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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-24-2012 - 8dORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 24, 2012 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Resolution Requesting Representation on the Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Advisory Committee DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 1. Map of MPO Boundaries in Orange County 2. Letter from Robert R. Harkrader II 3. Burlington -- Graham MPO Membership 4. MPO Boundaries Timeline 5. Resolution INFORMATION CONTACT: Darcy Zorio 245-2582 Tom Altieri 245-2579 Craig Benedict 245-2592 PURPOSE: To consider approving a resolution to request County representation on the Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). BACKGROUND: The boundaries of the Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization extend into Orange County (Attachment 1) including some of the City of Mebane, the Efland area, and County areas targeted for public water and sewer and economic development per the County's 2030 Comprehensive Plan. On November 17, 2009, the Board of County Commissioners voted to endorse the expansion of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO Metropolitan Area boundary and also discussed that further communication and coordination with the Burlington-Graham MPO was desirable. On August 12, 2011, the chair of the Burlington-Graham MPO Technical Coordinating Committee extended an offer to Board of Commissioners' Chair Bernadette Pelissier to facilitate Orange County formally joining the Burlington-Graham MPO (Attachment 2). Attachment 3 provides a roster of the Burlington-Graham MPO membership. UPDATE ON MPO BOUNDARY DISCREPANCY Although not part of this item tonight, staff is providing the following update and Attachment 4 as information. Early last year, it was discovered that, according to Burlington-Graham MPO and Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro (DCHC) MPO boundary maps, the two planning areas overlapped slightly. This issue was discussed at a meeting held by North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) MPO Coordinators on December 7, 2011 at Mebane City Hall. At that meeting it was decided that immediate corrective action would be taken on a small area of overlap and respective staffs would meet in spring 2012 to draft a new common boundary 2 between the two MPOs. However, no additional formal action would be taken on any boundary changes until further verification and study could be conducted with the benefit of additional 2010 census data to be released later this year. Orange County Planning Staff will continue to keep the BOCC apprised. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Staff resources will be needed to attend the Burlington-Graham MPO meetings and to provide adequate support to the BOCC and its representative in this new endeavor. In August 2011, both of the County's Transportation Planners left Orange County, one to retirement and the other to another career opportunity. Although one of the positions has since been filled, the Transportation Planning function of the Planning Department is presently running at approximately 50% staffing with the Planning Director, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor, and Planning/GIS Coordinator providing additional capacity where necessary. In the coming months, the Department will be filling the second position (although not exclusively transportation) which will take several months to get up to speed. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve the Resolution (Attachment 5) and appoint a commissioner (either at this meeting or as part of the "Boards and Commissions Assignments" discussion scheduled for the January 31, 2012 work session) to represent Orange County on the Burlington- Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Advisory Committee. Planning Staff can begin attending MPO meetings once the remaining transportation planning vacancy has been filled. 3 Attachment 1 X57 j t _ Y- 49 ,86 i Burlington-Graham - Al MPO Planning Area ! t p .Q v '57 70 U% '8 Planning Area I�r1�Y �, 86 ��,• �I 1 54� - 501 15 ;, 15 Attachment 2 4 Ms. Bernadette Pelissier, Chairperson Orange County Board of Commissioners 4516 Mystic Lane Hillsborough, NC 27278 August 12, 2011 Dear Chairperson Pelissier: I am writing to you in my capacity as Chairman of the Burlington-Graham MPO Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) for transportation. Recently it came to the attention of the BGMPO that the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro (DCHC) MPO had extended its urban area planning boundary into an area that overlapped into the planning boundary for the BGMPO. Our Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for transportation is scheduled to consider the boundary overlap at its meeting on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at S:OOpm in the City Manager's conference room of the Burlington Municipal Building located at 425 S. Lexington Avenue in Burlington. The purpose of this letter is to invite you to the above meeting and to give you the opportunity to comment and provide input regarding this matter. Mike Bruff, Director of Statewide Planning for NCDOT will be present to answer questions related to the boundary extension. I have been advised by NCDOT that it would be appropriate for the BGMPO to extend a formal invitation to Orange County officials to join our MPO. We currently coordinate primarily with Orange County staff with regard to transportation matters and it has been my understanding that this is the preferred protocol. However, if it is the desire of Orange County to become a formal member of the BGMPO I will be happy to facilitate this transition. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Transportation Planning Manager Mike Nunn at (336) 222-5110 if you have questions or if we may provide you with further information. Yours very truly, Robert R. Harkrader III TCC Chairman Mike Mills, NCDOT Division 7 Engineer Karen Lincoln, Orange County Planner II Attachment 3 5 Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) The BGMPO's Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) is comprised of representatives of each local policy board to: • Review and grant approval of the Planning Work Program (PWP); • Review and grant approval of the area Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) which ensures coordination between local and State programs; • Review the National Highway System--review and grant approval of changes to the Functional Classification Designation--and review and grant approval of the Metropolitan Area Boundary; • Endorse, review and grant approval of the Prospectus • Provide guidance on transportation goals and objectives; and • Review and grant approval of changes to the adopted transportation plan. Voting Members: Mr. Ed Hooks, Councilmember Mr. Larry McCollum, Councilmember City of Mebane Town of Green Level 2164 South Third Street Mebane, NC 27302 Mr. Richard Honeycutt, Councilmember Town of Haw River Mr. Leonard Williams, Mayor, TAC Chair PO Box 193 Town of Gibsonville Haw River, NC 27258 507 Cook Road Elon, NC 27244 Mr. Gary Deal Town of Whitsett Mr. Jim Butler, Council member 215 Brightwood Church Road City of Burlington Burlington, NC 27215 Mr. David Huffman, Council member City of Burlington PO Box 846 Graham, NC 27253 Mr. Jim Albright, TAC Vice Chairman City of Graham 1906 Elmwood Drive Graham, NC 27253 Mr. Ronald Klepcyk, Alderman Gibsonville, NC 27249 Mr. Donald Tichy, Alderman Village of Alamance PO Box 220 Alamance, NC 27201 Mr. Eddie Boswell, Commissioner Alamance County Mr. Mike Fox, Member NCDOT Board of Transportation PO BOX 2888 Greensboro, NC 27402 Town of Elon 1308 Princeton Drive Elon, NC 27244 6 Non-Voting Members: Mr. Bill Marley NC Division of FHWA 310 New Bern Avenue Raleigh, NC 27601-1442 Mr. Hemang Surti Transportation Planning Branch NC Dept. of Transportation 1554 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1554 Mr. Mike Mills, Division Engineer Highway Division 7 NC Dept. of Transportation /Greensboro office 7 Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) The Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) is responsible for supervision, guidance and coordination of the continuing planning process, and for making recommendations to the local and state governmental agencies and the TAC regarding any necessary action. The TCC is also responsible for review of the National Highway System and for development, review and recommendation for approval of the Prospectus, PWP, TIP Functional Classification Designation, Metropolitan Area Boundary revisions, and technical reports of the transportation study. The membership of the TCC consists of key staff from the NCDOT, the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments, the Federal Highway Administration, Alamance County and the member municipalities. Voting Members: Mr. Jeff Earp, Town Manager Town of Haw River PO Box 103 Haw River, NC 27258 336.578.0784 Mr. Bob Harkrader, Planning Director City of Burlington PO Box 1358 Burlington, NC 27216-1358 336.222.5110 Mr. Michael Abuya NCDOT Transportation Planning Mr. Jason Martin, Planning Director Branch Alamance County 1554 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1554 919.733.4705 124 West Elm Street Graham, NC 27253 336.228.1312 Mr. Dan Danielly, Airport Manager Airport Authority 3441 Aviation Drive Burlington, NC 27215 336.227.0771 Mr. Mike Dula, Town Manager Mr. Nolan Kirkman, Public Director City of Burlington PO Box 1358 Burlington, NC 27216-1358 336.513.5420 Mr. Mike Mills, Division Engineer NCDOT, Division of Highway PO Box 14996 Greensboro, NC 27415-4996 336.334.3192 NCDOT Safety Planning Secti 1561 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1561 919.715.0140 Works Mr. Chris Rollins, City Manag Town of Elon Piedmont Triad COG PO Box 595 226 West Meadowview Road, Suite Elon, NC 27244 201 336.584.3601 Greensboro, NC 27407 336.294.4950 TrafFic Ops. Engineer NCDOT Congestion Mgmt Section Mr. Lanny Rhew, City Engineer 1592 Mail Service Center City of Burlington Raleigh, NC 27699-1592 PO Box 1358 Burlington, NC 27216-1358 City of Graham PO Drawer 357 Graham, NC 27253-0357 336.570.6700 Mr. Dennis Williams Alamance Co. Transportation Authority 1946-C Martin Street Burrington, NC 27217 336.222-0565 Mr. Aaron Holland, Planner City of Graham PO Drawer 357 Graham, NC 27253-0357 8 919.250.4151 336.222.5050 336.570.6705 Mr. Ben Baxley, Town Manager Town of Gibsonville 129 West Main Street Gibsonville, NC 27249 336.449.4144 NCDOT Division of Public Transportation 1550 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1550 919.733.4713 x230 Mr. Bill Marley Federal Highway Administration 310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 410 Raleigh, NC 27601 Mr. Haywood Cloud, Town Admin Town of Green Level PO Box 729 Haw River, NC 27258 336.578.3443 Town of Whitsett 215 Brightwood Church Road Gibsonville, NC 27249 336.449.3380 Mr. Robert Wilson, City Mana City of Mebane 106 East Washington Street Mebane, NC 27302 919.563.5901 9 Attachment 4 BG MPO &DCHC MPO Boundaries Timeline December 6, 2011 Timeline Secretary of Transportation approved BGMPO current MAB ......................... December 15, 2003 BGMPO sent DCHC MPO their "planning boundary/TAZ" GIS file ..................... Apri128, 2004 Orange County Board of Commissioners endorsed DCHC MPO expansion... November 17, 2009 Orange County BOC letter to DCHC MPO noting November endorsement ..... December 8, 2009 DCHC MPO TAC voted to expand and adjust the MAB boundary ................... December 9, 2009 DCHC MPO sent letter to Governor for approval of boundary ........................ December 15, 2009 Secretary of Transportation approved DCHC MPO expanded MAB ................ February 11, 2010 NCDOT contacted BGMPO concerning MAB boundaryy issues .......................... January 13, 2011 DCHC MPO acknowledged conflict of boundaries and started trying to meet with all parties ............................................................................................................................. February 11, 2011 BGMPO sent letter to Governor asking to rescind the DCHC MPO expanded MAB ....................................................................................................................... August 30, 2011 Secretary of Transportation sent letter to BGMPO about correcting. the boundary overlap ................................................................................................................. September 19, 2011 Meeting of BGMPO, DCHC MP.O, Orange County and other parties to discuss and resolve boundary conflict ............................................................................................... December 7, 2011 LJ~- °~~ ~ °~' ~ ~ © Attachment 5 10 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS A RESOLUTION REQUESTING REPRESENTATION ON THE BURLINGTON-GRAHAM METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND TECHNICAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE WHEREAS, ongoing cooperation has fostered continued dialogue regarding many aspects of planning in the area of western Orange County near the City of Mebane; and WHEREAS, the City of Mebane is in part located in Orange County and its extraterritorial planning jurisdiction is also in part located in Orange County; and WHEREAS, the City of Mebane is a member of the Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization; and WHEREAS, the boundaries of the Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization extend into Orange County; and WHEREAS, cooperation and communication amongst neighboring jurisdictions, governments and planning organizations are important facets of effective government; and WHEREAS, on August 12, 2011 the chair of the Burlington-Graham MPO Technical Coordinating Committee extended an offer to Board of County Commissioners' Chair Bernadette Pelissier to facilitate Orange County formally joining the Burlington-Graham MPO; and WHEREAS, the Burlington-Graham MPO, the City of Mebane, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO and Orange County will soon be conducting a discussion regarding Metropolitan Area Boundaries; and WHEREAS, such representation is in the best interests of the residents of Orange County; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of Commissioners that Orange County requests representation on the Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Advisory Committee. Upon motion of Commissioner seconded by Commissioner ,the foregoing resolution was adopted this the 24th day of January, 2012. I, Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North Carolina, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held on January 24, 2012, as relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in the minutes of said Board. WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this day of , 2012. Clerk to the Board of Commissioners