North Texas transportation director ousted after 35 years on job
Posted by noncongruent@reddit | Dallas | View on Reddit | 52 comments
Posted by noncongruent@reddit | Dallas | View on Reddit | 52 comments
MaverickTTT@reddit
Ummmm, what transportation system? The entire transportation policy for North Central Texas is “just one more lane, bro!”
kaiser_soze_72@reddit
Wonder if this ties in to a huge lack of mass transportation for the upcoming World Cup
zatchstar@reddit
thats on Arlington... not Michael Morris. he tried to get the transit agencies to provide routes to Arlington way back when the entertainment district was starting and Arlington staunchly refused.
jffadvisors@reddit
EXACTLY!!!!
actually…it might be a typo. It is supposed to say “most shitty” instead of “most dynamic"
zatchstar@reddit
Michael morris has been a big advocate for trying to expand transit options and was around and help start DART. And he was the architect of the current Transit 2.0 movement to expand transit options outside of the transit authority regions
That’s a big reason why the regional leaders have ousted him.
The crazy thing is these politicians supposedly went against a restraining order to oust Michael. I think we could see this end up in court.
Suitable_Bike_9484@reddit
you’re just not understanding the concept, man. yes, if we just put one more lane, traffic will die down. BUT they never thought of doing 2 more lanes …. pfft. /s
justo_tx@reddit
https://youtube.com/shorts/f11NFvRAYNY?si=R7b3FmwUUcFTjj8q
justo_tx@reddit
With tolls
RunawayScrapee@reddit
https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2019/march/meet-the-kings-of-sprawl/page/2/
NYerInTex@reddit
This is odd - it’s been known for months that he was leaving this year anyway.
Zestyclose-Finish778@reddit
Not true, wife’s bestie works I the transportation department at the COG and no such thing was ever brought up. How did you know for months?
zatchstar@reddit
Your wife’s bestie hasn’t been paying attention then… it’s been a major topic at the exec board level meetings and at RTC.
Zestyclose-Finish778@reddit
What’s heard and what is said are not the same thing.
Here’s what the RTC was told in December 2025 ““I’m going to transition away from director and I am here until a new director arrives." Noting that his departure as chief transportation planner comes as preparations for the 2026 World Cup are underway, Morris said "I’m here as an insurance policy," and will continue work on plans that will move tens or thousands of visitors by public transportation. He asked the Council to fund a professional services agreement for a three year period to ensure a smooth transition. “.
4 months later he’s “fired”
It was so-much of a topic at the RTC and executive board that they had no plan in place for his successor/replacement? Michael himself today said he had no plans yet to retire but transition to an advisor role, from the horses mouth, the department thinks he quit yesterday. The people on the executive committee Tim O’Hara and Carlos Flores and Todd Little have been trying to oust him for political reasons for some time now.
zatchstar@reddit
They had a plan but this sudden firing kind of screwed it all and tossed that plan in the trash.
Back in October Michael was informed that cog execs wanted him gone even though RTC was against it. And in December they came to an agreement that he would stay on till they could properly find a suitable replacement that was vetted by RTC. Then Michael was going to stay on as a hired consultant for a few years because of all the knowledge he has that no one else has.
Well now Michael is fired, RTC had no say in it and had no say in vetting the successor they picked. and the new guy coming in is a MAGA whack job
Zestyclose-Finish778@reddit
Yes agreed new guy is a whack job, I did learn some stuff today, thank you for expanding my knowledge.
NYerInTex@reddit
Its literally been an ongoing discussion in the urban planning, transportation, and real estate development circles.
It was widely discussed that he would be leaving likely sometime later this year - nothing certain but inevitable.
So much so that when planning events for some of those industry related organizations we literally would hold off on Michael Moore as a potential speaker because we didn’t know that he’d be in the position when the event rolled around.
I spoke about this in conversation a month or two ago at a Greater Dallas Planning Council event in southern dallas where I even mentioned to the new ED that it was a good get and interesting to hear his thoughts and wondered who might be next and try to fit into those shoes
Zestyclose-Finish778@reddit
When you say urban planning, transportation and real estate planning circles I would assume you’re not talking about COG departments, am I wrong?
Thank you for the insight but planning or related organizations, I’d assume you work for one of the cities in its jurisdiction. Dan the guy replacing him is absolutely a vile person who treats his employees like dirt, I have family who worked under Dan so I say this with malicious intent because he was/is a prick.
Maybe it was widely discussed because Todd put it out there?
You provided great insight so thank you
Xyllus@reddit
It's been widely known at transportation consulting firms that work with COG/TxDOT
Zestyclose-Finish778@reddit
What I do know is yesterday Michael met with the executive board at the COG yesterday late afternoon and this resulted in Michael walking out of the meeting. A person I spoke to that works at the COG transportation department assumes Michael quit in that meeting. Todd sent on an email at 6:35 PM to COG employees last night saying this was Michael Morris‘s last day. It was not planned. This was an intentional outing for people above him who are frustrated that he is not their puppet, the likes of Timothy Ohare, Carlos Flores wanted him gone. Last year they manufactured a plan of succession without Michaels input or doings.
So many good programs we have in Texas are because of Michael, even push for light rail,
Maybe you know, Timothy, O’Hare, or Mr Flores, they are the head of this snake move.
There no was consulting with the board, RTC, the NPO, and no plan put in place for his successor so I just don’t buy it that it was well known. Michael would have been lining up a successor if it was well known.
NYerInTex@reddit
You are correct that, contrary to many lay people’s opinions, Michael championed a lot of innovative and even progressive efforts with all the winds against those moves.
That said, it’s not even been an open secret but rather open discussion for months that he would soon be leaving. I can’t only speak to what I’ve personally heard and it’s been on well more than one occasion from numerous sources in different segments of the AEC and development arenas.
Xyllus@reddit
You clearly know a lot more about this stuff and I don't doubt anything you said and how it transpired. Lots of interesting background!
Maybe it wasn't official but the fact he was getting ousted (however that was being communicated) was definitely not a secret.
Zestyclose-Finish778@reddit
Thank you for being polite and conversational, this news just has me frustrated so I appreciate your feedback and input.
Xyllus@reddit
of course! I hope things work out over there for everyone involved.
NYerInTex@reddit
I am in the private sector. Development and advisory
zatchstar@reddit
He wasn’t leaving of his own accord. It has been known for months that NCTCOG exec board wanted him gone and were trying to get him fired. But they went about it the wrong way and a judge put a restraining order preventing them from firing Michael till it could all be worked out.
Cog exec board went against that restraining order and fired him
cuberandgamer@reddit
We definitely knew he wasn't gonna have his job for much longer, but I don't think it was his choice
RadiantBeeees@reddit
We need the next director to be focused on incentives for walking/cycling/trains, as well as disincentives for motorized personal transportation.
zatchstar@reddit
That is what Michael was doing and it’s why he got fired.
The next guy in line is a MAGA whack job who just wants more cars.
whip_lash_2@reddit
That's what he got fired for doing, in all likelihood. Maybe not in totality, but late in his tenure this guy was One Of Us. The next guy won't be. It can always get worse
assholy_than_thou@reddit
More like retired at this point.
Additional-Sky-7436@reddit
I'm glad he'll be remembered as being fired.
noncongruent@reddit (OP)
From accounts it appears his firing may have actually not been legal in the first place, if that's the case he's got a good opportunity for a lawsuit. The fact he's still doing the job when most other people would have already retired makes me think he's got a real passion for it, and the fact he's been doing it for decades makes me think he's good at it. Honestly? The opportunity to be successful at something you really love doing is rare nowadays.
zatchstar@reddit
Yeah the NCTCOG exec board got a judge to temporarily lift a restraining order for 1 day preventing them from firing Michael on the basis they needed to do some administrative stuff to sort out stuff between RTC and COG. Judge agreed on the basis they wouldn’t touch Michael.
The only thing they did with that lifted ban is fire Michael.
Judge will be PISSED!
Zestyclose-Finish778@reddit
Wife worked for him in 2018-2023 and she sung praises about how nice and good at his job he was. Very knowledgeable and nice to his employees, which is rare these days
cuberandgamer@reddit
Michael Morris near the end of his term was warning us about how and traffic would get if we keep sprawling, and how our outward growth would lead to a more expensive infrastructure burden and long commutes as all of our destinations and homes would be spread out over roads with heavy traffic all the way from the suburbs of south of Fort Worth to Sherman/Dennison near Oklahoma.
He ultimately:
-opposed cuts to DART -supported smarter growth near train station and creating walkable areas so new growth wouldn't cause as much traffic -worked on a framework that will later hopefully be used to bring transit to our existing cities that don't currently participate in a transit authority.
I guarantee you, whoever replaced him will be worse
zatchstar@reddit
TxDOT has said the MPO for the region is RTC and they were against NCTCOG firing him.
I could see RTC distancing itself from NCTCOG now which would kill like 70% of NCTCOGs budget.
Zestyclose-Finish778@reddit
Michael Morris was absolutely fantastic and the guy replacing him Dan is such an incompetent imbecile and is besties with Todd the guy whose fires Michael. This is a few maga bros who routinely bring up domestic affairs in Iran and the Middle East in the work place at the COG. Michael was such a beloved guy and was gracious and generous to his staff, every that worked for him has loved him except Todd a former judge and MAGA enthusiast
treesqu@reddit
Yes, the new NTCOG Exec. Director Todd Little (former Ellis Co. Judge) is a MAGA wacko.
Here are his "accomplishments" per his last campaign website:
Zestyclose-Finish778@reddit
Wow, thanks for his list of doing nothing but wasting tax payer funds while reducing property taxes. What’s the worst that could happen! /s
Wild that he sues the federal government to stop immigrants with Covid from entering Ellis county while taking actions against mask mandates. Leopards are my face moment.
SideSlick20@reddit
I got to work with Michael a few times. I don't think anyone replacing him will ever care enough to meet with the public like Michael was willing to. There is a lot of political navigation in transportation and a lot of direction comes from the top leaders in the State not just North Texas Council of Governments. This is a big loss in my opinion.
whip_lash_2@reddit
Exactly this. The people cheerleading this like the next guy is going to even try for an urbanist agenda are killing me.
Sturdily5092@reddit
That group is so corrupt that this guy must have been caught with a goat or something they couldn't cover up anymore for them to out him like that.
noncongruent@reddit (OP)
His firing appears to be the results of the actions of one man, and apparently without involving most of the people that should be involved in that process.
Upstairs_Balance_464@reddit
Schutze:
Michael Morris getting suddenly defenestrated from the North Central Texas Council of Governments ("The Cog") is bigger news than any mayor or county judge going down.
All the mayors and county judges.
The COG is where the big boys play. It's the big game, where billions in state and federal infrastructure money get won and lost at a glance and a whisper.
Like any government agency, it has a ceremonial public face, with endless hearings and procedures. That's all theater. The real game is in the back room.
I heard a whisper a month ago that Morris was in trouble with the Hunts over the thing.
The thing.
I'm talking about convention-a-saurus wrecks, whatever the hell it is, the monster coming out of the ground next to the Hunt holdings at the southwest end of downtown.
Tear down the convention center, tear down the central library, tear down City Hall, build a sports arena and romantic encounter opportunity, put a bullet train in it.
Who knows what the hell it's really all about? It has already gobbled down our city council, mayor and daily newspaper like pop tarts.
On the other hand, these things are all the same. They're like the last big idea, the Trinity Toll Road. They all depend on gummint money -- billions and billions in gummint money.
For decades, Morris stayed in power somehow as the deliberately obscure brilliant bureaucrat who had his hand on the tap. From his post as the COG's transportation czar, Morris could wave a wand and make the land before him bloom or burn.
If he's really out -- he could be back in in a blink -- but if he's really out, it means a major major defeat and a big victory for ...
Somebody.
The well known Mr. or Ms. Somebody. Or Mr. and Mrs. Somebody. Or Ms. and Mrs.
The story in the News cites suburban turmoil behind it. I doubt it. My whisper about the Hunts was only that -- a whisper. But that's where I will look.
Meanwhile I will reach out to Morris and ask if he wants any tips on gardening. Well, assistant gardening.
10Core56@reddit
Finally, that guy was the worst...
TransportationEng@reddit
He was already planning a retirement.
Competitive_Cheek607@reddit
Is he the guy responsible for the fucking joke that is I-30 between Grand and the Trinity river?
Additional-Sky-7436@reddit
Should have been ousted 20 years ago.
NYerInTex@reddit
Morris actually championed a fair amount of policy to spur walkable urban development and mobility modes other than the auto - it’s a mixed legacy for sure, but he was instrumental in directing funding to a number of transit served, TRE and Fort Worth’s increasing transit system among them. DART and its less is not much the doing of NCTCOG but rather its fractured power structure and financial set up (if anything having a true regional rail authority which I believe Morris was exploring) would be far better
Additional-Sky-7436@reddit
In the 90s he helped write the old City of Dallas roadway design manual that literally said that vehicle speed is to be the only consideration for roadway design in Dallas.
Thankfully a new manual was adopted in 2019.
NYerInTex@reddit
So, he wrote a manual that was pretty much in line with almost every place else - and then REwrote the manual to evolve the direction of the agency… but you only speak to the first part
YaGetSkeeted0n@reddit
Pretty wild, I always figured he’d only leave that job being carted out by pallbearers lol.