MINUTES. March 30, 2011 PUBLIC HEARING. of the Danville Metropolitan Planning Organization

Transcription

1 MINUTES Hearing Subject: PUBLIC HEARING of the Danville Metropolitan Planning Organization held at the Danville Regional Airport, Eastern Conference Room from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Amendment to the FY Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Amendment to Year 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan Attendees: Robert W. Dowd, Danville MPO Administrator Joan Hullett, Danville MPO Staff Marc Adelman, Danville Transit System Fred Shanks, City of Danville Lawrence Campbell, City of Danville Tonya Fowler, The Arc of Southside Monica Karavanic, The Arc of Southside 1. Opening of Hearing Mr. Dowd opened the Public Hearing at 5:30 p.m. in the Eastern Conference Room of the Danville Regional Airport. 2. Briefing on the Subjects of the Hearing: a) Amendment to Year 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan Mr. Dowd explained that the Danville Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Long-Range Transportation Plan for Year 2035 had been adopted in August He noted that the evening s hearing focused on a proposed amendment to the Long-Range Transportation Plan to provide citizens an opportunity to comment on the addition of a new road in the area network covered by the Plan; this addition arose from the planned extension of Locust Lane. The purpose of the extension was to eliminate the off-set intersections of Wendell Scott Drive east and west of Arnett Boulevard. b) Amendment to the FY Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Mr. Dowd explained that the proposed amendment to the FY Transportation Improvement Program was to include the acquisition of automated scheduling software, purchase of a land parcel, and rehabilitation of a parking lot in order to establish passenger boarding areas on the parking lot across from the downtown Transfer Center using funding for the Fiscal Year Mr. Dowd explained that TIP amendments must be approved by the MPO Board, as prescribed by the laws and regulations of the United States and according to the public participation policy of the Danville MPO. He further noted that, in order for the federal transportation funding to be made available to the MPO area, the TIP must be in compliance with SAFETEA-LU and its regulations and amendments. 3. Comments Received to Date of the Hearing During Public Participation Process Period Mr. Dowd noted that he had not received written comments from the general public/other parties regarding the items under consideration for the public hearing from the beginning of the thirty-day review period up to the convening of the present public hearing. The hearing was advertised in a newspaper of general circulation 30 days, 14 days, and 7 days before the hearing. Copies of these comments are attached. They were also available to the public hearing participants. 4. Public Hearing Participant Comments on the Amendment to the 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan: There were none. 5. Public Hearing Participant Comments on Amendment to the FY Transportation Improvement Program There were none.

2 MPO Public Hearing Minutes Page Two 6. Other Comments and Discussion Ms. Tonya Fowler and Ms. Monica Karavanic were present from The Arc of Southside. They stated that they did not have comments concerning the two public hearing items but that they were interested in learning more about paratransit services provided by the Danville Transit System (DTS). Mr. Marc Adelman, DTS Director, provided each of them with brochures and provided a detailed explanation of services available as well as responded to questions. 7. Hearing Closure The public hearing was closed at 6:29 p.m. Robert W. Dowd, AICP Danville MPO Administrator

3 Minutes for the, Meeting of the Danville Metropolitan Planning Organization Danville Regional Airport, Eastern Conference Room at 6:35 p.m. Attendees: Coy Harville, Pittsylvania County, MPO Chairman Rob Carey, Lynchburg District Administrator Jeff Kessler, VDOT-Lynchburg District Planning Engineer Ivan Rucker, Federal Highway Administration Kent Shelton, Danville James Snead, Pittsylvania County Lawrence Campbell, City of Danville Greg Sides, Pittsylvania County Fred Shanks, City of Danville Marc Adelman, Danville Transit System Henry (Hank) Davis, Pittsylvania County Robert W. Dowd, Danville MPO Administrator Joan Hullett, Danville MPO Staff 1. Call to Order Chairman Harville called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes of November 17, 2010, MPO Meeting Mr. Campbell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Snead, to approve the minutes as presented. Upon vote, the Board unanimously approved the minutes of the November 17, 2010, MPO meeting of the Policy Board. 3. Consider, Additional Items for the Agenda, as necessary Mr. Dowd requested that the Board add an item to provide a public comment/opportunity to speak to MPO issues. Mr. Davis made a motion, second by Mr. Campbell, to add the following item to the agenda: Public Comment/Opportunity to Speak to MPO Issues. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. 4. Public Comment/Opportunity to Speak to MPO Issues There were no comments. 5. Review of Public Hearing Comments on the Amendment to the Year 2035 Long-Range Transportation and Amendment to the FY Transportation Improvement Program Mr. Dowd noted that he had conducted a public hearing that convened at 5:30 p.m. and was closed at 6:30 p.m. He noted that the meeting had been attended by Marc Adelman, Director of the Danville Transit System; MPO members Larry Campbell and Fred Shanks; in addition, Tonya Fowler and Monica Karavanic of The Arc of Southside had attended. He noted the multiple advertisements used, the several press releases employed and transmitted to the media. He noted the direct mail items sent out to: various organizations, transit providers, agencies in contact with various under-represented groups, various community-based organizations, and neighborhood churches. He noted also that he had no comments during the review period leading up to the public hearing. He stated that there were no citizens attending the public hearing at 5:30 pm to make verbal or written comments on the Amendment to the Year 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan or the amendment to the FY Transportation Improvement Program. He noted that Ms. Fowler and Ms. Karavanic of The Arc of Southside had attended to inquire about paratransit services provided by the Danville Transit System. Mr. Adelman was present and provided brochures and a detailed description of available services. 6. Presentation of the Amendment to the FY Transportation Improvement Program Mr. Dowd informed the Board that there had been a request from the Danville Transit System to consider an amendment to the current FY TIP. DTS wished to obtain funds for route scheduling software, the acquisition of a parcel across from the Transfer Center, and funds to rehabilitate the parcel. The current TIP

4 Danville MPO Minutes Page Two provides for three vehicles for the FY 2012 which was planned for acquisition and the amendment was for the acquisition of software, land, and rehabilitation funds. The vehicles will be retained and the three new items added for FY He noted that the requested amendment had been exposed to a public hearing process. 7. Resolutions Related to the Consideration of Amendments to the FY Transportation Improvement Program: a) Public Involvement Employed in Consideration of Amendment to the Danville MPO Fiscal Year Transportation Improvement Program Resolution b) Certification that Public Participation, Public Notification Procedures, and Private Enterprise Participation Policy Were Followed in Consideration of Amendment to the Danville MPO FY Transportation Improvement Program Resolution c) Consideration of Resolution for Approval of an Amendment to the Danville MPO FY Transportation Improvement Program of Resolution Mr. Dowd reviewed the reasoning for considering Resolutions and that indicate that the MPO carried out its public participation process steps as normally done and that, in carrying out the steps, it had followed its Public Participation procedures in doing so. Resolution provided for changes in funds that would allow for the addition of: automated scheduling software, property acquisition across from the current downtown Transfer Center, and rehabilitation of a parking lot to establish more passenger boarding areas, with the replacement buses originally planned for acquisition being retained in the request. Following discussion, Mr. Davis made a motion, seconded by Mr. Campbell, to adopt Resolutions , , and as presented. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. 8. Presentation of the Amendment to the Year 2035 Danville Area Long-Range Transportation Plan Mr. Dowd informed the Board that the City had informed him that they desired to apply for Revenue- Sharing funds in the future and that the funds would be used for developing an extension of Locust Lane between Wendell Scott Drive/Third Avenue and Arnett Boulevard. Displays were placed showing the route of Locust Lane Extension for view by the Board. He noted that the requested amendment had been exposed to a public hearing process. During discussion, Mr. Shanks questioned whether the addition of this project to the Long-Range Plan could negatively impact the City s other projects. Mr. Kessler responded that this is a rural non-federal funds project and it would not negatively impact the City s other projects in the Long-Range Transportation Plan. 9. Resolutions Related to the Consideration of Amendment to the Year 2035, Danville Area Long- Range Transportation Plan: a) Public Involvement Employed in Consideration of Amendment to the Year 2035 Danville Area Long Range Transportation Plan Resolution b) Certification that Public Participation, Public Notification Procedures, and Private Enterprise Participation Policy Were Followed in Consideration of Amendment to the Year 2035 Danville Area Long Range Transportation Plan Resolution Mr. Dowd reviewed the reasoning for considering Resolutions and that indicate that the MPO carried out its public participation process steps as normally done and that, in carrying out the steps, it had followed its Public Participation procedures in doing so. Following discussion, Mr. Davis made a motion, seconded by Mr. Campbell, to adopt Resolutions and Resolution as presented. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. 10. Consideration of Resolution for Amendment of the Year 2035, Danville Area Long-Range Transportation Plan Resolution Mr. Shanks made a motion, seconded by Mr. Campbell, to adopt Resolution , to amend the Year 2035 Danville Area Long-Range Transportation Plan to add the Locust Lane Extension to the transportation network. Upon vote the motion carried unanimously.

5 Danville MPO Minutes Page Three 11. Presentation of the Amendment to the FY 2011 Unified Work Program to Deprogram Funds and to Carryover FY 2011 Funds to the FY 2012 Unified Work Program Resolution Mr. Dowd explained that VDOT requires approval of the MPO to change work program activities or funding allocations for work plan activities and in order to continue funding consultant services for the MPO s four special corridor studies, $112,000 needed to be deprogrammed and transferred from the FY 2011 Unified Work Program to the FY 2012 Work Program. He noted that the $112,000 could be deprogrammed from the PL- Consultants Studies budget column for the FY 2011 UWP and moved/added to the PL-Consultants Studies budget column of the FY 2012 UWP to accomplish the necessary change. Mr. Campbell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Snead, to (a) approve the amendment of the FY 2011 UWP that allowed for the deprogrammed amount of $112,000 to be transferred to the FY 2012 UWP in support of the Danville MPO s PL-Consultant Studies and requested VDOT and FHWA approval of the desired changes and (b) support the MPO Administrator and VDOT Lynchburg District Planning Engineer in making technical adjustments to this amendment and supporting documents as necessary for submission to VDOT and other agencies. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. 12. Presentation of Approval of the Danville MPO FY 2012 Unified Work Program Resolution Mr. Dowd presented the FY 2012 Unified Work Program for consideration of the Board s approval. The draft document, distributed with the meeting package, included project amounts of $396,584 inclusive of matching amounts and with the provision for funding the WPPDC/MPO administration, consultants, and MPO/City of Danville transit planning efforts. The dollar amount for the UWP s annual activities include sources from Federal Highway Administration PL funding program, Federal Transit Administration Section 5303 Transit Planning Program, Federal Highway Administration SPR funds, local funds from the City of Danville, and local funds from Pittsylvania County. The PL portion of the program included carryover funds from FY 2010, carryover funds from FY 2011, and new FHWA funds for FY The work includes the assistance of URS Corporation in carrying out four special studies during FY 2012 which will have begun in FY The Transit Program includes three principle projects on which both the MPO staff and Danville Transit System staff will participate. Mr. Shanks expressed concerns that the project that will entail study of a Route 863 connector from Mount Cross Road over to Route 58 West be inclusive of adequate right-of-way and lane width to accommodate future traffic, particularly in the future if all of Route 863 over to US 29 is upgraded so as to provide effectively a north-west bypass route. Mr. Dowd and Mr. Kessler indicated that that would be a discussion topic with the consultant and that it was intended that not only the PMT members but also elected officials would be invited to the kickoff meeting with URS Corporation. Mr. Dowd indicated that he would try to find a date and time convenient to Mr. Shanks and other elected officials. Mr. Shanks made a motion, seconded by Mr. Campbell, to adopt Resolution , whereby the MPO (a) adopted and requested VDOT, VDRPT, FHWA, and FTA approval of its FY 2012 Unified Transportation Planning Work Program in the total project amounts of $396,584 inclusive of matching amounts and with provision for funding the WPPDC/MPO administration, consultants, and MPO/City of Danville transit planning efforts and (b) supported the MPO Administrator and VDOT Lynchburg District Planning Engineer in making technical adjustments to the submission of the Unified Work Program and supporting documents as necessary for transmittal to VDOT and other agencies. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. 13. Consideration Adoption to Apply for Federal Transit Administration, Section 5303, Transportation Planning Funds, FY 2012 Resolution Mr. Campbell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Davis to adopt Resolution which: (1) authorized the MPO Administrator/West Piedmont Planning District Commission Executive Director to execute and file an application on behalf of the Danville Urbanized Area MPO with the VA Department of Rail and Public Transportation and VA Department of Transportation, to aid in the financing of Section 5303 transportation planning projects including administration and planning support efforts by the Danville MPO and transit-related planning efforts by the City of Danville via pass-through of Danville MPO funding; (2) authorized the MPO Administrator/West Piedmont Planning District Commission Executive Director to execute and file with such application and assurance or any other document required by the VA Department of Rail and Public Transportation and VA Department of Transportation effectuating the purposes of such grant; (3) authorize the MPO Administrator/West Piedmont Planning District Commission Executive Director to furnish such additional

6 Danville MPO Minutes Page Four information as the VA Department of Rail and Public Transportation may require in connection with the application or the project; (4) authorize the MPO Administrator/West Piedmont Planning District Commission Executive Director to set forth and execute Minority Business Enterprise (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise) policies and procedures in connection with the project s procurement needs; and (5) authorize the MPO Administrator/West Piedmont Planning District Commission Executive Director, with the City of Danville s commitment of local shares, to execute a grant agreement on behalf of the Danville MPO with the VA Department of Rail and Public Transportation to aid in the financing of Section 5303 transportation planning projects including administration and planning support efforts by the Danville MPO and transit-related planning efforts by the City of Danville via pass-through of Danville MPO funding. Upon vote, the motion to approve the resolutions carried unanimously. 14. Consideration of Adoption of Resolution of Authorization of MPO Administrator to Contract with City of Danville, Danville Transit system to Receive Pass-Through Funds from the Federal Transit Administration, Section 5303 Planning Grant Program, FY 2012 Resolution Mr. Campbell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Davis to adopt Resolution which authorizes its MPO Administrator/West Piedmont Planning District Commission Executive Director to contract with the City of Danville for the City s receipt and eligible use of a portion of Federal Transit Administration Section 5303 grant funds that may be received by the Danville MPO in FY Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. 15. Discussion of Transportation Issues Regarding Federal, State Funding The Board received a NADO handout that expressed the anticipated position for future funding of the federal transportation agencies under a new transportation act which is to be adopted in the future. Mr. Shelton reminded the group that there would be a meeting in Salem on May 12 with the Commonwealth Transportation Board relative to the upcoming Six-Year Improvement Program. Mr. Carey reported that the Robertson Bridge and Franklin Turnpike projects were moving along schedule. Mr. Harville noted concerns to Mr. Carey concerning speed limit issues. It was reported that the VA Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (VAMPO) had held its first meeting in January. Mr. Dowd and Mr. Harville had attended. The group elected officers. Mr. Dowd informed the group that the next MPO meeting would be held mid May to late May to address the TIP for FY period and that a public hearing would also be held. 16. Other Business Mr. Dowd informed the Board that Mr. Kessler had provided a copy of an evaluation that VDOT had conducted on Virginia s MPO Public Participation Plans and a summary of the findings for Danville MPO. The review for the Danville MPO had indicated that all areas of interest had been addressed. He also informed the Board that the MPO staff was in the process of evaluating the MPO s Public Involvement/Participation Plan. Mr. Dowd noted that he had also included in the Board package the 2011 Commonwealth Transportation Board Action Report for the March 16, 2011, meeting and that he appreciated Mr. Kessler bringing it to his attention. He noted that he and Mr. Kessler would want to begin getting these reports out to the MPO Board in the future. 17. Adjournment Mr. Snead made a motion, seconded by Mr. Shanks, to adjourn at 8:20 p.m. Robert W. Dowd, AICP MPO Administrator