Regional transit study recommended; NCTCOG staff to investigate larger regional authority
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Summary
A North Central Texas regional transit council update reported that council members authorized staff to begin work on a regional transit agency study to address service gaps across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex; discussion cited DART, Denton and Tarrant County agencies as possible components of a regional approach.
The Commissioners Court heard an update from the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) that the council authorized staff to begin studying the formation of a regional transit agency for the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.
The court heard from Commissioner Webb (presenting the RTC update) that the council was "asked to continue to be neutral" on DART-related governance but to authorize staff to "begin to lay out a regional transit agency for the entire metroplex." Webb said staff will flesh out options ranging from merging transit agencies to creating an overarching authority to cover the metro area. He said the three organizations most often discussed are DART, Denton County transit, and Tarrant County transit.
Webb and other speakers noted growth in non-transit-member cities and warned congestion and limited transit choices could harm economic development unless a regional solution is found. Discussion included future technologies such as microtransit and driverless vehicles, but participants emphasized those options do not by themselves reduce vehicle miles traveled.
The RTC discussion was described by Webb as preliminary; the council authorized staff to investigate and develop concepts for possible legislative consideration in a future session.