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MPO TPC/TAC Board Minutes - 07/11/200701 vF tv -rU ,3 ►vcjol 0E Y500 WICHITA FALLS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION Technical Advisory Committee Minutes Wednesday, July 11, 2007 Voting Members Present: Lin Barnett — Wichita Falls MPO, MPO Director, TAC Chairpersi Danny Brown — TxDOT, Director of Trans. Planning and Develo Dave Clark — City of Wichita Falls, Dir. of Community Developm Davis L. Powell — City of Wichita Falls, City Engineer James Kelley — TxDOT, Area Engineer Mark Beauchamp — City of Wichita Falls, Traffic Superintendent Tim Hertel — TxDOT, Director of Operations RECEIVED IN CITY CLERK'S OFFICE 'Date 6do ment 4Y l,/ Time .-2 MPO Staff: Donnie Arbeau — Wichita Falls MPO, Transportation Planner II John Burrus — City of Wichita Falls, Director of Aviation, Traffic, & Transportation Carolyn Askins — TxDOT, Transportation Planner 11 Hailey Berend —Wichita Falls MPO, Intern Highway Needs Committee Members: Dan Shine Visitors: David Farabee — Texas State Representative from District 69 Nora Zarate Hodges — Nortex Regional Planning Committee Absent: Currently Vacant— TxDOT, Director of Construction Karen Montgomery-Gagne — City of Wichita Falls, Comm. Development Planner III I. Welcome & Introduction Mr. Barnett called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and welcomed everyone present. II. Review and Approval of the April 4th Technical Advisory Committee's (TAC) Meeting Minutes Mr. Barnett asked for comments on the April 4th TAC minutes. None were received. Mr. Beauchamp motioned to approve the minutes. Mr. Brown seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. III. Review and Comment Regarding the Transportation Policy Committee's (TPC's) April 25th Meeting Minutes - No Action Required Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting April 4, 2007 Page 1 of 8 Mr. Barnett asked for comments on the April 25th TPC minutes. None were received. The board moved on to the next item of business. IV. Update on TxDot Category 3 — Urban Area Corridor Projects — Funding and Programming for the Wichita Falls District Mr. Brown discussed the TOOT funding categories that are available to our district. He gave the purposes and a description of each of the categories that are available and how the funds could be spent. Mr. Brown also brought to the committee's attention some of the projects currently under construction. He explained how our district's Category III funds were very much reduced since the Falls Flyover and the Kell West Main Lanes projects were able to begin construction. He also brought to the committee's attention that some of the mobility funds might be moved into rehabilitation funds. Mr. Burrus congratulated TOOT on being in the right place with everything in order so that construction could begin on the Kell West project that wasn't supposed to begin until 2018. Mr. Brown informed the committee that "firm" letting for the project is to begin in September. Mr. Burrus asked Mr. Brown whether the HWY 890 project would still be kept in front and if funding were found would TOOT begin that project or if it would have to wait for later funding. Mr. Brown responded that the project would still be kept in front and continually promoted in Austin. However, he commented that chances are almost zero of getting the funding needed for it right now. Mr. Brown said that Mr. Kelley and his group are pursuing the project as if the money is there and that everything is getting put together so that if an opportunity presents itself TOOT will be ready. Mr. Burrus commented that we will probably have to take a timeout in the construction of new structures and focus on the maintenance of what we already have for the next 10 -15 years. Mr. Brown stated that there was no way we would be building the Falls Flyover and have the Kell West Main Lanes scheduled for September if TOOT was still operating under the pay- as -you- go plan. He stated that the work of Mr. David Farabee, and others, had done was what allowed alternative means of payment and was why we have these projects underway right now. Mr. Barnett commented that during last year's formulation of the Texas Urbanized Mobility Plan that for the Wichita Falls MPO area alone it will cost $1.1 billion in reconstruction and rehabilitation out to the year 2030. Mr. Barnett asked if there were any further questions. None were received and there was no further discussion. V. Review, Comment and Recommendation on FY 2008 Unified Planning Work Program Discussion began with Mr. Barnett giving a basic description of the FY 2008 UPWP. He stated the UPWP is what the MPO hopes to accomplish during the next fiscal year. Mr. Barnett went over the changes to the UPWP including new, appropriate language that refers to SAFETEA -LU compliance issues. There were a few minor changes done to the Introduction, updates were made to the Private Sector Involvement section, and the transit study is referred to along with the traffic signal optimization program that was approved by TPC back in April 2007. Mr. Barnett reviewed Task 1, which is the Administration and Management task. Updates are shown including the reference to the new Appendix [H], which shows estimated travel expenses Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting April 4, 2007 Page 2 of 8 for 2008. He mentioned that Tasks 1, 2 and 4 do not change very much from year to year, but they had been altered to show the progress that had been made. Task 2, Data Development and Maintenance, was updated to reflect Previous Work. Task 3, Short-Range Planning, was updated to show the Expected Products concerning the 2008 -2011 Transportation Improvement Program, which was approved at the last meeting and is now in effect. The Previous Work section was also updated in Task 3. Task 4, Metropolitan Transportation Plan, was updated to show what had been accomplished over the previous year. Task 5, Special Studies, includes sub -tasks 5.1 and 5.2 which are continuations from last years UPWP and two new sub - tasks, 5.4 and 5.5, which will be addressed during fiscal year 2008. Mr. Barnett stated that a TAC subcommittee will shortly be interviewing consulting firms for the completion of Subtask 5.2; the Socioeconomic Data Collection and Forecast Study for 2008. Results of that study will be used to update the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, which is due to be updated in 2010. Mr. Barnett reviewed the Budget Summary and informed the TAC Committee of expected carry over funds. The new funding column, the PTN Non - Federal Share, was also brought to the committee's attention. This is a non - federal share cash match for FTA 5303 funds. Mr. Barnett asked for any additional comments. Mr. Brown inquired about a new TxDOT TP &P field representative position and whether it was to be filled. Ms. Askins stated that a new field representative had been appointed to fill the place. Mr. Barnett asked Mr. Burrus if City Council had filled the vacant TPC position left behind by Councilor Linda Ammons. Mr. Burrus was not sure, but Mr. Shine responded that they had put the request in to fill the position. Mr. Barnett asked for a motion to send the document to the Transportation Policy Committee for their review and approval. Mr. Brown made the motion to approve. Mr. Kelley seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. VI. Review and Discussion Concerning Environmental Justice Analysis and Transportation Project Nomination Procedure and Prioritization (Nomination Forms Included) Mr. Barnett discussed last year's prioritized list of projects and the Environmental Justice Protocol which he had written. The Protocol is a basic step -by -step handbook on how projects will be solicited and prioritized each year. Research is being done on income levels and modes of transportation for low income and minority populations which will be used to refine the report. Mr. Barnett explained that old projects in the report do not have to be reanalyzed; only new projects that come in must be analyzed Environmental Justice adverse affects on low- income and minority populations. Ms. Askins presented a TxDOT timeline that coincides with the EJ Protocol showing what happens during the process. Mr. Brown asked if nominations could be taken now, and Mr. Barnett responded saying that we could start now. MPO staff will need to meet with the City Engineer and with TxDOT to determine which projects have been done and which are still in progress. Once all projects are compiled, a prioritized list will be put together and presented to TPC in October for approval. The approved, prioritized list will then be analyzed utilizing approved Environmental Justice procedures. During the public meetings held in September, the public will also have a chance to put in nominations to be added to the list to be sent to TPC. The final EJ Report will be presented to TPC in January of each year for adoption and use during the course of the next year. Mr. Barnett encouraged everyone to submit their comments to him on how to improve the Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting April 4, 2007 Page 3 of 8 process. He asked if there were any other questions on the process. There were no other questions. VII. Presentation by Traffic Control on the Initial Utilization of the New Traffic Signal Optimization Program Mr. Barnett stated that Mr. Arbeau and Mr. Beauchamp had put together a 16 minute video presenting the new software used in the Traffic Signal Optimization Program. The software was bought a little over a month ago and includes Synchro 7 and SimTraffic. Using this software, traffic control is able to create a running simulated model of a complete intersection system based on the actual data and information from the streets. The software is able to produce alternative modification to the information put in so that the efficiency is increased. VIII. Other Business A. Discussion & Overview of Progress on Local Transportation Projects — City and TxDOT Staff (Quarterly Review) TxDOT Report: Mr. Kelley began his report by stating that one of the ramps on the new Falls Flyover should be opening in the near future. The approval from the FHWA on the Brook St. ramp is almost complete and he hopes it will be done before the ramp is built. He also addressed the public meeting concerning the Galveston ramp. He informed the committee that the Arby's intersection project is now complete. He stated that the IH -44 rehabilitation and re- pavement project had been under water last week. The slope erosion project along Kell is also going along nicely. Mr. Kelley mentioned that they are putting an overlay on Loop 11. He stated that our district has bought a new hot - mix -paver which is allowing them to do bigger jobs. He also said he was excited about the September letting of Loop 11 which includes the bridge, at Hwy. 890, over IH -44 and that everything is going very well. Mr. Barnett asked if one of the lanes on the Falls Flyover would be opening soon as mentioned at the last meeting. Mr. Kelley said there should be one opening in August. City Report: Mr. Powell began his report by stating that this month the City of Wichita Falls let Loop 11 utility relocation in preparation for the Loop 11 extension that TxDOT will be completing. Also, he stated that the City had about 40 projects with $85.8 million authorized funding that is currently under the design process in the following categories: 5 in transportation improvement projects estimated at 11.8 million - Maplewood Phase 2, Gregg Rd. and Langford reconstruction, Traffic flow and safety improvements at various locations and also some street rehabilitation at different locations across town. All of these are scheduled for letting in fall 2007 except for Gregg Rd. There are 17 various utility improvement projects estimated at 52 million that will provide the city and surrounding area with an adequate water supply for future growth and maintain and upgrade the existing facilities. Also, there are 10 drainage projects estimated at 11.8 million to provide relief at some of the flood prone areas across town. There are drainage improvement projects identified on the schedule for the next 20 years. There are 8 recreational or city facility projects estimated at 10.2 million. Mr. Powell informed the committee that the city has just completed construction on the Jasper Water Treatment Plant and that an additional 1.5 million gallon elevated and a 10 million gallon ground storage water facility at the Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting April 4, 2007 Page 4 of 8 Cyprus Water Plant will help with future water capacity. Mr. Brown asked when we would see the opening of the Maplewood project. Mr. Powell said that it would be letting in the latter part of August 2007 and construction will take about one year. He stated it will contain Maplewood from Kemp to Lawrence Rd., with most of the construction being drainage improvements for that area. Mr. Barnett asked for any further comments. There was no further discussion. B. MPO Quarterly Financial Report (1St Quarter FY 2007 — Jan., Feb., Mar.) Mr. Barnett outlined for the committee the second quarter expenses of the MPO. Year -to -date, the MPO has spent 30% of its TPF funding; however that number will increase considerably by the next quarterly update because of the expenses for the Traffic Signal Optimization Program. He stated that as far as he could tell the MPO is tracking pretty closely to what they normally spend compared to other years, and that they will make the minimum 75% expenditure. Mr. Barnett asked for any other questions about the MPO quarterly expenses. Mr. Arbeau pointed out the two transit grants for the fiscal years 2004 and 2005 were now 100% spent. Mr. Barnett stated that he had submitted both for closure and that he has also submitted to the FTA the capital expenses sheet. The 2006 grant is 85% spent and the 2007 grant went into affect a month ago. Mr. Barnett stated the MPO is sitting in good position as far as the FTA grants are concerned. C. June 28 -29 TEMPO Meeting — Director's Report Mr. Barnett gave a brief summary of what went on at the TEMPO Meeting that he attended June 28th and 29th in Arlington. He presented the board with "The Directors Report" and the 80TH Texas Legislature hand -outs to point out what might affect the City of Wichita Falls. One change will be including an Ethics Clause in the MPO Bylaws which needs to contain broad language regarding a conflict of interest between MPO board members and contractors. Other item of interest included House Bill 1857 which contains language requiring for disclosure to potential property buyers that possible transportation corridor is located on the parcel in question. The potential buyer of the property must be alerted to the fact that it is possible a transportation project may go through the parcel they are considering purchasing. Senate Joint Resolution 64 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to authorize the transportation commission to issue $5 billion in general obligation funds to fund highway improvements. Mr. Barnett also discussed Senate Bill 792 concerning local or regional toll authority assistance by TxDOT; Senate Bill 1119 and the use of red light cameras to administer $75 fines; and Senate Bill 1089, which would allow the use of 4A and 4B tax revenues for the development, improvement, expansion, or maintenance of facilities relating to the operation of commuter rail, light rail, or motor buses (transit). Mr. Barnett also discussed a notice of rescission of federal aid apportionments in the amount of $72 million to the State of Texas. Mr. Brown added that this rescission of funds was going to have a significant impact on Texas. Mr. Barnett informed the committee of a video that Mr. Arbeau had downloaded on the MPO website of the May 2007 Texas Transportation Commission Meeting which discusses possible cuts from the mobility funds for rehabilitation. Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting April 4, 2007 Page 5 of 8 Mr. Barnett discussed the presentation given by a representative of the Texas Transportation Institute on Context Sensitive Solutions. He stated this is a new planning curriculum and focuses on providing a transportation facility that fits the setting so that it can preserve scenic, historical, environmental, and community aesthetics. CSS also improves safety, mobility and infrastructure conditions, and it works with SAFETEA -LU. Mr. Barnett also stated that he plans to attend the CSS Training Session at Lubbock in late September. He also discussed NEPAssist Software and its usefulness as presented by a representative from FHWA. Mr. Barnett stated a representative from FHWA presented the final rule on the development of financially constrained MTP's and TIP's under SAFETEA -LU. Mr. Barnett stated that we are in good standing and that we are SAFETEA -LU compliant until the December 11th deadline. After that, he informed the committee, they will have to do a year of expenditure which includes right -of -way costs and development costs. All costs will have to be included in any revisions of the MTP or TIP after December 11th. Mr. Brown pointed out that it would add inflation to each year of a project. Mr. Barnett responded by stating that the subject of what rate of inflation to use was discussed at the TEMPO meeting. Rates discussed ranged from 4 to 12 percent. Mr. Barnett asked if there were any questions concerning the TEMPO Meeting or what he had discussed. There were no questions. Mr. Barnett then presented a question for consideration from Karen Montgomery- Gagne to the TAC Committee and for TxDOT. Her concern was for what the new construction plans would do to the access to the downtown area and east of Holliday and Broad. Mr. Burrus responded to the question by saying it would not be changing; that it would be what it is presently right now. Mr. Kelley also responded by saying the question was in reference to the Galveston off -ramp. Mr. Powell asked if the ramp would be moved back, stay in place, or eliminated. Mr. Kelley said the ramp would be temporarily closed down until they can reassess the traffic patterns after everything is opened. The major concern is the differential speed, and Mr. Kelley expressed that they do not feel like it would be a safe situation (this is a concern with the Galveston ramp coming off with the new on -ramp opening up) with the slower moving trucks trying to get to the on -ramp and the faster moving vehicles coming off from above. Mr. Kelley also said Patterson's was having some legitimate concerns that he feels like they can address, and as far as access to downtown, the new plans would probably not hinder it due to the fact that most traffic headed northbound would take Jacksboro Highway to reach downtown just as easily. Mr. Kelley stated he would contact Ms. Gagne to discuss any concerns and insights. Mr. Burrus then stated that he felt the ramp that Mr. Kelley put in at 6th St. has greatly improved the access to downtown, and that he felt the 5th 6th, Holliday, and Brook intersection is a good place to exit downtown. He also agreed with Mr. Kelley in expressing his concern with the safety problem with the Galveston ramp. Mr. Kelley said he understood the concerns of Patterson's and other downtown businesses. However, he truly feels it will be a major safety problem and does not feel there is another option on where to relocate it. Mr. Burrus said he felt that it would really come down to people having to readjust their routes to access downtown. Mr. Kelley commented that he was asked at a recent TxDOT public meeting as to why the ramps are so close together that they have the potential to conflict with each other. He stated the reason was that they were trying to appease everybody at each street. He pointed Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting April 4, 2007 Page 6 of 8 out that many of the larger cities use one exit for several streets for safety reasons, and he questioned if going through one extra red light would be such a big problem. Mr. Farabee stated that it would be like going through the intersection at Lawrence and McNeil; you have to know where you are going and what to do ahead of time, and that it would just take some getting used to. Mr. Barnett stated the goal was to improve access, not to restrict it. Mr. Burrus commented that safety should come first before anything else. Mr. Powell agreed stating that safety should always come first. However, Mr. Powell also remembered how during the public involvement process for the elevated section of downtown (Holliday and Broad) there was large concern expressed for the downtown area and for eastside access at both ends of town. He stated there was concern that eastside would be cut off even further. Mr. Powell stated he feels that it has more to do with access from Hwy 287 and not so much with Hwy 281. He commented that 6th St. does provide good access to one side of Scott St., but there are many businesses are located at the other end that do not have good access. He reiterated his point that there is a big concern from residents on the eastside concerning how their access is being cut off whether physically or as a perceived barrier. He stated that he did not like the ramp's configuration and that it could be an expensive process to fix. However, if it could be moved further back, which would involve widening and tapering structures, it would relieve some of those problems. Mr. Kelley stated that when he reviewed the minutes for the Public Involvement Meetings that he saw one comment about the ramp and that it was a very minor comment. He stated the biggest push by the public has been the turn - arounds that were built. Mr. Shine commented that the original project was to go over to eastside and service the downtown area. He stated that the plan was bought into many years ago, but has since changed. Property purchased for the plan was abandoned, and that is why there is some public input now because some people remember what the plan was supposed to be and how it was changed before it was built. He stated that many downtown groups thought what they were going to have was Kell extending right into downtown, but changes had to be made to account for the mill and so forth. Mr. Shine also commented that the altered plan, which included the 6th Street exit ramp from the overpass, was definitely a plus for downtown even though it was not in the original plan. He commented that it was a great change and that downtown now has a lot better access now that the Falls Flyover is almost complete D. Transit Study Progress Report Mr. Barnett informed the committee that staff had received the final report on the Wichita Falls Transit Study. He stated the surveys and information in the first half of the report were very informing and revealing, but that second half was basically his and Mr. Arbeau's work. They drove the routes and did the timings for the second half of the report and submitted it to them. Moore and Associates did make some recommendations. The handout included what those recommendations entailed. Mr. Barnett stated that Mr. Burrus, the Transit Administrator and he would go through the findings and look at the report very closely. They will weigh all the options presented to them before making any recommendations to City Council concerning changes to the transit system. Some of the recommendations included the addition of more buses on the routes and bi- directional routes. Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting April 4, 2007 Page 7 of 8 When asked to comment on the report, Mr. Burrus stated that he did not have anything to add about the Transit Study Final Report, but that he would ask for any feedback and comments concerning the study be sent directly to him. E. Other Mr. Burrus handed out copies of the Executive Summary by Mead and Hunt concerning the Passenger Demand Analysis of Air Travelers within the local air service market that he received late Friday evening. He stated that we are in a marginal area and that it could really go either way. IX. Public Comment on Anything Not on the Agenda No comments were received. XII. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 11:42 a.m. Lin Barnett MPO Transportation Planning Director Wichita Falls MPO Wichita Falls MPO TAC Meeting April 4, 2007 Page 8 of 8