The public recently had several opportunities to weigh in on plans to connect Fort Worth, Arlington and Dallas with high-speed rail service. The North Central Texas Council of Governments held a series of four open houses in August and September to gauge the opinions of potential users of the system.

There is still time for the public to weigh in on the project before the end of the 30-day comment period. Comment here by Oct. 10 to provide feedback on the Fort Worth-to-Dallas line.

The formal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process of the Dallas-Fort Worth High-Speed Transportation Connections Study is set to kick off soon, during which the environmental and social impacts of the proposed route, which mostly follows Interstate Highway 30, will be evaluated. The NEPA process must be completed within a year of its start date. Once the line has been environmentally cleared, it will be easier to begin discussing funding mechanisms. Ultimately, the project could include some combination of public- and private-sector funds.

The annual event, which began in 1997, highlights the benefits of students walking, bicycling and rolling to school. Active commutes to school can help students strengthen their friendships with one another, but there are also health benefits, including increased physical activity, better air quality and improved safety. 

Some students may live too far to walk to school. There are still opportunities for them to participate if they get creative. WalkBikeToSchool.org offers a few examples, such as parking at a location near a school where students can meet and walk or roll together. They could also hold a parade and have students meet close to school and take a celebratory stroll to school. Involving others, such as local officials or even the band, could draw more attention.

Last year, elementary and middle schools from across the North Texas region participated, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments directly coordinated with 20 campuses to distribute promotional materials and host a bike raffle. Almost 1,000 entries were received for the four bikes raffled off.

This year, NCTCOG is coordinating with 24 campuses to help with their Walk to School Day events. There is still time to organize an event if your student attends a school that is not officially sponsoring one. NCTCOG makes resources available to help plan events.