Visit 511DFW for your trip and transit needs

The new 511DFW is a leading source for road condition information for Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) trip planning needs.

To save time and energy, you can quickly access free information on traffic and transit conditions before you begin your commute, and real-time information is available while you commute. The new 511DFW contains travel data from other apps, including Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze.

Local cities and municipalities also submit data to provide you with the most up-to-date and accurate traffic information possible.

The 511DFW service is easy to use. Download the 511DFW app from the App Store or Google Play on any mobile device. Visit www.511dfw.org or simply call 511 from a mobile phone or landline in the DFW area to receive the latest traffic and transit information.

Additionally, 511DFW also has a public transit trip planning feature. Here, you can set your origin and destination, as well as the date and time you want to leave. Alternatively, you can plot your start and end points on the map.

Real-time traffic and transit condition information for incidents such as crashes and road construction is also available. Use the personalized My511 and the customizable map of DFW with freeway camera images and message board information for current traffic conditions.

Information is also available on traffic speeds for freeways and arterials, weather alerts, bus stops and more.

The 511DFW app has all of the same traffic information optimized for your phone – or feel free to call 511 on the go. To learn more about 511DFW, you can also follow us on Facebook.

Save time, hassle and money – visit www.511dfw.org today.

Mobility 2045 receives AQ conformity

The US Department of Transportation ruled last month that Dallas-Fort Worth’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan complies with federal air quality regulations.

Current and future transportation projects outlined by the $136.4billion Mobility 2045 may now proceed.

The plan involves a comprehensive strategy that includes improvements to highways, rail corridors and bicycle-pedestrian facilities, while embracing emerging technologies. For more, visit www.nctcog.org/mobility2045.

 

Other articles

 TCC partnership leads to substantial Trinity Metro ridership growth

Thousands of Tarrant County College students are enjoying the public transportation benefit they receive for furthering their education. When TCC started covering the cost of Trinity Metro bus and rail rides in May, students took nearly 1,000 rides in Tarrant County.

The upward trend skyrocketed in subsequent months, with more than 14,000 rides in October. As part of the agreement, Trinity Metro added service to TCC’s Northeast and Southeast campuses in August. Now students can access all of the TCC campuses at no cost to them. For students like Alexandra Lopez, having TCC pick up the tab has made a big difference.

“It has saved me so much money and I am just so grateful for it,” she said. Having the flexibility to reach multiple locations is another aspect of the program that has made a significant impact on her education, she said.

For more, visit www.ridetrinitymetro.org. - Submitted by Trinity Metro
 

Grand Prairie named Partner of the Year for air quality efforts

For the third year in a row, the City of Grand Prairie is the Air North Texas Partner of the Year. Grand Prairie implemented a yearlong comprehensive outreach and communications plan centered on Clean Air Action Day, a regionwide event held on the first Friday of every summer to call attention to the actions individuals can take to improve air quality.

Grand Prairie built community and employee engagement through social media posts, air quality alerts, city newsletters and participation in local events to help raise awareness about air quality throughout the year. These efforts culminated with Grand Prairie’s Clean Air Action Day activities, including an art contest for city staff and the city’s annual corporate Clean Air Challenge. Industry leaders Lockheed Martin, PepsiCo and Siemens participated in the challenge, along with local employers such as Fruit of the Earth and Texas General Hospital.

The City of Cedar Hill took home the award for outstanding initiative by featuring Air North Texas in a number of creative campaigns, community events and educational forums. Hood County Clean Air Coalition (HCCAC) continues to set the standard for clean air advertising in North Texas. For the fourth year in a row, HCCAC won the award for outstanding advertising with a multiplatform approach. The City of Plano received the award for outstanding outreach for using both traditional and digital strategies to engage residents and businesses. Finally, the City of Dallas again received the Arlo Ambassador Award for advancing the Air North Texas message through the campaign mascot.

For more information, visit www.airnorthtexas.org.
 

Updated plan streamlines meetings, input options

The Regional Transportation Council has approved a new version of the NCTCOG Transportation Department’s Public Participation Plan that better aligns public input opportunities to the level of public interest in the topics being presented for comment. The length of public comment periods remains the same, but the requirement for multiple public meetings has been removed.
Staff may still choose to hold multiple public meetings for items of particular interest, but the new plan will provide for greater efficiency and flexibility.  In addition to this change, all public meetings will be livestreamed whenever possible.

Other changes include refined evaluation measures and reporting processes and updated demographics in the Language Assistance Plan. The PPP also adds public ports, private providers of transportation, natural disaster risk-reduction agencies and agencies related to tourism to the list of public participation stakeholders.

The Public Participation Plan was last updated in 2015. Learn more about the latest version of the plan at www.nctcog.org/trans/involve. 

 

NCTCOG helping define census geographies

Data from the Census Bureau is used by a wide range of groups, including communities, schools, businesses and local governments. The Census 2020 Participant Statistical Areas Program allows North Texans a unique opportunity to redraw the census geographies.

The Census 2020 PSAP process gives local governments and other interested parties the opportunity to review and update boundaries for various geographies, including census tracts and block groups.

These statistical areas are to be used for all Census Bureau products, such as the 2020 decennial census and the American Community Survey. The definition of these statistical areas determines how census data is presented geographically for the next 10 years.

NCTCOG will serve as the primary participant for the region. In this role, NCTCOG will coordinate all review efforts in early 2019 and submit the regional statistical plan to the Census Bureau in spring 2019. Participation is not mandatory, but is encouraged. For more information or to sign up as a participant, visit www.nctcog.org/census2020psap or contact Kathy Yu at 817-608-2343 or kyu@nctcog.org.
 

Funding still available for clean fleets

NCTCOG has approximately $395,000 in grant funding remaining for the replacement of heavy-duty diesel vehicles or equipment. 

Local governments and private companies that contract with local governments are eligible to apply.

Eligible vehicles or equipment must operate in the 10-county ozone nonattainment area, which includes Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise counties.

Grant funding will pay for 25, 35 or 45 percent of the new vehicle or equipment cost, depending on the emissions rate of the new engine. For more information, visit www.nctcog.org/aqfunding or email aqgrants@nctcog.org.

NCTCOG to provide online input opportunity

NCTCOG will seek online comments on proposed modifications to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) beginning December 10.

Information will be posted at www.nctcog.org/input through January 8, 2019. For printed copies of the information, call 817-608-2365 or email cbaylor@nctcog.org.

The TIP is updated regularly, extends through 2022 and includes projects with committed funds from federal, State and local sources.

To view the current list of funded projects, visit www.nctcog.org/trans/tip.
 

Fall 2018 Mobility Matters now available

The fall 2018 Mobility Matters newsletter is here! This issue contains updates on North Texas’ pursuit of hyperloop technology and the recently approved $136.4 billion Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Mobility 2045. The MTP outlines improvements to the region’s transportation system through 2045.

The newsletter also features articles on alternative fuel corridors being established to accommodate the growing popularity of vehicles powered by means other than gasoline, as well as NCTCOG’s Bicycle Opinion Survey.

Additionally, you can get to know Loyl Bussell, P.E., District Engineer of the Fort Worth District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

Visit www.nctcog.org/mobilitymatters for the online version or contact Brian Wilson at bwilson@nctcog.org for individual copies.