Action Summary

Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization Board Meeting

May 18, 2017

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

 1.    Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 10:33 a.m.

 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 with particular note of the following:

• HRTPO staff is working with VDOT and the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI) on the U.S. Route 58 Corridor Study.  A meeting is planned for June 14, 2017 with the Cities of Suffolk and Franklin, and the Counties of Southampton and Isle of Wight.
• HRTPO staff plans to work with the locality legislative liaisons to begin drafting the 2018 HRTPO Legislative Agenda.  He noted that the HRTPO will coordinate with HRTAC on the submittal of a proposed gas floor tax.

WORKSHOP AGENDA

 4.    Commonwealth Transportation Board Member Update

Mr. John Malbon reported that changes will be made to the Revenue Sharing Program with recommendations coming before the CTB in June.  Mr. Malbon noted that Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne has requested several public hearings in order to ensure proper input and understanding of the proposed changes.

 5.    Virginia Department of Transportation Update

Ms. Dawn Odom reported that VDOT has released its Draft FY 2018-2022 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) consisting of $14.7 billion Statewide and $2.1 billion for Hampton Roads.  She stated that the SYIP will be on the CTB’s Agenda next month for approval consideration.

 6.    Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Update

Ms. Jennifer Mitchell reported there are a number of projects in the DRPT section of VDOT’s SYIP including a request for new Hampton Roads Transit buses, continued funding of $20 million for the Newport News Intermodal and Passenger Rail Station, along with continued operational and capital funding toward the second and third passenger trains to Norfolk.  She encouraged everyone to review and provide comments before it is approved. 

 7.     Virginia Port Authority Update

Ms. Cathie Vick thanked HRTPO Board members who joined VPA in welcoming the COSCO Development, the largest ship to ever call on the East Coast.  She reported that VPA is continuing to work with the Army Corps of Engineers on the general reevaluation report to take the Port’s channel to 55 feet.  She stated that the Semi-automated North Gate at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) is almost complete and the first delivery of cranes has been accelerated for the NIT construction

 8.    HRT and WATA Updates

Mr. William E. Harrell reported that during the April HRTPO Board meeting, a citizen indicated that her inquiry letter from June 2016 had gone unanswered.  Mr. Harrell stated that both the citizen’s letter and his response letter from June 2016 were included in the Correspondence of Interest section of the HRTPO Agenda.  He informed the Board that HRT is continuing with its Naval Station Norfolk study to expand the Tide, meeting with stakeholders, Old Dominion University, and several neighborhood groups.  In June, HRT will meet with the Cities of Hampton and Newport News to evaluate the high capacity transit options from the Peninsula Corridor Study.

Mr. William Porter reported that in July, Mr. Zach Trogdon will start as WATA’s new Executive Director.  He stated that on July 5th, WATA will begin the Mounts Bay Lackey Fixed Demonstration Route for area citizens.  WATA is currently working with the Peninsula Agency on Aging on a One-Call Senior Paratransit Transportation Service.  Lastly, Mr. Porter noted WATA just completed the Federal Transit Administration’s Tri-Annual Review.  

 9.    Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) Update

The CTAC Chair representative was not in attendance. 

10. Military Liaisons Updates

Ms. Rhonda Murray of the U.S. Navy thanked Hampton Roads Transit for the opportunity to participate in the Stakeholder groups for the Naval Station Transit Study.

11. FY 2018 Budget: Nancy Collins, HRTPO

Ms. Nancy Collins briefed the HRTPO Board on the FY 2018 HRTPO Budget.  She stated there was a 2.3% increase in the total budget over FY 2017, mainly due to an increase in personnel.  This item was included in the meeting agenda for approval under item #19-C.

12. Transit Capital Program Update: Jennifer Mitchell, DRPT

Ms. Jennifer Mitchell briefed the HRTPO Board on the progress of the Transit Capital Project Revenue Advisory Board, created by House Bill 1359 during the 2016 Virginia General Assembly Session.  The legislation was drafted due to Capital Revenue Bonds, which supply $110 million a year in transit funding, expiring in 2019.  Ms. Mitchell outlined both potential revenue strategies and a transit prioritization process.  She stated that in the future, transit funding may be provided at a higher percentage, but to fewer projects. 

13. Regional Transit Opportunities:  Robert Crum, HRTPO

Mr. Robert Crum briefed the HRTPO Board on regional transit opportunities in Hampton Roads.  He summarized the framework for a Regional Transit Vision Concept and stressed the need to begin the conversation on a regional level within the HRTPO.  This item was included in the meeting agenda for approval under item #19-F.

14. I-264/Independence Boulevard Interchange: Camelia Ravanbakht, HRTPO

Dr. Camelia Ravanbakht briefed the HRTPO Board on the possibility of identifying projects that could be considered as Round 2 Hampton Roads Regional Priority Projects after a request from Virginia Beach to advance the I-264/Independence Boulevard interchange project. She stated that all projects approved in Round 1 as regional priority projects will not be subject to any loss of funding. This item was included in the meeting agenda for approval under Item #19-G.

15. Hurricane Evacuation/Traffic Plan: Bruce Sterling, VDEM

Mr. Bruce Sterling briefed the HRTPO Board on the current Hurricane Evacuation Lane Reversal plan along I-64 towards Richmond and noted that once lanes are reversed, motorists can utilize mobile fueling stations along the interstate.  He summarized the timeline for such a lane reversal and stated the Governor will make the determination to enact the lane reversal plan, normally for a Category Hurricane 3 or above. 

ACTION ITEMS AGENDA

16. Public Comment Period (limit 3 minutes per individual)

A Citizen from Portsmouth expressed concern regarding how the HRTPO and HRPDC are organized.

17. Submitted Public Comments

There were no submitted public comments in the agenda packet.

18. Transcribed Public Comments From Previous HRTPO Meeting

This item was for informational purposes.

19. Approval of Consent Items

The HRTPOBoard unanimously approved the Consent Agenda items.

20. HRTPO Board Three-Month Tentative Schedule

This item was for informational purposes.

21. Correspondence of Interest

This item was for informational purposes.

22. Minutes of HRTPO Committee Meetings

This item was for informational purposes.

23. For Your Information

This item was for informational purposes.

24. Old/New Business

Chair Johnson stated the HRPDC, HRTPO, and HRTAC Personnel and Budget Committees agreed to appoint a separate subcommittee to review the organizational structures of the HRPDC, HRTPO, and HRTAC.  Mayor McKinley Price accepted the request to Chair the Subcommittee. 

Delegate David Yancey requested VDOT provide a schedule of upcoming lane closures that may affect motorists.  Ms. Odom replied that a schedule is provided through its website on a weekly basis.

Delegate Yancey also requested to open the discussion for other localities to submit project suggestions to be considered as Round 2 Regional Priority Projects.

ADJOURNMENT