MPO AGENDA 5/1/14; ITEM I.C.3 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 2035 LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN (LRTP) UPDATE Richmond Area Metropolitan Planning Organization AGENDA DESCRIPTION: Due to significant changes in the cost, scheduling and scope of two projects listed in the current fiscally constrained 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan, it is necessary to amend the existing LRTP to ensure conformity with the FY12-15 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Amendments to the LRTP require a two-week public comment period prior to MPO approval of the amendments. Staff requests MPO approval to proceed with advertisement of public comment period for the proposed LRTP amendments. MPO ACTION REQUESTED Definition Amendments: Revisions to the 2035 LRTP update that have been submitted for public review and MPO action. Amendments primarily involve projects noted in the list of financially constrained projects (i.e., projects added or deleted and changes to project schedules, scope, etc.). Federal regulations for the MPO s planning and programming process define amendment as follows (see 23 CFR Part 450, Subpart A Transportation Planning and Programming Definitions; Section 450.104, Definitions): Amendment means a minor revision to a long-range statewide or metropolitan transportation plan, TIP or STIP that involves a major change to a project included in a metropolitan transportation plan, TIP, or STIP, including the addition or deletion of a project or a major change in project cost, project/project phase initiation dates, or a major change in design concept or design scope (e.g., changing project termini or the number of through traffic lanes). Changes to projects that are included only for illustrative purposes do not require an amendment. An amendment is a revision that requires public review and comment, redemonstration of fiscal constraint, or a conformity determination (for metropolitan transportation plans and TIPs involving non-exempt projects in non-attainment and maintenance areas). Project Details Chesterfield County: West Hundred Rd. (Rt. 10) widening from Bermuda Triangle Rd. to Old Bermuda Hundred Rd. (UPC 101020) On March 3, 2014, VDOT submitted a request to amend the FY12-17 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to revise the Rt. 10 widening project from Bermuda Triangle Rd. to Old Bermuda Hundred Rd. (UPC 101020) in Chesterfield County. Upon reviewing the details of the project, MPO, VDOT and County staffs determined that the proposed changes to the project scope and
Page 2 funding were significant enough to warrant an amendment of the 2035 fiscally constrained LRTP. Rt. 10 Widening LRTP Cost Estimate Project Scope Construction Time Band Current 2035 $15,875 Proposed Amendment $45,210 Widening 4-6 lanes, Ware Bottom Rd. to Old Bermuda Hundred Rd. FY 12-17 *Widening 4-8 lanes, Bermuda Triangle Rd. to Old Bermuda Hundred Rd. FY 12-17 *Note: The project termini were listed incorrectly in the 2035 LRTP project description, this does not reflect a change in project length DRPT/GRTC: Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project In mid-march 2014, MPO staff was notified by GRTC staff that the Broad Street BRT project would be progressing more quickly than originally anticipated. Due to the accelerated construction schedule and need to fully fund the project through construction, an amendment to the LRPT was deemed to be warranted. The cost estimate listed in the 2035 LRTP reflects funding of the preliminary engineering (PE) phase only. The amended cost estimate reflects $43 million in additional funding to complete the project and includes federal, state and local match funds. LRTP Bus Rapid Transit- Broad Street Cost Estimate Project Scope Construction Time Band Current 2035 $7,000 Proposed Amendment $49,800 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Broad Street Corridor FY 18-23 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Broad Street Corridor FY 12-17 *Please see attachments for detailed project description, funding and scheduling information. 2035 Constrained LRTP Available Funding During development of the 2035 LRTP constrained list of projects, the decision was made by the LRTP Advisory Committee to leave a surplus balance of approximately $87.5 million in funds available for use in future LRTP adjustments/amendments. The additional funding required for the two projects above totals approximately $72.1 million, leaving a balance surplus of $15.4
Page 3 million available for future LRTP adjustments/amendments. The following table shows the revised balance of funds available for future adjustments/amendments: Funding Source Estimated Funds 2035 Constrained LRTP Funding Estimated Project Costs Amended Estimated Project Costs Revised Balance Maintenance $5,271,022 $5,271,022 $5,271,022 $0 Interstate $677,590 $677,590 $677,590 $0 Secondary System $71,783 $71,783 $71,783 $0 Statewide $797,347 $709,854 $781,989 $15,358 Transit Capital $314,585 $314,585 $314,585 $0 TOTAL $7,132,327 $7,044,834 $7,116,969 $15,358 Public Comment Period An amendment to the LRTP requires that a two-week period be provided to solicit public comments regarding the changes proposed to the plan. This comment period includes having notice advertised in local print media outlets with a week review period starting on the day these ads first appear. Notice must be provided in both one local newspaper of general circulation and one newspaper serving area minority populations. In addition, notice is posted on the RRPDC website, and notice is also distributed to the MPO s advisory committees and interested parties. Comments received during the review period will be noted and a staff response will be developed for each (similar comments may be grouped and a single staff response provided). Staff will then submit the public comments and staff responses to the MPO for consideration during final approval of the amendment. Amendment Schedule Below is a proposed schedule for the completion of the above amendments to the 2035 LRTP: April 15- TAC recommendation to proceed with LRTP amendments. May 1- MPO action authorized, staff to proceed with public review for the proposed amendment. May 12- Notice placed on RRPDC website, distributed to TAC, CTAC, EDAC and interested parties, and ads placed in local newspapers announcing public comment period. May 12- May 27- Public comment period.
Page 4 June 24- Staff report on comments received and staff response submitted to MPO. July 3- MPO consideration of public comments and action on proposed LRTP amendment. TAC COMMITTEE ACTION TAKEN: The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) took action at its April 15, 2014 meeting to recommend to the MPO to proceed with the proposed amendments to the 2035 LRTP for the two projects and to the LRTP s financial capacity analysis and to conduct public review of the proposed amendments prior to the MPO taking final action. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends MPO authorization to proceed with the proposed amendments to the 2035 LRTP/CMP Update showing full funding of the Route 10 widening and Broad Street BRT projects (utilizing a portion of the available funds currently shown as balance in the LRTP s financial capacity analysis), to conduct public review of the proposed amendments and to submit these proposed amendments, public comments and staff s response for review and action at the July 3 MPO meeting. MPO ACTION REQUESTED: The following resolution is presented for MPO review and action: RESOLVED, that the Richmond Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) authorizes proceeding with public review of proposed amendments to the MPO s 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)/Congestion Management Process (CMP) Update to show full funding for the following two projects: Route 10 (UPC 101020) widening project from Bermuda Triangle Rd. to Old Bermuda Hundred Rd., revise from a current funding level of $15,875,000 to $45,210,000. Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, revise from a current funding level of $7,000,000 to $49,800,000 and move project from the FY18-23 time-band to the FY12-17 time-band. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the MPO authorizes proceeding with public review of proposed amendments to the 2035 LRTP/CMP Update financial capacity analysis to provide for use of $72,135,000 from the available balance of funds to support these proposed additions and changes described above for the two projects. RS Attachments