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MPO TPC/TAC Board Minutes - 01/26/2011I RECEIVED IN CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ATE: d(0 -I k BY: A TIME: TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE (TPC) MEETING WICHITA FALLS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION January 26, 2011 Present: Glenn Barham, City of Wichita Falls, Mayor ♦ Members Dennis Wilde, NORTEX Regional Planning Commission, Executive Director Larry Tegtmeyer, TxDOT, District Engineer Ray Gonzales, Proxy for Judge Woody Gossom Russell Schreiber, City of Wichita Falls, Director of Public Works Steven Halloway, Lakeside City, Mayor Tim Ingle, City of Wichita Falls, City Council Representative Donnie Arbeau, WFMPO, Transportation Planner II ♦ Staff Jaimie Grigsby, WFMPO, Transportation Planner I Lin Barnett, WFMPO, Transportation Planning Director Tammy Marlow, TxDOT, Funding Specialist, NRSC Danny Brown, TxDOT, TP &D Director ♦ Ex- officio Jennifer Rhone, State Rep. Lanham Lyne's Office Joe Gambell, NORTEX Regional Planning Commission ♦ Guests John Burrus, City of Wichita Falls, Director of AT &T Jeff Watts, City of Pleasant Valley, Representative ♦ Absent Michael Smith, City of Wichita Falls, City Council Representative I. Welcome & Introduction Mayor Barham called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m. and completed the roll call. II. Public Comment on Agenda and Non - Agenda Items Mayor Barham asked for any comments from the public on any of the agenda and non - agenda items. There were no comments. III. Review and Approval of the Transportation Policy Committee's (TPC's) November 3, 2010 Meeting Minutes Mayor Barham asked for comments and corrections to the November 3, 2010 TPC minutes. There were no comments. Mr. Schreiber motioned to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Wilde seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING January 26, 2011 PAGE 1 r✓ IV. Review and Comment Regarding the Technical Advisory Committee's (TAC's) January 12, 2010 Meeting Minutes - No Action Required Mayor Barham asked for comments on the TAC minutes. Mr. Barnett informed the committee that the TAC committee thoroughly reviewed the details of the Mobility Study presented to the Policy Board later in the meeting. There were no other comments. V. Review and Adopt the 2010/2011 Environmental Justice Analysis and Report (See Enclosure) Mr. Barnett introduced the 2010/2011 Environmental Justice Analysis and Report to the policy committee. Mr. Arbeau briefly reviewed the report and indicated where he had added the new projects. Mr. Arbeau also discussed the Minority Percentages, Minority Block Groups, Percentages of Low Income and Low Income Block Groups. Mayor Barham asked what constituted as an Environmental Justice Impact. Mr. Arbeau stated that an Environmental Justice Impact was a significant amount of work, such as dust, construction, or rerouting of traffic, which could have an adverse impact on minority and /or low- income block groups near the construction site. Mayor Barham asked for a motion to adopt the 2009/2010 Environmental Justice Analysis Project and Report. Mr. Wilde motioned to approve the report and Mr. Halloway seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. VI. Review of MPO Executive Summary for West of Kemp Mobility Study: Includes Power Point Presentation of Findings and Recommendations (p. 16) Mr. Arbeau and Mr. Barnett presented a Power Point Presentation to the Policy Board summarizing the results and recommendations of the Mobility Study. Mayor Barham recommended taking the next step in the Study and presenting it at City Council meetings. Mr. Barnett stated that the Project Oversight Committee (POC) made the following recommendations concerning the Lawrence /Rhea/Call Field Road Intersection. Although, Lockwood, Andrews, and Newnam recommended Alternative A4 only, the POC recommended combining Alternatives Al & A4 to address the long -term goal (2035) of reducing congestion and increasing traffic mobility at this intersection. He stated the POC recommended the E1 build alternative for the north -south circulation west of Kemp Boulevard (Beverly /Cedar /Harriet Realignment). However, the POC stated the Policy Board should not pursue the E1 alternative at this time because of the low score ( <50 pts.) associated with it. Mr. Barnett stated that even though E1 was the preferred alternative, the low score indicated major challenges for implementation including public negativity towards the proposed solutions. Mayor Barham stated that although the B3 Lebanon Rd /Arrowhead Drive alternative was more expensive than the E1 alternative, it might be easier to implement because it would be less disruptive to neighborhoods and businesses. There were no other comments. VII. Other Business: A. Discussion & Overview of Progress on Local Transportation Projects — City and TxDOT staff (Quarterly Review) City Report: Mr. Schreiber stated the City only had a couple of projects currently in progress. He stated the 2010 Alley Rehab is moving along really well. He stated the WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING January 26, 2011 PAGE 2 f Downtown Intersection Enhancement Project has about seven days left until it will be open. The Beverly Drainage Project is currently under bid. The larger roadways for the 2011 Street Rehab Project have been put down. Lastly, the Hike and Bike Trail received a $2.4 million grant and they are currently working to finish the project by April of 2011. TxDOT Report: Mr. Kelley reported that the contractor is behind but assured completion on the trail by April. The upgrade of highway illumination is almost complete. Mr. Kelley stated the new lights are up and burning and they are in the process of removing the old lights. Construct railroad at grade crossing on frontage road is complete. The construction of curb ramps for ADA compliance is about 70% complete. Lastly, the median barrier for US 277 to Clay County line, the concrete has been placed. B. MPO Quarterly Financial Report (4th Quarter FY 2009 — July, August, September) Mr. Barnett informed the Policy Board that total expenditures for FY 2010 reached $246,053.68 or 67.56% of the total budgeted amount of $364,182.91. He stated the carry over from FY 2010 would pay for some new studies such as a Transit Fuel Study and an Intersection Safety Study in 2011. Mr. Barnett stated the 2007 and 2008 Transit Grants are completely liquidated, but there is $8,000 left in the 2009 Transit Grant. He stated the Federal Transit Administration recently assigned a project ID number for the "Falls Ride" FY 2010 grant and he expected approval of the grant soon. There were no further questions. C. MPO Website: Demonstration of New Form and Content (MPO Staff Demonstration) Mr. Arbeau presented a 5- minute preview of the new MPO website. The website now contains improved graphics, ease of access, and features such as an interactive map where citizens of the community can post comments and /or feedback for the MPO. D. TEMPO and Texas Transportation Forum Report (p. 36) Mr. Barnett discussed the January 3rd TEMPO Meeting and the January 4th and 5th Texas Transportation Forum. He discussed some of the items and events that occurred at the TEMPO meeting and he reviewed the Chapter 16 Rules Change. Mr. Barnett talked about the travel costs on the Rules Change stating that elected officials on Policy Boards can travel if costs are specifically related to a Federal award. He also spoke about Rural Planning Organizations, which allows RPOs to make recommendations to TxDOT concerning transportation projects, systems, or programs that impact transportation in their area. Lastly, Mr. Barnett mentioned the Unified Transportation Program, which includes a 4- year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), and projects, and phases of projects, anticipated to let in the latter six years. There were no additional comments. E. Other Items Mr. Arbeau stated he contacted the Director for TEMPO about hosting a quarterly TEMPO meeting in Wichita Falls and would need help from the committee to coordinate that. VIII. Adjourn WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING January 26, 2011 PAGE 3 The meeting adjourned at 10:39 a.m. Honorable Glenn Barham Mayor Wichita Falls WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING January 26, 2011 PAGE 4