The Houston-Galveston Area Council Transportation Policy Council on Friday voted unanimously to approve the creation a High Capacity Transit Task Force. Listen (15:53)

The task force will build on the previous work of the H-GAC, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, and the Gulf Coast Rail District. Item Summary

“Generally, when we think of high capacity transit, we’re talking being able to move a large number of people in a limited corridor by bus (and) by train,” said Alan Clark

Maureen Crocker of the Gulf Coast Rail District said the entity has been working on high capacity transit in terms of commuter rail for nearly a decade with the biggest challenge being right of way and funding associated with it.

“It’s possible to plan to get commuter rail to 610 relatively easily if the money were readily available, but getting it beyond 610, it’s difficult because of right of way constraints,” said Crocker.

TPC Chair Matt Sebesta assured her that the GCRD will play a huge role with the task force.

The policy council also voted unanimously to appoint the following three individuals to its officer team:

• Rusty Senac, Chair
  
• Carrin Patman, Vice-Chair
  
• Amanda Edwards, Vice-Chair

Senac said that the task force will extend a written invitation to every policy council member with work to commence in mid-April.

The policy council voted unanimously to recognize outgoing member Dale Rudick. Listen (2:37) Resolution

“I feel like H-GAC has been home for many, many years,” said Rudick. “I’m very pleased with respect to the record of the TPC and the TAC and the various agencies.”

The policy council achieved a quorum of 25 voting members. Agenda Attendance