September 18, 2024 - TRA Newswire -

The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) of the North Central Texas Council of Governments will decide, at their October monthly meeting, what proposals to push forward in the 2025 state legislative session from their innovative "Transit 2.0." agenda.

A series of seven priority policy positions were proposed in a draft presentation at the council's September meeting out of 22 concepts that were advanced by consultants. The seven proposals included the creation of a high speed rail authority and how to adequately fund all modes of transportation. 

The Transit 2.0 draft proposals included allocating funds to the existing Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund, supporting innovative funding methods to expand rail and transit options in North Texas, and review with TxDOT and the legislature options to create a new Texas high-speed rail authority.

“I believe you need some state entity to help in the implementation of high-speed rail,” said Michael Morris, director of transportation for the NCTCOG in an interview on KBTX-TV. “There should be some government side to private sector investment of high-speed rail.”  The RTC language to be decided in October also focuses on pursuing innovation and technology by supporting high-speed rail development in Texas with its superior history of safety. 

In the September RTC meeting Morris said "the consultants reviewed strategies on what other transit agencies are doing and focused on some very good examples in the United States. The strategies have varied potential revenue for transit agencies with legislative and policy ideas." Hopefully, the top seven positions will advance into the state legislative program in 2025, according to Morris. 

So how could transit projects be funded? Some of the ideas put forward include $200 million a year for transit-eligible programs in the Texas Mobility Fund, tapping the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) trust fund, specific budget riders from general funds, creating regional rail partnerships with Class 1 railroads, bringing back the Texas Local Option Transportation Act (TLOTA), and amending the local sales tax cap, among others.

Another proposal would provide tools to facilitate transit-oriented development (TOD) with possible tax incentives to developers or public-private partnership financing possibilities. 

Looking toward expanding transportation options, the council may consider support for retaining current eminent domain authority to allow planning and development of new and/or expanded transportation corridors. These would include high-speed rail, commuter rail, freight rail, roadways and trails.  

Another legislative draft proposal would oppose any new laws that would increase truck weight limits above what the current law allows for over-the-road freight traffic that beats down Texas roadways and bridges.

Photo credit: Texas Central