MPO TPC/TAC Board Minutes - 01/27/2016WICHITA FALLS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
Transportation Policy Committee
Minutes
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Voting Members Present:
Glenn Barham, Mayor, City of Wichita Falls
Dennis Wilde, North Texas Regional Planning Commission
Jeff Watts, City of Pleasant Valley, Representative
Jim Henson, Mayor, Lakeside City
Larry Tegtmeyer, TxDOT, District Engineer
Russell Schreiber, City Public Works Director
Tim Ingle, City Council Representative
Woodrow "Woody' Gossom, Wichita County Judge
MPO Staff
Jaimie Lee, Wichita Falls MPO, Transportation Planner II
Lin Barnett, WFMPO, Transportation Planning Director
Visitors:
David Rohmer, TxDOT, Area Engineer
Jennifer Smith, Senator Estes
Megan Campbell, TxDOT, TPP
Mike Beaver, TxDOT, Director ofTP &D
Absent.
Michael Smith, City Council Representative
I. Welcome & Introduction
Mayor Barham, the TPC chairperson, called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m. and
welcomed everyone in attendance.
II. Public Comment on Agenda and Non - Agenda Items
Mayor Barham asked for any public comments on agenda and non - agenda items. None
was received.
III. Review and Approve the Transportation Policy Committee's October 28, 2015
TPC Meeting Minutes
Mayor Barham asked for any comments or corrections to the October 28, 2015 TPC
meeting minutes. Receiving none, he asked for a motion to approve the minutes. Mr.
Watts made the motion to approve. Mr. Ingle seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
IV. Review and Comment Regarding the Technical Advisory Committee's January 14,
2016 Meeting Minutes - No Action Required
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Mayor Barham asked for any comments or questions regarding the January 14, 2016
Technical Advisory Committee meeting minutes. Receiving none, the committee moved
on to the next agenda item.
V. Review and Approve the Amendment Adding the TAP Projects to the 2015 -2040
Metropolitan Transportation Plan Project List:
Mayor Barham directed the committee's attention to the enclosed handout. Mr. Barnett
stated the amended project sheet lists both Transportation Alternative Program (TAP)
projects awarded to the City of Wichita Falls by the Texas Transportation Commission
in late 2015. Mr. Barnett stated these grants would fund the construction of two bicycle
and pedestrian trail projects within the MPO boundaries. He explained the first project
is part of the Circle Trail System and covers the section of trail between the Wichita
Falls 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 stated the projects must become part of the 2015 -2040 Metropolitan
Transportation Plan (MTP) project list before they can become part of the 2015 -2018
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Mayor Barham asked for any comments or
questions regarding the amendment to add the TAP projects to the 2015 -2040 MTP
project Iist. Receiving none, he asked for a motion to approve the amendment as
presented. Judge Gossom made the motion. Mr. Tegtmeyer seconded the motion, which
passed unanimously.
VI. Review and Approve the Amendment Adding the TAP Projects to the 2015 -2018
Transportation Improvement Program in Section. III: Federally Funded Mobility
Projects
Mayor Barham directed the committee's attention to page 19 of the meeting packet. Mr.
Barnett informed the committee that with the approval of the MTP amendment in
Agenda Item V, the Policy Board could now approve the amendment to the 2015 -2018
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) adding both Transportation Alternative
Program (TAP) projects to the TIP project list.
Mr. Barnett stated that in order for the projects to receive the TAP federal funding,
WFMPO must program them into the TIP where they will become fiscally constrained.
He informed the Policy Board that it required a motion and approval by the Policy
Board to accept and program the TAP projects into the TIP. Mr. Barnett asked for any
questions regarding the amendment. None was received. Mayor Barham asked for a
motion to approve the amendment as presented. Mr. Tegtmeyer made the motion. Mr.
Watts seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
VII. Review and Approve Amendment Adding Article VI - Ethics Policy - to the WFMPO
By -Laws and Adopt the WFMPO Internal Ethics and Compliance Program
Mayor Barham directed the committee's attention to page 21 of the meeting packet. Mr.
Barnett informed the committee that he worked with WFMPO's TOOT representative,
Megan Campbell to develop an Ethics Policy in conformance With Section 472.034 of the
Texas Transportation Code. In regards to the WFMPO By -Laws, he stated Article VI is a
new article added to the By -Laws referencing the need and application of the policy to
the Transportation Planning Committee board members and their alternates. Mr.
Barnett stated that Ms. Campbell and he reviewed several of the best MPO Ethics
Policies from across the state when developing the WFMPO Ethics Policy.
Wichita Falls MPO TPC Meeting January 27, 2016 Page 12
Mr. Barnett stated the WFMPO Ethics Policy also contains an Ethical Standards Policy
Affidavit for all Policy Board members to sign and return to the MPO. The MPO Director
will keep the affidavits on file there in the MPO offices. Mayor Barham asked for any
questions regarding the amendments to add Article VI - Ethics Policy - to the WFMPO
By -Laws and to adopt the WFMPO Internal Ethics and Compliance Program. Receiving
none, he asked for a motion to approve the amendment to the By -Laws, adding Article
VII as presented, and to adopt the WFMPO Internal Ethics and Compliance Program for
use by the Policy Board. Mayor Henson made the motion to approve. Mr. Wilde
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Mayor Barham directed Mr. Barnett to forward the Ethical Standards Policy Affidavit to
all the Policy Board members via email for them to complete, sign, and return to Mr.
Barnett prior to the next TPC meeting. Mr. Barnett stated he would do so as soon as
possible. The committee moved on to Agenda item Vlll.
VIII. Discussion of Proposition 1 Project Funding
Mr. Beaver reported on the Proposition 1 Funding stating the MPO received $3.5 million
last fiscal year and should receive approximately $2.5 million in FY 2016. Overall, the
District should receive about $15.8 million, of which, the MPO will receive its funding
allocation. He commented that the Prop 1 fund experienced a reduction in funding
because of the decline in oil and gas sales. Mr. Beaver stated the diversions had ended as
well, which should help the Prop 1 fund come back up to the $3.5 to $4.0 million
threshold for the MP0.
The passage of Prop 7 should also help TxDOT with it funding efforts of transportation
projects. Mr. Beaver stated the District planned to accelerate $7.5 million dollars' worth
of projects out of FY 2017 into FY 2016. However, this move will create a gap in FY 2017
that the District will need to fill. He reported that TxDOT would allocate Proposition 7
funds in 2018.
Mayor Barham asked for any further questions regarding Prop 1 funding. Receiving
none, the committee moved on to the next agenda item.
IX. Utter Business:
a. Discussion & Overview of Progress on Local Transportation Projects - City and
TxDOT staff (Quarterly Review)
TxDOT: Mr. Rohmer 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, had not begun construction.
Also, FM 2650 from FM 369 to FM 1954 had not begun construction.
Cit : Mr. Schreiber reported that the McNiel Drainage and Southwest Parkway
Intersection Improvements were about 90% complete. The Hike and Bike Trail from
Wichita Bluff was about 40% 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.
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X. Meeting Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:31 a.m.
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