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MPO TPC/TAC Board Minutes - 01/31/2006TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE (TPC) MEETING WICHITA FALLS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION January 31, 2006 Present: Lanham Lyne, Mayor, Chairperson ♦ Members Charles Elmore, City Council Representative Dennis Wilde, NORTEX Regional Planning Commission Don Sheppard, Lakeside City Larry Tegtmeyer, TxDOT, District Engineer Carolyn Askins, TxDOT, Transportation Planning Assistant ♦ Staff Danny Brown, TxDOT TP &D Director Donnie Arbeau, Transportation Planner II James Kelley, TxDOT, Area Engineer Lin Barnett, MPO Transportation Planning Director ♦ Ex- officio ♦ HNC John Burrus, Director of Aviation, Traffic and Transportation ♦ Guests Jeff Watts, City of Pleasant Valley ♦ Absent Linda Ammons, City Council Representative Scott Taylor, Director of Public Works Woodrow (Woody) Gossom, County Judge, Vice - Chairperson I. Welcome & Introduction Mayor Lyne called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. II. Review and Approval of the October 24th and November 16th TPC Meeting Minutes Mayor Lyne asked for comments concerning both sets of minutes. None were made. Mr. Wilde motioned to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Tegtmeyer seconded his motion. The minutes were unanimously approved. CITY CLERK'S OFFICE Date = Dom`- By MTITA FALLS MFfif @C January 31, 2006 PAGE 1 III. Review and Comment Regarding TAC's January 18th Meeting Minutes - No Action Required Mayor Lyne asked for comments concerning the minutes. None were made. IV. Review of the MPO /City/TxDOT Transportation Project List for FY 2006 - No Action Required, For Informational Purposes Only Mr. Brown informed the group that some of the project's letting dates had changed on the FY 2006 Transportation Project List. He also commented that changes made by TPC in project priority at the November 16, 2005 TPC meeting were also reflected in the list. Those projects are as follows: • ID 6 - Loop 11, CSJ 0043 -14 -020, moved out letting date to: September 1, 2007 • ID 7 - IH 44, CSJ 0156 -07 -101, moved out letting date to: April 1, 2009 • ID 9 - FM 890, CSJ 2582 -01 -015, moved out letting date to: April 1, 2009 • ID 10 - FM 890, CSJ 2582 -01 -016, moved out letting date to: April 1, 2009 • ID 11 - US 82, CSJ 0156 -04 -080, moved out letting date to: September 1, 2008 • ID 12 - On Maplewood North, CSJ 0903 -03 -084, moved out to: January 1, 2011 • ID 13 - On Maplewood South, CSJ 0903 -03 -083, moved out to: January 1, 2011 • ID 27 - US 287, CSJ 0043 -09 -915, moved letting date in to: September 1, 2008 • ID 28 - BU 287J, CSJ 0043 -17 -020, extended and moved in to: January 1, 2007 Mr. Brown discussed the processes used in putting together the list to maximize the funds available and how the list could be viewed as a valuable tool in doing so. No action was required by TPC. The update on this project list was for informational purposes only. V. Review and Approval of the February Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Revisions and the 2005 -2030 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) Revisions Mr. Barnett stated there was only one revision for the February TIP Revisions. That revision was to move CSJ 0043 -14 -020, Loop 11 construction, from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2008. The letting date also moved from April 1, 2007 to September 1, 2007 and the cost increased from an estimated $1,400,000 to an estimated cost of $2,555,114. Mr. Barnett then outlined the revisions to the 2005 -2030 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Update. He discussed changes to TAB 8.2 -I: Funding Category 3 and how CSJ 0156 -04 -092, US 82/281 (Falls Flyover Part 1), which was previously estimated at $8,537,416, was now estimated to be $11,529,168; CSJ 0156 -04 -080, US 82 (previously a Category 11) project, which, earlier, was estimated to cost $15,000,000 was estimated to cost $19,042,763. Under TAB8.2 -II, CSJ 0043 -14 -020, Loop 11, which was previously estimated to cost $1,400,000, was now estimated to cost $2,555,114; CSJ 0044 -01 -080 US 82/281 (Falls Flyover Part 11), which, earlier, was estimated at WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING January 31, 2006 PAGE 2 $15,593,894 was now estimated to cost $20,720,284; CSJ 0043 -09 -090, US 287 near Wellington Lane, which, earlier, was estimated to cost $1,200,000, was now estimated to cost $2,194,369. The board members questioned why costs had increased significantly on these projects. Mr. Brown and Mr. Tegtmeyer stated it was because of the rising costs for steel, concrete and fuel. Mr. Tegtmeyer also commented that if might be due to the fact that TxDOT's increase in programming was requiring the contractors to hire more personnel and buy more equipment, which that cost, in turn, is passed on to TxDOT. Mayor Lyne asked for a motion to approve the TIP and MTP revisions. Mr. Sheppard motioned to approve. Mr. Wilde seconded the motion. The revisions were passed unanimously. VI. Review and Discussion Concerning the Upcoming Texas Urbanized Mobility Plan (TUMP) for 2006 Mr. Barnett gave the board a brief summary on the requirements for TUMP and the date that the finalized plan was due into Austin. He stated that staff and TAC would need to work with the Texas Transportation Institute at A &M College Station to create an acceptable level of congestion using the Texas Congestion Index or TCI. The gap between this level, the Needs -Based Plan, and the financially constrained 2005 -2030 Metropolitan Transportation Plan would then need to be addressed using funding initiatives from the State Mobility Plan (created by HB 3588) and also by looking at creative local funding mechanisms such as user -pay systems and other possible tolling systems. Mr. Barnett explained that whatever TCI number was decided upon for the Wichita Falls MPO area would become the target point for reducing congestion to acceptable levels. Mr. Barnett stated he would be attending the TUMP meeting scheduled for February 21, 2006 in Austin, Texas and that he should have more information to present at the next round of TAC and TPC meetings. Mr. Sheppard was concerned that the state would try to "prioritize" where funds would be spent. Mr. Brown stated, according to the information at hand, that the baseline amount of funds received from the State Mobility Plan would be region specific and not rg oiect specific, that they could spent on whatever project the MPO deemed important within their TUMP. Mr. Barnett also pointed out that any funds generated locally would be used locally and not taken away by the state. Mr. Barnett stated this item was for informational purposes only and no action was required at this time. VII. Review, Discussion and Recommendation Concerning the Wichita Falls Transit System Findings Report Mr. Barnett outlined the events of the past few months leading up to the report. Mr. Arbeau then gave a brief summary of the report and what staff and TAC had learned from the public meetings, the questionnaires, and the statistical summaries. Mr. Arbeau WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING January 31, 2006 PAGE 3 discussed the statistical items that stood out in the report and the recommendations included in the meeting packet by staff and TAC. Mr. Barnett then asked the committee for permission to begin the RFP process to find a consultant and what the cap on spending should be. All members were in agreement that it was time for another study to be done, but without a specific price tag for the report it would be difficult to authorize spending the funds. Mr. Barnett suggested the committee authorize the RFP for consultant by limiting the amount spent not to exceed $100,000, based on the available funding. If this amount were to be exceeded by a potential consultant then approval from TPC would be needed. Mr. Barnett went on to say that a short-list of 3 to 4 consultants would be used in finding the right consultant. Councilor Elmore asked how much ridership had increased and Mr. Burrus commented that it had increased by 28% to nearly 254,000 from 2004 to 2005. Mayor Lyne asked for a motion to approve the RFP to find a consultant to perform the transit study. Councilor Elmore motioned to go forward with the transit study, not to exceed $100,000, but if it did then it would need approval by TPC. Mr. Sheppard seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. VIII. Progress Report on the Development of the Wichita Falls MPO Website Mr. Arbeau stated that the new MPO website was in development and a finished product would be presented to TAC and TPC at the next set of meetings in April. Mr. Barnett stated the cost for developing the new website would be $2,851.76 and $20 per month in hosting fees. He also stated additional work on the website would cost $85 per hour on an as -need basis. Mr. Barnett stated the website would not go live until approved by TPC. He also commented that Lighthouse Teknologies was working on a logo for the MPO as well. IX. Review, Discussion and Recommendation Concerning the Proposed MPO Internship Mr. Arbeau discussed the reasons behind using an intern for MPO purposes and what would be expected of the candidate. He discussed all of the new initiatives that staff had developed over the last couple of years that had lead up to this point and why. Mr. Arbeau then opened the issue for discussion. Mr. Sheppard and Mayor Lyne suggested that the requirements for the intern be rewritten to not limit the pool of candidates and to make hiring the candidate more flexible. Mr. Tegtmeyer stated the pool should also be broadened to other area colleges and campuses other than just Midwestern State University. Mayor Lyne motioned to approve the MPO internship program. Councilor Elmore seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Sheppard motioned to amend the FY 2006 UPWP to provide funding for the program under Task 2.0 — Data WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING January 31, 2006 PAGE 4 Development and Maintenance, Subtask 2.7 — Internship Program. The motion passed unanimously. The program would be funded at $5,000 from the other subtasks within Task 2.0. Specifically, Subtask 2.7 would be funded as follows: $4,000 from TPF funds, $800 from Section 5307 funds, and $200 from Local funds. X. Other Business: A. Discussion & Overview of Progress on Local Transportation Projects — City and TxDOT staff (Quarterly Review) City Report: Mr. Burrus asked the committee for a Letter of Support from the MPO for a Military Airports Grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. The board agreed to do this. Mr. Barnett also updated the committee on the progress of the TxDOT enhancement project application concerning the bicycle and pedestrian section of the bicycle loop between East Scott Drive and Hamilton Park. He also stated the draft of the Traffic Signal Optimization Study came in the mail to his office the prior day and that the results would be presented at the April TAC and TPC meetings. Mr. Barnett also discussed his meeting with the Texas Bicycle Coalition and the Safe Routes to School Program. Mr. Burrus asked that the MPO work to develop a prioritized list for the unfinished portions of the hike and bike trail loop and other areas within the city. The board agreed this would be a good idea. TxDOT Report: ID 1, 4, & 13 - Mr. Kelley mentioned that three ITS projects will enter the final acceptance stage on February 1; IH 44 (from SP 325 to 8th St.); US 287 (from 8th St. to US 281); IH 44 (at SP 325 interchange). ID 10, 11 & 12 — US 82 (at US 281); US 82 (0.5 miles west of Fairway Blvd. to Fairway Blvd.); IH 44 (near Bacon Switch Rd.); part of the district -wide safety lighting and illumination project. ID 5 — BU 287J (at Galveston) contract has been awarded. Contractor has asked for a suspension of time till February 15tH ID 2 — LP 11 (at BU 287J) upgrade guardrails and SGT. ID 3 & 9 — US 82 (US 82 at US 281) the direct connect "Falls Flyover". The project will encounter some challenges in early 2006 but is currently on schedule. ID 6, 8, 14 — SH 240 (2 miles north of Missile Rd. to Missile Rd.); SH 240 (IH 44 to 2 miles north of Missile Rd.); BU 277A (Fairway Blvd. to US 82) are part of the district wide seal coat plan. Contracts are let and should be completed by summer 2006. ID 7 — SH 240 (Missile Rd. to Sp 325) overlay project. WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING January 31, 2006 PAGE 5 ID 16 — Cypress St. Bridge project has been partially accepted because it is linked to the FM 171 (ID 15) at Plum Creek. Contractor has encountered problems with acquiring materials and ID 15 should begin in a short period of time. Mr. Kelly also mentioned two Safety Bond projects for FM 1740 (widening and making a Safe Route) and US 287 at the Wilson Overpass (constructing a concrete median barrier). As well, safety stripping (rumble striping) was added to US 281 from City limits to the exit at Windthorst Road. Mr. Kelly complimented the City of Wichita Falls on the improved street lighting in that area. B. MPO Quarterly Financial Report (4th Quarter — July, August, September) Mr. Barnett informed the board that expenses for FY 2005 met the minimum target percentage. Mr. Wilde questioned the high expenses under Other Professional. Mr. Barnett stated that was because of the billings for the Traff ic Signal Optimization Study. C. Update on Public Comments Related to the Public Involvement Policy (PIP) Approved at the October 24th TPC Meeting Mr. Barnett stated the approved PIP was posted and made available for the required 45 day period. He stated the PIP was good for the next year until it would review again. No comments were received. D. FY 2005 Annual Performance and Expenditures Report Mr. Barnett stated the APER was an expanded version of all of the quarterly reports for FY 2005. E. Other Mr. Tegtmeyer passed out flyers that discussed the funding challenges TxDOT is currently facing and how TxDOT is dealing with them. Mr. Barnett stated that the WF MPO submitted their October 2005 Environmental Justice Report to Barbara Maley, FHWA Transportation Planning Coordinator, for a 2006 Transportation and Environmental Planning, APA Excellence Award. XI. Public Comment on Anything Not on the Agenda No comments were received. XII. Adjourn WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING January 31, 2006 PAGE 6 The meeting adjourned at 9:52 a.m. Mayor Lanham Lyne, TPC Chair son WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING January 31, 2006 PAGE 7