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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-2021 Policy Board Meeting MinutesFranklin County Planning Department 272 North Second Street Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: 717-261-3855 Fax: 717-264-8667 Email: planning@franklincountypa.gov FRANKLIN COUNTY METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION POLICY BOARD MEETING November 18, 2021 - Meeting Minutes I.Welcome and IntroductionChairman Sam Cressler called the meeting to order at 10:10 AM. II.Meeting Minutes – August 19, 2021 A motion to approve the August 19th minutes was made by Bob Ziobrowski and seconded by Allen Coffman. There were no objections. III.Presentations a.Capital Improvement Program Bill Kick from HRG presented about the Capital Improvement Program for Franklin County. This included an overview of the County-owned bridge inventory, current issues, and possible funding solutions. Bridges 130 and 131 were recommended for full replacement by HRG for addition to the 2023-2026 TIP. David Keller asked how old the two bridges are, Bill will follow-up. The bridges are not at a posted weight limit yet, but are structurally deficient. If the bridges are rehabilitated rather than replaced, there will not be a return on investment. The ADT on these bridges is about 1,100 per day, which is a high volume road and is a by-pass route for Lincoln Way. During construction, the bridges will be done at the same time and a detour would be put in place. IV.New Businessa.Long Range Transportation Plan Update (LRTP)Brian Funkhouser gave an update on the LRTP. The next steering committee meeting is scheduled for 1/24/2022. The LRTP narrative is currently being developed. b.US Bike Route 11 Designation and Study Brian Funkhouser introduced the bike study to the MPO. The MPO is seeking to investigate the suitability of a spur extending northward from Chambersburg into Shippensburg for a possible connection with the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, which would provide a 9.5-mile extension to Newville. The new route would complement existing routes in Pennsylvania, including USBR 50; USBR 36 (US 6); and USBR 30. The MPO is performing an evaluation of the proposed corridors to determine their suitability for cross- state bicyclists, and to identify either alternative routes or improvements needed to offer safe and meaningful riding experiences through Franklin County. Brad Graham asked if this route is being looked at as an alternative transportation route, Laurel said this is meant to be recreational for more experienced riders. Sam Cressler asked if the MPO Staff and Michael Baker were aware of the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail efforts underway? Laurel responded that those will be taken into consideration during the plan development. c.Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) AdoptionKenana Korkutovic provided an overview of the 2022-2024 UPWP, effective July 1, 2022 to June 30,2024. This is a formal document that outlines transportation planning activities for Franklin County,including day to day operations. Sam Cressler asked how these documents interact with the Interstate TIP. Nate Walker responded thatPennDOT District 8-0 works on the interstate prioritization list and that planning partners are invited to the Interstate Steering Committee meetings. This group meets in a similar fashion as the MPO. A motion to approve the 2022-2024 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) was made by DavidMackley and seconded by Allen Coffman. There were no objections. d.Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan AdoptionKenana Korkutovic provided a brief overview of the Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan.Michael Baker gave a presentation during the August 2021 MPO meeting on the plan findings and a copyof the final plan was provided in the agenda packet. A motion to approve the Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan was made by Beth Ravesand seconded by John Thierwechter. There were no objections. e.Draft 2023-2026 TIPNate Walker reviewed the Draft 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). A copy wasprovided in the agenda packet. Exit 12 will consume a majority of the highway funds at this point in time.There will be a $4 billion increase statewide from the infrastructure bill, but FHWA and PennDOT are still working through the funding streams. More information on the infrastructure bill will come at a laterdate. Greg Lambert asked when SR 997 will be paved. Nate said the let date for this project is currently6/9/2022, and construction will occur in 2023. The bridge improvement on SR 997 is a box culvertreplacement. David Mackely asked if Bridges 130 and 131 from Bill Kick’s presentation were on thedraft TIP, Nate responded yes. f.Transit Reporti.Matt Boyer from Commuter Services provided an update on Commuter Services. They have beeninvolved in several outreach efforts, especially at job fairs. In October 2021, 82 people joined the program and there were about 5,000 trips tracked in the month. At the last SRTP Board ofDirectors meeting, Franklin County’s population increased in the census data from 5.97% to6.41%. Sam Cressler asked for Commuter Services materials to be sent to the municipalities, a follow-up email will include this. V.Administrative Businessa.Exit 12 UpdateJeff Puher provided an update on the upcoming Exit 12. PennDOT is working on right of way and withthe utility company. The project let date is scheduled for February 2024, and the project is expected totake 2.5 to 3 years to complete. b.Staff Reports – Kenana Korkutovici.2022 MPO Meeting DatesThe 2022 MPO Policy Board and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting dates wereprovided in the agenda packet. Kenana asked the Policy Board to forward names of individuals who could fill vacancies on the Policy Board and TAC. •Policy Board – Bicycle and Pedestrian Representative •TAC – Township Representative and Community Organization Representative A motion to approve the 2022 meeting dates was made by Bob Ziobrowski and seconded by Allen Coffman. There were no objections. ii.2022 MPO WorkshopA workshop will be held on Friday, January 28, 2022, to discuss the I-81 Improvement StrategyFindings and for PennDOT to provide Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) education. The workshop will be from 9 to 11 AM in the Franklin County Administration Building. Nodecisions will be made at this meeting, it is discussion/educational only. iii.2022 Safety Performance MeasuresThe 2022 Performance Measures (PMs) were attached to the agenda packet. We approve PMsevery year and go by the targets PennDOT provides. The MPO has the option to set their own safety targets, but no other MPO in the state does this and we have never done so either. Amotion to approve will be made during the February 2022 meeting. iv.TIP ModificationsA copy was provided in the agenda packet. Sam Cressler mentioned the Highway Performance Manual and asked if PennDOT or FHWAdoes calculations on the capacity of I-81 on a regular basis or if it needs to be requested? Natewill follow-up with this after corresponding with the Planning and Research team at PennDOT.Sam suggested to the group to ask PennDOT to do a study to look into the capacity of I-81 to seeif the levels are acceptable and how to maintain them. Nate suggested holding off on a motion for a study until reviewing the I-81 Widening Study and other already available documents. Nate willlook into where the MPO would need to direct their request, if necessary. VI.Future Meetingsa.January 20, 2022 – FCMPO TAC Meeting at 9:30 AMb. January 28, 2022 – MPO Workshop: I-81 Improvement Strategy and TIP Education, 9-11 AM c.February 17, 2022 – FCMPO Policy Board Meeting at 10 AM VII.Public CommentThere was no public comment. VIII.AdjournmentA motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Brad Graham and seconded by David Mackley. Therewere no objections.