By Brent Lyday
Greenville – Hunt County residents' ideas for not only the county's current transportation system, but also development of future transportation options will be the focus of a listening session on April 20 at 6 p.m. in Greenville.
The session, hosted by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), will be held at the Fletcher Warren Civic Center, 5501 S. Business Highway 69, Greenville, Texas. Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts about transportation needs and preferences for developing future transportation options.
NCTCOG and the Regional Transportation Council together form the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Federally designated as the MPO for the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 1974, NCTCOG works in cooperation with the region's transportation providers, elected officials and the public to identify solutions that address the complex transportation needs of the rapidly growing, 12-county North Central Texas region.
Daily in Hunt County there are about 2.6 million vehicle miles of travel, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Roadways are an important part of any transportation plan, but other options, such as rail, bicycle and pedestrian facilities can contribute to a comprehensive plan that can enhance mobility, quality of life and economic development. Linking development with transportation decisions can also promote more coordinated land use.
In cooperation with the Hunt County Transportation Committee, which includes elected officials and business and community leaders, NCTCOG is embarking on the development of a Hunt County Transportation Plan. The plan will include several studies and planning projects. Input from residents is especially important in this early phase. The result will be a comprehensive county plan that addresses transportation challenges and opportunities.
Also on April 20, the Hunt County Transportation Committee co-chairs and NCTCOG staff will brief elected officials on the timeline for and role of elected officials in development of the transportation plan.
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 on the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. Currently, NCTCOG has 233 member governments including 16 counties, 165 cities, 23 school districts and 29 special districts.