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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION , THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (FHWA) REQUIRES THAT REVISIONS TO OUR URBAN AREA BOUNDARIES AND HIGHWAY FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMRESOLUTION WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires that revisions to our Urban Area Boundaries and the Highway Functional Classification System be made by each state acting through its state highway agency and the appropriate local officials or metropolitan planning organization acting in cooperation with each other; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Transportation in cooperation with the Augusta Georgia Planning and Development Department MPO, has conducted a review of the Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) Urbanized Area Boundary for the Census 2010 Urban Area Boundary Study; and NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Georgia Department of Transportation take the necessary steps to revise our Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) Urbanized Area and to adjust the Highway Functional Classification System in accordance with the FHWA Manual titled "Highway Functional Classification: Concepts, Criteria, and Procedures ". IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be furnished to the Georgia Department of Transportation. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the Augusta Regional Transportation Policy Committee adopted the foregoing resolution. This 6th day of December, 2012. CL e--/ ___-- Deke Copenhaver, Chairman, 1 "I P I Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) 1Z �/�2 Policy Committee Attest: / (3,,90, C Attest: AUGUSTA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING ROOM 803, MUNICIPAL BUILDING, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2012, 11:00 A.M. Voting Members present: Ron Cross, Chairman, Columbia Co. Commission, Vice- Chairman Larry Morris (representing Fred Cavanaugh, Mayor of Aiken) Skip Grkovic (representing Lark Jones, Mayor, North Augusta) George Patty (representing Deke Copenhaver, Mayor of Augusta, Chairman) Tom McQueen (representing Keith Golden, GA DOT Commissioner) Augusta Planning & Development Department Paul DeCamp Lynn Russell Juriah Lewis City of Augusta David Griffith Lower Savannah COG Dana Luttrull Aiken County Gerald Jefferson Voting Members absent: George James, Mayor of Grovetown Henry Taylor, SC - 2nd Congressional District Commissioner, Y2 vote Charles Dalton, SC - 3 District Highway Commissioner, Yz vote Robert Buchwitz, Chairman Hephzibah Commission 1. Consider approval of the minutes of the joint PC / TCC / CAC Committee held on September 6, 2012 Mr. Grkovic moved to approve the September 6, 2012 minutes. Mr. McQueen seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. Patricia Cole, Mayor of Blythe Ron Price (representing - Colonel Robert A. Barker - Fort Gordon) C. H. Williams, Mayor of Burnettown Stephen Strohminger (representing Ronnie Young, Chairman, Aiken County Council) GA DOT Andrew Heath Reuben Woods Vonda Everett Cissy McNure South Carolina DOT Kenny Larimore David Burgess 2. Consider approval of the draft FY 2014 UPWP Mr. DeCamp presented this item. As you know the UPWP is developed on a yearly basis for the next year. The process began last month for the 2014 UPWP which will run from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014. An eight page draft summary is attached to the agenda. This summary was presented to the TCC /CAC in November. The UPWP spells out the work elements that will be carried out for transportation planning activities. The work elements listed in the summary are very similar to the current UPWP. We will be working with a consultant in the near future on the update of the ITS Master Plan. The current ITS Master Plan was developed ten years ago. Technology has advanced significantly since then. Aiken County has special studies that are either wrapping up or are on- going as part of this UPWP. The annual update of the Transportation Improvement Program will be prepared along with the Congestion Management Process and the Intersection Accident Analysis, in addition to our administrative responsibilities. Changes to two or three of the LSCOG transit planning work elements are highlighted. Mrs. Luttrell explained that the changes reflect a decrease of about $37,000 for the LSCOG planning funds. Two grants have been combined to give a better accuracy of funding levels. Mr. Patty moved to approve the draft FY 2014 UPWP. Mr. Morris seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. 3. Consider amendment to the ARTS Policy and Procedure's Manual to add Transit Department Directors as voting members of the Policy Committee. Ms. Russell presented this item. Map -21 now requires Transit Department Directors to be voting members of the Policy Committee. We are requesting to amend the ARTS Policy and Procedures Manual to add the APT and LSCOG Directors as voting members of the Policy Committee. Mr. Grkovic moved to approve this amendment to the ARTS Policy and Procedures Manual. Mr. Patty seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. 4. Consider adoption of the ARTS Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Mr. DeCamp presented this item. One of the Certification Review recommendations made by FHWA and FTA in July of this year was to adopt a Continuity of Operations Plan or COOP. The ARTS Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) establishes procedures to ensure the operation of essential ARTS functions in the event of an emergency or disaster. A one page summary (attached to the agenda) summarizes the elements of the COOP. In addition to establishing procedures, the COOP outlines the chain of command and a contact list in the event of a emergency or disaster so we can assure our ARTS partners are safe, to begin with, and we can carry out essential functions until the emergency or disaster has passed. Mr. Cross asked if this COOP involves other agencies such as EMA providers and City personnel. All EMA and County personnel are included as necessary. Mr. Morris asked how this will tie into clocal government emergency plans already in place. 2 The intent is to coordinate with EMA providers and let them take the lead. We would be responsible for making sure our personnel in Augusta and /or Aiken and Columbia Counties are to carry out the ARTS activities. Mr. Cross asked who will head the coordinate of the Plan in the event of an emergency. It starts with the ARTS Project Director and works its way down depending on who is available to supervise essential ARTS activities. Mr. Patty moved to adopt the ARTS Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). Mr. Morris seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. 5. Presentation by the Georgia Department of Transportation on the Augusta Aerial Congestion Survey Mr. Heath presented this item. This is a new tool available to use in transportation planning in the State of Georgia. Planes flew the State and took aerial photographs of major roadways and intersections in the area. As part of the 2010 update, Augusta was photographed. Planes were flown at about 5000 feet equipped with cameras that took snapshots of the roads as they flew over them. The pictures were taken at the end of 2010. Thousands of images taken had to be reviewed and compiled to create this update. Some of the advantages include, a photogenic record for future comparisons; efficiency (unencumbered, fast moving); LOS, density, queue lengths and vehicle mix; you can see the full impact of congestion and this is a more common sense approach that can be understood by the public. Consultant firm Skycomp, from Maryland was hired to fly the skies and photograph the state. Aircrafts were used to fly one -hour tours for three hours, four mid -week morning and 4 evenings to get the average conditions for congestion. Midweek Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 6:30 am- 9:30am and from 4pm -7pm were chosen to get a general idea of the congestion. The major roads photographed in the Augusta region include I -20, I -520, Washington Road, Wrightsboro Road... all the major corridors. These photographic images were then translated into more technical metrics such as level of service. For interstates this is fairly straight forward process where you measure density...this is a mile long, how many cars are in that mile, then this is a LOS A as free flowing, LOS F is congested. It's a little more challenging on arterials due to traffic signals. The photo might show all the cars as lined up or stopped, which doesn't necessarily mean the arterial is not operating how you want it it to. They could be at intersections and traffic lights. A surrogate metric was created based on platooning the vehicles to understand the approximately level of service will be for that arterial corridor. All this information was used to create maps that are readily available on the GA DOT website, www. dot.ga.gov/ statistics /trafficsurvey /Pages /default.aspx 3 6. Presentation of the 2012 Congestion Management Process Mr. DeCamp presented the Georgia portion of this item. We are still not as high tech as GA DOT. ARTS staff continues to drive cars around using the GPS system. Last summer we completed our travel time surveys as part of the Congestion Management Process. Monitoring traffic flows on major road corridors is a key component of the ARTS transportation planning process. Each year ARTS staff members complete travel time runs on arterials and freeways in order to document the relative level of traffic congestion during weekday AM and PM peak periods. This information helps identify strategies and projects that can reduce or eliminate the traffic congestion. Some of the congestion mitigation projects are programmed into the ARTS LRTP and TIP, while others are implemented by local governments in the ARTS area. Collecting and processing the travel time data is relatively straightforward. A global positioning system (GPS) recording unit is activated at the start of the trip and the driver travels the length of a corridor while keeping pace with the traffic. The GPS files from each trip are then exported to a spreadsheet where each link of the route is timed and recorded. The average speed on each link and corridor is calculated and the deviation from the posted speed limit determines the relative level of congestion on each travel time run (see table below). The causes of congestion are noted by the driver and documented in the CMP report. Twenty -three (23) corridors were surveyed for the 2012 CMP; five (5) in Aiken County, six (6) in Columbia County and eleven (11) in Richmond County. Travel time data was collected during AM and PM peak periods during the months of March, April and May. Of the six Columbia County corridors surveyed, SR 223 / Robinson Avenue were the only one that was seriously congested in both the AM and PM commuting directions. This route feeds directly in to Fort Gordon Gate 2. Other routes with notable levels of congestion included Old Evans Road, Bobby Jones Expressway and parts of Washington Road. In Richmond County, Wheeler Road, Washington Road, 13 Street and the section of Wrightsboro Road in the vicinity of Augusta Mall were seriously congested in two or more time periods. Heavy traffic volumes, numerous cub cuts and the presence of many traffic generators are among the factors that contribute to congestion on these and other corridors. Mr. Jefferson presented the South Carolina portion of this item. Aiken County completed travel time surveys on five roads: Buena Vista Avenue, Laurens Street /SC 19, SC 118, Silver Bluff Road, and Whiskey Road. Two of the surveyed roads received at least one Seriously Congested (SC) classification in their corridor runs: Whiskey Road and Silver Bluff Road. The complete document is available for review on the ARTS website - http: / /www.augustaga.gov /index.aspx ?nid =680 7. Presentation on the ARTS Urbanized Area Boundaries Mr. DeCamp presented this item. Every ten years the Census redefines boundaries of all urbanized areas throughout the country. As a follow -up to the changes and in accordance with Federal Regulations, MPOs are given the opportunity to smooth the boundary lines of these urbanized areas. In doing so, this does not change the population for transportation planning purposes. The smoothing process not only allows us to create a smooth edge, but also, for the transportation planning process gives, us an indication of where the urbanized area is gradually shifting from rural 4 to urban. GA DOT has asked all the MPOs to go through this smoothing process and to adopt whatever boundaries are agreed upon. Again, this does not change the population of the urbanized area, but does give us some indication of where the trending is towards more urbanization. This can also give local governments an indication of where changes can be made in the Functional Classification of road segments that are included in this area. Richmond County's major roads are already functionally classified as urban. Columbia County's roads are still split between urban and rural. SC DOT in conjunction with their local governments has already gone through this smoothing process. This is requesting the Policy Committee to adopt the smooth urbanized area boundaries on the Georgia side only. This does not change the Study Area Boundary. Mr. Patty moved to adopt the revised urbanized area boundary for the Georgia portion of the ARTS. Mr. Morris seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. 8. Update on the Georgia Transportation Investment Act of 2010 (TSPLOST) Mr. DeCamp presented his item. Collection of the sales tax begins on January 1, 2013 and proceeds will begin to flow to cities and counties in the region in March 2013. The tax will be imposed until collections match the total estimated revenue, or at the end of 10 years, whichever comes first. The Georgia Department of Transportation is in the process of hiring a project manager to oversee the entire program, establishing the procedures for managing the program, coordinating with local governments. Four firms have been short - listed and interviews will be conducted in time to have project manager on board in January. Based on the meeting in November, GDOT has committed to project delivery and keeping the program moving along and implementing the projects in a timely manner. GDOT has requested local governments provide a list of projects on the investment list that would like to implement themselves by December 1St. December 15th is the deadline for Richmond County to set up the direct deposit for discretionary funds. 9. Status of Projects (a) Georgia Highways Mrs. Everett presented the status of Georgia highway projects. There are two projects to be let within the next three months - SR 47 / SR 223 and the Euchee Creek Multi -use trail Phase 3 are scheduled to be let in March 2013. I -520 / Bobby Jones Expressway between Gordon Highway and Deans Bridge Road will have congestion this week. There is currently one lane closed on one side and now there will be a lane closed on each side causing severe congestion. Take alternate routes and try to avoid this area as much as possible. • PI# 250510 - Wrightsboro Road widening from Dyess Parkway to the I - 520 Ramps - Reeves Construction Company has been awarded the contract for this project. Construction work has not begun, but they are working on surveys. • PI# 250620 - William Few Parkway - Let date has been pushed back to April 2013. Out of 19 parcels of right -of -way to purchase one has been acquired and sixteen have options pending. Mr. Cross stated Columbia County approved 16 at their meeting on Tuesday. PI# 0006431 - SR 56 - 82% right -of -way has been acquired. Let date is holding for April 2013. 5 (b) SC Highways Mr. Larimore presented this item. SC DOT sent an email with the following updates: • Silver Bluff Road improvements - final public information meeting was conducted Sept 18. A summary of comments will be presented at the next ARTS SC Policy Subcommittee meeting. Aiken City Council will have to approve the Municipal Agreement for the location of the detention pond. ROW is scheduled to take 12 months and will begin in the winter 2013. Construction is scheduled to begin in the winter of 2014. • SC 19 (Whiskey Road) Drainage - SC DOT staff met with Aiken Public Works Director, Mr. Larry Morris and Mr. Hildebrand, the City's consultant on August 16th. The consultant is currently working on plan revisions as a result of the comments received at the meeting. • US 25 / Walnut Lane - the preconstruction meeting was held on July 11th • Exit 5 Park & Ride Lot - A meeting was held with the City of North Augusta and local industries to present the design and discuss the remaining schedule. SC DOT and North Augusta are drafting a financial participation and maintenance agreement. A January 2013 let date is anticipated for this project. • SC 126 / Clearwater Road - A scoping meeting for the project was held in February 2012. Surveys are near completion. (c) Augusta Public Transit There was no one from Mobility present to provide an update on Augusta Public Transit. (d) Aiken County Transit Mrs. Luttrell presented this item on behalf of LSCOG. Ridership on the Best Friend Express remains steady at this time. Three shelters have recently been wrapped with the BFE logos. They are located at the hospital, university, and housing authority. During the first quarter of the new fiscal year LSCOG paid our fixed route provider (Aiken Area Council on Aging, or AACOA) a fuel escalation supplement of $4,108 for the months of July, August and September. This extra money for higher fuel prices will be in place for this fiscal year only as it was a special federal program we applied for and it is not clear if the FTA will offer it again. The Limited English Proficiency (LEP) plan is now fully implemented for the transit system and Spanish language schedules have been widely distributed during this last quarter. The annual National Transit Database (NTD) reporting was recently completed for transit data performed during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. The Best Friend Express fixed route system provided 23,788 passenger trips for the year and there were an additional 3,536 trips provided for the ADA passengers who were unable to access the fixed routes but were eligible for transportation based on their disability and their proximity to the fixed routes. 6 10. Status of Special Studies (a) City of Aiken and Aiken County Special Studies Mr. Jefferson presented this item. The Northside Transportation Study wasadopted by the Aiken City Council in November. The Dougherty Road corridor study consulting contract was awarded to the firm URS out of Columbia. Two public input meetings have been held over the past three weeks. URS engaged the approximately 75 people in attendance to see how they want this corridor improved. Focus group meetings were also held. The budget is $90,000 and is proposed to last 10 months. Aiken County selected DRMP out of Columbia to conduct the SC 19 Corridor Study. Contract negotiations are underway. The budget is $140,000 and the proposed schedule will be 12 months. Some of the elements to be examined along the corridor are safety, aesthetics, intersection improvements, access management, potential redevelopment around the Exit 18 interchange, and preserving open and green space. Hitchcock Parkway is another study being conducted. Public information meetings have been held. The majority of people are in agreement something needs to be done, but not sure what. (b) ITS Master Plan Mr. DeCamp presented this item. The current Regional Intelligent Transportation Management Plan dates back to 2002. A lot of changes have occurred with technology and priorities and a lot of things that have happened locally with regard to monitoring traffic and the installation of the adaptive signal systems. The procurement process is complete and the Augusta Commission approved the award of the contract to URS out of Atlanta. Negotiations on the contract should wrap up soon and a Notice to Proceed will be issued the first of the year. A new study we are considering under the Special Studies work element is to fine tune and update the Congestion Management Process and to find a better way to compile the information and reporting this information to local traffic engineers so they find ways to address the problems. 10. Update on Air Quality Initiatives: (a) Aiken County Mr. Jefferson presented this item. The Park and Ride project is anticipated to be let in January 2013. A final participation and maintenance agreement is being drafted with the City of North.Augusta. A meeting was held by North Augusta and local industries to present the design and discuss the remaining schedule. (b) Richmond County Mr. DeCamp presented this item. In terms of the exceedences of the air quality standard that Georgia EPD monitors, over the course of this season we have had five exceedences of the 8 -hour ozone standard and two of the fine particulate matter. All of these occurred earlier in the summer. There have been any since the end of June. August being so wet was to our advantage. We are tracking any possible changes to the PM 2.5 standard because we are fairly close to exceeding the current standards on a regular basis. As always, we will keep you informed as developments occur regarding air quality rules and regulations. 7 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. George A. Patty Project Director