Action Summary

Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization Board Meeting
July 18, 2013

The Regional Board Room, 723 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, Virginia

1.     Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 10:30 a.m.

2.     Approval of Agenda
The Agenda was approved.

WORKSHOP AGENDA
3.     Commonwealth Transportation Board Member Comments and Updates
Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) members Mr. Ellis, Mr. Layne, and Mr. Miller briefed the HRTPO Board on the actions of the July 16, 2013 CTB meeting held in the City of Norfolk. They stated that the CTB was briefed on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel expansion and associated changes in tolls.  They stated the CTB was also provided an updated by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) on major projects.

4.     Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Comments and Updates
Ms. Drake reported that the six-month ridership data for the Norfolk Amtrak service had been released, showing that ridership was over 73,000 and was slightly above DRPT’s revenue projections.  She also reported that DRPT is continuing its efforts to coordinate with Norfolk Southern to move the departure time for the Norfolk-Washington route from 4:50 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.  She further stated that ongoing coordination between DRPT and CSX is occurring on the capacity improvements needed for the addition of trains 2 and 3 for the Norfolk-Washington route.  Ms. Drake also provide an update on the distribution on methodology of transit funds – stating that transit funding from HB2313 revenues will be distributed with performance metrics while funding for transit from existing sources will continue to be distributed based on operating costs. 

5.     Military Liaisons Comments and Updates
Lt. Col. Jansen stated that construction of the LaSalle Avenue gate at Langley Air Force Base in the City of Hampton is completed and now open as one of the base’s three, main-entry points.  Lt. Col. Jansen further stated that Fort Eustis is not experiencing major impacts from the Route 105 Bridge construction project in the City of Newport News.

6.     HRTPO 2013 – 2014 Officer Elections: Nominating Committee
Chair Ward indicated that members of the Nominating Committee have agreed to continue serving on the Committee and will be prepared to convene and develop a recommendation for nominations for the October HRTPO Board Annual Meeting.

7.     HB2313: Financial Consulting Services
Mr. Farmer briefed the HRTPO Board on engaging the professional financial services of Public Financial Management, Inc. (PFM, Inc.) to develop a plan of finance that would overlay certain required financial analyses and metrics, such as debt capacity.  Mr. Farmer indicated that this three-month $75,000 contract would be procured under the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA), “Cooperative Procurement” that would permit the HRTPO to use the City of Norfolk’s existing contract with PFM, Inc.  This item was under the Consent Agenda for approval.

8.     Memoranda of Agreement: Franklin and Southampton
Mr. Farmer briefed the HRTPO Board on the Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) between the HRTPO and City of Franklin and Southampton County.  Mr. Farmer indicated that the regulatory concerns expressed in previous months have been resolved and that the MOAs under the Consent Agenda were developed in collaboration with the HRTPO, Federal Highway Administration, and the Virginia Department of Transportation as well as the two localities, which are included in Planning District 23, but are not member localities of the HRTPO.  This item was under the Consent Agenda for approval.

9.     Memorandum of Agreement: VDOT and HRTPO
Mr. Farmer briefed the HRTPO Board on the Memorandum of Agreement between the HRTPO and VDOT regarding the respective roles and responsibilities concerning the administration and expenditures of the HB2313 Hampton Roads Transportation Fund revenues.  This item was under the Consent Agenda for approval.

10.  HB2313 Regional Transportation Funds: Programming Options
Mr. Farmer briefed the HRTPO Board on the additional revenues HB2313 will generate for the Hampton Roads region (Hampton Roads Transportation Fund) and strategies on how to maximize HB2313 “regional” component funds to fund regional projects.  After some discussion, the members of the Hampton Roads delegation stated that the intent of the Hampton Roads Transportation Fund (HRTF) revenues prescribed in the HB2313 legislation was envisioned to be utilized in the most efficient manner possible and to be applied towards regionally significant projects that provide the greatest impact on reducing congestion.  The members further clarified that the language in the legislation stating that HRTF “moneys shall be used for such construction projects in all localities comprising Planning District 23” was not meant to imply that every locality in Planning District would have a project funded with HRTF funds.  Furthermore, the Hampton Roads Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) members stated that the HRTPO Board should leverage the HRTF revenues to maximize these funds in the most efficient way possible and to allocate this investment towards regionally significant projects that the CTB cannot fund with statewide monies and significantly reduce the impact of tolls.  This item was under the Consent Agenda for approval.  For these reasons, the resolution that would have endorsed the HRTPO Board preference for HB2313 HRTF Programming Options intended for HRTPO Board approval in the Consent Agenda (Item 14-P) was removed from the Consent Agenda and deferred to be discussed at a future HRTPO Board meeting.

11.  Roadways Serving the Military and Sea-Level/Storm Surge Rise
Mr. Belfield briefed the HRTPO Board on the third phase of the Hampton Roads Military Needs Study.  Mr. Belfield indicated that the Roadways Serving the Military and Sea-Level/Storm Surge Rise builds on the first phase of the Study and determines existing and future or potential roadways serving the military that would be negatively impacted by sea-level/storm surge rise.  This item was under the Consent Agenda for approval.

ACTION ITEMS AGENDA

12.  Public Comment Period
A resident from the City of Norfolk spoke of the Craney Island expansion and the need to plan for its potential impact on congestion in Hampton Roads.

13.  Submitted Public Comments
One submitted public comment was distributed as a Handout.  There were no additional submitted public comments.

14.  Approval of Consent Items
Agenda items under the Consent Agenda were approved by the HRTPO Board, excluding Item 14-P.

15.  HRTPO Board Three-Month Tentative Schedule
This item was for informational purposes only.  The HRTPO Board took no action on this item.

16.  HRTPO Draft Reports for Public Review
This item was for informational purposes only.  The HRTPO Board took no action on this item.

17.  Correspondence of Interest
This item was for informational purposes only.  The HRTPO Board took no action on this item.

18.  Minutes of the HRTPO Board Committees
This item was for informational purposes only.  The HRTPO Board took no action on this item.

19. For Your Information
This item was for informational purposes only.  The HRTPO Board took no action on this item.

20.  Old/New Business
There was no new business.

ADJOURNMENT