By Scott Harvey
Greenville – Details were unveiled Tuesday in Greenville during the first in a number of committee meetings to plan for the future of regional transportation.
Hunt County dignitaries met with representatives from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) to determine how the county, now a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), can create a 20-30 year plan that incorporates the transportation needs of the public.
Officials explored existing data and urged area businesses to provide up-to-date figures as they relate to traffic counts and land use to get a better idea of where and what is needed.
The Hunt County Transportation Plan combines various planning efforts into a single comprehensive transportation study. Over the coming months, officials plan to meet with local city councils and the public to further evaluate the process. They're hoping to develop a viable plan in about a year. Major challenges include dramatic growth, funding and incorporation of contiguous county projects.
The committee is co-chaired by local entrepreneur W.D. Hilton and Texas A&M University-Commerce President Dan Jones; and consists of both county and local city officials and community leaders. The advisory body has no decision-making powers, but will rather provide information to the NCTCOG to aid in future planning.
"If we don't start now, it may be another 20-30 years before a plan is created... I think now is the time to get started," said President Jones.
The NCTCOG is asking anyone interested in the planning process to subscribe to their notice list at www.nctcog.org/transcomm.
Businesses or community members interested in assisting in the project by providing figures or other input can contact Project Manager Chris Reed at 817-695-9271 or at creed@nctcog.org.