N.C.
CAPITAL AREA
METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
August 15,
2007
4:00 pm –
6:00 pm
Wake County
Commons
2014 Carya Dr
Raleigh, NC
AGENDA
1. Preliminaries
2. Adjustments to the Agenda
3. Public Comments
This is an opportunity for comments by those in
attendance on items not on the agenda. Please limit comments to three minutes
for each speaker.
4. Approval
of Minutes of the June 20, 2007 TAC Meeting.
The minutes of the June 20,
2007 TAC meeting, are enclosed as Attachment 4A.
TAC Action:
Approval of the minutes of the June 20, 2007 TAC meeting.
5.
2005-2035 Socio-Economic (SE)
Data Forecasts (Public hearing)
In preparation for
updating the MPO’s current 2030 Comprehensive
Long-Range Plan (LRTP) over the next 18 months, the MPO staff has worked
closely with the staffs of its member agencies to develop and refine forecasts
of socio-economic (SE) data that are needed to serve as input to the Triangle
Regional Travel Demand Forecasting Model (TRM). These SE data forecasts include
estimates of dwelling units, employment, household income, and auto ownership
for each of the regions approximately 2400 traffic analysis zones for each of
the plan’s horizon years (2005, 2015, 2025, 2035).
At the June 20, 2007 TAC
meeting, staff presented information on the methodology used to create the
forecasts, summary totals and outstanding issues still needing to be re4solved
at that time. The TAC opened a public
review and comment period (June 22 - August 15, 2007) and scheduled a public
hearing on the SE data forecasts to be conducted at this meeting.
TCC and TAC members were presented
this information as well and comments were solicited. Comments received have been reviewed and
incorporated in the dataset as appropriate. Attachment 5A
contains the updated SE data forecasts.
At its meeting on August 2, 2007, the TCC voted
unanimously to forward the current version of the 2005-2035 SE data forecasts
to the TAC for its approval to be used in updating the Capital Area MPO’s Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) with the recommendation
that the TAC also reserve the right to approve further refinements to the SE
data as may be deemed advisable in the future while the LRTP update is underway.
TAC
Action: Conduct public hearing to
receive comment on the 2005-2035 Socio-Economic Data. Upon closing hearing, consider approving use
of the SE data for updating the Capital Area MPO’s Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
while also reserving the right to consider approval of further adjustments to
the SE data as may be deemed advisable while the LRTP update is underway
6. STP-DA
Bicycle-Pedestrian –Transit Reserve Funds – Awards for FY 2007
At the January 15, 2007 Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting,
discussion was held on the need to identify projects and distribute the
$600,000 annual allocation of Surface Transportation – Direct Attributable
(STP-DA) funds that were identified in the approved FY 2007-2013 STIP as
reserved for bicycle/pedestrian and transit projects. The TCC was directed to
pursue a method of calling for projects and distributing funds for this annual
allocation. At the February 8, 2007 TCC meeting and a method of allocation was
chosen, recommended and subsequently endorsed by the TAC. An annual allocation of $600,000 from the MPO’s Surface Transportation – Direct Attributable (STP-DA)
funds was identified in the approved FY 2007-2013 STIP as reserved for
bicycle/pedestrian and transit projects. The TCC recommended and the TAC
endorsed allocation of the funds as follows:
50% ($300,000) divided equally among the member
governments
50% ($300,000) by competitive application
On February 21, 2007 the TAC directed MPO staff to prepare the
appropriate application forms, and, based on the TAC approved allocation
formula, call for projects. Staff
prepared the forms, called for projects and received applications. On July 19,
2007 the TCC subcommittee met to discuss the applications received. Attachment 6A
is a list of the projects submitted and the ranking criteria used to evaluate
them. This list was presented to the TCC
at their August 2, 2007 meeting along with the subcommittee recommendation of
funding for two projects. After funding these two projects, an additional
$20,000 of the $300,000 competitive allocation remained. A request was made by Morrisville that this
remaining funding be approved for their Airport Blvd project submittal. Discussion was held and the award of this
$20,000 was endorsed by the TCC. The
three TCC endorsed projects and their funding amounts are shown in Attachment 6B.
The TCC recommends TAC endorsement of these projects.
Once endorsed by the TAC, Memorandum of Agreements will be required to
be in place between the MPO (City of Raleigh) and all funding recipients prior
to start of construction.
TAC Action: Approve allocation of STP-DA Bicycle-Pedestrian-Transit project
funding to projects shown in Attachment 7B, subject to completion of Memorandum
of Agreement.
7.
UPWP
Amendment to address Cost increases in US-64 Corridor Study
NCDOT initiated a comprehensive study to
develop a plan for the future of US-64 and NC 49 from Charlotte/Statesville to
Raleigh. In May of 2005, the Report on
“Phase I” of this Study was published. Phase I of the study was intended to develop
a corridor vision to address connectivity and mobility, relieve traffic on I-40
and I-85, improve safety, support regional and local transit plans, economic
development and local land use plans, be sensitive to environmental and social
factors and optimize costs and benefits to users and funding agencies.
“Phase IIA” of this study is intended to begin
transitioning the corridor vision into specific alternatives for
evaluation. After extensive discussion
and negotiation NCDOT has selected URS Corporation to perform the engineering
services for Phase IIA.
The initial cost for the Capital Area MPO’s portion of the Phase IIA study was estimated at
$100,000. At the conclusion of
negotiations, the cost estimate was revised upward. As a result of the revision, the cost of the MPO’s share of this portion of the study has increased by
approximately $85,000. A Unified
Planning Work Program (UPWP) amendment will be needed to increase the
programmed funds by this amount. Attachment 7A
reflects the UPWP amendment
required and shows how this may affect other projects scheduled for funding
this fiscal year.
The TCC received this information at their
August 2, 2007 meeting and forwarded a recommendation of approval of Amendment
#1 to the 2007-2008 UPWP to address the funding needs of the US-64 Corridor
Study Phase IIA.
TAC Action: Forward to TAC recommendation of
Amendment to UPWP to address additional funding for Phase IIA of the US-64
Study.
8. 2009-2015 Transportation Improvement Program
– Priority Projects Lists
During December 2006, staff
solicited projects from member jurisdictions for inclusion in the 2009-2015
Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Plan (MTIP). Each member jurisdiction was asked to submit
prioritized lists of Highway, Advance Planning, Bicycle/Pedestrian and
Enhancement projects. The deadline for
submitting these projects was March 30, 2007.
On April 5, 2007, staff
received word from NCDOT that the Draft 2009-2015 State Transportation
Improvement Program (STIP) would be released during the Fall
of 2007 and that the MPOs’ Priority Project lists
should be submitted by July 31, 2007. Staff of many of the state’s MPOs notified NCDOT that this timeframe was unworkable and
that lists would be forwarded as soon as feasible. Staff then began analysis the projects
submitted. Based on technical
information, and working with TCC subcommittee members, a list of priority
projects was developed and refined to provide the best possible evaluation of
projects while achieving some level of geographic equity among member
jurisdictions.
The subcommittee met during
June, July and August to refine the list of projects based on factors such
as: Cost, User Benefits, Time for Pay Back, etc.
The TCC met on August 2, 2007, received the project analysis table and
unanimously voted to allow the subcommittee to perform the final ranking for
presentation to the TAC. The
subcommittee last met on August 7, 2007 and the final recommended lists of
priority projects were endorsed for forwarding to the TAC. Attachment 8A
contains the lists of the TCC’s Recommended Priority projects
for the Capital Area MPO.
A public comment period of
at least 30-days is now needed to allow the public an opportunity to review and
comment on the projects in the lists, and a public hearing should be scheduled
to receive these comments at the September 19, 2007 TAC meeting.
The TCC recommendation is
that the TAC forward these draft lists to NCDOT for its use in developing the
Draft 2009-2015 State TIP. Following the
public hearing on September 19, 2007, the final lists of Priority Projects as
approved by the TAC would be sent to NCDOT.
TAC Action: (1)
Endorse forwarding of Draft 2009-2015 MTIP Priority Project List to
NCDOT for use in development of 2009-2015 STIP; and
(2) open
30-day public comment period to receive comment on the Draft 2009-2015 MTIP
Priority Project List and schedule public hearing to be conducted on September
19, 2007.
9. Legislative Session - Update
This
year’s legislative session has just concluded with little progress on
transportation issues.
NC
Go!, and other local and regional organizations, worked
hard to keep transportation issues at the forefront of discussions during this
session. Rumors are that a special
session may be called later this year to address unresolved issues. An update on legislative issues and their
status will be provided.
TAC Action: Receive information for consideration of
action as may be deemed appropriate.
10. Special Transit Advisory Commission (STAC) –
Update
The Special Transit
Advisory Commission appointed by the region’s two MPO’s
has met four times over the past three months.
An update will be provided at this meeting.
TAC Action:
Receive information.
11. Reports from the TCC Chair
Chip Russell, TCC Chair
12. MPO
Staff Reports
Ed Johnson, MPO Director
13. NCDOT
Reports
Scott Walston/Rupal Desai –
Transportation Planning Branch
Richard Greene - Division 4
Wally
Bowman/Joey Hopkins - Division 5
Terry Gibson
- Division 6
14. Other Business and Pending Items
Adjourn
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
PENDING ITEMS
Item #01 – Comprehensive Transportation Plan (Summer/Fall 2007)
Item #02 – Capital Area MPO Organizational
Structure - (Summer/Fall 2007)
UPCOMING MEETINGS
September 6, 2007 -
Capital Area MPO TCC Meeting
Room
809 - One Exchange Plaza, Raleigh, NC
10:00
am – Noon
September 19, 2007-
Capital Area MPO TAC Meeting
Wake
County Commons
4012 Carya Drive,
Raleigh, NC
4:00
pm – 6:00 pm
In compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accommodations will be provided for
persons requiring assistance in order to participate in the N.C. Capital Area
MPO’s meetings. If such assistance is
needed or to request this document in an alternative format, please contact the
MPO’s office at 919-807-8511 (voice), 919-807-8517 (fax), or 919-890-3107 (TTY
located at City of Raleigh Public Affairs Dept.) at least 72 hours in advance
of the meeting.