MPO TPC/TAC Board Minutes - 04/11/2012WICHITA FALLS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
Technical Advisory Committee
Minutes
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Voting Members Present:
Lin Barnett — Wichita Falls MPO, MPO Director, TAC Chairperson
Allan More — TxDOT, Director of Construction
Danny Brown — TxDOT, Director of Trans. Planning and Development
Davis Powell — City of Wichita Falls, City Engineer
Karen Montgomery-Gagne — City of Wichita Falls, Community Development Planner
Kevin Hugman — City of Wichita Falls, ACM /Director of Community Development
Mark Beauchamp — City of Wichita Falls, Traffic Superintendent
Monty Brown- TxDOT, Proxy for James Kelley
MPO Staff.
Donald Arbeau — Wichita Falls MPO, Transportation Planner II
Jaimie Lee — Wichita Falls MPO, Transportation Planner I
Tammy Marlow — TxDOT, Funding Specialist, North Region Support Center
Visitors:
Barbara Maley — FHWA
Dennis Burket — City of Wichita Falls, Transit Administrator
John Burrus — Director of Aviation, Traffic, and Transportation
Mike Beaver — TxDOT, Engineer
Tim Juarez — NRSC, TxDOT
Wesley Kaisershot — FHWA
Ex- Officio:
Mark McBurnett — Sheppard Air Force Base, Civil Engineer
Absent:
Tim Hertel — TxDOT, Director of Operations
I. Welcome & Introduction
Mr. Barnett, the TAC chairperson, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and
welcomed everyone in attendance.
11. Public Comment on Agenda and Non - Agenda Items
Mr. Barnett asked for any public comments on agenda and non - agenda items. There
were none.
Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting April 11, 2012 Page 1 of 5
III. Review and Approval of the January 11, 2012 Technical Advisory Committee's
(TAC) Meeting Minutes (p. 5)
Mr. Barnett asked for any comments or corrections to the January 11, 2012 minutes.
There were none. He then asked for a motion to approve the minutes. Mr. Powell made
the motion to approve. Mr. Beauchamp seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
IV. Review and Comment Regarding the January 25, 2012 Transportation Policy
Committee's (TPC's) Meeting Minutes — No Action Required (p. 11)
Mr. Barnett asked for comments on the January 25, 2012 TPC meeting minutes. None
were received. The committee moved on to the next agenda item.
V. TxDOT $2 Billion Funding Allocation for Additional Projects Report and
Discussion (p. 16)
Mr. Barnett directed the committee's attention to page 16 of the meeting packet. He
informed the committee that last month the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) notified TxDOT districts and MPOs statewide that the department anticipated
being able to allocate approximately $2 billion in State and Federal funding to facilitate
construction on some of the state's high priority projects that would help address needs
in the areas of congestion, safety, maintenance, and connectivity. The Wichita Falls
MPO anticipates receiving $2.808 million in Non - Transportation Management Area
funding. The committee discussed the possibility of loaning the funds to the Wichita Falls
TxDOT District for on- system projects inside the district. The District will repay the funds
at a later time. The Texas Transportation Commission has asked each MPO to come up
with a list of projects for application of the funds.
Mr. Brown gave a brief update as to the source nature of the funds and their expected
use as described by criteria that he received that morning from TxDOT headquarters in
Austin. He stated that, according to the criteria, eligible projects include on- system use,
highway use, obligation eligible in FY 2012, and projects receiving environmental
clearance by September 2012 or Right -of -Way acquisition phase funding. Mr. Barnett
asked if transit projects qualified for the funding. Mr. Brown stated the criteria did not
include any type of transit project as an eligible project.
The TAC committee reviewed all of the high priority projects on the MPO's 2011 -2012
Prioritized Project List, most of which were already funded, let, or under construction.
The committee discussed using the funds to reconstruct IH -44 from the IH -44 /US
287/SP 325 interchange to the Wichita River. However, at $6 million estimated cost, the
District would have to come up with more than $3 million extra dollars to do the project.
The TAC committee discussed other possible projects but in the end decided the best
course of action to recommend to the Policy Board was a three -fold option. Option (1):
The MPO will loan the funds to the Wichita Falls' TxDOT District for use on projects
within the district with the understanding that the repaid funds will go towards projects
identified within the Long -Range Project Readiness Plan once it's complete. Option 2:
Use the funds to expand US 277 from two lanes to four lanes. Option 3: Loan the funds
to another MPO that has projects ready for construction.
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Mr. Barnett asked for any other comments or questions concerning the funding
allocation. None were received. Mr. Barnett asked for a motion from the TAC committee
to forward the three - option recommendation to the Policy Board for consideration. Mr.
Powell made the motion to approve. Mr. Brown seconded the motion. The motion was
unanimously approved.
VI. Long -Range Project Readiness Plan Presentation and Discussion (p. 23)
Mr. Barnett directed the committee's attention to page twenty -three of the meeting
packet where a copy of the scope of work for the Long -Range Project Readiness plan
was located. He explained the purpose behind Subtask 4.4 of the 2012 UPWP which
authorizes the MPO to develop a comprehensive, prioritized, and feasible Long -Range
Project Readiness Plan (LRPRP) based on WFMPO's Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
He stated the WFMPO would utilize a professional consulting firm to assist in the
development of the LRPRP based on the criteria established by the Technical Advisory
Committee.
Mr. Barnett presented the goals and objectives of the LRPRP plan development to the
committee. He informed the committee that the TAC selection subcommittee would
interview the following four firms on Friday, April 13, 2012: Jacobs Engineering Group
Inc., Kimley -Horn and Associates, Inc., AMD Engineering, LLC, and Lockwood,
Andrews, and Newnam, Inc. Mr. Barnett told the committee that he would make the
same presentation to the Policy Board at the April 25th meeting as a way of refreshing
memories and that he would announce the TAC subcommittee's selection of consultant
at the meeting.
Mr. Barnett asked for any comments or questions. There were none. The committee
moved on to the next agenda item.
VII. Transit Oriented Development Corridor /Regional Proposed Study Presentation
and Discussion (p. 30)
Mr. Barnett made a presentation to the TAC committee regarding Transit Oriented
Development (TOD) and its possible application to transit within the MPO's boundaries.
In his presentation, Mr. Barnett touched on the many benefits of Transit Oriented
Development, how TOD was becoming increasingly important in urban planning and
development, and the potential for economic revitalization within our region. Mr. Barnett
discussed the rapid growth of the Wichita Falls Transit System (WFTS) — nearly triple
the ridership since 2005 — and the interdependence of other area transit providers that
rely on passenger exchanges with WFTS. Mr. Barnett finished his presentation stating
the MPO should include a subtask in Task 5 — Special Studies of the 2013 Unified
Planning Work Program (UPWP) allowing WFMPO to fund a consultant lead study
focused on identifying the best type of Transit Oriented Development for implementation
within the community.
Mr. Barnett stated the study would look at TOD from a corridor and regional perspective.
After attaining that information, the City of Wichita Falls would look at implementing TOD
principles in location specific areas of the region. Mr. Burrus commented that WFTS
would utilize some of its FTA Section 5307 funding to aid in the TOD redevelopment of
downtown Wichita Falls in and around the future transit hub.
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The TAC committee was in consensus with Mr. Barnett and agreed that TOD should be
presented to the policy board at the April 25th meeting. Mr. Barnett asked for any
comments on the TOD presentation. There were none. The committee then moved on to
the next agenda item.
VIII. Other Business:
A. Discussion & Overview of Progress on Local Transportation Projects -City and
TxDOT staff (Quarterly Review)
TxDOT Report: Mr. Monty Brown, Proxy for James Kelly, reported on the Hike and Bike
trail stating it was 99% complete following the walk- through.
City Report: Mr. Powell reported the Beverly Drainage project was 100% complete. Mr.
Powell moved on to the 2011 Street Rehab project with various locations across the City
including Maplewood, from Southwest Parkway to Midwestern parkway, Scott St, and
from 8th street to 13th street stating that it is complete. The Hike and Bike Trail project
from Seymour Highway near Tanglewood, west of the railroad tracks and on Barnett
Road from Johnson Road to Lake Wichita was about 50% complete with Luz Lerma
Construction doing the work. The 2012 Downtown Water BUIP project from Scott Street
from 8th Street to Wichita River, and 8th street from Scott Street to Austin Street is 72%
complete with A &M Construction. The Lawrence Road realignment at Lawrence Road
and Call Field Road intersection is in the beginning stages. The contract had been
awarded to Duke Construction. Mr. Powell reported on the 2012 Street Rehab project
with various locations across the city including Taft to Midwestern Parkway, Scott Street
to Wichita River, Kovarik Road to FM 369, and Missile Road to SH 240 had been
awarded to Zack Burkett Co. and is in the beginning stages of construction.
Mr. Powell discussed the Scheduled Projects that will include the Kemp Boulevard
drainage project which should begin in June of 2012 and the McNiel drainage project
which is scheduled to begin in July of 2013.
B. MPO Quarterly Financial Report (1st Quarter FY 2012 - October, November,
December) (p. 36)
Mr. Barnett reported on the first quarter expenses for the MPO. He stated the MPO
had spent 10.24% of its allocation for FY 2012.
Mr. Barnett asked for any other questions or comments about the first quarter report.
Receiving none, he moved on to the next agenda item.
C. 2013 -2016 Transportation Improvement Program Update Report (p. 40)
Mr. Barnett stated he was working with the Wichita Falls TxDOT District to have the
new 2013 -2016 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) ready for the April 27th
deadline.
Mr. Barnett asked for any comments or questions. There were none. The committee
moved on to the next agenda item.
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D. MAP- 21/Transportation Reauthorization Congressional Bill Update Report (p.
42)
Mr. Barnett informed the committee of progress on MAP -21 stating on March 30,
2012, President Obama signed into law the Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2012. This bill provides a 90 -day extension of Federal -aid highway, highway safety,
motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust
Fund.
E. Other Items
Mr. Barnett asked for any other business needing discussion or any announcements.
There was none.
IX. Adjourn
The Meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
'Za
Irvan F. "Lin" Barnett Jr.
MPO Transportation Planning Director
Wichita Falls MPO
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CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
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