RTC update: TxDOT picks up Heartland Flyer funding; weekday transit down, weekend travel up

The court received a monthly Regional Transportation Council (RTC) update from the commissioner serving on RTC. The update noted a DCTA program with Allen and Fairview has roughly $95,000 left and that TxDOT has committed funding for the Heartland Flyer for the next three years—an item the RTC had funded previously for a year.

The presenter summarized ridership and usage trends: weekend toll-road use and weekend transit were up roughly 12–14%, airport traffic up about 12%, but weekday transit ridership was down about 24% in June. The RTC is examining programs to increase weekday ridership and has adopted targets for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrous oxide as part of air-quality planning. The court was told peak-hour delays and single-occupancy vehicle travel are trending poorly in some areas, particularly McKinney and Frisco, and that the RTC will continue discussions and analysis.