North Texas transport agencies clash in $5M lawsuit over governance and FIFA World Cup prep
The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) has committed $5 million to join a lawsuit against the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). The legal battle centres on governance disputes and the recent firing of a key transport official. Leaders from multiple counties have now weighed in on the conflict. The dispute began when Todd Little, CEO of NCTCOG, fired Michael Morris weeks before the FIFA World Cup games in Arlington. Morris had served as the RTC’s transportation director for years. Former Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley later criticised Little’s handling of the situation, calling it a key factor in the escalating conflict.
The RTC’s 45-member policy committee voted to join the lawsuit after a closed-door meeting. Their goal is to restructure the Metropolitan Planning Organization, giving the RTC authority to hire and fire its own transportation staff. Arlington Mayor Jim Ross stated that the move aims to safeguard regional transport interests.
Denton County had already filed its own lawsuit on April 6, seeking to block what it calls unlawful actions by the NCTCOG executive board. Judge Andy Eads backed the RTC’s decision, arguing it reinforces proper governance. Meanwhile, the RTC is pushing to rehire Morris, who has offered to volunteer on regional mobility projects—including the upcoming FIFA World Cup—while unemployed.
Interim transportation director Dan Kessler confirmed Morris’s willingness to assist despite his dismissal. The lawsuit now targets broader changes, including correcting the NCTCOG’s organisational structure. The RTC’s $5 million legal fund signals a prolonged fight over control of North Texas transport decisions. If successful, the lawsuit could shift hiring powers away from NCTCOG and back to the RTC. Morris’s potential return and the FIFA World Cup’s timing add urgency to the dispute.
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