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MPO TPC/TAC Board Minutes - 04/26/20061 9_1 - ou CITY CLERK'S OFFICE R-LAY So n Date 1 - ot4 L -. I TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE (TPC) MEETING WICHITA FALLS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION April 26, 2006 Present: Lanham Lyne, Mayor, Chairperson ♦ Members Charles Elmore, City Council Representative Dennis Wilde, NORTEX Regional Planning Commission Don Sheppard, Lakeside City Linda Ammons, City Council Representative Scott Taylor, Director of Public Works Carolyn Askins, TxDOT, Transportation Planning Assistant ♦ Staff Donnie Arbeau, Transportation Planner II Doug Beer, TxDOT, Engineer Lin Barnett, MPO Transportation Planning Director Mark Beauchamp, City Traffic Superintendent Barbara C. Maley, Federal Highway Administration ♦ Ex- officio Barbara Lingle, Representative Farabee's Office Danny Brown, TxDOT, TP &D Director Darron Leiker, City Manager ♦ HNC David Halloin, Kimley -Horn and Associates, Inc. ♦ Guests Denny Jones, Lighthouse Teknologies John Burrus, Director of Aviation, Traffic and Transportation Wayne Kurfees, Kimley -Horn and Associates, Inc. Jeff Watts, City of Pleasant Valley ♦ Absent Larry Tegtmeyer, TxDOT, District Engineer Woodrow (Woody) Gossom, County Judge, Vice - Chairperson I. Welcome & Introduction Mayor Lyne called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.m. II. Review and Approval of the January 31St TPC Meeting Minutes WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING April 26, 2006 PAGE 1 Mayor Lyne asked for comments concerning the minutes. None were made. Mr. Wilde motioned to approve the minutes as presented. Councilor Ammons seconded his motion. The minutes were unanimously approved. III. Review and Comment Regarding TAC's April 12th Meeting Minutes — No Action Required Mayor Lyne asked for comments concerning the minutes. None were made. IV. Review, Discussion and Approval of the 2006 Kemp Blvd. and Southwest Pkwy. Traffic Signal Optimization Study Final Report Mr. Barnett began the review by stating that he felt the committee would be well pleased with results of the study. He then introduced Mr. David Halloin from Kimley -Horn and Associates, Inc. Mr. Halloin presented the portions of the study results that dealt with traffic progression along Southwest Parkway and along Kemp Boulevard. Mr. Halloin discussed the timing changes at the intersections along these traffic corridors and how many vehicle hours per year (which translates into dollars per year) would be saved with the new signal timing patterns. Mr. Wayne Kurfees, also of Kimley -Horn and Associates, Inc., presented the traffic warrants of the study that focused on the intersections of Southwest Parkway at Stonelake, Kemp at Elmwood, and Kemp at Westgate. Mr. Kurfees stated that neither of the Kemp Boulevard intersections met any of the applicable warrants at this time. He did say that one applicable warrant was met for the Southwest Parkway at Stonelake intersection, but just barely. Mr. Kurfees stated that a more detailed analysis (beyond the scope of this study) may be required of this intersection at a future date. After the presentations, the item was opened up for discussion. Councilor Ammons stated the right -hand turn lanes on Kemp /Midwestern and Maplewood, Barnett and Southwest Parkway should be deepened to allow more traffic to build up in the queue because the citizens do not realize the lanes are right turn only. She stated that when school lets out in the afternoons, the traffic will build up in front of the apartment complex. Because of this, people will jump into the right -hand turn lane thinking they can go straight, when in reality they can not. Mr. Beauchamp stated that his crews had made additional modifications in the previous week to mitigate the effects of the right -hand turn lanes by adding new stripping and signage at Maplewood and Midwestern. Mr. Taylor stated he had an issue with the right -hand turn lane at Callfield and Lawrence. Mr. Taylor commented that an unintended consequence of this lane was causing problems with the north and south movements on Lawrence. Because of the constant traffic created by the right -hand only lane, it makes it harder for the garbage trucks to get in and out of the transfer station. He stated that an alternate method will eventually have to be built to allow access for the trucks to the transfer station. WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING April 26, 2006 PAGE 2 Mayor Lyne asked for any other comments before adopting the plan. There were none. Mr. Taylor motioned to approve and adopt the plan as presented. Councilor Ammons seconded the motion. The Traffic Signal Optimization Plan was unanimously approved and adopted by the committee. V. Review, Discussion and Approval of the May, 2006 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Revisions Mr. Barnett stated the new revisions in the 2006 -2008 TIP were the result of completion of the FY 2006 Wichita Falls Transit System transit grant. He stated the grant had complied with all of the public involvement policy requirements, including the Texas Review and Comment System (TRACS) review, and was awaiting execution. Mr. Barnett stated the revisions were listed under the Section 5307 portion of the Federally Funded Transit Projects of the TIP. Mayor Lyne asked for comments on the revisions. There were none. Mayor Lyne asked for a motion to approve the revisions as presented. Mr. Sheppard motioned to approve the revisions. Mr. Wilde seconded the motion, which was passed unanimously. VI. Presentation, Discussion and Approval of the Wichita Falls MPO Website Mr. Barnett introduced Mr. Denny Jones, owner of Lighthouse Teknologies, to the committee. Mr. Jones was contracted to develop the Wichita Falls MPO website and logo. Mr. Arbeau lead everyone through a tour of the new website commenting on the different features it would offer to anyone interested in the goings -on of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization. Mr. Wilde asked that a scrolling function be added to the home page calendar in order to look at previous and upcoming months containing meetings. Mr. Brown asked about the ease in updating the website. Mr. Arbeau demonstrated how quickly text, documents and images can be added to the website. Mr. Arbeau then demonstrated the information pages for Lakeside City and Pleasant Valley. Mayor Lyne asked for any other comments or suggestions on the new Wichita Falls MPO website. There were none. Mayor Lyne then asked for a motion to approve and adopt the new website. Mr. Wilde made the motion to approve. Councilor Elmore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. VII. Progress Report on the Texas Urbanized Mobility Plan (TUMP) for 2006 Mr. Barnett discussed recent meetings he had attended concerning the TUMP since the last TPC meeting in January and the progress thus far in producing a draft TUMP plan for the Wichita Falls region. He outlined for the board what the Texas Congestion Index (TCI) for the Wichita Falls area was projected to be starting with the base year 2000 index of 1.05, then on to the financially- constrained Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) year of 2030 index of 1.07; the No -Build index of 1.10 in 2030, and, finally, the Needs -Based scenario that would bring the index back down to 1.05 or possibly lower. WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING April 26, 2006 PAGE 3 Mr. Barnett then revealed that the numbers the Texas Transportation Institute had used for the Wichita Falls TCI runs were incorrect. He explained this was because the Holliday and Broad Overheads, the Falls Flyover and the Kell West Main Lanes were never factored into the equation. Mr. Barnett stated that he felt the TCI index for the Wichita Falls area would actually drop after the new runs were completed. Mr. Barnett then showed the correlation between the Level -of- Service Ratings graph and the TCI index and how that information translated into the Texas Congestion Index for Wichita Falls graph showing the funding "gap" between the financially- constrained MTP projects and the unconstrained Needs -Based projects. Mr. Barnett then discussed the list of possible funding strategies that he had compiled from the TUMP meetings and other MPO Directors from around the state. He referred the committee to the TUMP Funding Strategies handout and asked the board for guidance on this issue. He explained that the plan required the MPO to identify potential funding strategies that would be included in the plan. Mr. Sheppard asked if TxDOT was requiring the local government entities to start cost sharing in local projects. Mr. Brown stated the entire process was still in the planning stages and that not very much information had been released to the local TxDOT districts as of this date. Mr.' Brown referred the committee back to the TCI index graph for Wichita Falls stating that the Texas Transportation Commission would be looking to the MPO to come up with ideas and ways to fund local projects with local dollars when funding for projects would exceed what the state would provide. The consensus of the board was to include all of the strategies listed thus far into the TUMP plan for Wichita Falls as possible funding initiatives to help complete the Needs - Based component of the plan. This ended discussion about the funding strategies. Mr. Barnett then informed the committee that an amendment to the FY 2006 UPWP needed to be made that would allow funding for developing the TUMP. Because he did not include it as an agenda item, Ms. Maley commented that it would be best for the committee to agree by consensus that work should be done on developing the TUMP until the next regularly scheduled TPC meeting in July when the item could be added to the agenda for approval. In agreement with Ms. Maley, the board decided that, by consensus, work on the TUMP should continue until such time as the FY 2006 UPWP could be amended to include funding for the TUMP. No other comments were made concerning the TUMP. VIII. Other Business: A. Discussion & Overview of Progress on Local Transportation Projects — City and TxDOT staff (Quarterly Review) City Report: Mr. Taylor stated in his report on City projects that the aerial photography for the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) area had been flown back in February and the aerials should be fully processed and completed by WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING April 26, 2006 PAGE 4 September. He stated the design work being done in -house by Public Works should be done by May and he anticipated awarding the contract by July 5th. Mr. Taylor then discussed the Faith Village Phase II and III projects' stating the City was still in the process of acquiring right -of -way for the projects. The final project he reported on was the Loop 11 extension and how it would take about one year to move the utilities. The letting date for this project is scheduled for September 1, 2007. TxDOT Report: Mr. Beer stated in his report on TxDOT projects that, under Miscellaneous Work - Installation of Traffic Management Center & C, work was ongoing on IH -44 at the Spur 325 interchange and 8th street and from 8th Street to US 281. Safety lighting at US 82 and Fairway Blvd. was in progress. Replacement of bridge and approaches at FM 171 and Plum Creek was in progress. Safety illumination at IH -44 near Bacon Switch Road was ongoing. Replacement of bridge and approaches at Cypress Ave. at the drainage ditch was in progress. Construction of the Falls Flyover Direct Connect Interchange was progressing on schedule. Installation of a flashing beacon at BUS 287J and Galveston in progress. Seal coats on SH 240 north of Missile Road in progress. Upgrade guardrail and SGT's — miscellaneous work — on Loop 11 at BUS 287J in progress. Hot mix overlay on SH 240 from Missile Road to Spur 325 on schedule. Seal coat on BUS 277A from Fairway Blvd. to US 82 ongoing. Miscellaneous work — widen paved surface, extend culverts — on FM 1740 from FM 171 to Clay County line was ongoing. Rehabilitation of existing roadway — concrete pavement repair on IH -44 from BUS 287/IH -44 to Broad Street and on US 287 from 8th Street to 6th Street was let in March. Rehabilitation of existing roadway — mill and overlay — on Spur 479 from US 287/IH -44 to Broad Street and on BUS 277A from Baylor Street to US 287/IH -44 was let in March. B. MPO Quarterly Financial Report (1st Quarter FY2006 — October, November, December) Mr. Barnett gave a brief summary on the current financial situation of the MPO and discussed the new additional information concerning the transit grants contained within the report. He stated that staff wanted to present a clearer picture on how FTA planning funds were being spent. The new section of the report illustrated funds drawn down during the quarter, year -to -date draw downs, and which grants are currently open or closed. C. TAC Directives from the April 12, 2006 Meeting Mr. Barnett reported that since the committee had approved the new MPO website, he would acquire the internet domain names of www.wfmpo.orq, www.wfmpo.net, and www.wfmpo.gov for the MPO so that internet searches would be directed to the new website. He then informed the committee that TAC would begin working on ideas for another traffic signal optimization study within the MPO's boundaries. Mr. Barnett stated that because of the success with the WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING April 26, 2006 PAGE 5 recently completed study, the TAC committee felt it would be good to apply the lessons learned to other traffic corridors within the MPO. Mr. Arbeau commented that the new timing patterns gained from the Traffic Signal Optimization Study would also contribute to reducing the TCI index for Wichita Falls. Mr. Barnett then discussed the request by one of the stakeholders for the City to consider illuminated street name signs at the major intersections and, also, to investigate if something could be done to have businesses display their street addresses more prominently on their places of business. D. Other Mr. Barnett informed everyone present that interviews would be held on May Stn and 10th to retain the services of a qualified consultant to do a study of the Wichita Falls Transit System. He then informed the committee of the meeting at NORTEX concerning the Multi- County Regional Transit Plan that was scheduled to be held the next day. IX. Public Comment on Anything Not on the Agenda Ms. Maley thanked the Policy Committee for taking the initiative to put into place the new website. She stated that it was very important to have it in place because she depends on MPO websites for much of her information that she uses to generate comments. Ms. Maley commented that the website looked wonderful. Ms. Lingle informed the committee that she would no longer be serving as Representative Farabee's assistant because she was resigning at the end of the month to move to Kerrville, Texas. Mr. Brown informed everyone present about the Texas Transportation Forum to be held on June 8th and 9th in Austin, Texas. X. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 10:05 a.m. Mayor Lanham Lyne, TPC Ch r erson WICHITA FALLS MPO TPC MEETING April 26, 2006 PAGE 6