February 21, 2019
The Regional Board Room, 723 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, Virginia
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 10:32 a.m.
Chair Thomas Shepperd introduced the new City Manager of Franklin, Ms. Amanda Jarratt.
2. Approval of Agenda
The HRTPO Board unanimously approved the agenda as written.
3. Executive Director Report
Mr. Robert Crum provided a summary of current work activities of the HRTPO, making particular note of the following:
WORKSHOP AGENDA
4. Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) Members Update
Mr. W. Sheppard Miller reported the CTB held its February meeting in Richmond and was briefed by VDOT staff on the I-64 HRBT Expansion Project and he noted that the State will fund replacement of the existing South Trestles on the HRBT. The CTB was briefed on a new Transit Funding Formula, which may not bode well for Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). He noted that there is currently legislation in the General Assembly that will assist the situation if passed. The CTB will hold its March meeting in Hampton Roads.
5. Virginia Department of Transportation Update
Mr. Christopher Hall reported that the February 2019 HRTAC Program Development Monthly Executive Report was included at the table as a handout. He stated that two of the Regional Priority projects are scheduled to be completed this year. Final work has begun on guardrails, landscaping, and sound walls for Segment II of the I-64 Peninsula Widening project with three east- and west-bound lanes opening in April 2019, and total project completion in May 2019. Final permits were granted for the Queens Creek Bridge and median clearing and lane shifting is currently underway on Segment III of the I-64 Peninsula Widening project. The two main bridges of the I-64/I-264 Interchange Improvements Phase I project have opened to traffic and completion of this phase is on schedule. Bridge approach and drainage work is underway for Phase II of the I-64/I-264 Interchange Improvements project. Finally, roadway work will begin in two to three weeks. Mr. Hall stated the Commonwealth has selected Hampton Roads Connector Partners as the deign-build team to deliver the I-64 HRBT Expansion project. The contract is expected to be executed in April 2019.
6. Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) Update
Ms. Jennifer DeBruhl reported that a second AMTRAK train from Norfolk will begin service on March 4th. Service for the third Norfolk train should begin at the start of FY 2022. She stated that ridership data for Hampton Roads continues to increase year by year. DRPT implemented changes to the Transit Capital program last fall and is currently working through the first round of new prioritization process with a briefing to the CTB regarding these changes set for April 2019. She noted that with regards to the Transit Operating program, DRPT is awaiting the outcome of General Assembly Action.
7. Virginia Port Authority Update
Ms. Cathie Vick reported VPA’s major infrastructure projects are tracking well. She noted that at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT), VPA has extended mandatory use of the truck reservation system for more hours of the day and that truck times in and out of the terminals have improved over 30% through use of the system. Ms. Vick stated that the HRTPO Freight Transportation Advisory Committee (FTAC) is engaged heavily with the Long-Range Transportation Plan, and that the Norfolk Harbor Deepening and Widening project is ahead of schedule. The Request for Proposals (RFPs) will be out by June of this year for Phase 1, the west side of Thimble Shoals Tunnel, with dredges in the water by January 2020.
8. HRT and WATA Updates
Mr. William Harrell expressed his appreciation to the State and to DRPT for funding HRT’s Strategic Planning effort. He stated that as part of the effort, HRT conducted a review of members of other midsize transit operators for benchmarking purposes. He mentioned that the data review revealed that within the operational program, HRT’s cost per hour is 25% below that of its peers while operating in a service area that is 25% larger. Mr. Harrell stated that HRT is currently evaluating the efficiency of existing routes.
Mr. Zach Trogdon reported that WATA had implemented Phase 1 of its automatic passenger counting project. It has been installed on five WATA buses to check both the data and how the system is performing. He noted that the system will be used for the entire fleet. He stated that several WATA employees attended a Transit Service Planning Course focusing on resource utilization.
9. Community Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) Update
Ms. Terry Danaher reported that CTAC had an information session on February 14. She stated she would be available for any questions after Agenda Item 13 was presented.
10. Military Liaisons Updates
Colonel Ed Vedder, Joint Langley-Eustis had no comments.
Captain Michael Moore, US Navy had no comments.
There was no representative in attendance from the U.S. Coast Guard.
11. 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan – Status Update
Ms. Dale Stith provided an update on the development of the 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). She mentioned the tasks that have been completed to date along with tasks currently underway, and modifications and enhancements that are being considered for the HRTPO project Prioritization Tool.
12. Regional Connectors Study: Status Update
Mr. Michael Kimbrel provided background on the origins, purpose, and status of the Regional Connectors Study (RCS), including a recommendation by the RCS Steering Committee and Working Group to decouple the timelines for the RCS and the 2045 LRTP. Mr. Craig Eddy then presented an update that included the status of tasks from Phase 1 of the Study, as well as a scaled-down version of the scope, schedule, and budget for Phase 2 of the Study for approval by the HRTPO Board. It was noted that the RCS Working Group and Steering Committee will continue to work on the full scope envisioned for Phase 2 and that the full scope and associated schedule and budget will be presented to the HRTPO Board for approval at a future meeting.
The HRTPO Board approved decoupling the timelines for the RCS and the 2045 LRTP;, approved the RCS (scaled-down) Phase 2 Scope of Work, Schedule, and Cost; and authorized the Executive Director to enter into a contract with the consultant under Consent Item 17-M.
13. Community Transportation Advisory Committee: Opportunities to Expand
Mr. Robert Crum stated that the Community Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) was established by the HRTPO in 2010 to provide grassroots, community level involvement in the regional transportation planning process. Over the past several months, Mr. Crum has met with the CTAC to discuss expanding the scope of the Committee to include providing input on the activities of the HRPDC. CTAC members have expressed a willingness and desire to expand their scope.
The HRTPO Board endorsed expanding the duties of the CTAC to include to include both HRPDC and HRTPO activities under Consent Item 17-N.
MEETING AGENDA
14. Public Comment Period (limit 3 minutes per individual)
A citizen from Norfolk expressed his concern regarding offshore drilling.
15. Submitted Public Comments
There were no submitted public comments in the agenda packet.
16. Transcribed Public Comments From Previous HRTPO Meeting
This item was for informational purposes.
ACTION ITEMS
17. Approval of Consent Items
The HRTPOBoard unanimously approved the Consent Items as written.
INFORMATION ITEMS
18. HRTPO Board Three-Month Tentative Schedule
This item was for informational purposes.
19. Correspondence of Interest
This item was for informational purposes.
20. Minutes of HRTPO Committee Meetings
This item was for informational purposes.
21. For Your Information
This item was for informational purposes.
22. Old/New Business
There was no Old/New Business.
ADJOURNMENT
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