Topic of the Month

April 2026 Topic of the Month: Roadway Safety

As North Texas continues to grow, so does the demand on its roadways. Every day, millions of residents rely on roads both big and small to stay connected across the region. With growth comes an important responsibility: ensuring our roads remain as safe as they are efficient. While progress has been made, roadway safety remains a critical issue - one that calls for continued attention, thoughtful planning and collective action across the region.

Spotlighting transportation themes in North Central Texas each monthAn educational slide titled "AN EYE ON: ROADWAY SAFETY" featuring three photos and a call to action regarding Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Visual Breakdown Top Title: The text "AN EYE ON:" is in dark teal, followed by "ROADWAY SAFETY" in bold orange. Three Images with Labels: Buckle Up: A woman in a car smiling as she fastens her seatbelt. Follow Signs: A view of a suburban road featuring a white sign that reads "END SCHOOL ZONE." Be Aware: A construction zone scene showing orange traffic barrels and heavy machinery tires lining a road with cars in the distance. Bottom Text: Centered orange text reads: "April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Stay Aware to Reduce Distractions and Keep North Texans Safe."

Other 2026 Topics of the Month

March - Sustainable Development


March 2026 Topic of the Month: Sustainable Development


Many of the places and activities we enjoy this time of year are the result of thoughtful infrastructure planning and long-term investment – what we call sustainable development. But sustainable development goes beyond buildings and infrastructure; it’s about creating connected, walkable communities that support everyday life.

A promotional graphic titled 'AN EYE ON: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT' celebrating 25 years of the NCTCOG’s Sustainable Development Program. On the left is a photo of the Downtown Plano Station, showing a clean, brick-paved pedestrian walkway lined with trees, street lamps, and multi-story brick buildings. On the right, large text highlights the program's impact: '$197 million across four funding cycles, supporting 100 projects since 2001,' and notes the goal of 'Strengthening mixed-use development in historic downtowns and rail corridors across the region.

February - Intercity Rail

February 2026 Topic of the Month: Intercity Rail

Local and regional rail play a vital role in moving people throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. But what about travel beyond North Texas? Intercity rail provides an equally essential connection for travelers, commuters, and explorers alike, linking North Texas to other major cities and expanding how far rail can take us.

For February’s Topic of the Month, we climb aboard the subject of intercity rail, exploring the trains and services that connect the DFW area to the rest of Texas and beyond, the role they play in regional mobility, and what the future may hold for longer-distance rail travel.


Spotlighting transportation themes in North Central Texas each month

An infographic titled 'AN EYE ON: INTERCITY RAIL' featuring a close-up photo of the front of a blue and silver Amtrak locomotive. To the right, text details 'Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer' with the following facts: the route runs between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City; it has been in operation since 1999; it covers a 206-mile route; and it is jointly funded by Texas and Oklahoma.


January - Regional Growth

Dallas-Fort Worth’s population keeps climbing, neighborhood by neighborhood, suburb by suburb. As a new year dawns, the 12-county region remains on a steady path of population expansion that will influence transportation, land use, and infrastructure decisions for decades.

For the first Topic of the Month of 2026, we explore our region’s population growth and how, with careful planning and continued partnership, North Texas is well-positioned to meet the demands of a growing population.

Regional Growth - Article              View the Infographic


An educational graphic titled 'AN EYE ON: FREIGHT SAFETY' presented by NCTCOG. The left side features a photo of a large white semi-truck driving on a highway during a golden sunset. The right side contains text noting that holiday deliveries never stop and provides two safety tips: 'Allow extra distance,' because trucks cannot stop quickly, and 'Be aware of blind spots,' noting that if you can't see their mirrors, they can't see you. The bottom includes the NCTCOG logo, the 'Freight North Texas' logo featuring a colorful stack of shipping containers, and the URL NCTCOG.org/Freight.

2025's Year of Transportation Topics