H-GAC Transportation Newsletter: September 2022

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Transportation Policy Council Meeting: Aug. 26

At its meeting on Aug. 26, the Transportation Policy Council passed a resolution recognizing September as Commute Solutions Month. This year’s Commute Solutions Month celebrates the partner organizations in the region that work with H-GAC to decrease congestion and improve air quality. More information about the month’s events can be found on the Commute Solutions website.

 

Later, the policy council approved the new list of designated Critical Urban Freight Corridors for the eight-county metropolitan planning area. Critical Urban Freight Corridors are the public roadways that connect freight vehicles to the National Highway Freight Network and are thereby vital to the economic health of the region, the state, and the nation. Twenty-five new Critical Urban Freight Corridors have been designated for the H-GAC region, and two were carried over from the 2017 list, bringing the updated total to 27. Now that TPC has approved the updated list, it heads to the Federal Highway Administration for certification as well as inclusion in the Texas Freight Mobility Plan.

 

Additionally, the TPC approved several new amendments to the 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program and the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan. It also approved new amendments to the Unified Planning Work Program.

 

Towards the end of the meeting, the policy council received updates on the latest Transportation Performance Measures, upcoming transportation planning activities, and the launch of the new ConnectSmart app, the region’s first mobility tool than integrates trip planning and navigation amongst a variety of commuting options in a one-stop source. The ConnectSmart app is now available for download at Apple and Google Play stores.

 

The next TPC meeting is scheduled to take place at 9:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 23. 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.

ConnectSmart App Officially Launches at Ion Houston Event

Transportation officials, experts, and community leaders from across the region celebrated the official launch of the ConnectSmart app at a special event held Friday, Sept. 16 at the Ion. ConnectSmart is the only mobile app powered by live data from local transportation authorities to provide the most accurate traffic information available. Its aim is to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and help improve daily travel throughout the Houston-Galveston region. The app is the culmination of years of collaboration between the Texas Department of Transportation, Houston tech firm Metropia, H-GAC, city and county agencies, and transportation provider agencies from across the region, including Houston TranStar, B-Cycle, and METRO.


ConnectSmart takes everything needed to plan a trip by any means of transportation (e.g., real-time traffic updates, parking information, bus stops, ticketing information, bikeshare stations, etc.) and puts it in a one-stop source. Users can not only plan an entire trip from start to finish, but they can also discover the best transportation options for that trip. ConnectSmart also comes with Tow and Go fully integrated so that users can easily call for assistance if they find themselves stranded on the freeway due to mechanical failure. Users can receive rewards points for logging trips on the app that they can redeem for gift cards from places like Starbucks and Amazon or to pay for transportation services.


The ConnectSmart app is available free to download on Apple and Google Play

Commute Solutions Month Is Here! Find an Event Near You!

Commute Solutions Month is here! This year’s region-wide celebration will highlight companies, agencies, universities, and others in the eight-county transportation management area who are doing great work to improve travel for their commuters as well as decrease congestion and improve air quality in the region. Visit our Commute Solutions Month page to find an event near you.

Allie Isbell Discusses 2045 Regional Transportation Plan Update at APA-Houston/WTS International – Houston Joint Event 

Last month, Allie Isbell, AICP, transportation assistant director at H-GAC, attended the first American Planning Association Houston Section and WTS International - Houston Chapter joint event to give insight and updates on H-GAC's 2045 Regional Transportation Plan and public engagement efforts.

H-GAC Board and Advisory Committee Members Invited to Orientation Event on Friday, Sept. 30

If you are a member of an H-GAC board or advisory committee, plan to join us as our guest at the H-GAC Boards & Committees Orientation to be held in person only on Friday, Sept. 30 from 8 a.m. to noon in our second-floor conference rooms. 

 

During the first session of the orientation, you will have the opportunity to receive training and Texas Open Meetings Act certification by our leading legal expert, attorney Chris Nichols. 

 

Should you already hold a Texas Open Meetings Act certification, please join us for the second session of our orientation, where professional parliamentarian Kay Allison Crews will provide instruction on the basic parliamentary procedures for presiding over meetings. Breakfast and snacks will be provided. 

 

Click here for more information and to register for the event. Should you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Jones

Save the Date for Houston Area GIS Day on Wednesday, Nov. 16

Save the date for the 2022 Houston Area GIS Day on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the University of Houston – Clear Lake campus, 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Bayou Building, Houston, TX. The Houston Area GIS Day is a free one-day celebration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for local GIS professionals, universities, high school students, and teachers.

 

This year’s activities include:

  • Live educational presentations for students
  • Live geospatial presentations for professionals
  • College and university GIS program exhibitors
  • Geospatial exhibitors and vendors
  • Student GIS activities and games
  • Professional map contests and more!

 

For more event information including sponsor, exhibitor, speaker, and volunteer opportunities, please visit the 2022 Houston Area GIS Day web page.

H-GAC Announces Call for Parks and Natural Areas Awards Submissions

H-GAC's 17th annual Parks and Natural Areas Awards program is now accepting applications. 

 

The Parks and Natural Areas Awards honor projects in four categories: Projects Over $500,000; Projects Under $500,000; Planning Process and Policy Tools; and Programming. Winning entries serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. The application period will be open until 3 p.m.,Thursday, Sept. 29.  

 

An online application guide is available. No funding is associated with this awards program. 

 

Winners will be notified in December and recognized in 2023. For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo

We're at the Peak of Hurricane Season. Are You Prepared?

September marks the peak of hurricane season, and activity is picking up. Named storms have already formed in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. If you have not already, now is the time to prepare.


Residents who live in an evacuation zone are encouraged to visit our hurricane evacuation planning page for this year's zip zone maps and important tips to help develop their evacuation plan.


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, individuals with disabilities or special needs, and those with health conditions.

Don't Pay the Price! Practice Safe Driving Habits while Traversing Our Region's Roads

Traffic fatalities in Texas are trending in the wrong direction. Last year alone, more than 3,500 people lost their lives on Texas roads. You can protect yourself from becoming another statistic by adopting safe driving habits. Always drive at safe speeds, avoid distractions, never drive angry or under the influence, and be mindful and courteous when sharing the road with pedestrians, bicyclists, people with disabilities, and transit riders. By practicing these responsible habits, you can avoid paying the price.


Visit h-gac.com/paytheprice for tips and resources on how you can help improve transportation safety in the region.

Upcoming Meetings

Transportation Policy

Council Meeting

Friday, Sept. 23

9:30-11 a.m.

Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting

Wednesday, Oct. 19

9:30-11:30 a.m.

H-GAC MPO in the News


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