February 15 Meeting Notes

February 15 Meeting Notes

Twenty-seven of the TF members, including one call-in, met at 7:30am on Friday, February 15, 2019 at Halff Associates’ Richardson office.

Attendees: Andrew Ittigson, Hazma Khan, Ross Kahn, Paul Ridley, David Nevarez, Tony Sosebee, C.J. Schexnayder, Christopher Hernandez, Jeremy McGahan, Nikki Simon, Phil Malachowski, Matthew McLeod, Matt Craig, David Arbuckle, Jack Gryczynski, Kendra Cobbs, Michael Carleton, Tom Grant, Christina Sebastian, James LaBarba, Lenny Hughes, David Retzsch, Matthew Ables, Tom Ryden, Bud Melton, Doug Showers, Shenita Cleveland (by phone). (Sign-in sheet attached)

Meeting Notes:

Submitted by Bud Melton, March 15, 2019

The Mobility Task Force was introduced to attendees at the February GDPC Membership Breakfast which resulted in several additional expressions of interest in participating at the bi-monthly TF meeting on the following morning.

The February 15th meeting began with an agenda overview that led to lively discussion about ways to engage. There was much agreement that the Task Force should strive to help TXDOT devise solutions for dealing with its challenges. These must include land use in an economic context, emergence of automated vehicle technologies, and to minimize ROW impacts – to help maximize multimodal value. All are essential to responding to our growing population in the region.

On the subject of a future Lunch & Learn – Andrew Ittigson agreed to lead an effort with Matthew Ables, Hamza Khan, Tom Ryden, Christina Sebastian and Tony Sosebee to formulate a topic and speaker objective by June of 2019, for scheduling during an appropriate date before year-end.

As for a Membership Meeting topic, a member questioned whether there’s a disconnect between the public and agencies. Perhaps exposed by the process of attempting to draw Amazon to the region? A topic focused on NCTCOG’s Mobility 2045, with a focus on defining needed changes in Mobility 2050 might be one option. Perhaps with an improved understanding of how the region’s funds are allocated and programmed?

Another member asked whether there may be a potential place at the table for GDPC at the Regional Transportation Council. A suggested approach was one of an appointment to one of Dallas’s two public representative seats. (Typically appointed by the Mayor – both Dallas seats are currently occupied.)

Another asked whether we can make a case for economic returns from emergence of innovative mobility technologies. This led to suggestions of how best to utilize university students. Several on the task force are involved with area campuses with students looking for ways to be engaged. Data research and collection for further evaluation was considered a very useful form of engagement of the students. MISSION IS TO SHAPE, PROMOTE AND ADVOCATE A CREATIVE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE DALLAS REGION.

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Three Focus Area Teams were established. Following are these with lists of those who volunteered:

1. Engage in City of Dallas’ Long Range Mobility Planning.

Outcome: A sub-group, or team was formed to attend/monitor City-scheduled meetings. Participants include Mike Carleton, Tony Sosebee, Jeremy McGahan, Nikki Simon, Phil Malachowski, Matthew McLeod, Peter Aguirre, Lenny Hughes, Trey Ingram, Tom Grant, Ross Kahn, and Bud Melton.

2. Engage/coordinate with NCTCOG during development of Mobility 2050, the region’s Long Range Mobility Plan.

Outcome: A sub-group (team) was formed to more closely follow NCTCOG meetings and activities, and attending when possible to ensure GDPC’s voice is considered. Participants who signed up include Christopher Hernandez, Nikki Simon, Phil Malachowski, Doug Showers, Peter Aguirre, Matthew Ables, Trey Ingram, Hamza Khan, Tom Ryden, and Bud Melton.

3. Educate GDPC members on ongoing transformation of mobility within our region such as DART and TXDOT, and the impact of technologies like E-bikes, scooters, and apps such as DART’s GoPass Version 3.0.

Participants in this team include Hamza Khan, Kendra Cobbs, Matthew McLeod, Matt Craig, Christina Sebastian, Lenny Hughes, Dave Retzsch, Matthew Ables, Tom Grant and Bud Melton.

Outcome: Discussion ranged between support for High Speed Rail and issues centering around bikeshare bikes and scooters – particularly the e-bikes and e-scooters.

A list of potential candidates was begun from which to invite expert(s) from a city or planning authority or mobility providers to speak at a task force meeting Lunch & Learn event. Names mentioned included City of Dallas Transportation Director Mike Rogers, Patrick Kennedy, Director of NCTCOG Transportation Michael Morris, someone from NACTO, or someone from AT&T to discuss their “splash zone” in downtown Dallas. Andrew will be following up with a program topic and proposed schedule for a Monthly Membership Meeting.

The TF intends to begin maintaining some kind of calendar of events for member engagement. Anticipating progress once the Website group begins its evaluation of GDPC.org.

Following the February Task Force meeting – we were asked to develop a response to a recent City Council Mobility Solutions, Infrastructure & Sustainability briefing. Task Force members were sent a draft of a longer version for feedback; followed by circulation among other Task Force leaders, then sent to the Executive Committee for its response. The EC requested a much briefer statement that could be put forward to the Mayor and City Council prior to their vote on March 13th. Despite the compressed turnaround, the statement was finalized internally by the Task Force and members of the EC – and was prepared on a GDPC letterhead, signed and sent to the Council by President Paul Ridley.

The next meeting of the Mobility Task Force is scheduled for 7:30am on Friday, April 19, 2019 at the Richardson offices of Halff Associates. Breakfast will be available to those who RSVP.