| | Bridging Our Communities H-GAC's 2035 Regional Transportation Plan is now available for review and public comment. This plan, like its predecessors, outlines our region's approach to providing mobility and reducing congestion, while reducing vehicular emissions. Mobility project needs exceed funds available in our rapidly growing region. For this reason, the Regional Transportation Plan brings together the resources and capabilities of all transportation agencies and modes. In our region 73% of all revenue to support transportation improvements comes from local, not state or federal sources. It's our region, our transportation system, and our money. The 2035 Regional Transportation Plan will help us move forward together, with emphasis on move. Jack Steele
Executive Director |
| Storm Debris Workshop | On Tuesday, June 26, H-GAC will present a storm debris workshop--Looking Back and Focusing on the Future: Best Management Practices for Disaster Debris Management and Upcoming Federal and State Policy Changes. The event will be held in Conference Room A, second floor, 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston 77027. It is an all day event, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and concluding by 4:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided. This workshop will provide guidance to local governments engaging in debris management planning activities and provide updates and guidance on the latest FEMA policies.
Overview of the Components of a Disaster Debris Management Plan Beginning the Disaster Debris Management Process Activation Following a Debris Generating Event Discussion of Federal and State Policy Changes Registration is FREE but space is limited. To RSVP or for more information, contact Kelly Freeman at 713-993-4566 or kfreeman@h-gac.com. |
| In the year and a half since Hurricane Rita threatened the Houston area, local and state emergency managers have been working hard to improve evacuation procedures and routes for the Houston-Galveston region. The latest development is a zip code zone evacuation map, by which elected officials hope to call an orderly and phased evacuation. Depending on the severity of the storm, elected officials will first call for the evacuation of Zip Zone Coastal and then Zip Zone A by zip code. Citizens will be given appropriate warning and then asked to leave only when their zip code is called and not before. Click here to view the evacuation map. |
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| 2035 Regional Transportation Plan | H-GAC began working on the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan in January 2007, and after going through several revisions, the draft plan was presented to the Transportation Policy Council for review. Once TPC approved its release, the public comment period began. During the public comment period, residents in the Houston-Galveston region are encouraged to become involved by attending an open house and expressing their views and opinions about the 2035 RTP. Visit the 2035 RTP web page to view event details on one of the upcoming open houses in your area. |
| Advancing the Choice Conference |  H-GAC is hosting Flip This Fleet: 2007 Advancing the Choice on Wednesday, June 27, at the Stafford Centre, located at 10505 Cash Road in Stafford. Registration for local governments and school districts is free. Click on Flip this Fleet for more information, or email atcinfo@h-gac.com, or call Stephanie Lee at 713-993-4581. |
| Funding Available for Coastal Wetlands Protection | The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting applications for its National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program. This program was established to acquire, restore, and enhance wetlands in coastal states through competitive matching grants to state agencies. The primary goal of the program is the long-term conservation of coastal wetland ecosystems. The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program provides states with a means of protecting and restoring these valuable resources. Projects can include (1) acquisition of a real property interest (e.g., easement or fee title) in coastal lands or waters from willing sellers or partners (coastal wetlands ecosystems) for long-term conservation or (2) the restoration, enhancement, or management of coastal wetlands ecosystems for long-term conservation. Examples of restoration efforts that could be funded include: - Restoring wetland hydrology by plugging drainage ditches, breaking tile drainage systems, installing water control structures, dike construction, and re-establishing historic connections with waterways. - Planting native vegetation. - Removal of exotic plants and animals that compete with native fish and wildlife and alter their natural habitats. The closing date for applications is June 29, 2007. Additional information about the Program is online at http://www.fws.gov/coastal/CoastalGrants or contact Christy Kuczak at 703/358-1748 or christy_kuczak@fws.gov. |
| Keep Texas Beautiful Winners Named |  The cities of Dickinson, Katy, Lake Jackson, and Pearland, along with five others, have been named winners of the 2007 Governor's Community Achievement Awards presented by Keep Texas Beautiful. The environmental awards are based on the winning cities' community leadership and coordination, education, public awareness, litter prevention and cleanup, illegal dumping enforcement, beautification and property improvement and solid waste management. The winning cities will share in an award of $1 million from the Texas Department of Transportation. The funds will be used for landscaping projects in each of the communities. The award program has recognized communities for 38 consecutive years, and TxDOT has awarded prize funds since 1985. The awards will be presented July 12 in San Antonio at the 40th Annual Keep Texas Beautiful Conference.
"These communities have made outstanding efforts to clean and beautify their environment," said Debbie Johnston, Keep Texas Beautiful president. "They are helping to make our state the most beautiful in the nation." |
| H-GAC Program Chosen as Finalist for TCEQ Award | | The H-GAC Environmental Circuit Rider Program was chosen as a finalist in the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards (TEEA) in the governmental category. The Environmental Circuit Rider Program is an effort by the Houston-Galveston Area Council to empower local governments in the H-GAC region with the tools and knowledge needed to address and resolve the challenging environmental problems the region faces. The program consists of several components: education and training, case tracking, prosecution, regional investigation, and identification of funding sources. For more information on the Environmental Circuit Rider Program please contact Amy Boyers at H-GAC at 713-993-2441 or amy.boyers@h-gac.com. |
| H-GAC Board of Directors | | The agenda and attachments for the Board of Directors meetings are posted on our website at www.h-gac.com. The documents are posted the week before each meeting. Board meetings are held at 10:00 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month on the second floor at 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, Texas 77027. |
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