HPMPO Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)

Attachment 1 MINUTES TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE June 24, 2014 TAC MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Myers –Lexington Neal Grimes – Thomasville Larry Warlick – Archdale Larry Ward - Denton Bill Marley – FHWA Fred D. McClure – Davidson County Cheryl McQueary – NCDOT board TCC MEMBERS PRESENT: Greg Venable, Guy Cornman, Hemal Shah, Darius Sturdivant, Mark McDonald, Bryan Fulbright, Chuck Smith, Chuck George, Roger Jones, Kevin Edwards, Ed Lewis, Hal Johnson, Dominique McCullough, Scott Rhine, and John Gray OTHERS PRESENT: Leigh Gill (Citizen), Jenny Varner (DCCC), Mary Rittling (DCCC), and Vicky Embry (HPDOT) RECORDING SECRETARY: Marianne Janiszewski, City of High Point Neal Grimes was voted in as Chairman Protem. Motion by: Seconded: Vote: For: Unanimous Against: None Item 1: Reading of the Ethics Statement. Neal Grimes read the Ethics Awareness and Conflict of Interest Reminder. ACTION ITEMS Item 2: Consideration of the April 22, 2014 TAC meeting minutes. There was no change to the minutes. Motion by: Jim Myers 1 Attachment 1 Seconded: Larry Warlick Vote: For: Unanimous Against: None Item 3: Neal Grimes acknowledged the passing of Billy Joe Kepley and asked for a moment of silence. Cheryl McQuery made a motion to send a letter or card of condolence and thanks for his service from the TAC to Mr. Kepley’s family. Motion by: Cheryl McQuery Seconded: Jim Myers Vote: For: Unanimous Against: None Commission Fred McClure is Davidson County’s alternate TAC Board Member and is in attendance. Item 4: Motion to amend the agenda A motion was added to the information items for the transfer of 5307 funds to PART Motion by: Larry Warlick Seconded: Jim Myers Vote: For: Unanimous Against: None Item 5: Public Hearing for the Priority List of Projects for the High Point MPO. Neal opened the Public Hearing up for comments. Two private citizens spoke. Anne Thomas, 1112 Parsons Place, Greensboro, NC – property owner in Davidson Co. 2 Attachment 1 Ms. Thomas spoke in opposition to the proposed route of NC 109. She would like the board to consider that it has been fifty years since this road was first proposed, and also the lives of those that have been severely, seriously, moderately or even minimally impacted by the fact that the road has yet to be built. She asked them to consider the questions, was the road needed in the 1960’s when it was first proposed, has it been needed since then, is it needed now. During the fifty years since the road was proposed it has not hindered development. She would also like the board to consider the existing north/south corridor that already exists in Davidson County. First is NC 109, parallel to that is Friendship/Ledford, parallel to that is Old Lexington, parallel to that is Old Hwy 52, parallel to that is new Hwy 52, and parallel to that is Hwy 150. Undeveloped land is at a premium and she and many others feels that to destroy land for an unneeded highway is incomprehensible. Cheryl McQuery pointed out that the road Ms. Thomas is speaking about, R2568C, scored 19 out of 70 points at the regional level, and 14.39 out of 50 at the division level. Leigh Gill, 580 Oak Lawn Road, Wallburg, NC Mr. Gill spoke in opposition to the proposed route of NC 109. His property is directly affected by this proposed route. He spoke about incorrect data that is in the draft environmental statement issued by NCDOT. NCDOT owns a 60 ft. right-of-way on existing NC 109. The referenced land was used as a cost in the analysis for NC109. This 60ft. right-of-way should not be used in the cost comparison. NCDOT does not analyze private farmland properly, they use their own definition not the accepted definition used by the federal government. NCDOT’s definition is misleading and incorrect. NCDOT used this draft environmental statement as the determining factor for selecting the proposed route of NC 109. The cost of the proposed route is $141,000,000 which is a 10% increase in cost compared to alternate routes. NCDOT states that existing NC 109 is a very dangerous road which Mr. Gill states is not so. According to data Mr. Gill collected from NCDOT, NC 109 is number six on the list of most dangerous roads in North Carolina. Mr. Gill feels that the selection for this road needs to be alternate one. Neal closed the Public Hearing. Information Items Item 5: Update of the Priority List of Projects for the High Point MPO. As part of the Strategic Transportation Investment process with NCDOT, the HPMPO has developed a priority list of projects and local input point assignment process. The list was determined by using a combination of four ranking criteria, which counted as 60%, and a TAC voting process, which counted 40%. The projects were then ranked by the combined score to produce the final list that is currently out for public review and comment until July 31. The projects on the list have been assigned points at the division tier and regional. The HPMPO was allotted 3200 points, 1600 division and 1600 regional points to assign to projects. Highway projects, aviation projects, and public transit 3 Attachment 1 projects were ranked. One project from Aviation and one project from Public Transit will receive the maximum points we can put on any project which is 100. They are a lighting system for the airport in Davidson County and a public transit project for PART. The airport project is a division project and the PART project is a regional project. The remaining points were assigned to our highest ranking projects. The NC 109 project which was discussed earlier in the meeting received 50 points which is the maximum number of points the HPMPO can assign because half of the project is in the Winston Salem MPO which will also assign it 50 points. There are a few projects that have received 100 points on the division tier and 100 points on the regional tier. This is done in case the project does not get funded on the regional tier it still has a chance to be funded on the division tier. Over the next month staff will be working with the TCC, adjacent MPOs, RPOs, NCDOT Divisions 7, 8, and 9, and public input to finalize the point assignments. Once the public comment period is complete staff will be requesting approval of the ranked priority list of projects and local input point assignments. Greg stated that if there is a project that anyone feels points should be assigned differently let him know. This list will be approved at the August meeting and then be forwarded to NCDOT. The information needs to be turned in to NCDOT by August 29. The 100 points that we assign is only a percentage of the overall score that NCDOT will assign. At the regional tier our 100 points count as 15% of the score and at the division tier it counts as 25% of the score. Item 6: Winston-Salem Urban Area MPO MTIP amendment and Draft Air Quality Determination Report. Changes to TIP project U-2827B in Forsyth County require an Air Quality Determination. Kevin Edwards stated that this project is an upgrade to Business 40 through downtown Winston Salem from Peters Creek Pkwy almost to US 52. They will be removing one interchange from that stretch of Business 40 but there is public debate over exactly which one will be removed. It is most likely going to be either Main and Liberty or Cherry and Marshall. Construction for this project was pushed back and because of this, it slipped the time frame which forced them to reevaluate air quality. Because a portion of Forsyth County is in the High Point MPO a change to that project requires the High Point MPO TAC to approve the new Conformity Determination Report even though the project is outside of our MPO boundary. The Winston-Salem Urban Area MPO has all appropriate documents out for public review and comment. This item will be brought back to the High Point TAC for approval later this year. Item 7: Reallocation of Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funding. Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funding is awarded based on the potential benefit a project has on air quality. These funds can only be used in areas that are considered non-attainment for air quality. Davidson and Guilford County are considered non-attainment and funding can be used in those portions of the Counties that are in the High Point MPO. NCDOT awarded CMAQ funding for two projects, C-5544 to Davidson County and C-5210 to Denton. It was determined that both Davidson County 4 Attachment 1 and the Town of Denton could not accept the funding due to a variety of reasons. It is the policy of NCDOT that if CMAQ funding cannot be used it reverts back to the High Point MPO to determine a preferred course of action. Staff has been working with our member jurisdictions on possible projects that can be funded with the abandoned CMAQ funds. Guy Cornman would like the funds to be used in Davidson County. DCCC was contacted about using some of these funds for bus shelters. Davidson County has a transit system that they use to transfer people and students to the Community College and between Lexington and Thomasville. There is a 20% local match required. $192,000 are CMAQ funds with a $48,000 local match for the Davidson County project and the Denton project is $160,000 CMAQ funds and $40,000 local match. Jamestown has a sidewalk project that they would like to use the funds from Denton for. If funds cannot be used for these then other projects in the HPMPO can be looked at. If these funds are not used they revert back to NCDOT. The projects have to be in Guilford or Davidson County because these two counties are considered nonattainment for air quality. Once projects are determined new CMAQ application must be completed along with a resolution of support from the High Point MPO. Staff will be requesting a resolution of support for two new projects at our August meeting. Greg stated that he has already sent a letter for the Davidson County (C-5544) funds to be reallocated. Greg will get a letter out regarding the reallocation of the Denton funds before July 31. Greg stated that it does not have to be project specific they just have to let DOT know that the funds are going to be used. Chuck Smith asked if the funds can be used for design versus construction or are the funds just for construction. Greg stated that he thinks they can be used for either but will check on it to make sure. Item 8: 5307 Funds Transfer. Greg stated that the MPO gets an allocation of 5307 funds. PART has requested to use these funds for some of their routes and services. Scott Rhine stated that PART is requesting $400.000 from the HPMPO. They are not seeking funds that were not already identified for High Point. This is an annual request. They also request funds from the other four MPO’s. This will be voted on at the next TAC meeting. AGENCY REPORTS Item 9: Division Engineers Report Division 7 Ed Lewis reported that the High Point Road project (U-2412B) is 41% ahead of schedule. Right of Way and permits for the Skeet Club Road project (U-3615B) are in progress and a design change is underway. The Groometown Road at NC 62 is scheduled to be let in November and completed in October, 2015. Right of Way plans are complete and authorization approved. There are two future projects, I-74/US 311 interchange design is in progress, and the pedestrian improvements on N. Main St. at Lexington Ave. is pending coordination with streetscape project. Division 8 5 Attachment 1 Darius Sturdivant reported that the I-85 project (I-5314) will not be finished in June and is scheduled to be finished in November of this year. There are several resurfacing projects underway. He updated everyone on the progress of their point assignment process. They have 2000 points and 8 counties, 3 MPO’s, and 3 RPO’s to coordinate with. The public meeting is July 24, at the Division 8 Training Services Room. Division 9 Dominique McCullough reported that the 2015 resurfacing was let this month, but has not been awarded yet. Bridge #138 over Rich Fork Creek on US 29/70/I-85 Bus. was completed on May 15, 2014 but they are still waiting on permanent vegetation which is expected to be completed on November 11. The 2014 resurfacing was completed. Item 10: NCDOT Transportation Planning Branch Report. Hemal reported that she is currently working on a comprehensive transportation plan highway inventory. Item 11: Triad Air Awareness. No one was present. Item 12: Hi tran Report Angela was not present. Mark reported that Hi tran is working on the short range transit plan. A public workshop was held a month ago and there was a good turnout. The consultant is currently working on compiling the comments from the workshop and developing additional recommendations. Another public workshop will be scheduled in the next month. Hi tran hopes to wrap this up in early fall. Item 13: PART Report Scott Rhine reported that the Federal Highway administration and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials selected 7 states have been selected for implementation and technical assistance for local Freight Demand Modeling and Data Improvement projects. Our region was awarded $150,000 through a competitive grant process of FHWA. Funds will be applied towards the PTRM freight enhancement project. These projects will kick off on July 8. PART has also released two different projects for solicitation, one deals specifically with the travel demand model and the incorporation of the new social economic data for our region. PART also has a solicitation out for electronic vehicle charging stations. PART has received some funds from the NC Solar Center and they have met with Lexington, High Point, Winston Salem, Greensboro, and the Piedmont Triad Regional Council with regards to the installation of a few electric vehicle charging stations. They expect to get both of the solicitations back in July and will present information at the next meeting. Guy Cornman asked if there is a drop dead date on the distribution data and Scott responded that the final SC distribution needs to be wrapped up by July. Item 14: Other Business 6 Attachment 1 Cheryl McQueary from the NCDOT Board reported that Division 7 is holding the second of its public hearings tonight in Graham. There was a public hearing last night in Greensboro to talk about the process by which Division 7 will distribute points against regional and division projects. There was a very good turnout at the hearing. There was quite a few lively discussions amongst citizens who have a passion about the transportation projects taking place in their area. As a result of this STI process she wanted to make sure everyone was aware that there are 3100 projects on the list statewide and that represents a shortage of $70,000,000,000. The citizens of North Carolina have that much work that they want transportation to complete. One of the committees of the Board is called the Funding and Appropriations Strategy Committee of which Cheryl is the Chair. They are in the process of taking a look at revenue funding options for filling the gap on this $70,000,000,000. Things to note, do all 3100 projects need funding, probably not, her recommendation when asked for suggestions is to ask MPO’s, RPO’s and everyone involved to look at their list again and scrub the items that do not need to be on the list. Every State in the Country is looking at how we fund transportation. There was a study done by the legislature in 2008-2009 fiscal year and was read out in 2011. It is called the 21st Century Task Force and they came up with a list of recommendations for revenue enhancements. The NCDOT Board in 2012 passed the 2040 Plan a subset of which is called the 2040 Financial Plan and there were 9 or 10 recommendations in that plan that was done under Governor Purdue. Governor McCrory has decided not to redo all of this and so he is asking the Board to take some action. The FAST Committee is looking at 8 of those 9 ideas of how to generate additional revenue to fund transportation projects. There are 1800 highway projects and 1300 nonhighway projects. In the meeting in July the committee will begin to look at the first five of those items on the list. One of the items not being looked at is called Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) because it looks like it is not going to work. The State of Oregon conducted an experiment with VMT as a way to generate additional revenue. This means that the driver would pay a tax based on the number of miles you drove. Oregon has now discontinued this project because it has turned out not to be feasible. It is highly bureaucratic and would require each vehicle to have a GPS. All of the activities of this committee are on-line on the NCDOT website. The most creative change has been in the State of Virginia. They have reduced their gasoline tax but significantly increased their sales tax. This makes it a very broad based tax and encompasses more people. They are expected to generate a significant amount of revenues. NC is one of three states in the US that are responsible for county roads so that also contributes to our high tax. There was no other business. The meeting was adjourned. 7