Action Summary
Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization Board Meeting
January 19, 2017
The Regional Board Room, 723 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, Virginia
The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 10:35 a.m.
Chair Linda Johnson recognized the following new HRTPO members:
Mayor John Rowe: Voting Member representing the City of Portsmouth
R. Randolph Cook: Voting Alternate Member representing Southampton County
Martin Thomas: Voting Alternate Member representing the City of Norfolk
Sheila Noll Voting Alternate Member representing York County
2. Executive Director Report
Mr. Robert Crum referred HRTPO Board members to the agenda packet for a summary of current work activities of the HRTPO. He noted that he met with 17 members of the Hampton Roads General Assembly Caucus to discuss HRTPO regional legislative priorities, including:
3. Approval of Agenda
With a quorum now achieved, the HRTPO Board approved the agenda as written.
WORKSHOP AGENDA
4. Commonwealth Transportation Board Member Update
Mr. John Malbon reported that the SMART SCALE recommended scenario shows Hampton Roads would receive $223 million in funding for 24 projects, including $100 million for I-64 Southside Widening and High Rise Bridge Phase 1 and $50 million for I-64/I-264 Interchange improvements. He indicated that the prioritization method currently utilized is a vast improvement over past methods. He noted that although the Virginia Light Rail Extension project is no longer moving forward, it was scored and ranked extremely high in terms of economic development, yet low in terms of congestion relief. He stated that the final SMART SCALE funding scenario will be approved in June 2017.
5. Virginia Department of Transportation Update
Mr. James Utterback reported that there are currently several HRTAC projects moving forward and suggested VDOT brief the HRTPO Board on the status of these projects in the next few months.
6. Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Update
Mr. Jitender Ramchandani reported that DRPT Grant applications are due by February 1, 2017.
7. Virginia Port Authority Update
Ms. Cathie Vick reported that the North Gate project is on time for completion this June. This project will provide a dedicated lane connection to the I-564 Intermodal Connector. She stated that contracts have been awarded for the North and South Berths of the Norfolk International Terminal and she expressed her gratitude to the City of Portsmouth for expediting its permitting procedures.
8. HRT and WATA Updates
Ms. Jamie Jackson reported that later in the meeting she would brief the Board on the Peninsula Fixed Guideway Study. She stated that HRT is currently in the certification process for its West Corridor Alternatives Analysis for the City of Norfolk for high capacity transit.
Mr. Joshua Moore of WATA stated that WATA is utilizing its 2009 CMAQ funding for demonstration routes along with the purchase of expansion buses.
9. Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) Update
Ms. Theresa Danaher stated the CTAC approved the proposed amendments to the 2040 LRTP that were presented to the Committee at its October 2016 meeting. She indicated that some members had concerns regarding the value of studies in the 2040 LRTP and the implications of the “no compete” clause associated with the Midtown and Downtown Tunnels.
10. Military Liaisons Updates
CMDR Ken Kostecki of the U.S. Coast Guard expressed his gratitude to VDOT for their timely response to snow clearing after the winter storm.
Capt. Michael Moore of the U.S. Navy had no comments or updates.
Col. Joseph Ladner of Langley-Eustis stated he would no longer be attending the meetings and introduced his replacement, Col. Herbert Joliat.
11. Peninsula Fixed Guideway Update: Jamie Jackson, HRT
Ms. Jamie Jackson, HRT Director of Transit, reported that HRT, in cooperation with the Cities of Newport News and Hampton, is conducting an 18-month Peninsula Corridor Study to analyze high capacity transit corridors on the Peninsula and that upon completion of the study, HRT will have a plan that prioritizes the strongest high capacity transit corridors on the Peninsula, a phased implementation plan, and an assessment of potential funding.
12. FTA Funding for Suffolk Transit: L.J. Hansen, Suffolk
Mr. L.J. Hansen, Suffolk Assistant Director of Public Works, reported that Suffolk Transit is requesting a Resolution of Support from the HRTPO Board as it seeks Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding under the Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Funding. He stated that Suffolk Transit was created in January 2012 after it separated from Hampton Roads Transit (HRT).
Mr. Rex Alphin, HRTPO Voting Member from Isle of Wight, noted that Suffolk Transit is a benefit to Isle of Wight County and stated his support for the resolution.
This item was included in the agenda for approval under Item #18-J.
13. Hampton Roads 2040 Long-Range Transportation Plan: Proposed Amendments: Dale Stith, HRTPO
Ms. Dale Stith, HRTPO Principal Transportation Planner, reported that the 2040 LRTP needs to be amended to reflect recent HRTPO Board actions, CTB actions, a referendum on light rail transit that occurred in the City of Virginia Beach, and VDOT’s request to reflect the progress on the HOV-to-HOT conversion project.
She stated there are three proposed 2040 LRTP Amendments:
This item was included in the agenda for approval under Item #18-K.
14. Study of the Remaining Components of the Draft HRCS SEIS: Bob Crum and Camelia Ravanbakht, HRTPO
Dr. Camelia Ravanbakht, HRTPO Deputy Executive Director, stated that at the October 2016 HRTPO Board Meeting, the HRTPO Board unanimously voted to study the remaining components of the Draft HRCS SEIS to determine their costs and feasibility. She noted that HRTAC voted to allocate up to 7 million at its October 2016 meeting for this study.
Mr. Bob Crum, HRTPO Executive Director, indicated the remaining components of the Draft HRCS SEIS (I-564/I-664 Connector – Patriots Crossing, I-664/MMMBT, and VA 164/164 Connector) are now included in the 2040 Transportation Vision Plan. He noted that HRTPO staff wishes to initiate the study and work with VDOT, HRTAC, and other partners to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) supporting studies on how to move forward with the remaining segments of the SEIS and the Bowers Hill Interchange.
The HRTPO Board unanimously voted to authorize the Executive Director to work with HRTAC and VDOT to develop and finalize the MOU for presentation to the HRTPO Board.
ACTION ITEMS AGENDA
15. Public Comment Period (limit 3 minutes per individual)
A citizen from Chesapeake proposed constructing the Hampton Roads Flood Barrier Crossing along with Preferred Alternative A from the HRCS SEIS.
A citizen from Virginia Beach expressed his opinion that the HRTPO’s primary function is transportation rather than economic development.
A citizen from Portsmouth stated that as a long-time public transportation advocate, Hampton Roads needs a regional transit system that moves people and not only vehicles.
A citizen from Portsmouth expressed her concern that the public is not provided the opportunity to voice its input in the various aspects of the transportation process.
A citizen from Norfolk expressed the need to maintain the roads in her neighborhood before moving forward with other types of transportation projects.
16. Submitted Public Comments
There were no submitted public comments in the agenda packet; however, there were submitted public comments distributed at the table.
17. Transcribed Public Comments From Previous HRTPO Meeting
This item was for informational purposes.
18. Approval of Consent Items
The HRTPO Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda items.
19. HRTPO Board Three-Month Tentative Schedule
This item was for informational purposes.
20. Correspondence of Interest
This item was for informational purposes.
21. Minutes of HRTPO Committee Meetings
This item was for informational purposes.
22. For Your Information
This item was for informational purposes.
23. Old/New Business
There was no Old/New business.
ADJOURNMENT
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