September

Regional Leaders

The recently concluded conference of the Texas Association of Regional Councils featured recognition of H-GAC's leadership in statewide activities.  Meadows Place Alderman Terry Henley, an H-GAC Board member, was elected Second Vice President of TARC.  In addtion, former TARC President Carolyn Bilski, Austin County Judge, received the Wilbur Dunk Regional Leadership Award in recognition of service to local governments and regionalism at the local, state and national levels.

While H-GAC concentrates on serving its local government members, one facet of that service is to participate in major state and national organizations and to help to shape the policies of these groups.  Alderman Henley and Judge Bilski are the latest in the succession of H-GAC statewide leaders.  They will be working to insure that H-GAC's voice is heard in state and national discussions which affect our region.

Jack Steele
Executive Director

The Context Sensitive Solutions Workshop will be held on Thursday, September 20, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Houston Marriott North Greenspoint, 255 N Sam Houston Parkway East, Houston, Texas  77060.   

The Context Sensitive Solutions Workshop will give participants the tools and knowledge required to apply flexible, community-responsive approaches to transportation planning and project design.  The CSS process recognizes that transportation facilities have an enormous impact on the character of the surrounding community. In this workshop, you'll learn how to get to collaborative, win-win solutions for meeting mobility, accessibility, safety, and economic development needs, with transportation projects that reflect the goals and values of the community.  Hot topics Include:

• The Context Sensitive Solutions collaborative approach to planning
• Identifying and evaluating how projects meet varied objectives
• Introducing flexibility into design guidelines
• State of the practice of Context Sensitive Solutions in the Houston-Galveston region

Cost is $75 per participant and includes breakfast and lunch.

Click here to register for the CSS Workshop - space is limited! 

For more information or to register by phone or email, please contact Sandra McKnight at 713-993-2461 or ce_workshop@h-gac.com.

You and your colleagues are invited to the Environmental Awareness Roundtable on Tuesday, September 25, 2007,  from 10:00 a.m. to noon in H-GAC's Conference Room A, 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, TX 77027.

The Environmental Awareness Roundtable is designed to facilitate idea-sharing between city staff, county staff, and community organizations to create effective environmental awareness campaigns. Join us at the next Roundtable as we address cultural and language barriers to effective environmental outreach. Our special guest, Anne Morris of PBS&J's South Carolina office, will provide solutions to the various obstacles that can hinder outreach in minority and limited-English-proficiency populations.  Topics Include:

• Developing effective and appropriately translated publications
• Determining how and where to distribute publications, ads, and articles
• Increasing participation in public meetings and stakeholder groups
• Identifying community "gate-keepers"  

Please RSVP by September 21, 2007.  For more information or to RSVP contact Christy Corse at 832-681-2564 or email christy.corse@h-gac.com.

Admission is FREE -- Registration is required

A recent economic impact study shows that more than 785,000 Texas jobs are related to activities at the Port of Houston. The study underlines the Port's role as an economic driver - keeping our community strong by delivering jobs to the region.

To register, call or visit any one of the 35 Career Offices of The WorkSource located throughout the Houston-Galveston region. Ask to speak to an Employment Counselor who will ensure that you are matched with the best job openings for you. Many employers will offer on-site interviews to pre-qualified candidates.

For more information: The WorkSource - Pasadena, 713-472-1608

If you are an employer, speak with Margie Guerrero at ext. 245.

On September 25, 2007 the Houston-Galveston Area Council will host a public meeting on amendments to the 2008-2011 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The public is encouraged to attend this important meeting and provide comments to H-GAC. The 30-day public comment period for amendments to both documents will begin on September 10, 2007 and will end on October 10, 2007 at 5:00 p.m.

Click for amended documents.

Amendments to the 2035 RTP will address refinements to the financial plan and minor project revisions by TxDOT.

Submit all written comments to Transportation Public Information, Houston-Galveston Area Council, P.O. Box 22777, Houston, Texas 77227-2777, or by email to 2035plan@h-gac.com, or fax to 713-993-4508.

2007 Regional Traffic Safety Planning Conference

• DWI Enforcement in Harris County
• Traffic Safety Engineering
• Pedestrian, Bicyclist and Child Safety
• Reducing DUI/DWI Crashes
• Improving Freight Safety
• Reducing Aggressive Driving
• Improving Safety Information Systems

H-GAC received the Transportation Achievement Award for Bicycles from The Institute of Transportation Engineers at its August 2007 annual meeting. This award recognizes H-GAC for the Pedestrian and Bicyclist Districts Conceptual Plan and Project for the City of Galveston as a significant and outstanding achievement for safety improvements in transportation.