MPO TPC/TAC Board Minutes - 07/27/20051 .
ei/1I jalo �'_Z �y
S
TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE "(T..: FETING .
WICHITA FALLS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
July 27, 2005
Present:
Lanham Lyne, Mayor, Chairperson ♦ Members
Charles Elmore, City Council Representative
Dennis Wilde, NORTEX Regional Planning Commission
Don Sheppard, Lakeside City ♦
Jeff Watts, City of Pleasant Valley ♦
Larry Tegtmeyer, TxDOT, District Engineer
Linda Ammons, City Council Representative
Scott Taylor, Director of Public Works ♦
Woodrow (Woody) Gossom, County Judge, Vice - Chairperson
Carolyn Askins, TxDOT, Transportation Planning Assistant ♦ Staff
Danny Brown, TxDOT TP &D Director
Darron Leiker, Interim City Manager ♦
Dave Clark, Director of Community Development
Donnie Arbeau, Transportation Planner I ♦
James Kelley, TxDOT, Area Engineer
Lin Barnett, Transportation Planner III
Mark Beauchamp, City Traffic Superintendent
♦ Ex- officio
♦ HNC
Jon Moller, Citizen ♦ Guests
♦ Absent
Welcome & Introduction.
Mayor Lyne called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m. Introductions where made around
the room.
WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING July 27, 2005 PAGE 1
II. Approval of the April 20th and June 6th TPC Meeting Minutes
Judge Gossom motioned to approve the minutes as presented. Councilor Elmore
seconded the motion, which was passed unanimously. No other comments were
received.
III. Review and Comment Regarding TAC's July 13th Meeting Minutes - No
Action Required
No comments were received.
IV. Review, Discussion and Approval of the FY 2006 Unified Planning Work
Program for Submission to TxDOT, Austin (TPP) by August 1, 2005
Mr. Leiker outlined events leading up to the current draft of the FY 2006 UPWP
reminding everyone they had already seen the majority of it back at the April TPC
meeting. He stated the final draft was being presented at today's meeting for the
board's approval. It would then be forwarded on to TxDOT, Austin (TPP) to meet the
August 1, 2005 deadline for submission. Mr. Leiker asked Mr. Barnett to go over the
changes to the document since the last TPC meeting.
Mr. Barnett began by informing everyone about the request from TxDOT, Austin (TPP)
to include two additional subtasks in Task 1 — Administration /Management and Task 2 —
Data Development and Maintenance. The additional subtasks pertained to Title VI, Civil
Rights evaluations of existing public involvement policies and procedures on an annual
basis and the updating of demographic data as it relates to Title VI requirements for
minority and low- income populations. The aforementioned subtasks were Subtask 1.8
and Subtask 2.6.
Mr. Barnett then discussed Subtask 3.6 located in Task 3 — Short Range Planning. This
subtask was incorporated into the document at the request of TxDOT's Public
Transportation Division to accommodate the mandate recently set forth under H.B.
3588. This subtask would provide assistance to the multi- county regional planning
project (to be discussed later this year) that would develop transit service areas and
plans in response to H.B. 3588. The MPO would provide planning assistance, as
needed, including the sharing of data, map preparation, attending or sponsoring
meetings, and providing general transportation planning expertise to the effort.
Mr. Barnett discussed the addition of a fourth subtask located in Task 4 — Metropolitan
Transportation Plan recommended by the TAC committee at their July 13, 2005
meeting. This subtask ( Subtask 4.3) directs TAC to formulate a process for prioritizing
short-range and long -range transportation projects in order to match limited City and
TOOT funding with highest priority transportation projects within the MPO boundaries.
Mayor Lyne asked for comments or changes to the document. There were none made.
WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING July 27, 2005 PAGE 2
He then asked for a motion to approve the document for submission to TxDOT, Austin
(TPP) as presented. Mr. Sheppard made the motion to approve; Judge Gossom
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
V. Preliminary Report on June Environmental Justice Short-Range
Transportation Project Public Meetings
Mr. Leiker discussed the report summarization included in the packets and the amount
of participation the MPO enjoyed when the public meetings were conducted back in
June, 2005. He commented the amount of participation, at the June meetings, far
exceeded the amount of participation seen concerning the 2005 -2030 Metropolitan
Transportation Plan update during all of 2004.
A preliminary statistical report on the data collected from the transit system
questionnaire was given out to everyone present. Mr. Barnett commented the draft
report was completed after meeting packets were mailed out the week before, but that
staff felt it was important that the board see this information. He also stated that the final
report on the June meetings would be presented at the October TAC/TPC meetings.
Mr. Leiker stated that staff hoped for this to become an annual event because of the
amount of good information that could be acquired. He also commented on the lessons
learned and how the format would change somewhat for next year's meetings.
Mr. Sheppard asked how staff planned to gather more information on the Sheppard
Express transit route. Mr. Arbeau stated that staff would do some surveys at Sikes
Senter Mall bus transfer point, and possibly at SAFE as well.
Mr. Brown commented that staff had done an excellent job in promoting and executing
the meetings. Councilor Elmore agreed stating he had received very favorable
responses from the people that attended the meetings.
(Because of a scheduling conflict, Judge Gossom, requested the board to continue on
to Item d. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Zone #2 Informational Hand -outs under Other
Business).
Other Business — Item d. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Zone #2 Informational
Hand -outs
Mr. Leiker discussed the proposed Tax Increment Financing Zone #2 district in the
Callfield /Lawrence Road area. He stated that Judge Gossom wanted this information
brought before the TPC because, ultimately, transportation issues would become
involved. There were two reports given out: one on the financial plan and one on the
project plan. Mr. Leiker stated the TIF #2 had not been adopted by City Council yet, but
that it had gone before County Commission and been endorsed by them.
Mr. Clark gave the board a brief summary of what the new TIF district would involve.
WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING July 27, 2005 PAGE 3
The funds generated by this district would help fund the building of the Maplewood
extension across from Kemp to Lawrence and on to McNiel. It would also help with the
Wenona extension. Judge Gossom stated this would be a very positive, proactive step
for Wichita Falls. Mr. Moller brought up several questions concerning the study of this
area done a few years earlier. Mr. Clark and Mr. Taylor explained why TxDOT did not
consider the roads, in this area, would qualify for state funding. They also explained that
the study was paid for by the MPO, that the roads would be built by the City and not by
TxDOT, and that the study itself was not an engineering study, but rather a traffic study
to determine the viability of the proposed changes. Mr. Clark explained there were no
engineering specifications included in the study.
Discussion then turned to expansion of the TIF district and the challenges that it would
involve.
VI. Other Business:
a. Discussion & Overview of Progress on Local Transportation Projects —
City and TxDOT staff (Quarterly Review)
TxDOT Report: Mr. Kelley gave everyone a map with a project list and
discussed current construction projects within the MPO boundaries. There were
several projects on the Current Construction Projects list, which are as follows:
• IH 44, US 287: installation of traffic management center and CCTV. This
involves installing a Dynamic Message Sign and weather sensors, most of
which has been installed, but there have been some minor communication
glitches between the cameras and the main TxDOT office.
• US 82: upgrade flashing beacon, safety lighting and illumination
• IH 44: upgrade flashing beacon, safety lighting and illumination
• IH 44, LP 473: channelization and landscaping. This involves Old
Jacksboro Highway and Maureen Street and is now complete other than
warranty work.
• SH 240: Novachip overlay. This will actually be an overlay and should
start within the next two weeks.
• LP 473: Novachip overlay
• Cypress Avenue Bridge: replace bridge and approaches. TxDOT hopes to
have this done in time for the beginning of school in mid - August.
• FM 369: widen existing road and shoulders. This is Phase II of the FM 369
project and is 50% complete.
• MSU /Sikes Lake: Sikes Lake pedestrian and bicycle trail Phase II. This
project is complete for all intents and purposes.
• Kell Interchange Direct Connect: The letting for this project is scheduled
for August 9, 2005. Construction should begin in early November, 2005
and continue for 18 to 24 months.
City Report: Mr. Taylor gave everyone a map with a project list and discussed
current construction projects. He stated that most of the projects were not
WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING July 27, 2005 PAGE 4
transportation related, but will have a significant impact on transportation.
• Lake Kemp Raw Water Line: A new water line being laid along Barnett
Road and Johnson Road will impede traffic temporarily on these two
roads.
• Faith Village Phase 2 and 3: This project should go out for bid sometime in
September or October. The initial impact will not be that great, but as the
project progresses to the west it will impact Kemp Street because of the
installation of some box culverts, which will cause significant detours.
• 2005 Street Rehabilitation Program: This program will take place across
the entire City of Wichita Falls. A major part of this will be the recycle and
overlay of Midwestern Parkway from Old Jacksboro Highway to
Maplewood.
• Wichita Falls Business Park: construction of the roads has begun and
completion is anticipated sometime next spring.
• Railroad Bridge at Bridge Street: this bridge will be replaced beginning in
the spring of 2006 by BNSF Railroad with no cost to the City of Wichita
Falls.
b. MPO Quarterly Financial Report (2nd Quarter — January, February,
March)
Mr. Leiker reported that MPO expenses were tracking well and that all items
were within budget. There were no questions and no other comments.
c. Progress Report on the Traffic Signal Optimization Study of the Kemp
Boulevard and Southwest Parkway Traffic Corridors
Mr. Beauchamp outlined recent progress on the Kemp and Southwest Parkway
traffic signal optimization study. He commented that the consultant has
completed all of the traffic models and they are now ready for review during early
August. If the models meet all of the specifications then they will be implemented
that same week to begin analyzing traffic patterns. Later, after school begins, the
models will be calibrated using normal traffic patterns in order to optimize the
intersections. Scheduled completion of the study is for end of September.
Mr. Leiker pointed out also that a letter of cost savings was received from the
consultant highlighting a cost savings of $9,600 because of previous work done
for the City and was being used in the study.
Mr. Moller asked if the study would accommodate the additional intersection
created by the Maplewood extension. Mr. Beauchamp stated that because of
how the specifications were written into the contract, ownership of the models
would be retained by the Traffic Department. The reason this was done was so
that the models could be applied to any new future intersections and calibrated
accordingly.
WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING July 27, 2005 PAGE 5
e. Other
Mr. Brown informed the board that both TAC and TPC would be receiving letters
from MPO staff asking for roadway project nominations, within the MPO
boundary, to be turned in by the end of September for submittal to TxDOT by
October 1, 2005. A list of current projects would be included with the letter as a
reference. TAC will prioritize the majority of the final list.
Public Comment on Any Item Not on the Agenda
Mr. Leiker asked for public comment on anything not on the agenda. Mr. Clark
asked if there was any funding available for signage of the bicycle trails. Mr.
Beauchamp stated that his department was working with Transportation Planning
to design and implement something in time for the Hotter'N'Hell Bicycle Race.
There was general discussion about putting out signs of support for SAFB for the
next BRAC commission meeting scheduled for Wichita Falls.
There were no other public comments.
VII. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:35 a.m.
Mayor Lanham Lyne, TPC Ch I person
WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING July 27, 2005 PAGE 6