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May 16, 2014

TPC Minutes 4/23/14

Download the PDF of the TECHNICAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES from April 23, 2014 at the Cape Girardeau Public Library – Cape Girardeau

Technical Planning Committee Members Present:
Ms. Elquin Auala, Missouri Department of Transportation
Mr. Rodney Bollinger, City of Jackson
Mr. Mike Brandon, Missouri Department of Transportation
Ms. Mandi Brink, Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority
Mr. Tom Caldwell, Illinois Department of Transportation
Mr. Drew Christian, Southeast Missouri Regional Planning & Economic Development
Commission
Mr. Steve Duke, Bootheel Regional Planning Commission
Mr. Ron Eskew, City of Scott City
Mr. Joe Killian, Missouri Department of Transportation
Mr. Mike Latuszek, Federal Highway Administration (via conference call)
Mr. Bruce Loy, City of Cape Girardeau
Mr. Brian Okenfuss, Missouri Department of Transportation
Mr. Larry Payne, Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce (Transportation Committee)
Mr. Matt Seiler, Missouri Department of Transportation

Staff Present:
Ms. Molly Hood, City of Cape Girardeau
Mr. Ryan Shrimplin, City of Cape Girardeau

Call to Order
Chairman Payne called the meeting to order at 11:02 a.m.

Introductions
The group went around the room, with each person giving a brief introduction. Jeff and Tracey
Glenn with the MoDOT consultant team were in attendance. Ms. Brink introduced Bob
Kielhofner as a member of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority Board of Directors.

Public Comments
There were no public comments.

Adoption of Agenda
The April 23, 2014 Technical Planning Committee Meeting Agenda was unanimously approved
for adoption upon motion made by Mr. Bollinger and seconded by Mr. Duke.
Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization

Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the April 9, 2014 Technical Planning Committee Meeting were unanimously
approved upon motion made by Mr. Christian and seconded by Ms. Brink.

Communications from the Chairman
There were no communications from the Chairman.

New/Unfinished Business
Mr. Glenn explained that MoDOT has requested that each RPC and MPO submit a letter stating
its organization’s position regarding taking transportation sales tax revenues “off the top” to fund
1) improvements to Interstate 70, and 2) operations for Amtrak. The amount for Interstate 70 is
estimated at $1.2 billion; the amount for Amtrak is estimated at $150-$300 million. The final
decision will be made by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. If the
decision is made to not take funds “off the top” for Interstate 70, then it will be up to the RPC’s
and MPO’s that have Interstate 70 within their planning area to make an allocation from the
funds their area receives. If funds are not taken “off the top” for Amtrak, then Amtrak will need
to continue its current practice of lobbying the state legislature annually for an appropriation
from the state’s general revenue fund. Mr. Christian made a motion to recommend that the
Board of Directors support taking transportation sales tax revenues “off the top” to fund
improvements to Interstate 70. Mr. Bollinger seconded the motion. The motion failed by
a vote of 2 in favor, 6 in opposition, and 0 abstaining. Mr. Bollinger made a motion to
recommend that the Board of Directors support taking transportation sales tax revenues
“off the top” to fund operations for Amtrak. Mr. Loy seconded the motion. The motion
failed by a vote of 1 in favor, 5 in opposition, and 2 abstaining.
The Committee then discussed the draft prioritized project list for the transportation sales tax.
Mr. Glenn stated that SEMPO should expect to receive roughly $100 million in funding if the tax
is passed by the voters in November. The Committee made several changes to the rankings in
the list. Improvements to Interstate 55 was assigned the top priority. The Committee
acknowledged that this project consists of several smaller projects that could be completed over
time. As such, the Committee directed staff to “give away” portions of the project, if necessary,
in order to gain funding for the other portions. If additional concessions need to be made, staff
is to start with the tenth ranked project and work upward. Mr. Bollinger made a motion to
recommend approval of the final prioritized project list to the Board of Directors. Mr.
Duke seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Other Communications
There were no other communications.

Adjournment
Upon motion made by Mr. Eskew and seconded by Ms. Brink, the Committee unanimously
voted to adjourn the meeting at 12:26 p.m.