MPO Executive Board

Bristol Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization February 2, 2017 Board Members Present: Bill Sorah - Bristol, Tennessee Councilman Kevin Wingard - Bristol, Virginia Ambre Torbett - Sullivan County, Tennessee Mayor Cathy Lowe - Town of Abingdon, Virginia Supervisor Phillip McCall - Washington County, Virginia Michelle Christian - Tennessee Department of Transportation Donny Necessary - Virginia Department of Transportation Members Absent: None Others Present: Rex Montgomery Mike Russell Tim Mullins David Metzger Randy Dodson Chris Craig John Dew Tabitha Crowder Jay Detrick Rocky Warren Call to Order / Roll Call: A Quorum being present, Chairman Ambre Torbett called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m., February 2, 2017, in the Ewell L. Easley Annex Building, Bristol, Tennessee. Approval of Minutes: Donny Necessary moved to adopt the minutes of November 17, 2016 as submitted; seconded by Michelle Christian; motion carried unanimously. Comments from the Public: None Old Business: None New Business: Item A: Resolution 17-01 Amendment # 1 FY 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program [Presented by Rex Montgomery] The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) documents how federal funds will be allocated for transportation projects within the MPO’s Metropolitan Planning Area. Any amendment to the TIP requires approval of the MPO Executive. Amendment #1 to the FY 2017-2020 TIP incorporates GARVEE Debt Service funds (UPC 110380) for the Interstate 81 ramp modifications at Exit 17 and Route 75 in Washington County, Virginia (Construction Project UPC 109419). Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles (GARVEEs) are debt instruments (such as a bond) backed by future Federal-aid highway funding. The amendment provides Federal-aid funding for the GARVEE interest payments associated with the Exit 17 project. Councilman Wingard requested additional information on the source of funding. It was clarified the funding was state dollars and no local funding is required. General conversation continued on the concept of GARVEE funding. Donny Necessary provided a description of the Exit 17 project and the VDOT prospective on the use of GARVEE funding. There being no further discussion, Bill Sorah moved to adopt Resolution 17-01, adopting the Amendment # 1 to the FY 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program; seconded by Mayor Lowe; motion carried unanimously. Other Matters of Mutual Interest: Item A: Smart Scale Update The Executive Board was briefed on the scoring results of the Smart Scale applications submitted by local agencies in October 2016. Three projects are recommended for funding in the Bristol Metropolitan Planning Area. These include improvements to the Lee Highway/Old Airport Road intersection (Bristol), the Lee Highway/Old Jonesboro Road intersection (Abingdon), and the Main Street/Route 19 intersection (Abingdon). General discussion incurred on the Smart Scale process. It was noted the Bristol District did not score well on the economic impacts of proposed projects in the Smart Scale scoring matrix. This will be an area of improvement to be considered in the next round of applications. Item B: Trail-Highway Crossing Improvements Donny Necessary explained the VDOT District Office is requesting Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds to incorporate pedestrian safety elements at all road crossings on the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Appalachian Trail. This will include advance warning signage for motorist as well as other infrastructure improvement such as pavement markings. A letter of support was requested from the MPO to support the HSIP applications. Supervisor McCall moved to provide a letter of support to VDOT; seconded by Mayor Lowe; motion carried unanimously. Item C: Corridor Management Agreement Michelle Christian provided a presentation on TDOT’s Corridor Management Agreement process. A corridor management agreement is a collaborative agreement among multiple jurisdictions that address the development, management, and operations of a state highway corridor. The specific strategies associated with corridor management agreement are jointly developed by the participating jurisdictions, but can include access management, land use and subdivision management, roadway design and capacity, and other related traffic management and operations activities. The potential to develop a corridor management agreement for Highway 11E/SR-34 between the Sullivan/Washington Page 2 County Line and SR-394 has been proposed; however, discussions are preliminary at this time. A meeting of local jurisdictions along the Highway 11E corridor is scheduled for February 9. Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Page 3