MEMBERS ATTENDING: City of Crestview Council Member. Fort Walton Beach Council Member City of DeFuniak Springs Council Member

Transcription

1 OKALOOSA-WALTON TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION (TPO) MEETING MINUTES WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL (Designated staff) Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 Eglin Parkway, Shalimar, FL August 16, 2018 MEMBERS ATTENDING: Nathan Boyles, Chair Kelley Windes Carolyn Ketchel Graham W Fountain Judy Boudreaux Bill Chapman Nic Allegretto Henry Ennis Bill Cox Joe Blocker Charlotte McKamy MEMBERS NOT IN ATTENDANCE: Amy Jamieson, Vice Chairperson Dick Rynearson Sara Comander Melanie Nipper Skip Overdier Chatham Morgan Kasey Cuchens J.B. Whitten Christine Wasdin OTHERS ATTENDING: Christy Johnson Bryant Paulk Cory Wilkinson Mac Madsen Jason Alderman Wiley Page Glenn Lattanze Lynn Mathews Charles Mathews Harry Barr David Arrowsmith Judy Arrowsmith Mathilda Ravine Steve Arrowsmith Trae Duly Matt Schwalb Mary Beth Washnock Okaloosa County Commissioner Okaloosa County Commissioner Okaloosa County Commissioner Okaloosa County Commissioner City of Niceville Council Member Walton County Commissioner Fort Walton Beach Council Member City of DeFuniak Springs Council Member City of Crestview Council Member City of Crestview Council Member City of Mary Esther Mayor Pro-Tem Fort Walton Beach Council Member Fort Walton Beach Mayor Walton County Commissioner Walton County Commissioner City of Destin Council Member City of Destin Council Member City of Freeport Council Member City of Crestview Council Member City of Valparaiso Commissioner FDOT FDOT HDR (For Tom Tolbert) Eglin AFB CPWG Engineering Atkins Hurlburt Field Mary Esther Resident Mary Esther Resident Citizen Mary Esther Resident Mary Esther Resident Mary Esther Resident Citizen City of Crestview Matrix

2 August 16, 2018 Page 2 of 11 Kathy Saldana Tiffany Bates Jill Krug Gary Kramer Jill Lavender Annie Walthall Jo Anne Donatella Kristen Barre A. CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE Chairman Boyles called the meeting to order and Councilman Allegretto led the pledge of allegiance. B. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Any new action items to be added to the agenda must be approved by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the TPO members present. Commissioner Chapman moved to approve the agenda. Councilman Allegretto seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. C. PUBLIC FORUM Please obtain a speaker request form from WFRPC staff. Speakers are asked to limit their remarks to five minutes. Mr. David Arrowsmith, Mary Esther citizen. Mr. Arrowsmith spoke in opposition to the proposed 6-laning of Hwy 98 from the east end of the Hurlburt flyover to Mary Esther Blvd. Mr. Arrowsmith said this would destroy the city, the trees along the route, and increase the speed of traffic. He said it would destroy the city economically and socially. He said the Hurlburt flyover is 4 lanes and traffic moving west to east would be filtered from 6 lanes west of the flyover, down to 4 lanes on the flyover and then to 6 lanes up to Mary Esther Blvd where it would be 4 lanes once again. He was concerned the DOT would be spending $30 million for 3 miles of 6-laning which would be destructive to Mary Esther. The City of Mary Esther is considering a resolution in opposition to the proposed widening at the next council meeting on September 5. Ms. Mathilda Ravine, Mary Esther citizen. Ms. Ravine spoke about the stretch of Hwy 98 in Mary Esther which would be widened to 6 lanes under the current Project Priorities list. The project is currently under the PD& E. Ms. Ravine said this stretch of Hwy 98 is by and large a residential area and she believed the traffic problem was not a problem for Mary Esther until Hurlburt Field staff left at the end of the day. She said that base officials had made significant improvements to help with traffic flow by staggering work shifts etc. In addition, a school zone in Florosa and a traffic light at Parish Point contributed to the slow down. Ms. Ravine suggested the problem is west of Hurlburt not east. She requested the TPO consider a resolution to remove this project from the Project Priorities.

3 August 16, 2018 Page 3 of 11 Mr. Steve Arrowsmith, Santa Rosa County resident. Mr. Arrowsmith stated that although he lived in Santa Rosa County, he was born and raised in Mary Esther and was passionate about the city. He said he drives through the area numerous times per day and has experienced the traffic slow down near the light at Parish Point. He believed the Hurlburt flyover had helped with the flow of traffic. He was opposed to the 6-laning from the flyover to Mary Esther Blvd. In addition to the aesthetic changes that would occur, he pointed out that police departments in that jurisdiction are Okaloosa Sheriff s Department and State Highway Patrol. He felt there would not be enough funding for law enforcement resources to monitor the volume of traffic traveling at interstate speeds. Mr. Arrowsmith requested to remove Priority #11 from the Project Priorities list. He stated that if the 6-laning through Mary Esther proceeded, it could become a foundation for 6- laning from Pensacola to Panama City, to which he was opposed. D. FDOT UPDATE: Mr. Bryant Paulk, AICP, or Ms. Christy Johnson, AICP, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Urban Liaisons Mr. Bryant Paulk, FDOT. 1) Upcoming resurfacing project from Harbor Blvd (Hwy 98) from the East Pass Bridge to Airport Rd is anticipated to begin in January ) Beal Parkway turn lane and through-lane additions at Mary Esther Parkway project scheduled to wrap up the week of August 20 th. 3) DOT obtained funding for a PD&E study for SR 85 widening from the 123 interchange to north of I-10. Kicking the study off in May About this time next year anticipate a kick off meeting to provide a presentation on that effort. Chairman Boyles asked members for a consensus to send a letter of appreciation to FDOT to thank them for their efforts in getting the PD&E funding process accelerated. There was no opposition. Commissioner Ketchel added that she would like to see a bike lane added to the stretch of highway in Mary Esther that was spoken about in the Public Forum. She would stand with the citizens and would offer a resolution if it came to that point. Councilwoman McKamy reported that a resolution regarding the 6-laning of Hwy 98 will come before the Mary Esther City Council September 5. She also explained that Mary Esther had an antiquated water system which was located adjacent to the sidewalks along Hwy 98. The city is at the beginning of an urgent and expensive capital project to repair this system. She said If the Hwy 98 widening project proceeds, the needed repairs to the water system would be undone by FDOT in Mr. Pauk confirmed that FDOT would not allow funding for infrastructure. Commissioner Fountain asked if the project was instigated by the community or by FDOT. He sympathized with the position in Mary Esther and wanted to know if FDOT had data to support that it needed to be done. Mr. Paulk said they are in the middle of the PD&E study which will generate data the end of this year or beginning of next year. No design had begun. Comments and any actions taken by the TPO would be taken into the official record of the document. He said FDOT will come back to report on updates and what had been determined. Commissioner

4 August 16, 2018 Page 4 of 11 Fountain suggested that putting forth a resolution at this time would be putting the cart before the horse. Mr. Paulk reminded the board that this study is in the Project Priorities as two segments from Falling Waters Drive west of Hurlburt Field. He said the project is on the SIS and the FDOT does not want to jeopardize base functions. Commissioner Boyles recommended the City of Mary Esther take the lead on this decision. Councilwoman McKamy will bring back the results of the Mary Esther City Council meeting. Commissioner Ketchel offered that the PD&E study may produce alternatives without widening the road. She said that Hurlburt Field had no plans to widen the flyover to 6 lanes and it would seem folly to make the segment in Mary Esther 6 lanes when they the flyover remained 4 lanes. Ms. Ravine followed up with the fact that the PD&E study was directed by this body and FDOT was specifically charged with studying widening Hwy 98 Mary Esther Blvd. She said the TPO could redirect a study of other alternatives. E. CONSENT: 1. ALL COMMITTEES Approval of June 21, 2018 Meeting Minutes Commissioner Chapman noted his title on page 5 of the minutes should be Commissioner, not Councilman. Commissioner Fountain moved to approve the June 21, 2018 minutes with one noted correction; Commissioner Chapman seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved. 2. TPO AND CAC ONLY Consideration of Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Applications from Mr. Chase Barfield and Mr. James Penrod Ms. Washnock, WFRPC informed the members that the CAC recommended Mr. Penrod be approved today. Mr. Barfield was not present, so the CAC opted to recommend the TPO wait until the next meeting when he could be in attendance. Commissioner Fountain moved to approve Mr. James Penrod as a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee; Commissioner Chapman seconded, and the motion was carried. F. ACTION: 1. ENCLOSURE A ALL COMMITTEES (TPO ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED) Consideration of Resolution O-W Amending the FY and FY Transportation Improvement Programs to Add Design Phase for SR 8 (I-10) from P.J. Adams Parkway/Antioch Road to Rasberry Road New Interchange as Project # in FY 2018/2019 in the Total Amount of $3,080,000 Presentation by Mr. Bryant Paulk, AICP, FDOT Liaison Mr. Paulk said that FDOT had requested this project be added to the current year of the TIP for the design of improvements at the new interchange on I-10 to include a new roadway alignment from PJ Adams/Antioch Road to Rasberry Road. The PD&E is being wrapped up and will soon be ready for design.

5 August 16, 2018 Page 5 of 11 Ms. Washnock informed the members that the CAC and TCC had both recommended approval of this action. Councilman Cox moved to authorize the TPO chairman to sign Resolution O-W amending the FY and FY Transportation Improvement Programs to add design phase for SR 8 (I-10) from P.J. Adams Parkway/Antioch Road to Rasberry Road New Interchange as Project # in FY 2018/2019 in the total amount of $3,080,000. Commissioner Ketchel seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Nathan Boyles, Chair Kelley Windes Carolyn Ketchel Graham Fountain Nic Allegretto Bill Cox Joe Blocker Judy Boudreaux Charlotte McKamy Bill Chapman Henry Ennis The motion was unanimously approved by roll call vote. 2. ENCLOSURE B ALL COMMITTEES (TPO ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED) Consideration of Resolution O-W Amending the FY and FY Transportation Improvement Programs to Add Design Phase for SR 85 (S. Ferdon Boulevard) from Southcrest Drive to Hospital Drive Interchange Improvement as Project # in FY 2018/2019 in the Total Amount of $530,624 Presentation by Mr. Bryant Paulk, AICP, FDOT Liaison Mr. Paulk said the DOT was able to allocate SIS quick fix dollars to this project and will be able to add these improvements with an existing resurfacing project and turn lane improvements along SR 85. Ms. Washnock informed the members that the CAC and TCC recommended approval. Councilman Cox moved to authorize the TPO chairman to sign Resolution O-W amending the FY and FY Transportation Improvement Programs to add design phase for SR 85 (S. Ferdon Boulevard) from Southcrest Drive to Hospital Drive interchange improvement as Project # in FY 2018/2019 in the total amount of $530,624. Councilman Blocker seconded the motion. Commissioner Boyles asked Mr. Paulk what the timeframe was for construction. Mr. Paulk said

6 August 16, 2018 Page 6 of 11 design would be in the current year and construction scheduled between July of 2020 and June Modest turn lane improvements including extending single left turn lane onto westbound I-10 is a near term project. Roll Call Vote: Nathan Boyles, Chair Kelley Windes Carolyn Ketchel Graham Fountain Nic Allegretto Bill Cox Joe Blocker Judy Boudreaux Charlotte McKamy Bill Chapman Henry Ennis The motion was unanimously approved by roll call vote. 3. ENCLOSURE C ALL COMMITTEES (TPO ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED) Consideration of Resolution O-W Amending the FY and FY Transportation Improvement Programs to Add Construction Phase for SR 189 (Beal Parkway NE) from Hollywood Boulevard to Carmel Drive/Clifford Street, Lighting Project as Project # in FY 2018/2019 in the amount of $390,435 Presentation by Mr. Bryant Paulk, AICP, FDOT Liaison Ms. Washnock reported that all advisory committees approved this recommendation. Mr. Paulk said this would cover additional roadway lighting at the signalized intersections. All intersections with existing lighting will be retrofitted with LED and any intersections without lighting will have lighting installed. This was funded by federal safety funds to help prevent pedestrian and vehicle accidents at signalized intersections. Commissioner Ketchel moved to authorize the TPO chairman to sign Resolution O-W amending the FY and FY Transportation Improvement Programs to add construction phase for SR 189 (Beal Parkway NE) from Hollywood Boulevard to Carmel Drive/Clifford Street, lighting project as Project # in FY 2018/2019 in the amount of $390,435. Councilman Allegretto seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Nathan Boyles, Chair Kelley Windes Carolyn Ketchel Graham Fountain

7 August 16, 2018 Page 7 of 11 Nic Allegretto Bill Cox Joe Blocker Judy Boudreaux Charlotte McKamy Bill Chapman Henry Ennis The motion was unanimously approved by roll call vote. 4. ENCLOSURE D ALL COMMITTEES Consideration of Resolution O-W Authorizing to Begin Negotiations with HDR Engineering, Inc. and Atkins, and Authorizing the Executive Director to Sign the Memorandums of Agreement Between the Florida-Alabama, Okaloosa-Walton, and Bay County TPOs and the Selected Consultants on the General Planning Consultant (GPC) Contract Presentation by Ms. Jill Lavender, Ms. Lavendar said that currently there was only one General Planning Consultant across three TPO areas. The contract expires in October The new agreement would be for a 3-year period with two one-year extensions. Requests for Letters of Interest went out in March and were due in April. The selection committee was comprised of a member from each of the three CACs, TCCs, and TPOs, as well as WFRPC staff, and met in May. FDOT liaisons were present and oversaw the process. The selection committee met with the top 3 short-listed firms in July and finalized their scores. HDR was selected as the primary consultant and Atkins was selected as the secondary. Ms. Washnock added that the council attorney would review any agreements before they were signed. Commissioner Boyles noted that he had the privilege to sit on the selection committee and said it was well run and had many good proposals. The TPOs collectively came to a consensus that they would be better served by having a stable of 2 consultants based on the varying expertise of the two firms, given the broad variety of products that are scheduled in the UPWP. Commissioner Fountain moved to authorize the TPO chairman to sign Resolution O-W authorizing WFRPC staff to begin negotiations with HDR Engineering, Inc. and Atkins, and authorizing the executive director to sign the memorandums of agreement between the Florida-Alabama, Okaloosa-Walton, and Bay County TPOs and the selected consultants on the general planning consultant (GPC) contract. Councilman Blocker seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

8 August 16, 2018 Page 8 of ENCLOSURE E ALL COMMITTEES Consideration of Resolution O-W Adding SR 85 from Airport Road/Old Bethel Road to Antioch Road Corridor Management Study to the Corridor Management Plan List in the Draft FY FY 2024 Project Priorities Presentation by Mr. Trae Duley, City of Crestview Staff Mr. Duley s full presentation can be viewed on the West Florida Regional Planning Council website. Mr. Duley reported that SR 85 typically saw 52,000 trips on a 4-lane roadway. The Level of Service on the majority of SR 85 is classified as an F, and it is projected these areas would be operating at 145% to 165% capacity within 8-10 years. Over 30% of truck volume supported by the interstate is carried by SR 85. According to Signal Four Analytics, there was at least one accident per day during the period of January 2017-July This resulted in a cost for public service agencies as well as increased queue time, driver injury, loss of life, vehicle damage and property damage. Goals and expectations of the Corridor Management Study would include improvements to public safety; economic vitality, and improved freight capabilities. Mr. Duley said the intention of the Corridor Management study would be to improve traffic on SR 85 in its entirety for the Crestview urbanized area and northern portion of Okaloosa County. Commissioner Boyles asked if this study could be run concurrently with the other study that is already underway. Mr. Paulk replied that it is possible, and this would be more of a short-term access management improvement versus a capacity improvement that would have a much longer time frame. Councilman Cox moved to authorize the TPO chairman to sign Resolution O-W adding SR 85 from Airport Road/Old Bethel Road to Antioch Road Corridor Management Study to the Corridor Management Plan list in the draft FY FY 2024 Project Priorities; Commissioner Fountain seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. G. WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S BRIEF TPO ONLY Mr. Austin Mount, WFRPC Executive Director Ms. Washnock informed the members that Mr. Mount was not present but had asked her to remind the members about the meeting at Northwest Florida State College on August 24. She said WFRPC staff will review Project Priorities across the region and will host Metropolitan Planning Advisory Council Executive Director Carl Mikyska. Commissioner Boyles added that many of the TPO s members were attending the Florida League of Cities conference and their absences today were noted and excused. Commissioner Boyles noted that items 2, 3, and 4 would not have presentations but would be documented and available for review upon request.

9 August 16, 2018 Page 9 of 11 H. PRESENTATIONS (no action required): 1. ENCLOSURE F ALL COMMITTEES Okaloosa-Walton TPO FY Project Priorities Presentation by Mr. Gary Kramer, Mr. Kramer presented the draft Fiscal Year Project Priorities. The document may be viewed in its entirety on the West Florida Regional Planning Council website. Products that the TPO produces are the Unified Planning Work Program, Bike Ped Plan, Congestion Management Process Plan, Public Involvement Plan, Long Range Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement Program, and the Project Priorities. There were public outreach events and a public workshop during June and July. Comments from those events are included in the agenda enclosure. Mr. Kramer asked the members to pay attention to comments #9, #13, #15, which may need to be acted upon at September s meeting. A committee workshop for CAC, TCC, and TPO will be held August 28 at 1 pm at the Freeport Community Center. This will be an action item at the next meeting in September and sent to FDOT by October 1 st for consideration in their work program. Commissioner Boyles asked for clarification of table segments that were highlighted in yellow in the draft Project Priorities tables. Mr. Kramer replied that it represented the requested project phase that is sent to FDOT for consideration in their work program. 2. ENCLOSURE G ALL COMMITTEES NO PRESENTATION Targets for System Performance, Pavement, and Bridge Performance Measures Presentation by Mr. Gary Kramer, 3. ENCLOSURE H ALL COMMITTEES NO PRESENTATION Congestion Management Process Plan Minor Update Presentation by Ms. Jill Lavender, WFRPC Staff 4. ENCLOSURE I ALL COMMITTEES NO PRESENTATION Regional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Plan (Adopted in 2010) Progress Report on Implementation Presentation by Ms. Jill Lavender, 5. ENCLOSURE J ALL COMMITTEES Crestview Western Bypass Update Presentation by Mr. Scott Bitterman, Okaloosa County Staff Mr. Bitterman said that all right-of-way for Phases I, II, and III have been cleared for construction, but still await Army Corps of Engineer approval. Once the 404 permit is in hand it would be 4-5 months before construction would begin. Mr. Bitterman said that a piece of property existed that the field office believed would be a good fit for the wetland mitigation. The property costs $212,000. A conservation easement would be placed on that property. Mr. Bitterman said the attorneys were reviewing the feasibility of the site and purchase.

10 August 16, 2018 Page 10 of 11 Commissioner Ketchel commented that 4 bike paths on such a busy road were not wide enough, even if they were standard width, and asked if there was a way to widen them. Mr. Bitterman said they could still be redesigned. Commissioner Boyles said that multi modal options for constituents were always wise choices. He suggested a multi-use path be considered instead. Commissioner Ketchel said that sidewalks were not ideal for cyclists due to uneven surfaces and agreed that an all asphalt multi modal path would be better. Commissioner Fountain agreed it would be safer to have a multi-use path off the roadway if there is adequate real estate. Commissioner Ketchel shared that the design in Destin would be 12 multi modal paths. Councilman Blocker asked if elevation would be the same between sidewalk and bike path or if there would be a separation between the two. He agreed that 4 is too narrow for bikes and emphasized the need for at least 6 width on the path. Mr. Bitterman said current design had the 4 bike path on the same elevation as the roadway. Commissioner Boyles asked Mr. Bitterman if he could go back to design engineers to revisit this over the next week. Mr. Bitterman agreed and suggested an option could be to reduce the vehicle lanes to 11 and put the extra couple of feet into the bike lanes. Commissioner Ketchel commented that there was one opportunity to get this right and supported researching a redesign. Commissioner Boyles asked if this redesign would be within the County Commission s authority since it is a county roadway and was more of an informational update for this organization. He asked if Commissioner Fountain would use this as a topic of discussion at their next County Commission meeting. Commissioner Fountain agreed and said that the engineers needed to check with DOT because it is being built to DOT standards. He continued that the road is primarily for vehicles not bikers. Commissioner Ketchel emphasized if there is going to be a bike/ped path at all that it would be imperative that is designed safely. 6. ENCLOSURE K ALL COMMITTEES Discussion of Bicycle Pedestrian Priorities List Presentation by Ms. Mary Beth Washnock, WFRPC Transportation Manager At the O-W TPO Project Priorities workshop held in July there was discussion about the existing bicycle pedestrian project list. The overall desire by the attendees was to update the list removing projects that are no longer valid. The TPO staff recommends the following options: 1) Scrub the list so that all projects are up to date and requested by the local governments in the TPO 2) Request FDOT to fund a bike ped master plan 3) Request the local governments to jointly fund a major bike/ped update 4) Wait and include in the UPWP Commissioner Ketchel volunteered to have a workshop in her district.

11 August 16, 2018 Page 11 of 11 I. INFORMATION ITEMS (no presentations necessary): 1. ENCLOSURE L ALL COMMITTEES Ms MaryBeth Washnock TCC and CAC June Meeting Minutes O-W TPO June Actions Report FDOT Letter Modification to the FY Transportation Improvement Plan 5 th Annual Transportation Symposium Flyer 2018 O-W TPO Schedule Ms. Washnock urged members to attend the Project Priorities workshop on August 28 in Freeport if they were available. Ms. Washnock introduced CAC nominee, Mr. James Penrod from Walton County. Mr. Penrod said he is an avid cyclist and said he does not ride on the road anymore because it is too dangerous. This prompted him to wanting to become involved in the TPO process. He expressed his passion and interest in bike path alternatives/improvements. J. OTHER BUSINESS The next Okaloosa-Walton TPO meeting will be September 20, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the Walton County Courthouse in DeFuniak Springs, FL. The CAC will meet at 9:30 a.m. and the TCC will meet at 1:30 p.m. K. ADJOURNMENT at 4:10 pm. Stay up to date with TPO events and activities on Facebook: Questions? Ms. Jill Krug, Transportation Program Coordinator, at jill.krug@wfrpc.org