WATER SUPPLY | WATER QUALITY | EDUCATION
In 2004, the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) faced a critical raw water supply shortage. Water demands in NTMWD's rapidly growing service area north and east of Dallas, Texas, would soon outpace their capability to meet them from their existing raw water sources. New surface water supplies planned at that time would not be completed in time to contribute to the solution.
Dallas County
ENERGY
Airport are one of the biggest energy consumers in the world. Over recent years there has been a push to decrease the amount of energy these airports use, even going so far as to become carbon neutral. From clean energy vehicle fleets to solar panels and high efficiency building materials, the possibilities of decreasing energy consumption are great.
Tarrant / Dallas
NATURAL AREA | NATURE PRESERVE
The Southwest Nature Preserve is a prime example of the Eastern Cross Timbers Ecosystem. It is a 58 acre tract of land that is located south of Interstate 20, adjacent to Bowman Springs Drive. Property for the Nature Preserve was acquired by the Trust for Public Land until the City of Arlington was able to purchase it in 2005.
Tarrant
OPEN SPACE | STREAM RESTORATION
To prepare the Upper Whites Branch Stream in Fort Worth, Texas for development, Peloton Land Solutions had to eliminate a 50-year-old stock pond and ephemeral stream. If the pond’s dam were to breach, two major highways would be over-topped by the water and nearby residences would have been flooded.
Tarrant
DEVELOPMENT | RESILIENCE | PLANNING
The goal of Smart Growth Dallas is to help the City of Dallas increase its environmental, economic, and social resilience.
Dallas
TRANSPORTATION | MOBILITY
TEXRail is a 27-mile long commuter rail line that extends from downtown Fort Worth through North Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, and Grapevine, to the northern entrance of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, ending at Terminal B. This rail line is a critical missing link between Fort Worth’s central business district and DFW Airport. It is the first-ever public transportation option to connect the two directly.
Tarrant
ENERGY
The West Irving Library is Texas’ first LEED-certified, net zero energy library. The use of renewable energy combined with design features that maximize energy efficiency have achieved utility cost savings upwards of $100,000.
Dallas
Public Planning and Policy
In December 2016, the City's leadership initiated a planning policy known as Envision Oak Point. The new policy serves as a tool to evaluate Oak Point's development proposals and future zoning requests; plan for future infrastructure needs – in and around this area; and communicate the area's 30-year vision for short, mid, and long-term change.
Solar
Over the past few decades, Texas has risen to become the 4th highest state for solar power employment in America, boasting 565 solar companies throughout the state. Some North Central Texas school districts have chosen to follow suit. Over the past few years, several independent school districts across Texas have been making steps toward equipping their schools with solar technology.
Once one of the largest livestock markets in the United States, the Fort Worth Stockyards are dedicated to setting a direction for the future while honoring its working heritage. After over a century of being a cattle industry hotspot, the Stockyards are now being slowly transformed into a major tourist destination in the DFW region.
Tarrant
Implementation
The City of Fort Worth created the Como/Sunset Heights Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) Strategic Plan as a holistic strategy towards revitalizing a disinvested and physically deteriorating neighborhood. Existing strengths for the area include a plethora of small-businesses, a prosperous working class, and the area’s close proximity to employment and cultural centers.
Tarrant
The Fort Worth Botanic Gardens has long been a place where people can explore the 120-acre garden and appreciate nature local to the DFW area. In October of 2020, management of the garden moved from the city of Fort Worth to the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT). Shortly after the transition, the garden announced that it would begin updating its Master Plan to increase focus on sustainability and resilience over the next 20 years.
Tarrant County