MPO Executive Board

Bristol Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization August 12, 2014 Board Members Present: Councilman Guy Odum - Bristol, Virginia Mayor Irene Wells - Bluff City, Tennessee Ambre Torbett - Sullivan County, Tennessee Nick Weander - Tennessee Department of Transportation Donny Necessary - Virginia Department of Transportation Cherith Marshall - Washington County, Virginia Members Absent: Bristol, Tennessee Others Present: Rex Montgomery - Bristol MPO Jimmy Adkins - LENOWISCO Bill Sorah-Bristol - Tennessee Matthew Cox - VDOT Chris Craig - FTDD RPO Marsha Fiol - VDOT Richmond David Metzger - Bristol MPO Michael Russell - VDOT John Dew-Abingdon - Virginia Mary Ann Altum - VDOT Jack Qualls - TDOT Tabitha Crowder - Bristol, Virginia Calvin Clifton - Mattern & Craig Terrie Talbert - Bristol, Tennessee Call to Order / Roll Call: A Quorum being present, Chairman Odum called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m., August 12, 2014, in the Conference Room of the City of Bristol Tennessee Annex Building. Approval of Minutes: Ambre Torbett moved to adopt the minutes of April 16, 2014 as submitted; seconded by Nick Weander; motion carried unanimously. Comments from the Public: None Old Business: None New Business: A. Amendment # 2 – FY 2014-2015 Unified Planning Work Program Rex Montgomery explained the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) outlines the MPO transportation planning activities for the fiscal year and programs federal and state funding to support those planning functions. The MPO approved a two-year FY 2014-2015 work program in August 2013; however, estimated funding was utilized for FY-2015. In April 2014 the MPO approved Amendment #1 to the FY UPWP in reference to final funding allocations for the Virginia Department of Transportation and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation [Virginia requires the UPWP to be approved prior to the July 1 start of the State Fiscal Year]. Amendment #2 pertains to the Tennessee portion of the UPWP and includes the final funding allocations. In addition, the Federal Emphasis Areas for FY 2015 have been incorporated into the UPWPs planning process. The UPWP for the Tennessee Department of Transportation is based on the October 1 Federal Fiscal Year. There being no further discussion, Nick Weander moved to adopt Resolution 14-06 approving Amendment #2 to the FY 2014-2015 Unified Planning Work Program; seconded by Donny Necessary; motion carried unanimously. B. Amendment # 4 – FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program Rex Montgomery reviewed the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which documents how federal funds will be expended on highway improvements and public transportation programs within the urbanized area. Recently, the First Tennessee Human Resource Agency, which provides rural transportation (N.E.T. Trans) in Northeast Tennessee, was advised their federal funding should be included in the MPO’s TIP. This was based on the premise of the rural transit trips they are providing which originate or terminate within the Bristol urbanized area. The funding allocations identified in the TIP for N.E.T. Trans include the total district-wide (eight county region) funding, with the understanding that an undetermined amount of the total funding would specifically be associated with transportation within the Bristol Urbanized Area. To provide regional consistency in TIP, the rural provider in Virginia (District III Government Cooperative) has been identified in the TIP utilizing the same methodology. There being no further discussion, Donny Necessary moved to adopt Resolution 14-07 approving Amendment #4 to the FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program; seconded by Donny Necessary; motion carried unanimously. Page 2 C. Federal Functional Classification of Highways - TDOT. Rex Montgomery discussed the Federal Functional Classification (FFC) update for the Bristol MPO. The highway classifications include interstate, arterial, collector, and local streets. The MPO’s Federal Functional Classification of Highways is reviewed and updated every ten years to correspond with the U.S. Census designation of urbanized areas. The Executive Board approved the Federal Functional Classification for the Virginia portion of the urbanized area at the August 6, 2013 meeting. Resolution 14-08 is in reference to the Tennessee Federal Functional System. The proposed FFC for Tennessee was coordinated with the Tennessee Department of Transportation as well as the Virginia Department of Transportation to ensure consistency in road classification at the state line. The primary change in FHWA requirements for functional classification was the expansion of the Collector classification into two categories, Major Collector and Minor Collector. Otherwise, only minor revisions to the classification system have been proposed. David Metzger reviewed the major changes in the FFC. There being no further discussion, Nick Weander moved to adopt Resolution 14-08 approving the Bristol MPO Federal Functional Classification of Highway for Tennessee; seconded by Donny Necessary; motion carried unanimously. Other Matters of Mutual Interest Item A – Rex Montgomery requested the Executive Board to appoint a working committee to coordinate the reorganization of the MPO’s Prospectus and By-Laws. The Committee would consist of one member from each MPO jurisdiction as well as a representative from TDOT and VDOT. The Committee could also consider potential alternatives for the name of MPO (which might be more appropriate to recognize the regional structure of the MPO). Terrie Talbert, with the Bristol, Tennessee Community Relations Department agreed to be available to assist the Committee in the process of a MPO name/logo. Chairman Odum requested concurrence of the Executive Board to appoint a Committee, as presented, to review the MPO re-organization. The Committee was approved by General Consent of the Executive Board. Item B – Donny Necessary provided an update on Virginia’s long-range transportation plan update, VTrans. On-line surveys are available for public input as well as upcoming public meetings. Item C – Cherith Marshall informed the MPO membership the draft update to the Washington County, Virginia Comprehensive Plan was available for public review and comment. The draft is available on the Washington County Virginia website. Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Page 3