MPO TPC/TAC Board Minutes - 01/17/2018WICHITA FALLS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
Technical Advisory Committee
Minutes
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Voting Members Present.
Lin Barnett, Wichita Falls MPO, MPO Director, TAC Chairperson
Allan Moore, TxDOT, Director of Construction
David Rohmer, TxDOT, Area Engineer
Davis Powell, City of Wichita Falls, City Engineer
Glenn Allbritton, TxDOT, Director of Operations
Larry Wilkinson, City of Wichita Falls, Traffic Superintendent
Mike Beaver, TxDOT, Director of TP&D
Visitors:
John Burrus, City of Wichita Falls, Director of AT&T
Will Carter, City of Wichita Falls, Health District Program Coordinator
MPO Staff.
Jaimie Lee, Wichita Falls MPO, Transportation Planner 11
Absent.
Dana Schoening, City of Wichita Falls, Director of Community Development
Karen Montgomery -Gagne, City of Wichita Falls, Planning Administrator
I. Welcome & Introduction
Mr. Barnett, the TAC chairperson, called the meeting to order at 9:32 a.m. and welcomed
everyone in attendance. Introductions went around the room.
II. Public Comment on Agenda and Non -Agenda Items
Mr. Barnett asked for any public comments on agenda and non -agenda items. Receiving
none, he moved on to the next agenda item.
III. Review and Approval of the October 12, 2017 Technical Advisory Committee's
(TAC) Meeting Minutes
Mr. Barnett asked for any comments or corrections to the October 12, 2017 TAC meeting
minutes. Receiving none, he asked for a motion to approve the minutes. Mr. Powell made
the motion to approve. Mr. Wilkinson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
IV. Review and Comment Regarding the October 25, 2017 Transportation Policy
Committee's (TPC's) Meeting Minutes - No Action Required
Mr. Barnett asked for comments on the July 26, 2017 TPC meeting minutes. Mr. Davis
pointed out some discrepancies in the "Local Transportation Projects Report" under the
Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting January 17, 2018 11 P a g e
TxDOT review. Mr. Barnett marked those for revision. He then asked for any further
comments or revisions. Receiving none, the committee moved on to the next agenda item.
V. Review and Recommendation to the Policy Board to Approve WFMPO Resolution
#1-2018: Support to TxDOT for Safety Performance Measures (PM1)
Mr. Barnett directed the committee's attention to the memo inside of the meeting packet.
Mr. Barnett shared with the committee the Federal Highway Administration's
requirement for all MPO's to put into place a resolution stating they would either create
their own Safety Performance Measures (in accordance with the FAST Act), or they would
agree to adopt and support their state DOT's 2018 Safety Performance Measure targets.
This resolution must be in effect by February 28, 2018.
Mr. Barnett stated that WFMPO has elected to adopt and support the Texas Department
of Transportation's 2018 Safety Performance Measure targets. He commented that the
majority of small to medium size Texas MPO's decided this was the best course of action
for them. Only one MPO, San Angelo, decided to create their own performance measures
and targets. The remaining 16 will support their local TxDOT Districts.
Mr. Barnett stated that he used all available information to create the enclosed memo,
which also contained the draft WFMPO Resolution #1-2018. However, Ms. Peggy Thurin,
TxDOT (Austin) Program Coordinator, issued a sample resolution to all MPO's on January
10, 2018. Mr. Barnett stated that he received this notification while on business in Austin,
and after staff had prepared TAC meeting packets for mail out. Mr. Barnett commented
there was not a large difference between the resolution created by him and the one that
Ms. Thurin sent out. But, there were enough differences for consideration.
After much discussion, the TAC committee recommended that WFMPO staff utilize Ms.
Thurin's example in order to better align the MPO with the overall state directives. Mr.
Barnett stated that he would revise the draft resolution. Mr. Barnett asked for a motion
to forward the draft resolution, with revisions, to the Policy Board for review and
approval. Mr. Powell made the motion. Mr. Wilkinson seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
VI. Review and Recommendation to the Policy Board to Approve Three Amendments
to the 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program to Accept Three 2017
TASA Grant Awards
Mr. Barnett directed the committee's attention to the 2017-2020 Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) revision change sheets. He reviewed each TASA grant award
and described the process for adding the projects to the TIP. He stated that TxDOT issued
CSJ numbers for all three projects. He discussed his calculations to input the TxDOT
administrative costs under Preliminary Engineering at 75% and Construction
Engineering at 25%. Mr. Barnett then asked for comments and corrections.
Mr. Powell offered some advice on how to make the revisions better reflect the grant
applications and the Texas Transportation Commission's Minute Order. Mr. Barnett took
down some notes and said he would add those revisions to the amendments. He stated
that he would circulate the updated document to the TAC committee for any final
comments before presenting it to the Policy Board for review and approval.
Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting January 17, 2018 2 _
Mr. Barnett then asked for a motion to forward the amendments, with revisions, to the
Policy Board for their review and approval. Mr. Beaver made the motion. Mr. Rohmer
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
VII. Other Business:
a. Discussion & Overview of Progress on Local Transportation Projects - City and
TxDOT staff (Quarterly Review)
City: Mr. Powell reported 100% design specifications completed on the Loop 11 to
Lucy Park trail section. The City will submit those plans to TxDOT for review very
shortly. The design specifications for the BNSF trail from Barnett Rd. to Seymour Hwy.
were at 70-80% completion and were under review with an anticipated award date
by October 2018. The City awaits the access agreement from the railroad. Mr. Powell
anticipates having design specifications and an award date for the trail along Lake
Wichita by March 2019. The Falls Bridge "water falls" bridge replacement near IH-44
was 95% complete. The Kemp -Monroe drainage project, construct drainage system
and detention pond, was 80% complete. The boxes were in and the street was going
back into place. The trail from Wichita Bluff Park to Loop 11 was 20% complete. The
contractor has poured retaining walls and footings. The Kemp Street pedestrian
improvements were 80% complete. Some work remains near Discount Tire, but
should wrap up soon. The Maplewood Extension Phase III remains under design at
50% complete and awaits funding. There is a possibility that a developer will build a
new apartment complex near the City's Transfer Station. This would help spur the
development of the street.
TxDOT: Mr. Rohmer reported the Southwest Parkway intersection improvements
were nearing completion. The contractor was waiting on a replacement pole for the
Barnett intersection. In addition, the change order added some bridge joints and
repair work to the Kell Freeway. TxDOT completed the bridge on U.S. 287 at
Wellington, but needs some more vegetative establishment. The contractor will cast
the end pieces for the bridge replacements on Maplewood with the hope of starting
the job by late February in order to hit all of the milestones. The contractor has
removed the bridge on U.S. 287 at Rifle Range Rd. and installed the drill shafts. Work
on that project should progress quickly. Later this year, TxDOT will release the
"enclose drainage ditch" project on FM 369, near McNiel and Rhea Rd. The District
started adding new ITS message boards and cameras in various parts of the city.
b. MPO Quarterly Financial Report (41h Quarter FY 2017 - July, August,
September)
Mr. Barnett reported on the 4th quarter financial report for the MPO. He stated that
the Socioeconomic and Demographic Data (S&DD) Forecast update was essentially
complete. Mr. Barnett forwarded the forecast data to the TxDOT modeling division
for their use in updating WFMPO's Travel Demand Model. The only thing remaining
for the consultant was some staff training utilizing the data in the TransCAD modeling
software. He commented that the MPO spent approximately 90% of its FY 2017
budget and will have about 10% rolling over into FY 2018. He commented that
WFMPO spent 100% ($40,000) of its Statewide Planning and Programming (SPR)
funding on the S&DD Forecast update. Mr. Barnett asked for any comments or
questions on the fourth quarter financial report. He received none.
Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting January 17, 2018 3 1 _ _
c. Grouped TxDOT CSJ Projects Report
Mr. Barnett reported there were five new TxDOT Grouped CSJ projects added to the
list between July 1 and September 30. This quarter included all projects from July,
August, and September.
d. Other Items
Mr. Barnett stated that staff would work on the PM2 and PM3 performance measures
due by end of May 2018. In addition, City Council asked for a list of WFMPO street
projects to consider as part of the upcoming May 2018 bond election. Staff provided
a list of projects to the Deputy City Manager. WFMPO considers these projects as "off -
system" projects because they are all City of Wichita Falls street projects.
VIII. Meeting Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 10:35 a.m.
Irvan F. "Lin" Barnett Jr.
MPO Transportation Planning Director
Wichita Falls MPO
Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting January 17, 2018 4 1 : -