OKALOOSA-WALTON TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION (TPO) MEETING MINUTES WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL (Designated staff) NICEVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER, 204 North Partin Drive; Niceville, FL August 16, 2012 Members Attending: Councilman Jim Wood, Chairman Councilman Charles Baugh, Jr. Commissioner Bill Roberts Councilwoman Robyn Helt Councilman Larry Williges Councilman C. H. Rigdon Councilman Dick Rynearson Bobby Griggs Ronald Stearns Commissioner Joe Morgan Others Attending: George Holland Jared Perdue Cory Wilkinson George Wagner John Hofstad Mary Beth Washnock Bob Baronti Elizabeth Schrey Dan Deanda Dorothy McKenzie City of Destin City of Crestview Okaloosa County City of Crestview City of Destin City of Mary Esther City of Valparaiso FDOT FDOT HDR ISP NFSC Okaloosa County Ride On A. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Wood called the meeting to order. Due to there being no quorum the meeting moved directly into the information items. 1. Update on P. J. Adams Parkway, PD&E Study/Environmental Assessment (Financial Project Number: 421997-1-28-01, ETDM 8210) Mr. Cory Wilkinson, of HDR Engineering, said he was speaking on behalf of Mr. Hofstad and Mr. Autry of Okaloosa County Public Works. The project was being done by Okaloosa County and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Mr. Wilkinson announced that there would be a public hearing held August 23, 2012, at the Crestview Community Center. There would be an informational briefing for the TPO. There was also to be a briefing for the City Council and the Board of County Commissioners. Mr. Wilkinson advised the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) had approved the draft for the environmental assessment for public availability. Copies of the assessment were made available at various locations. Public comments were being taken through September 7, 2012. The study area was between SR 85 and US 90, for the western bypass around the city. As identified in the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), capacity improvements were needed along the corridor. The PD&E process started in June 2010, and they were currently at the end of the PD&E process with the public hearing. When the PD&E study phase is completed, they environmental assessment
August 16, 2012 Page 2 packet will be sent to FHWA, with the public comments received. The FHWA will then decide whether to advance the project forward. The County has partially advanced the project into design, although there is presently no funding allocated for right-of-way or construction. Mr. Wilkinson said the project is identified in the Cost Feasible Plan and LRTP for planning; however, not for construction. Mr. Wilkinson reviewed alternatives considered in the environmental assessment. Alternative 1 Identifying Old Antioch Road. It was agreed with FHWA to eliminate the alternative. Alternative 2 Began at P. J. Adams Pkwy. at SR 85, continuing north to US 90 widening from two to four lanes. Alternative 3 Follow the same corridor as Alternative 2, until reaching Arena Road, and then construct a new corridor from Arena Road north, connecting at Old Bethel Road Alternative 3 was presented at the public information two years ago, and there was feedback about the intersection at Arena and Antioch Roads. This alignment would result in one residential relocation. Based on the public information meeting, they designed the intersection to avoid the residential relocation. Alternatives 3 and 3A retain Antioch Road in its current two lane configuration. Alternative 2 was the most expensive alternative, 3A would be the least expensive. The estimated cost of Alternative was $98.9 million, and $95.3 million for Alternative 3A. The County recommended Alternatives 3 and 3A. B. PUBLIC FORUM Chairman Wood called for speakers. There being no speakers the public forum was closed. C. CONSENT AGENDA A quorum was established and the meeting proceeded to the action items. Approval of Consent Agenda: Chairman Wood called for a vote on the consent agenda. 1. Approval of June 21, 2012 Meeting Minutes 2. Consideration of Resolutions O-W 12-16 and O-W 12-17 to Endorse the 2012 Okaloosa County and Walton County Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan (TDSP) Annual Updates Councilman Baugh moved to approve the consent agenda, Commissioner Roberts seconded, and the consent agenda was unanimously approved.
August 16, 2012 Page 3 D. ACTION ITEMS 1. Destin Airport Letter Chairman Wood presented a letter regarding the air control tower that was proposed to go into Destin as the #2 priority for the Destin Airport in 2014. He stated he was present at an Airport safety workshop in Destin. At the workshop he learned from the airport director, that FAA funding may be cut. The letter was to be addressed to the FAA, the national congressional delegation, the state delegation, and the county commissioners. Mr. Tracy Stage, the acting airport director for Okaloosa County, drafted the letter for Chairman Wood s signature. Securing the tower is a safety issue in Destin. Chairman Wood said they could approve the content of the letter in which case he would be sure the correct addressees were added to the letter. He stated the CAC asked him to go back to Eglin and speak to their controllers to be sure they were in sync. The controllers and the Air Force would have to coordinate between towers because they would only be 4-1/2 miles apart. Mr. Williges moved to approve the letter with Councilman Wood s signature, Mr. Rynearson seconded. After further discussion a vote was taken. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Consideration of Approval of Title VI Assurances and Presentation of Annual Title VI Staff Training Ms. Washnock advised the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires action. She said there had been additional staff training this year. A poverty solutions training was held. A gentleman had come from Washington D. C., who was over Title VI for the FHWA to ensure Title VI was being following according to specifications by FHWA. Councilman Baugh moved to authorize the TPO Chairman to sign Title VI Annual Assurances; Commissioner Roberts seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. 3. Consideration of Letter of Support for Ride On Commuter Assistance Program Mr. Deanda presented the item. He stated the Ride On Program oversees ten counties. He reported the program accommodates all parties. The number to call for assistance is 1-800-342-5557. The program has 27 vanpools serving the communities. The vanpools provide service to the military. Mr. Stearns asked how the WAVE program was being affected. Commissioner Roberts said the WAVE was being considered for cuts in the budget. The route under consideration for cuts was from Crestview to Ft. Walton. He suggested the Ride On program would assist in helping those losing service on the WAVE. Mr. Deanda said the Ride On Program needed to know more about what was happening to the WAVE, as they could help solve transportation problems. Mr. Deanda said at a prior meeting Chairman Woods had asked about transportation in Destin, and that he was working on a report with information on the Destin projects. Commissioner Roberts moved to authorize the TPO Chairman to sign a letter of support for the Ride On Commuter Assistance Program; Councilman Rigdon seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
August 16, 2012 Page 4 E. REVIEW/INFORMATION ITEMS 1. Review of Draft Project Priorities for FY 2014 FY 2018 Ms. Schrey reviewed the draft of the priorities. This was the first year they were doing priorities since adopting the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). In the new LRTP they phased projects out. Some projects were funded all the way to construction in the LRTP, and some were not. The TPO approved the following changes to the draft: Table 2: Non-SIS Projects is re-numbered as shown below 1A. State Road 123 North of State Road 85 South to North of Toms Creek 1B. State Road 123 North of Toms Creek to North of Turkey Creek 2. Area Wide Traffic Signal System 3. Advanced Traffic Management System Enhancements 4. Destin Cross Town Connector 5. Annual Bicycle and Pedestrian Project Funding (1) Antioch Road Sidewalks (2a) Aplin Road Sidewalks (2b) North Avenue Sidewalks (2c) Long Drive Sidewalks (3) Rocky Bayou Sidewalks The remainder of the list will be renumbered accordingly. Table 8: Enhancement Projects A. Move Antioch Road sidewalks to # 1 B. Move Hutchinson Street sidewalks/multi-use trail to #2 C. Move Rocky Bayou Drive sidewalks to #3 Appendix B: Bicycle and Pedestrian Project Priority Table 1. Move Antioch Road sidewalks to #1 2. Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st Century (MAP-21), the New Transportation Bill Ms. Washnock said the RESTORE Act was part of the bill. MAP-21 takes the place of SAFETEA-LU. It was designed to create jobs and opportunities, getting the private sector involved with innovative financing. The TIFIA and freight programs are involved in the legislation. MAP-21 is reforming the programs by consolidating from 90 programs to 30 programs. Transportation enhancement, safe routes to schools, and recreational trails will be consolidated into one program called Transportation Alternatives. Safety is key in the legislation. The highway safety improvement program is doubling. The Federal Government is going to ask the states to set goals to reduce injuries and fatalities. The bill is performance driven, and all the departments within Transportation will be required to be accountable and transparent. The Federal Government will relate to the states what that means, and filtered down to the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO). Ms. Washnock related that transit may receive more operating dollars. The bill is a two-year bill, and expires October 1, 2014.
August 16, 2012 Page 5 3. Impact of 2010 Census on Northwest Florida Urbanized Areas Ms. Washnock stated the item involved MPO designations and boundaries. The population information is from the 2010 census. Ms. Washnock indicated where the metropolitan area and the Federal Highway boundaries are located. The Eglin Air Force base is located within the TPO area, and takes up a sizable amount of land mass. 4. Letter from Secretary Barfield Ms. Schrey advised that she handed out a letter from Secretary Barfield regarding US 331. She informed members that during their September 2012 meeting, they would be adopting the project priorities and amending the Transportation Improvement Program with changes reflected in the letter. F. INFORMATION ITEMS PACKET Chairman Wood announced that the next meeting would be held September 20, 2012. The following items were listed in the agenda packet, and included in the Information Items packet. 1. 8-80 Cities Newsletter Excerpt 2. Curbing Distracted Driving Video Link 3. E-mail from Bill Howell Regarding Airport Road 4. MPOAC Institute Alternative Statistics 5. MPOAC Regarding Census Bureau ACS 6. MPOAC Request for State Transportation Trust Funds for TRIP 7. O-W TPO TIP Lead Agency Amendment 8. Highway 98 Widening Project FDOT Landscaping Grant 9. TIP Administrative Amendments G. OTHER BUSINESS Mr. George Holland stated that Secretary Barfield would be attending the September 20, 2012 meeting to discuss the US 331 project. Mr. Holland said effective August 20, 2012 they expected to be moving traffic on the SR 123 overpass. H. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business the meeting was adjourned. Approved by TPO Date: Signed: