At its meeting on April 22, the Transportation Policy Council approved 15 amendments to the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and the 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

One of the amendments reprograms nearly $10 million ($9.8 million exactly) of federal funds for METRO to purchase 40 electric buses, 10 ‘cutaway’ buses, and charging equipment, helping to create a more sustainable bus fleet, improve air quality, and reduce emissions. Other notable amendments that were approved include increasing federal and local matching funds towards a project to improve the Halls Bayou Trail and increasing state funds towards a project to replace Galveston County Pelican Island Bridge. Additionally, the policy council approved an amendment to the 2022-23 Unified Planning Work Program, and it adopted a resolution recognizing May as Bike Month.

As informational items, the policy council received a progress report on development of the new Regional Transportation Safety Task Force. H-GAC is finalizing its list of appointees and will present it at a future meeting. Also, policy council members received a summary of the public comments received about the Draft 2023-26 TIP. H-GAC held two public meetings regarding the Draft 2023-26 TIP on March 22. Staff will make further updates to the draft document based on the public feedback received and bring the final draft before the TPC for approval at its May meeting.

Finally, the policy council received updates about H-GAC’s upcoming planning activities, including a new air quality conformity determination, the latest steps regarding the upcoming Call for Projects, and the latest Transit Asset Management performance measures and targets for the region.

The next TPC meeting is scheduled to take place at 9:30 a.m., Friday, May 20. 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.