments throughout the region to provide technical assistance, planning support and funding for Safe Routes to School initiatives. These efforts include developing Safe Routes to School plans, identifying safer walking and bicycling routes, and funding infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks, shared-use paths, pedestrian crossings and other enhancements that make it easier and safer for students to travel actively. For more information about NCTCOG’s Safe Routes to School initiatives, visit www.nctcog.org/trans/plan/lumo/bikeped/saferoutestoschool.
“Creating a safe travel environment for our region’s students requires coordinated regional planning alongside community participation,” said Shawn Conrad, program manager for Land-Use and Mobility Options at NCTCOG. “Whether a student walks, rides a bike, takes the bus, or travels in a passenger vehicle, NCTCOG is committed to equipping local communities with the infrastructure and tools needed to prevent crashes and protect our youngest commuters.”
NCTCOG also coordinates regional outreach to foster long-term safe travel habits through campaigns and special events, including:
- Walk & Roll to School Day (Oct. 7): NCTCOG is encouraging schools across North Texas to participate in this annual event promoting active transportation. Participating schools receive free safety-themed educational materials and giveaways to build student engagement. For more information, visit www.nctcog.org/trans/plan/lumo/bikeped/saferoutestoschool/walktoschoolday.
- Look Out Texans Campaign: NCTCOG’s ongoing public awareness initiative provides drivers, pedestrians and cyclists with targeted safety education. The campaign emphasizes critical school-zone behaviors, including obeying posted speed limits, eliminating driver distractions, and remaining alert near bus stops and crosswalks. For more information, visit www.lookouttexans.org.
About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:
NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered in the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. For more information on the Transportation Department, visit www.nctcog.org/trans.
About the Regional Transportation Council:
The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) of the North Central Texas Council of Governments has served as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for regional transportation planning in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1974. The MPO works in cooperation with the region’s transportation providers to address the complex transportation needs of the rapidly growing metropolitan area. The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area includes Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise counties. The RTC’s 45 members include local elected or appointed officials from the metropolitan area and representatives from each of the area’s transportation providers. More information can be found at NCTCOG.org.