MPO Executive Board

Bristol Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization September 3, 2015 Board Members Present: Councilman Guy Odum - Bristol, Virginia Bill Sorah - Bristol, Tennessee Ambre Torbett - Sullivan County, Tennessee Nick Weander - Tennessee Department of Transportation Donny Necessary - Virginia Department of Transportation Cherith Marshall - Washington County, Virginia Mayor Ed Morgan - Abingdon, Virginia Members Absent: None Others Present: Rex Montgomery - Bristol MPO Jay Detrick - Bristol, Virginia Randy Dodson - Mattern & Craig Tim Beaver - Bristol, Tennessee David Metzger - Bristol MPO Chris Craig – 1st Tennessee RPO Tabitha Crowder – Bristol, Virginia Call to Order / Roll Call: A Quorum being present, Chairman Odum called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m., September 3, 2015, in the Ewell L. Easley Annex Building, Bristol, Tennessee. Approval of Minutes: Ambre Torbett moved to adopt the minutes of June 4, 2015 as submitted; seconded by Nick Weander; motion carried unanimously. Comments from the Public: None Old Business: Item A: MPO Bylaws and Prospectus [Rex Montgomery] At the April 9, 2015 MPO meeting the Executive Board reviewed the MPO Prospectus and By- Laws and recommended consideration of approval at the next regular scheduled meeting. MPO adoption of the By- Laws will finalize the incorporation of Abingdon, Virginia’s representation on the Executive Board and remove Bluff City, Tennessee. Nick Weander moved to adopt Resolution 15-05, amending the MPO Bylaws and Prospectus; seconded by Donny Necessary; motion carried unanimously. Item B: FY 2016 Unified Planning Work Program [Rex Montgomery] The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) outlines the MPO’s annual transportation planning activities and programmed funding for the fiscal year. At the last Executive Board meeting (June 4, 2015), the Virginia transportation planning activities and funding was approved for the Commonwealth’s July 1 Fiscal Year. Resolution 15-06 will formally adopt the Tennessee UPWP and work program. Major planning activities for the upcoming year will include completion of the Long-Range Transportation Plan update and development of a new Transportation Improvement Program. Bill Sorah moved to adopt Resolution 15-06 approving the FY 2016 UPWP; seconded by Ambre Torbett; motion carried unanimously. New Business: Item A: Amendment # 7 - FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program [Rex Montgomery] The Transportation Improvement Program documents how Federal funds will be expended on transportation projects within the MPO’s Metropolitan Planning Area. Amendment #7 represents annual Federal funding allocation for Bristol Tennessee Transit. The amendment consists of FTA Section 5307 capital funds for Federal Fiscal Year 2015. Total capital funding is $156,000 ($127,800 FTA; $13,650 State; $13,650 local). Projects will include the procurement of one medium duty ADA bus, two ADA vans, installation of an emergency call box at the Transit Center, as well as the replacement of the umbrellas at the Transit Center. Ambre Torbett asked if the funding for the local match had been approved. Bill Sorah confirmed the funds were programmed in the current budget. It was noted the FTA funding is allocated annually. There being no further discussion, Donny Necessary moved to adopt Resolution 15-07 approving Amendment # 7 to the FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program; seconded by Nick Weander; motion carried unanimously. Item B: Amendment # 8 - FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program [Rex Montgomery] At the January 14, 2014 MPO meeting the Executive Board approved the use of local Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds to conduct a Needs Assessment Study for improved north-south access between US 11E (Volunteer Parkway) and US 11W in the vicinity of Interstate 81 Exit 74. That study was completed in January 2015. Based upon the findings of the study, further analysis of a potential north-south connection is warranted. In order to better understand the potential project impacts and develop a realistic project cost for planning purposes, TDOT has concurred that local STP funds could be utilized for a Feasibility Study to advance the project to the next phase of project planning. Amendment #8 to the FY2014-2017 TIP programs $45,000 ($36,000 Federal and $9,000 local match) of local STP funds to conduct a Feasibility Study addressing highway improvements between Volunteer Parkway and US 11W. The local match will be provided by the City of Bristol, Tennessee. Discussion incurred on potential alternatives and road alignments. It was clarified the study would take approximately four months to complete. There being no additional discussion, Nick Weander moved to adopt Resolution 15-08 approving Amendment #8 to the FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program; seconded by Ambre Torbett; motion carried unanimously. Page 2 Item C: Amendment # 9 - FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program [Rex Montgomery] Amendment #9 incorporates the Interstate 81 ramp modifications at Exit 14 (UPC 97856) in Abingdon, Virginia into the MPO’s FY 2014-2017 TIP. The amendment is contingent on approval of the revised Metropolitan Planning Area by the Governor of Virginia. The project is nearing bid letting (October 28, 2015); therefore, inclusion in the TIP would be required after final approval of the MPO boundary expansion to move project from Non-MPO to MPO funding. Donny Necessary provided an update on the project status and reviewed the project design. There being no additional discussion, Donny Necessary moved to adopt Resolution 15-09 approving Amendment #9 to the FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program; seconded by Bill Sorah; motion carried unanimously. Item D: Virginia House Bill 2 Endorsements [Rex Montgomery] Virginia’s House Bill 2 (HB2) requires the Commonwealth Transportation Board to implement a prioritization process for funding transportation projects. Each year the HB2 process will include an application phase for MPOs, cities and towns, and counties to submit projects for the HB2 scoring and project evaluation for funding. The following agencies have requested project endorsement from the MPO for the HB2 application process: Resolution 15-10: Interstate 81, Exit 19 modifications in Washington County, Virginia Resolution 15-11: Interstate 81, Exit 17 modifications in the Town of Abingdon, Virginia Resolution 15-12: Lee Highway improvements, from Interstate 81 at Exit 5 to the Norfolk Southern Railway overpass, inclusive of Interstate 81 Exit 5 ramp modifications, in the City of Bristol, Virginia. Each project was reviewed and discussed. It was clarified that each project will include several HB2 applications for project phasing, but the MPO endorsement includes the total project concept. Donny Necessary provided a brief overview of the HB2 process. There being no additional discussion, Mayor Morgan moved to approve all three project endorsements concurrently (Resolution 15-10; Resolution 15-11; Resolution 15-12); seconded by Bill Sorah; motion carried unanimously. Other Matters of Mutual Interest: Item A A presentation of the methodology and planning assumptions utilized in the development of the travel demand model was provided by Rex Montgomery. Information was provided on the population and employment forecasts developed by the MPO’s consultant. David Metzger reviewed the map of the projected Year 2010 Level of Service (based on the Existing plus Committed network). Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Page 3