Public Meeting Provides Chance to Contribute Feedback on Transit Needs in Eastern Dallas, Kaufman and Rockwall Counties

9/21/2023

Residents, commuters, employers invited to attend Sept. 26 meeting, participate in survey

 
(ARLINGTON, Texas) – The effort to develop a comprehensive public transportation plan for eastern Dallas, Kaufman and Rockwall counties is moving forward. The North Central Texas Council of Governments wants to hear from those who live and work in the area about how transit may enhance their transportation experience. Residents and other stakeholders have two opportunities to provide feedback: a public meeting and a survey.

The public meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26 at the Mesquite Arts Center. This meeting will include a brief presentation followed by an interactive mapping activity to help planners better understand travel patterns in the study area. The meeting will also allow attendees to voice their opinions about the study area’s transit needs.

To participate in the survey visit www.publicinput.com/edkrsurvey. Feedback is currently being accepted, and submissions are due Oct. 13.

The Eastern Dallas, Kaufman and Rockwall Counties Transit Study aims to develop a comprehensive public transportation plan for cities in eastern Dallas County that are not members of Dallas Area Rapid Transit. The study will also look at additional transportation choices to complement the existing STAR Transit system in Kaufman and Rockwall Counties. Additionally, the study will identify transit options, funding and implementation strategies, and potential community impacts. A transit vision will develop goals and objectives to guide the planning process, recommendations, and implementation.

Population and employment are projected to grow substantially by 2045 in each of the counties involved in this study. According to NCTCOG’s long-term forecast, Rockwall (82%) and Kaufman (81%) counties will lead the region in growth by percentage through 2045.

This public meeting will serve as a chance for those who live, work, and frequently travel through or within this area to make their voices heard.

To learn more about the project visit www.publicinput.com/nctcogEDKR.
For special accommodations due to disability or for language interpretation, contact Jackie Castillo at 817-695-9255 or jcastillo@nctcog.org at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Reasonable accommodation will be made.

 
Public Meeting Details      
6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26
Mesquite Arts Center
1527 N. Galloway Ave.
Mesquite, TX 75149

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. Currently, NCTCOG has 229 member governments including 16 counties, 169 cities, 19 school districts and 27 special districts. 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 44 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 www.nctcog.org.