NCTCOG to Resume In-Person Outreach in April
Arlington, Texas – For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the North Central Texas Council of Governments is returning to in-person outreach.NCTCOG’s spring outreach season begins April 1, with UNT’s University Day in Denton, where the Transportation Department will visit with students and other attendees about transportation and air quality programs and how they can become involved in the planning process. There will be several other opportunities across the region throughout April to interact with NCTCOG staff about transportation and air quality planning – and enjoy the nice spring weather. Here is a list of events staff will attend next month:
| Event | Location | When |
| UNT University Day | UNT, Denton | 11 am - 1:30 p.m., April 1 |
| Oak Cliff Earth Day | Lake Cliff Park | Noon-5 p.m., April 3 |
| UT Arlington Earth Day Fair | University Center Mall | 10 a.m.-3 p.m., April 20 |
| UNT Health Science Center Earth Day Fair | Fort Worth | 11 a.m.-1 p.m., April 21 |
| UT Dallas Earth Day Fair | Richardson | 11 a.m.-1 p.m., April 21 |
| Colorpalooza | Old Town Lewisville | 10 a.m.-7 p.m., April 23 |
The pandemic forced outreach to be conducted virtually beginning in spring 2020 and continued for two years, with a few exceptions. NCTCOG conducted high-speed transportation open houses last fall and has begun holding hybrid public meetings, allowing residents to either attend monthly public meetings in person or watch them live at www.nctcog.org/input.
April is not only a popular month for community outreach but also a time to think about maintaining one of the most significant investments most people have – their car – during National Car Care Awareness Month.
Critical attention must be paid to the systems that keep vehicles operating cleanly and efficiently. The check engine light is one of the most important indicators of how a vehicle is functioning. If it is illuminated, it must be investigated because it means the vehicle may be polluting more than it should, affecting regional air quality for all of us. It can also cost more money to repair the longer it is neglected, as more components and parts will start to break down. Another obvious sign of vehicle trouble is visible smoke emitting from the tailpipe. Not only does the smoke make it harder to breathe, but it also may be a sign the vehicle needs repair.
For more tips on how to keep your vehicle operating efficiently, visit www.ntxcarcare.org.
About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:
NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication and make joint decisions.
NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered on the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. Currently, NCTCOG has 238 member governments including 16 counties, 169 cities, 22 school districts and 31 special districts. For more information on the NCTCOG Transportation Department, visit www.nctcog.org/trans.
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