MPO TPC/TAC Board Minutes - 01/14/2016WICHITA FALLS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
Technical Advisory Committee
Minutes
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Voting Members Present:
Lin Barnett, Wichita Falls MPO, MPO Director, TAC Chairperson
Allan Moore, TxDOT, Director of Construction
Davis Powell, City of Wichita Falls, City Engineer
Jim Dockery, City of Wichita Falls, Deputy City Manager
Karen Montgomery - Gagne, City of Wichita Falls, Planning Administrator
Mark Beauchamp, City of Wichita Falls, Traffic Superintendent
Mike Beaver, TxDOT, Director of TP &D
Monty Brown, Proxy for David Rohmer, TxDOT, Area Engineer
Tim Hertel, TxDOT, Director of Operations
MPO Staff:
Jaimie Lee, Wichita Falls MPO, Transportation Planner 11
Visitors:
Megan Campbell, TxDOT, TPP
I. Welcome & Introduction
Mr. Barnett, the TAC chairperson, called the meeting to order at 9:31 a.m. and welcomed
everyone in attendance.
Il. Public Comment on Agenda and Non - Agenda Items
Mr. Barnett asked for any public comments on agenda and non - agenda items. Receiving
none, he moved on to the next agenda item.
III. Review and Approval of the October 16, 2015 Technical Advisory Committee's
(TAC) Meeting Minutes
Mr. Barnett asked for any comments or corrections to the October 16, 2015 TAC
meeting minutes. MPO staff received none. He then asked for a motion to approve the
minutes. Ms. Gagne made the motion to approve. Mr. Moore seconded the motion, which
passed unanimously.
IV. Review and Comment Regarding the October 28, 2015 Transportation Policy
Committee's (TPC's) Meeting Minutes — No Action Required
Mr. Barnett asked for comments on the October 28, 2015 TPC meeting minutes. MPO
staff received none. The committee moved on to the next agenda item.
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V. Review and Recommendation to the Policy Board to Approve the Amendment in
Section III -- Federally Funded Mobility Projects: Transportation Alternatives
Program (TAP) Project Grants
Mr. Barnett directed the committee's attention to page 13 of the meeting packet. He
stated the proposed project sheet was an amendment for the recently awarded TAP
project grants. Mr. Barnett stated these grants would fund the construction of two
bicycle and pedestrian trail projects within the MPO boundaries. The first project is part
of the Circle Trail System and covers the section of trail between the Wichita Bluff Park
and Loop 11. The second project is on Kemp Blvd. and involves the construction of a
new sidewalk, ADA ramps, and the installation of pedestrian traffic signals.
Mr. Barnett informed the committee that his staff would create an amendment to add
the TAP projects to the 2015 -2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) because
they must become part of the MTP project list before they can become part of the 2015-
2018 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). He stated that he would present the
MTP amendment first to the Policy Board as a separate agenda item. After they approve
the MTP agenda item, he stated that he would present the 2015 -2018 TIP amendment
agenda item. This item will program the TAP projects into the TIP where they will
become financially constrained and capable of receiving federal funding. The TAC
committee discussed some of the local funding issues related to the projects and the City
would address them.
Mr. Barnett asked for any further comments or questions regarding the amendments to
add the TAP projects to the 2015 -2040 MTP project list and to the 2015 -2018 TIP.
Receiving none, he asked for approval to forward the amendments to the Policy Board
for their review and approval. Mr. Moore made the motion. Mr. Beauchamp seconded
the motion, which passed unanimously.
V1. Review and Recommendation to the Policy Board to Approve Amendments to the
WFMPO By -Laws and to Adopt the WFMPO Internal Ethics and Compliance
Program
Mr. Barnett directed the committee's attention to page 15 of the meeting packet. Mr.
Barnett informed the committee that he had worked with WFMPO's TxDOT
representative, Megan Campbell, to develop an Ethics Policy in conformance with
Section 472.034 of the Texas Transportation Code. He stated that, together, they created
the WFMPO Ethics Policy and presented it for review and comment to the Technical
Advisory Committee at the October 2015 TAC meeting. Mr. Barnett stated they also
added a new article, Article VI, to the WFMPO By -Laws referencing the need and
application of the ethics policy to the Transportation Planning Committee board
members (Policy Board) and their alternates. The TAC committee directed MPO staff to
make revisions and additions to Article VI, and to the Ethics Policy. Mr. Barnett
presented those changes to the TAC committee at the January 14, 2016 TAC meeting
where he received approval to present them to the Policy Board. The Ethics Policy also
contains an Ethical Standards Policy Affidavit for the Policy Board members to sign and
return. The TAC committee asked a few clarification questions and discussed the merits
of the policy.
Mr. Barnett asked for any further questions or comments regarding the revisions to the
documents. Receiving none, Mr. Barnett asked for a motion to forward the revised
WFMPO By -Laws and Ethics Policy to the Policy Board for review and approval. Mr.
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Powell made the motion to approve. Mr. Dockery seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
VII. Discussion of Proposition 1 Project Funding
Mr. Beaver reported on Proposition 1 Funding stating there had been no changes
regarding Proposition 1 funding since the October 2015 meetings. He stated the district
received $2.5 million dollars from Proposition 1 funding for use across the nine - county
region. Mr. Beaver reported that TxDOT would allocate Proposition 7 funds in 2018. Mr.
Barnett asked for any further questions or comments regarding Proposition 1 Funding.
Receiving none, the committee moved on to the next agenda item.
Vlll. Other Business:
a. Discussion & Overview of Progress on Local Transportation Projects -- City and
TxDOT staff (Quarterly Review)
City: Mr. Powell reported that the McNiel Drainage and Southwest Parkway
intersection improvements were 90% complete. He reported the Wichita Bluff Hike
and Bike Trail from Seymour Highway to the Wichita River in the Wichita Bluff Park
Area was 50% complete, but behind schedule. Mr. Powell stated he was finalizing
the 2016 Street Rehab projects for inclusion on the project list at the April 2016 TAC
meeting.
TxDOT: Mr. Brown reported the IH 44 project near SP 325/US 287 Wichita River
and US 277 from Broad & Holliday to 15th street as complete. US 287 at Huntington
Road bridge replacement project was ahead of schedule. SH 240 at Sinclair Road
drainage ditch has yet to begin. FM 171 Old Friberg Road to Clay County Line was
currently under construction and on schedule. FM 369 at Fairway near Hughes to
McNiel, a section west of the FM 369 drainage ditch, and had not begun
construction. FM 2650 from FM 369 to FM 1954 had not begun construction.
b. MPO Quarterly Financial Report (4th Quarter FY 201.5 - July, August,
September)
Mr. Barnett reported on the 4th quarter expenses for the MPO. He stated that the
MPO had spent 98.20% of its total allocation for FY 2015. He asked for any
comments or questions on the fourth quarter financial report. He received none.
c. Grouped TxDOT CSJ Projects Report
Mr. Barnett directed the committee's attention to the Grouped TxDOT CSJ projects
report of the TAC meeting packet. He stated that MPO staff had two new projects to
report for this quarter. Mr. Barnett asked for any comments or revisions to the
report. Receiving none, he moved on to the next agenda item.
d. Other Items
Mr. Barnett informed the committee the 2017 -2020 Statewide Transportation
Improvement Program (STIP) was due to TxDOT Austin by June 24, 2016. He stated
MPO staff would begin working on the 2017 -2020 TIP soon and that staff will hold
local public meetings in the near future.
IX. Meeting Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 10:37 a.m.
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