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TECHNICAL PLANNING COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

May 4, 2016

Osage Centre – Cape Girardeau

Technical Planning Committee Members Present:

Mrs. Elquin Auala, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

Mr. Rodney Bollinger, City of Jackson

Mr. Mike Brandon, Missouri Department of Transportation

Mr. Drew Christian, Southeast Missouri Regional Planning & Economic Development

Commission (SEMO RPC)

Ms. Beth Glaus, Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO University)

Mr. Curtis Jones, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)

Mr. Joe Killian, Missouri Department of Transportation

Mr. Mike Latuszek, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)(via conference call)

Mrs. Eva Voss, Missouri Department of Transportation (via conference call)

Mrs. Kelley Watson, Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority (CTA)

Staff Present:

Mr. Alex McElroy, City of Cape Girardeau

Mr. Ryan Shrimplin, City of Cape Girardeau

Call to Order

Chairwoman Watson called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m.

Introductions

The group went around the room, with each person giving a brief introduction.

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

Adoption of Agenda

The agenda of the May 4, 2016 Technical Planning Committee Meeting was unanimously approved for adoption upon motion made by Mr. Christian and seconded by Mr. Bollinger.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the April 6, 2016 Technical Planning Committee Meeting were unanimously approved upon motion made by Mr. Bollinger and seconded by Mr. Christian.

The minutes of the April 18, 2016 Technical Planning Committee Meeting were unanimously approved upon motion made by Mr. Christian and seconded by Mr. Bollinger.

Communications from the Chairwoman

There were no communications from the Chairwoman.

New/Unfinished Business

Mr. Shrimplin reported that no comments were received during the public comment period for FY 2016-2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Amendment No. 1. Mr. Bollinger made a motion to recommend approval of FY 2016-2019 TIP Amendment No. 1 to the Board of Directors.  Mr. Christian seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Shrimplin presented the latest draft of the FY 2017 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).  He stated the financial tables have been finalized and a section has been added for the regional bicycle and pedestrian plan.  Mr. Christian made a motion to release the draft FY 2017 UPWP for public comment.  Mr. Bollinger seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Shrimplin presented the latest draft of the Public Participation Plan amendment.  The group discussed raising the cap for a change in a project’s total programmed amount (i.e. the “delta”) for a TIP administrative modification.  Mr. Latuszek indicated that the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) TIP is changing to a 15% cap on the federal share of the project’s programmed amount rather than the total.  SEMPO could do the same.

Member Reports

Mr. McElroy reported that the City of Cape Girardeau has started on neighborhood street repairs, funded by the fifth Transportation Trust Fund (TTF-5).

Mr. Bollinger stated work on the US-61/East Main Street roundabout in downtown Jackson will begin next week.

Mrs. Watson indicated the CTA and SEMO University have executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the purchase of transit vehicles.  The original MOU has been modified to include capital expenses.  An addendum has also been executed, which states the amount of funding to be received from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for FFY 2016 and the distribution between the CTA and SEMO University.

Ms. Glaus mentioned that SEMO University will be preparing a parking master plan next year.

Mr. Christian stated Zahner and Associates gave a presentation on LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to the SEMO RPC Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC).  He is working to have Zahner and Associates give the same presentation to the SEMPO Board of Directors.  LIDAR is a scanning system that generates 3-D models with measurable points.  It has a wide range of applications, and could be incorporated into a future UPWP.

Mr. Killian announced that MoDOT is proposing to eliminate three programs as part of the 2017-2021 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP): the Small Urban Surface Transportation Program (STP) for Small Cities, the On-System Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program for Large Cities, and the On-System Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program for Small Cities.  The federal mandate for these programs ended years ago, but MoDOT continued them anyway.  The funds for these programs (approximately $10 million) are proposed to be reallocated to the STIP to maintain the state transportation system.  If the programs are eliminated, cities will have three years to spend any remaining funds.  A public comment period will be held from May 11 to June 10, 2016.

Mrs. Auala stated MoDOT will begin accepting applications for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) in September or October.  She added she anticipates there will be changes to the program.

Mr. Brandon reported that work on the US-61/East Main Street roundabout in downtown Jackson will begin on May 10, 2016.  There will also be lane closure on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge for cable repairs.  The shoulder on MO-34 will be widened from MO-72 to Marble Hill.  Also, a girder on I-55 will be repaired.  In response to a question from Mr. Bollinger, Mr. Brandon indicated the letting for the sidewalk improvements on US-61 in Jackson is scheduled for May 20, 2016.

Mr. Jones announced the application deadlines for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) are June 15, 2016 and June 17, 2016, respectively.

Mr. Latuszek mentioned he recently gave a presentation to CAMPO entitled “MPO 101”.  He would like to give the same presentation to SEMPO in the near future.

Other Business and Communications

There were no other business and communications.

Adjournment

Upon motion made by Ms. Glaus and seconded by Mr. Jones, the Committee voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 12:10 p.m.