CORPUS CHRISTI METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOTES July 18, 2013 1. CALL TO ORDER AND QUORUM DETERMINATION Meeting called to order by Mr. Sullivan at 9:00 a.m. Quorum: Nueces County: Glen Sullivan San Patricio County: Gwen Duhart City of Corpus Christi: Dan Biles City of Portland: Brian DeLatte Port of Corpus Christi Authority: David Krams TxDOT Corpus Christi District: Paula Sales-Evans Regional Transportation Authority: Sharon Montez 2. INTRODUCTION OF OTHER AGENCY OFFICIALS TxDOT South Regional Support Center: Raymond Sanchez TxDOT Corpus Christi District: Victor Vourcos City of Corpus Christi: Andrew Dimas and Jamie Pyle HDR, Inc.: Jeff Pollack RTA: Jane Haas Texas Senator Juan Chuy Hinojosa s Office: Sylvia Ramirez Maverick Engineering, Inc.: Alberto Guevara 3. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION: A. Presentation and discussion on the City of Corpus Christi Mobility Plan. The City s Planning Department will provide a presentation on a comprehensive Mobility Plan that will replace the current Urban Transportation Plan. Mr. Dimas, City Planner of Planning and Environmental Services Department, provided a brief presentation on the current status of City of Corpus Christi s comprehensive plan. 1. The City of Corpus Christi developed the Integrated Community Energy Efficiency/Sustainability Plan (ICSP) with the $2.7 million Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) awarded by Department of Energy in 2010. 2. The Planning and Environmental Services Department has been working on the integration of sustainability plan elements into a comprehensive planning framework for 18 months. PlanCC is the existing planning bluebook that is now updated with ICSP objectives, policy statements, and implementation matrix. PlanCC includes MobilityCC, land use, area development plans, utility master plans, public facilities, specific area plans, and implementation phase GoCC in three different scales: community-wide, specific areas, and neighborhoods. Currently there are 13 individual area plans that need to be consolidated for consistency, simplification, easier implementation, and better planning.
3. MobilityCC is a consolidated plan of all major transportation plans: Urban Transportation Plan (2009), ICSP Mobility Concepts (2011), ADA Master Plan (2012), and Hike and Bike Plan (2013). This plan will enable well-rounded decision making for needed projects and project selections in consultation and coordination with other departments and agencies, and is a useful tool for the performance measurement. MobilityCC consists of three phases: plan (consolidation), design (review and evaluation), and operation/maintenance (data collection, analysis and prioritization). MobilityCC guides growth and integration of existed isolated plans with a holistic approach. 4. The final draft of PlanCC will be submitted to the City Council for adoption at end of summer. PlanCC will be used as an overall master plan and guidance for objective decision making such as Bond issuance project selection and development planning within the City as well as the connection with the surrounded areas. The neighborhoodscale planning model will be useful for the current planning on Science Entertainment and Art (S.E.A.) District and Central Business District development in relation to the Harbor Bridge Replacement. Public Comment: Mr. Alonzo interjected that city plans need to be inclusive of ADA issues and community input from the disabled. B. Discussion and an opportunity for public comment on projects and possible amendment of the 2010 2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and FY 2013 2016 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Discussion on the possible changes to the MTP/TIP that respond to TxDOT Commission changes to the Unified Transportation Program (UTP) and recent bids on FY 2013 projects. If changes are agreed by TAC, the TPC will be asked to amend the MTP and TIP. Mr. Niskala, MPO Transportation Planning Director, briefly reviewed the projects that were approved to amend by the Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) on May 2, 2013: 1. Add Schanen Ditch Hike and Bike Trail project in FY 2015 in TIP and MTP; 2. Add Railroad R.O.W. Hike and Bike Trail project in FY 2015 in TIP and MTP; 3. Add Holly Road Landscape Improvement project in FY 2016 in TIP and MTP; 4. Reprogram SH 357 (Saratoga Blvd.) project from FM 665 to Calle Cuernavaca from FY 2017 to mid-range (2021-2024) in MTP. The following projects will be submitted to TPC on August 1, 2013 as amendments: 1. Reprogram SH 358 (S.P.I.D.) Right-of-Way Acquisition Phase III from FY 2014 in TIP to FY 2017 in MTP; 2. Reduce SH 358 (S.P.I.D.) Ramp Reversal Phase II in FY 2016 in TIP from the authorized amount $42.3 million to $31.6 million (Everhart Road and S. Staples Streets intersections are given the priority); 3. SH 286 Extension Projects remains in FY2013 TIP with construction cost at $45.8 million; 4. Reprogram SH 286 (Crosstown Expressway) Environmental Study from FY 2015 in TIP to FY 2017 in MTP;
5. Add Harbor Bridge Replacement at $700 million for construction in FY 2017 in MTP. The following transit projects were approved by TPC on June 2, 2013: 1. Innovative Workforce Development (Summer Internship) with FTA Section 5314 funds in FY2013 in TIP. 2. Replacement of Bus Wash system with FTA Section 5309 funds in FY2013 in TIP. Public Comment: Mr. Alonzo commended Mr. Niskala for his practice of inclusiveness in this process. Motion was made by Mr. Biles, and seconded by Ms. Sales-Evans. Motion passed unanimously and the amendments will be submitted to the Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) on August 1, 2013 for approval. These changes are submitted to TxDOT as August quarterly amendment. C. Discussion and update on the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) call for projects that would utilize Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) 5310 funds. RTA will provide an overview of the process and a timeline on the call for projects. RTA will issue a call for projects which enhance mobility for seniors and people with disabilities. Eligible projects are capital projects that meet the needs of seniors and people with disabilities and operational projects such as public transportation that improves access or provides transportation alternatives. The budget for capital projects is $193,370 and operating projects is $158,212. Capital projects are 80% federally funded with 20% locally funded and operating projects are 50% federally funded with 50% locally funded. Ms. Montez, RTA, stated projects must support the project goals in the Regional Public Transportation Coordination Plan 2011. Call for projects will be issued on July 22, 2013 and the proposal submission due date is August 9, 2013. Projects will be reviewed and discussed in August TAC meeting for recommendation, and project award will be September 4, 2013. Information regarding to this program is available on Federal Register: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/fr-2013-07-11/pdf/2013-16624.pdf, and FTA Section 5310 Fund Factsheet: http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/map-21_fact_sheet_- _Enhanced_Mobility_of_Seniors_and_Individuals_with_Disabilities.pdf. 4. TAC Member s Comments, Concerns, and Updates: The Corpus Christi City Council approved the Street Maintenance Fee for repairs and maintenance of residential and local streets. Beginning in January 2014, Corpus Christi residents and business owners pay a fee that is included in the utility bills. The Engineering Service Department is working on the 2014 Bond street improvement projects based on criteria such as the pavement condition scores, heavy traffic, and safety concerns. These projects will be on a ballot for city voters in November 2014. The City of Corpus Christi Planning Commission approved a $45 million bond issuance for Destination Bayfront project for the November ballot. The Corpus Christi City Council will discuss the resolution supporting Destination Bayfront for November 2013 Election.
The City of Corpus Christi will hold a public meeting on the Holly Road project on July 25, 2013 at Greenwood Senior Center. A technical presentation starts 6:00 p.m. and the open house is from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. The Texas House approved to amend the state constitution to use some rainy day funds for state highways, and sent the plan to the Texas Senate. Additional Interstate 69 signage has been placed: US 77 between Cameron and Willacy Counties is designated as I-69E (approximately 53 miles from Brownsville to Raymondville), US 281 between Pharr to Edinburg (approximately 14 miles), is designated as I-69C. TxDOT has held a public meeting for US 281 interstate quality upgrades in Alice and will have another public meeting in George West. The Port of Corpus Christi Authority (POCCA) s rail project has been started. The port invited Texas Transportation Commissioners and provided a tour in July. Mr. Mike Tanner, the City Manager for Portland, will retire and a farewell party will be held on Monday, July 22, 2013. Mr. Randy Wright, current Assistant City Manager, was selected for the City Manager position. Due to the local contractor community experiencing high demand, funding for transportation projects is problematic with both scarce resources, increasing general cost, and the low competition for bidding. 5. STAFF REPORT: A. Transportation Policy Committee meeting August 1, 2013 There is an action item and a quorum is required. B. FHWA/TxDOT July 11 th conference call on Indirect Cost. The MPO has been discussing their indirect cost allocation plan with FHWA and TxDOT regarding the need to validate the amount paid to Nueces County for their role as fiscal agent of the MPO. There will be an additional meeting with TxDOT and the MPO on July 23, 2013. Mr. Raymond Sanchez has been named the TxDOT representative for the entire South Region and will now oversees MPOs in Pharr, Laredo, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Yoakum Districts. C. Revisions to FY 2014 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and final budget. Revised FY 2014 UPWP is available on MPO website: http://www.corpuschristimpo.org/01_upwp/fy2013-14/071813_revised_fy2014_upwp.pdf. The Travel Demand Model is expected to happen in early fiscal year 2014. The renewed interest in the state freight plan, freight movement and its impact on the travel trend will be one of the focal points in the model run. The MPO will develop area plans by using compatible software. D. Transportation Safety Summit Workshop at San Antonio/Bexar County MPO on July 16, 2013. Ms. Gonzalez, MPO Assistant Transportation Director, attended the workshop. The accident data (CRIS) is now accessible and available for all Texas MPOs for planning purposes and performance measures. 6. Public Comments on Agenda Items: Mr. Alonzo s comments are under Discussion Item A and B.
7. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 9:49 a.m. Si usted desea esta información en Español o si desea explicación sobre el contenido, por favor llamenos al teléfono (361) 884-0687 o comuníquese con nosotros mediante correo electrónico a ccmpo@cctxmpo.us. Nuestras oficinas estan ubicadas en el 5151 Flynn Pkwy. #404, Corpus Christi, TX 78411. Copias se proveeran a petición.