Approval of Consent Agenda: Chairman Hofstad called for a motion to approve the consent agenda. The following item was included in the consent agenda:

Transcription

1 OKALOOSA-WALTON TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION (TPO) TECHNICAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE (TCC) MEETING MINUTES WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL (Designated Staff) NICEVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER, 204 North Partin Drive; Niceville, FL JUNE 21, 2012 Members Attending: John Hofstad, Chairman Lani Birchett Eric Davis Greg Scoville, Vice Chairman Hank Woollard Stella Jones Latilda Henninger Wanda Cruttenden Buddy Wright Greg Graham Lois Hoyt Joel Paul Advisory Members: Jim DeVries George Holland Glen Lattanze Others Attending: Randy Showers Mary Robinson Bob Baronti Mary Beth Washnock Elizabeth Schrey Christy Johnson Dan Deanda Dorothy McKenzie Okaloosa County Okaloosa County City of Crestview City of DeFuniak Springs City of Destin City of Ft. Walton Beach City of Freeport City of Niceville Walton County Walton County Midbay Bridge Authority Tri County Community Council FDOT FDOT Hurlburt Field Okaloosa County West Florida Regional Planning Council A. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Hofstad called the meeting to order. B. PUBLIC FORUM Chairman Hofstad called for speakers. There were no speakers for the public forum. C. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Consent Agenda: Chairman Hofstad called for a motion to approve the consent agenda. The following item was included in the consent agenda: Approval of April 19, 2012 Meeting Minutes

2 JUNE 21, 2012 Page 2 Mr. Scoville moved to approve the consent agenda. Ms. Henninger seconded the motion, and the motion was unanimously approved. D. ACTION ITEMS 1. Consideration of Resolution O-W to Adopt the FY Transportation Improvement Program Mr. Baronti called Ms. Schrey to present the item. Ms. Schrey said the item was on the last agenda as a draft, and no comments were received since that date. The CAC recommended the TPO adopt the plan. Ms. Henninger moved to recommend that the TPO authorize the TPO Chairman to sign Resolution O-W to adopt the FY Transportation Improvement Program; Mr. Scoville seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Election of Chair and Vice Chair for FY Mr. Baronti reported that the nominating committee met regarding the membership certifications. Mr. Scoville advised the committee consisted of Ms. Birchett, Ms. Jones, and himself. The committee recommended that Ms. Latilda Henninger be nominated for Chair, and Ms. Stella Jones nominated for Vice Chair. Ms. Cruttenden moved to elect Ms. Latilda Henninger as Chair and Ms. Stella Jones as Vice Chair for FY 2013; Mr. Graham seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. E. REVIEW/INFORMATION ITEMS 1. Ride On Commuter Services-Results of Statewide Survey Completed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida Mr. Baronti called on Mr. Deanda to speak. Mr. Deanda stated that the survey was for the vanpool and carpool program. He advised that staff serves ten counties and answers transportation questions for various programs. The district s program was voted number one in the state. CUTR conducted the survey, calling and asking about citizen awareness of the program. Presently they have 26 vanpools. The survey revealed that some of the commutes are as long as 120 miles round trip for work. Mr. Deanda said there is a need to extend transit into Eglin Air Force Base. From an survey regarding the subject they received over 2,000 responses in two hours, requesting Okaloosa Transit go into Eglin. There is not enough funding to facilitate transit into Eglin, hence the need for van and carpools. Mr. Deanda said there is a need for more park and ride lots in conjunction with car and vanpooling. The state of the economy is creating a greater need for them. Ms. Henninger asked how the programs were funded. Mr. Deanda said there are different types of funding sources. The Sandestin Beach project was funded by employers, and they were the first program in Florida to pay 100% of the cost. Under other programs the employee pays one-half of

3 JUNE 21, 2012 Page 3 the cost. 2. TPO FY 2011/2012 Progress Report on Implementation of the Regional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Plan (2010) Ms. Christy Johnson presented the item, stating that during September 2010 the TPO adopted a regional ITS plan. The regional plan included review of all the ITS networks developed by each TPO, and recommendations for improvements were made. Ms. Johnson reviewed progress of events since the adoption of the plan in The overall vision of the plan was to take the networks of each TPO and connect them regionally. The plan included a future vision map of the regional network, which had been modified to indicate events in the Okaloosa-Walton TPO area. The map indicated existing ITS and ITS network made up of wireless and some fiber optic technology. Ms. Johnson explained other features shown on the map including camera locations. There is a traffic management center in Shalimar, and recommendations were made to improve the center. Ms. Johnson said the Florida-Alabama TPO has a signal timing subcommittee, and they are developing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to implement recommendations in the plan to have a joint Traffic Management Center. DOT operates a regional Traffic Management Center in Pensacola for the freeway system, covering Escambia County along Interstates 10 and 110, and 12 miles into Santa Rosa County. Ms. Johnson stated that since 2010 the Mid Bay Bridge crossing had been completed with fiber optics. This allowed for incident management and evacuation surveillance over the bridge. Some wireless communication installations were done. Over 90% of the signals are connected to the system in Okaloosa County. Okaloosa County also completed a signal timing project along SR 20 in Niceville, creating improved travel time. In Bay County, the county added 21 intersections to the system since 2010, as well as one remote weather information system. F. INFORMATION ITEMS PACKET Mr. Baronti advised the information packet was available online. The packet included the following items: 1. O-W TPO Meeting Schedule for Remainder of Project Priorities Workshop Flyer 3. SR 85 and SR 123 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Update 4. from Mr. Cory Wilkinson, HDR, Inc., Federal Highway (FHWA) regarding Location Design Concept Acceptance and signed the Finding of No Significant Impact on the SR 123 project Summary of State Legislation from Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council (MPOAC) 6. Letter to Chairman Boxer and Mica and Ranking Members Inhofe and Rahall from National Association of Regional Councils (NARC)

4 JUNE 21, 2012 Page 4 G. Other Business 1. Ms. Johnson reported that earlier that day the CAC requested the ITS presentation be presented to them. Regarding the Walton County Joint Participation Agreement (JPA), the CAC discussed, and made a motion that Okaloosa and Walton counties collaborate on development of ITS in Walton County, and that there be a sharing of the expertise of Okaloosa County. There was $100,000 to develop the system, and the CAC asked that the remaining funds be used for capital purchases. The CAC recommended these items be brought to the TPO. Chairman Hofstad asked if the CAC was only asking for shared expertise. Mr. Graham said the draft JPA he reviewed was between the county and DOT, and had specific requirements. Mr. Baronti said the CAC wanted Mr. Showers to do the Walton County work also, so they wouldn t have to hire a consultant. Ms. Johnson said they discussed it because Okaloosa County had built a system from the ground up, and had expertise Walton County could benefit from. Mr. Graham stated that the intent behind the JPA with DOT was to have the dollars to work on it in Walton County. He said in Walton County currently there was no real ITS. Mr. DeVries said $100,000 does not go a long way either in hiring an engineer, or hiring a consultant for traffic engineering. He asked if Walton County was planning on using the $100,000 to hire a traffic engineer to do signal timings. He asked what the scope called for. Mr. Graham related that when they first heard about it the intent was to bring on a traffic operations person who could champion the transportation needs of the county. The intent was also to focus on the ITS, doing various traffic operational studies. The JPA then became tweaked whereby it may be problematic to bring on a traffic ops. He stated $100,000 doesn t go far, but it would be utilized for the same purpose. Mr. DeVries said there was statewide discussion as to how the money can be used. Mr. Graham said he was trying to understand what the CAC s recommendation was. Chairman Hofstad said they have a commitment to work with neighboring counties, and would share lessons learned. He further stated that they would be stepping out of their realm to act in a consultant capacity, and that there were already area consultants. In order for Okaloosa to convey to Walton s staff what they learned over the years in managing their own program; they would make Mr. Showers available. He did not see a need for a motion as they had their commitment to work with them and help in any way that they can. He said Mr. Showers was more than willing to work with Walton County. Chairman Hofstad stated Okaloosa County should not be making recommendations on behalf of Walton County. Ms. Robinson said there was talk about Mr. Showers doing the job. She said the motion was more general than what was presented during the discussions.

5 JUNE 21, 2012 Page 5 Mr. Showers said that the traffic operations staff for FDOT District 3 in Chipley was very knowledgeable as to what occurred in Okaloosa County, and that they would be the source of information. He said they were in charge of the funding process, so they should be contacted for the expertise as well. Mr. Showers said he would assist in that capacity to help and build a system. Ms. Johnson said the motion stipulated that the two counties work together. Chairman Hofstad said they didn t need a motion by the TCC to reinforce what they were already committed to doing. Mr. Baronti said there was to be cooperation as good neighbors and stewards; however, Okaloosa County did not want to be a consultant for another county. Mr. DeVries said Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, as a two-county TPO area, are putting priority of funding on ITS. They don t have what Okaloosa and Bay counties have. In the scope they are developing currently, they are discussing that it may be a regional center that operates the signals in both counties together. Mr. DeVries continued to say that they were doing that now with operations with signal timings. They have a contract with the City of Pensacola, and they are doing signal timings for the two-county area. He said there could be savings operating under a regional premise. The freeway system was a two-county system, funded by DOT, and they had a regional center handling ITS for a two-county area. Chairman Hofstad stated the process starts with Walton County requesting interlocal agreement with Okaloosa County. He said if that happens they bring it back to the TCC for the TCC s endorsement. He thought they were a step ahead of themselves. He said Okaloosa was committed to working with Walton County. He did not see a need for action as they were already committed. Mr. Scoville asked that staff convey that to the TPO. Ms. Henninger said the counties worked together and someone could ask Mr. Showers or Mr. Hofstad a question, or have a meeting to discuss issues. She thought it was premature to vote. Chairman Hofstad said if there were savings to be realized they were in support of working together. He felt Walton County had to initiate action to Okaloosa County, requesting some type of interlocal arrangement to manage ITS for the two-county area. After that step it could be taken back to the TCC for endorsement. Mr. Showers suggested going to DOT District 3 for guidance. He also suggested Walton County develop the JPA, and get somebody on board to take action. Mr. Showers stated they would receive assistance from Okaloosa County through his expertise in managing the system. Chairman Hofstad said to use their resources as well. 2. Ms. Schrey announced there were two public workshops scheduled for Project Priorities for the public. One workshop was to be held July 17, 2012 at the Freeport Community Center from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The other workshop was to be held July 19, 2012 at the Niceville Community Center from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Ms. Schrey advised there would be a combined TPO and advisory committees workshop for project

6 JUNE 21, 2012 Page 6 priorities July 19, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Niceville Community Center. 3. Mr. Lattanze commented that Colonel Slife, the commander at Hurlburt and the rest of Hurlburt, wanted to thank the TCC, Okaloosa County, Walton County, and FDOT for their support on the interchange project at their front gate. He said it was funded, and they were doing utility project work presently. Next year they expect to break ground on the road. H. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business the meeting was adjourned. Approved by TCC Date: Signed: