The name of this standing committee shall be the Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Technical Advisory Committee, hereafter referred to as the “TAC.” Any changes to these Bylaws are subject to two-thirds (2/3) approval by the TAC and a majority approval by the Waco MPO Policy Board, hereinafter referred to as the ‘PB’. These Bylaws shall be reviewed at a minimum of every ten (10) years with the publication of the decennial census population counts.
The TAC advises the PB on elements of the continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative (3C) metropolitan transportation planning process (MTPP) including, but not limited to, the following:
- Provide technical, planning and policy review and recommendations and/or action on:
- Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and amendments;
- Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and amendments;
- Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and amendments;
- Public Participation Plan (PPP) and amendments;
- Active Transportation Plan (ATP) and amendments; and
- Federally required performance measures and targets.
- Provide general review of:
- Final reports, technical reports, and technical memoranda resulting from studies undertaken with transportation planning funds (TPF) programmed in the UPWP; and
- 3C MTPP to ensure coordination among local governments, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and citizen’s groups.
- Facilitate coordination and communication between the PB and constituent stakeholders.
- Facilitate coordination of multi-modal MTPP with other planning efforts such as those concerning land use, air quality, broadband access, and economic development.
- In addition, the TAC provides other technical recommendations as requested by the PB.
Responsibility for adoption of MPO policies and procedures; and approval of the UPWP, the MTP, the TIP, the PPP, and the ATP resides with the PB.
Section 1: Voting Membership
The voting membership of the TAC shall be structured as follows:
- City of Waco - Planning 1 representative
- City of Waco - Public Works 1 representative
- City of Waco – Water Utilities 1 representative
- City of Hewitt 1 representative
- City of Woodway 1 representative
- City of McGregor 1 representative
- City of Robinson 1 representative
- City of Bellmead 1 representative
- City of Lacy-Lakeview 1 representative
- Small Cities - North* 1 representative
- Small Cities - South* 1 representative
- McLennan County 1 representative
- Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
- Director, TP&D, Waco District 1 representative
- Waco Area Engineer, Waco District 1 representative
- Planning & Programming Engineer, Waco District 1 representative
- Waco Transit System 1 representative
- Citizen’s Participation Work Group 1 representative
- Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce 1 representative
- Baylor University 1 representative
- Total 19 representatives
*The Small Cities representatives shall represent areas based on their geographic region. The North representative shall represent the cities of Gholson, Leroy, Ross, West and Beverly Hills. The South representative shall represent the cities of Hallsburg, Riesel, Bruceville-Eddy, Crawford, Lorena, Mart and Moody.
Section 2: Ex-Officio Membership
The TAC Chair may appoint such other non-voting ex-officio representatives as may be appropriate, subject to approval of a majority of the voting membership. Ex-officio members may include, but are not limited to, TxDOT, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Waco Regional Airport, or other agencies, as appropriate.
Examples of TxDOT ex-officio members include:
- Transportation Planner, TxDOT Waco District
- McLennan County Assistant Area Engineer, TxDOT Waco Area Office
- MPO Coordinator, TxDOT Transportation Planning & Programming Division
- Public Transportation Coordinator, TxDOT Waco District
Ex-officio members may fully participate in each meeting’s discussion but may not vote and are not included in the quorum count.
Section 3: Non-voting Attendance
The meetings of the TAC are public. However, in addition to the voting and ex-officio members, the TAC recognizes that individuals and organizations within the community can provide meaningful MTPP input. These resources will be informed of TAC meetings and invited to provide input in a non-voting capacity, as appropriate.
Section 4: Additional Provisions
Each agency/entity on the TAC will be allowed to designate one (1) alternate from within the same agency or entity for each representative serving on the TAC. If the representative cannot attend the TAC meeting, the designated alternate may attend and vote as the representative of the agency or entity. Proxies will not be allowed. Members (both primary and alternate) may not represent more than one (1) entity at a time.
A voting member of the PB may not serve simultaneously on the TAC or any TAC committee. Alternate PB members may serve on the TAC.
The representative(s) and alternate(s) of each entity on the TAC will be designated in writing through each agency’s/entity’s internal procedures and communicated in writing to the MPO by the Highest Ranking Official / Chief Executive Officer. Small cities representation is coordinated by McLennan County and communicated in writing to the MPO by the Highest Ranking Official / Chief Executive Officer.
Consultant appointees can only represent one (1) voting entity as outlined in Article 3, Section 1.
Section 1: Officers Defined
Upon majority vote of its eligible and voting members, the TAC will appoint one (1) voting member of the committee to act as Chair and one (1) voting member as the Vice-Chair.
Section 2: Elections
Every two (2) years, the TAC will elect a Chair and Vice-Chair from its current voting membership. The Chair and Vice-Chair shall be elected by a simple majority of the membership. Elections of Chair and Vice-Chair will occur in March 2022 and then in September of every odd year starting in September 2023 for a two-year term starting in October. The newly elected officers will assume office immediately upon being elected.
Section 3: Chair and/or Vice-Chair Vacancies
Vacancies in Chair and/or Vice-Chair whether created by resignation or otherwise, shall be filled by an election, held at the next regular meeting of the TAC, for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Section 4: Duties of Officers
The Chair shall call and preside at meetings and appoint committees. The MPO staff will provide administrative support to the TAC and will be responsible for taking summary notes of the TAC’s proceedings. The MPO staff will maintain a current copy of these Bylaws to be distributed to the public upon request. In absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall preside and complete all other duties of the Chair.
Section 1: Voting Procedure
All meetings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order.
Section 2: Regular Meetings
Meetings will be held on a regular meeting schedule approved annually by the TAC at its October meeting. Meeting notices and agendas are to be distributed in sufficient time for them to have been received by each TAC member no later than three (3) business days prior to the meeting. Regular meetings may be canceled by the Chair should there be insufficient business on the TAC’s tentative agenda.
Section 3: Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called by the Chair or at the request of the majority of the eligible voting members. At least seven (7) days’ notice shall be given.
Section 4: Quorum
A quorum for meetings will consist of fifty percent (50%) plus one or greater (> 1) of the voting members or designated alternates of the TAC. Vacancies are defined as positions on the TAC that are not filled. Vacancies on the TAC and ineligible voting members according to Article 5, Section 5 will not count against the quorum.
Section 5: Attendance
All members are expected to attend each regular meeting and each special meeting on seven (7) days’ notice. A member may appoint an alternate to serve in their absence provided that: (1) the member informs the MPO staff, in writing, prior to the meeting, that the alternate will attend; and (2) the alternate is previously approved by the Highest Ranking Official / Chief Executive Officer of the agency represented. This notification shall authorize the alternate to act as a present and eligible voting member in the member’s absence.
Voting members absent from three (3) consecutive meetings will be considered ineligible to vote as of the third meeting. A member’s voting privileges will be restored at the second consecutive meeting that the member attends.
The TAC can create, designate, appoint, and set rules for work groups as needed. Standing work groups are listed in A through D.
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Work Group (BP Work Group)
The role of the BP Work Group is to improve bicycle and pedestrian mobility within the Waco MPO Study Area, including micromobility and similar human-scale transportation technologies. The BP Work Group will provide bold and visionary leadership in all matters affecting bicycle and pedestrian mobility in the MPO study area and be expansive in its vision with its mission throughout the entire region. The BP Work Group will play an important role in formulating and executing the recommendations in the ATP. The BP Work Group includes, but is not limited to MPO staff; city staff representing public works, planning, law enforcement, public health, parks and recreation, and sustainability; and representatives of pedestrian and bicycle advocacy groups.
- Connected and Automated Vehicles Work Group (CAV Work Group)
The purpose of the CAV Work Group is to consider the potential impacts of connected and automated vehicles on transportation planning.
- Mobility, Land Use and Transportation Work Group (MLT Work Group)
The purpose of the MLT Work Group is to consider land use-transportation connections, its effect on mobility needs of the population, and make recommendations on how to accommodate the future mobility needs of the area in the MTP.
- Citizen’s Participation Work Group (CP Work Group)
The purpose of the CP Work Group is to consider the demographic changes in the study area, its effect on participatory planning and environmental justice, and make recommendations on how to enhance participation in the development of future MTP.