The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) has approved a new agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), a key document in a lingering dispute with the North Central Texas Council of Governments executive board. The agreement was approved in a 41-4 vote, with outgoing chair Rick Bailey immediately signing the agreement after the vote.

Background of the Dispute

The issue stems from the recent firing of North Texas transportation director Michael Morris by council of governments Executive Director Todd Little. The COG board claims Little had the authority to fire Morris, although two state district judges upheld the assertion that the RTC is the policy-making body for North Texas transportation funding decisions. Morris was later reinstated.

Rob Walters, an attorney for the transportation council, said the independent policy-making body is recognized as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for North Texas because it received federal government certification in 2025, as it has every four years since 1995. Walters said the council regularly approves transportation funding decisions that go directly to implementing agencies without approvals by the council of governments executive board, which pays the organization’s bills.

RTC Leadership and Funding Decisions

Cedar Hill Mayor Stephen Mason was elected to lead the 45-member entity as chair for the next year. Denton City Council member Jill Jester will serve as vice chair, and Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez was elected secretary. The three will serve through June 2027.

RTC members also clarified $40 million in funding for a TEXRail extension into Fort Worth’s Medical District/Near Southside area. Although the funding request was approved in March, RTC members clarified that deferred or lesser-priority transportation projects would be delayed or canceled to release money to begin TEXRail construction.

Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.