At its meeting on March 25, the Transportation Policy Council approved the appointment of its ex-officio non-voting members for 2022. All six members unanimously agreed to serve another term representing their respective agencies or interest groups. The six members are Texas State Senator Carol Alvarado, Union Pacific Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs Chad Schelbitzki, Hugh McCulley of BNSF Railway, Texas State Representative Dennis Paul, Texas State Representative Ed Thompson, and Wharton County Judge Phillip Spenrath.

Next, members unanimously approved the establishment of a Regional Transportation Safety Taskforce. The taskforce will work to address the concerning rise in traffic crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities in the region and identify new, comprehensive strategies to drive change and help reach the Vision Zero goals of zero traffic-related fatalities by 2030 (Houston and Harris County) and 2050 (regional). The taskforce would be active for nine to 12 months, meet monthly, and receive support from H-GAC staff. 

Later, the policy council approved amendments to the 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), and to the 2022-2023 Unified Planning Work Program. It also received an update on the development of the 2023-2026 TIP

Finally, the policy council passed resolutions commending the distinguished service of outgoing TPC members Carrin Patman and Jeff Taebel. Patman served as chair of METRO and on TPC representing METRO from 2016 to 2022. She was METRO’s first female chair, and during her term, she led the successful passage of the $3.5 billion METRONext bond measure. In February 2022, Patman was nominated by President Biden as the next ambassador to Iceland. Taebel served on the TPC as an alternate member representing H-GAC from 2018 to 2022. He also served as H-GAC’s director of Community and Environmental Planning for 35 years before retiring at the end of March.

The next TPC meeting is scheduled to take place at 9:30 a.m., Friday, April 22. The meeting agenda can be viewed online at www.h-gac.com/transportation-policy-council/meeting-agendas. To view or listen to the video recording of the latest TPC meeting, click here.