Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has been elected chair of the Regional Transportation Council, or RTC, the 45-member transportation policymaking body for Dallas-Fort Worth. According to a news release, Jenkins, who has served on the RTC since his appointment in 2011, will lead the council for the next year, succeeding Fort Worth Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens.

As Dallas County judge since 2011, Jenkins has been actively involved in shaping transportation policies and initiatives.

“I am honored to have been elected as chair of the Regional Transportation Council,” Jenkins said in a statement. “Transportation is a critical issue for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to develop innovative solutions that will keep our region moving forward.”

Jenkins, as a seasoned member of the RTC, brings extensive experience to his new role. Before his election as chair, he served one-year terms as secretary and vice chair, demonstrating his commitment to addressing the region’s transportation needs.

Jenkins will preside over the RTC during the 89^th Texas Legislature, which begins in January.

New officers elected

Alongside Jenkins, Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey was elected vice chair for the 2024-2025 term, after serving as secretary the previous year. Bailey, who was appointed to the RTC in July 2022, brings a fresh perspective to the council’s leadership.

Lewisville Councilmember Brandon Jones will assume the duties of secretary for the next year, rounding out the RTC’s new leadership team.

The elected officers will serve in their positions through June 2025, guiding the region’s transportation policies and initiatives during a critical period of growth and development.

Guiding transportation planning for a growing region

The RTC, which includes local elected or appointed officials from DFW and representatives from the region’s transportation providers, oversees transportation planning for the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country. With a current population of more than 8 million people, the 12-county region is one of the fastest-growing in the nation, the RTC noted.

As the transportation policymaking body, the RTC guides the development of roadway, rail, and bicycle-pedestrian plans and programs, allocates transportation funds, and recommends projects to the Texas Transportation Commission. The council also ensures that transportation services are coordinated throughout the region and that the metropolitan area complies with federal air quality standards.

RTC studies potential high-speed rail line, kick off Regional Transit 2.0

To meet the transportation needs of the rapidly growing population, the RTC looks for innovative approaches to moving people. High-speed rail, which has sparked debate and ongoing discussions in the region, is one example of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) studying a potential line that could connect Fort Worth, Arlington, and Dallas to the planned Dallas-to-Houston line.

As the newly elected RTC chair, Jenkins will play a crucial role in navigating complexities and working towards a solution that benefits the region.

NCTCOG also recently kicked off Regional Transit 2.0, an effort aimed at helping transportation managers, board members, and elected officials develop a next-generation transit system for the region, which is expected to have a population of over 11 million within two decades.

Additionally, the public and community engagement process for the next long-range transportation plan, Mobility 2050, is underway, with the RTC expected to take action on it next year.