Transportation Policy Council Meeting: Aug. 27 |
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At its August meeting, the Transportation Policy Council unanimously approved the 2022-23 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and the Title VI Program. The UPWP is the two-year transportation planning document that includes descriptions of tasks and budget from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 of each fiscal year. It describes the regional transportation plans and programs, including air quality activities, to be carried out with the Houston-Galveston metropolitan planning area. The 2022-23 UPWP has been submitted to the Texas Department of Transportation and is expected to go into effect next month.
H-GAC's Title VI Program fully documents compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Title VI regulations. Key updates to the H-GAC Title VI Program include a nondiscrimination policy statement; notice to the public of their rights under the Title VI statute; a Public Participation Plan; a plan to accommodate persons with limited English communication skills; an updated demographic profile of the region; a description of Environmental Justice provisions; measures to assess regional equity in the impact of transportation; and procedures for the submission and resolution of Title VI complaints. More information about the Title VI Program is available at h-gac.com/title-vi-program.
Additionally, the council received an update regarding a memorandum of understanding with area transit agencies that will bring the region one step closer to a more seamless public transit system. The Regional Transit Connectivity Project aims to ensure a seamless experience for public transit riders. Several components of the project are in development including a regional fare system, a data management system, a regional trip planner app, and related General Transit Feed Specifications (GTFS). The memorandum of understanding between H-GAC and the region's transit providers will outline roles, guidelines, and expected outcomes. H-GAC staff is currently working with area transit agencies to develop and publish the GTFS feeds and to prepare information for other applications (Google Maps, Apple Maps, ConnectSmart, the regional TripPlanner).
Towards the end of the meeting, the council received informational updates about ongoing transportation planning activities and recognized September as Commute Solutions Month. Throughout September, Commute Solutions is hosting virtual activities recognizing commuters in the region and providing resources about alternate forms of commuting, such as biking, walking, public transportation, carpooling, or vanpooling. To learn more about Commute Solutions Month activities and how to participate, visit yourcommutesolution.org/commute-solutions-month.
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H-GAC Releases Official Statement on North Houston Highway Improvement Project |
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H-GAC Releases New Regional U.S. Census Redistricting Data |
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The data is summarized for various geographies, including county (incorporated and unincorporated), census places/cities, independent school districts, voting districts, congressional districts, Texas State Senate and House districts, census tracts, and one-square-mile and nine-square-mile grids.
The data includes information about:
- Total population by race and ethnicity
- Voting age population
- Housing units; and
- Group quarter population
Some regional highlights include:
- The 13-county region added 1.2 million people in the last 10 years.
- The region is more diversified now with 37% Hispanic, 34% White, 17% Black, and 8% Asian population.
- The voting age population accounts for 76% of the total population.
- Among group quarters, the population in correctional institutions and juvenile facilities decreased, whereas the population in college dormitories and nursing homes increased.
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Review of Regionally Coordinated Transportation Plan Continues with Focus Groups Starting Soon |
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The Regionally Coordinated Transportation Plan (RCTP), H-GAC's five-year plan to provide more efficient and effective public transportation services across the entire 13-county region, is undergoing an update for 2022-2026. Earlier in August, H-GAC hosted a series of public workshops and provided an online survey where residents could share their feedback on public transportation in their communities and ways to improve it. Later this year, the agency will host focus groups to seek further, more in-depth community input as well as public meetings in early 2022.
Residents and stakeholders can get the latest information regarding the RCTP by visiting engage.h-gac.com/RCTP. Bookmark the page and check back frequently for updates. The final RCTP report is expected to be ready in the spring of 2022.
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Join the Journey to a Better Commute During Commute Solutions Month |
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September is Commute Solutions Month, and this month we challenge you to be a part of the journey to a better commute. Alternate forms of commuting - such as biking, walking, public transportation, carpooling, or vanpooling - have been proven to reduce stress, improve mental and physical health, reduce overall energy consumption, and save money.
Register for one of our free virtual transportation fairs happening this month, where you can play games, speak one-on-one with experts, watch short videos, and grab additional information about transportation options.
Also, check out our website at yourcommutesolution.org for more virtual activities and to learn about alternate commuting options available near you.
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H-GAC Releases 2020 State of Safety Annual Report |
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The H-GAC 2020 State of Safety annual report is now available online. The report provides an overview of travel demands, vehicle speeds, and traffic crash incidents in the eight-county Houston-Galveston metropolitan planning area as well as insights of contributing factors to those data points. The full report can be viewed online here.
H-GAC would like to remind drivers to practice safe habits and use caution when traversing our roads. Improving traffic safety will take every one of us working together. Otherwise, we will continue to pay the price. Visit h-gac.com/paytheprice for tips and resources on how we can improve transportation safety in the region.
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Transportation Brown Bag 2021 Series Concludes with Insightful Presentation by Streetlight Data on Reducing Inequities Using Comprehensive Data |
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H-GAC marked the final Transportation Brown Bag of the year with an engaging presentation by Streetlight Data on Sept. 20. Inequities in transportation investments have led to low-income, minority, and rural communities often being under-researched and overlooked when it comes to understanding their transportation needs. This, in turn, leads to further under-investment, creating a viscous cycle.
Matt Barkley, director of Streetlight Data Central Region, provided insights into how location based data from smartphones and navigation devices could paint a more comprehensive picture of the transportation habits and needs of communities that are typically overlooked and underserved. He shared case studies of how this data was used to encourage investments in infrastructure supporting alternative modes of transportation, such as biking and public transit, as well as safety improvements to reduce crashes and fatalities in these communities.
Towards the end of the presentation, Jim Hubbell, AICP, solutions engineering manager at Streetlight Data, provided demos of the organization's different data tools and platforms and answered questions from the audience.
Though the 2021 Brown Bag series has concluded, there are many other ways to get involved with H-GAC transportation programs and initiatives. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit h-gac.com/transportation-public-outreach.
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We Have Passed the Halfway Point of Hurricane Season. Now Is the Time to Make Sure You're Prepared |
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Sept. 10 marked the halfway point of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Many of our coastal communities are still recovering from the impacts of recent named storms. It's important for everyone to be prepared during this most active period of the season.
Visit TogetherAgainstTheWeather.com for tool kits and strategies on preparing your home and family for a hurricane or severe storm. The page also contains helpful materials for those caring for small children, special need individuals, and those with health conditions.
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H-GAC Launches 2022 Aerial Imagery Cost-Share Program |
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H-GAC has launched the registration process to acquire new regional aerial imagery in 2022 as part of its cost-share imagery program. The imagery is flown by highly qualified orthoimagery companies and delivered to cost-share participants within six to eight months of original 'leaf-off' flight times.
Participants also receive access to their imagery via online GIS image services that are ready to use. The cost-share program is designed to save participants time, money, and resources as the total cost of the project is shared between all participants. The project is fully managed by H-GAC.
Registration is open now, and participants can specify what imagery they would like to receive in 2022 by individual tile, county, any combination of tile and county, or the entire regional coverage at 13.5 thousand square miles. This aerial imagery data is heavily relied upon by the GIS and engineering communities to plan for growth and expansion within our region. The imagery is available at 6-inch resolution in true color (RGB) or infrared color (CIR).
For more details, FAQs, and other information on H-GAC's 2022 Aerial Imagery Cost-Share program, please visit the program website.
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Friday, Sept. 24, 2021
9:30-11 a.m.
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Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021
9:30-11 a.m.
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