County extends transportation program management, praises regional partnership at TRTC event

Parker County approved an amendment to its transportation program management work that will bring program management spending to roughly $1.3 million, well under the originally budgeted $2 million, county staff told the court on Aug. 24.

The program management scope covers project controls, monthly reporting, funding coordination and quality assurance across county transportation projects. "With the past two contracts, we're at 800,000 right now," the presenting consultant said, adding that approval of the current amendment would bring the total to about $1,300,000.

Commissioners also recapped a recent Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition event where Parker County was prominently featured. Staff and elected officials described negotiations and a governance change involving Michael Morris, who was terminated in April and reinstated by court order in May; the county said the change made Morris the MPO director with the council of governments acting as fiscal agent, a shift the county expects will reduce political interference and help regional coordination.

Speakers emphasized that trust among local governments, consultants and TxDOT has helped the county secure funding and accelerate project delivery. The court approved the program management amendment by unanimous vote and expressed appreciation for the regional visibility and partnerships that officials said are expediting local projects.