Photo courtesy of the North Central Texas Council of Governments
ENR is pleased to announce that it has named Michael Morris, director of the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Department of Transportation since 1990, as a 2026 Texas and Louisiana Legacy Award honoree. Morris has not only been one of Texas’ longest-serving leaders in regional transportation planningbut also one of the most influential.
As Director of NCTCOG’s Transportation Department, Morris has overseen the allocation of billions of dollars in transportation during the region’s expansive growth over the past 35 years, influencing everything from highway expansions to transit initiatives and air quality compliance. In addition, Morris helped develop the region’s 2050 mobility plan, which emphasizes multimodal solutions, congestion management and equity in underserved communities.
Morris also serves as staff director for the 45-member Regional Transportation Council and has been a key advisor on megaregion mobility through the University of Texas’ Cooperative Mobility Advisory Committee for Competitive Megaregions (CM2) since 2020. His approach prioritizes “building buildings on top of freeways” and leveraging technology for funding and efficiency.
Readers can learn more about Morris’ legacy in Texas transportation in the Feb. 16 print edition of ENR Texas & Southeast.
