HomeMy WebLinkAboutOUTBoard minutes 0118121
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MINUTES
ORANGE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION BOARD
JANUARY 18, 2012
Approved 4/16/12
5 MEMBERS PRESENT: Nancy Cole Baker, Pedestrian Access & Safety Advocate; Julian (Randy) Marshall, Bingham
6 Township; Alan Campbell, Planning Board Representative; Paul Guthrie, Chapel Hill Township; Amy Cole, Transit
7 Advocate; Jeff Charles, Bicycle Advocate; Annette Jurgelski, Eno Township; Renee Price, CfE Representative
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MEMBERS ABSENT: Sam Lasris, Cedar Grove Township Representative; Al Terry, Transportation Services Board;
Cheeks Township - Vacant; Economic Development Commission - Vacant; Little River Township- Vacant;
Hillsborough Township — Vacant;
STAFF PRESENT: Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor; Darcy Zorio, Transportation Planner; Tina Love,
Administrative Assistant 11
AGENDA ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
AGENDA ITEM II: CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
Darcy Zorio: I am the new transportation planner. I was previously with the Institute for Transportation Research and
Education at NC State on ITRE. I attended Western Carolina where I got my Masters and my undergraduate degree
from St. Andrews Presbyterian College. I am from the Triangle and grew up in Fuquay Varina. I look forward to
working with you.
AGENDA ITEM III: APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 19, 2011
The OUTBoard minutes from October 19, 2011 were approved with changes by consensus.
AGENDA ITEM IV: COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN — STEERING COMMITTEE UPDATE
The Steering Committee met on December 14, 2011 and will update the Board on its
discussions and next steps.
OUTBoard Action: Receive Update.
Randy Marshall: We met on December 14 and reviewed the draft recommendations that were taken to the
OUTBoard. They wanted the document to include the size of those lots. As it turns out, we determined that the
Board of County Commissioners in terms of the adopting the Comprehensive Transportation Plan only adopt the
maps. They do not adopt any information that goes along with supporting those maps or to expand on them. We
decided we would not give that information to the Board of County Commissioners until we have adopted the maps.
The consensus was there are lots of issues that come up when they get the supporting documentation which could
conceivably slow down the process. They are trying to make changes on something they don't need to.
Tom Altieri: There were three primary items requested by the steering committee. The first was to provide a memo
essentially establishing what coordination has taken place during this process with the MPO and its staff. Also, how
our Comprehensive Transportation Plan would be used in the MPO CTP preparation process. This, to reassure the
Board of County Commissioners that coordination has taken place during our process and will also take place during
the MPO process. Second, if not complete Appendices an outline of its contents and last, final draft maps.
Randy Marshall: The Board of County Commissioners will hopefully have a public hearing in February.
Approved 4/16/12
55 Tom Altieri: They have four scheduled public hearings per year. When this item last went to the Board of County
56 Commissioners we suggested this particular item, since it is not an ordinance, could go to a regular meeting, they
57 were in agreement. When that public hearing is held, staff will provide the Board of County Commissioners options.
58 They could close the hearing that night and adopt the plan or if there is new information that comes forward at the
59 public hearing, it could be sent back to the OUTBoard or steering committee. I would not want to box in the Board of
60 County Commissioners by saying we are asking them to adopt it the same evening without another option if new
61 information is learned.
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63 Nancy Cole Baker: I am apprehensive about what they will say about the pedestrian plan which has drawn lines
64 throughout the County for future trails. Have you heard anything from the Board of County Commissioners on that?
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66 Tom Altieri: Nothing specific. This item went to the Board of County Commissioners along with other items on the
67 regular agenda.
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70 AGENDA ITEM V: STAFF UPDATES:
71 0 Introduction of Darcy Zorio, Orange County Transportation Planner
72 0 Active NCDOT Projects in Orange County
73 0 State TIP Process — SPOT Prioritization for Rural (TARPO) and Metropolitan (DCHC
74 MPO) Planning Areas
75 0 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan
76 0 Burlington Graham MPO
77 0 Safe Routes to Schools Action Plan
78 0 Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) Projects
79 0 Bicycle Safety
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81 OUTBoard Action: Receive updates and discuss as appropriate.
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83 Tom Altieri reviewed Attachment 2 which was an update on current projects in the County.
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85 There was conversation about rumble strips and the cost of resurfacing. Also, the places scheduled for resurfacing.
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87 Tom Altieri reviewed the list of projects for Orange County.
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89 There was a lengthy discussion about the two foot shoulder and resurfacing after the two foot shoulder is laid.
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91 Tom Altieri reviewed the State TIP Process on Attachment 3.
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93 Nancy Cole Baker: The bottom line is given the spreadsheets and the way they are now, are there any projects that
94 we think will get funded that will affect our area?
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96 Tom Altieri: We don't have the ability to answer that question now. It will be based on funding and budgets yet to be
97 determined. Projects scoring higher will receive priority.
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99 Darcy Zorio: You could look at the state score column. That would be the best indicator but you have to have the
100 other state scores from other MPO projects throughout the state.
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102 Nancy Cole Baker: When will we know where our projects rank statewide?
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104 Tom Altieri: Staff will need to learn a little more about the process since this is a new process. The MPO is in the
105 initial phases of the 2040 LRTP (Long Range Transportation Plan) process. There is a schedule on page 34.
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107 Renee Price: How much of the public actually come to the workshop?
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109 Tom Altieri: In general, when you compare attendance to the number of people in the jurisdiction or noticed with the
110 information, it is a very small percentage.
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112 Tom Altieri reviewed the request for a seat on the Burlington Graham MPO.
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114 Annette Jurgelski: On page 32, are the points on that page from the MPO or the RPO that is another set of points?
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116 Tom Altieri: Those are RPO projects.
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118 Tom Altieri reviewed the status of the Safe Routes to School Action Plan. He noted that when Karen Lincoln left, her
119 update was that this Board had completed a draft plan working with a consultant, reviewed the draft, provided
120 comments and DOT was also to provide comments on the draft plan and the consultant was awaiting those
121 comments and intended to incorporate both OUTBoard comments and DOT comments simultaneously. I have
122 inquired about the status of the project and have not received a response to date.
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124 Tom Altieri gave a brief update on the CMAQ noting he has familiarized himself with the reimbursement process and
125 the County just received its first check.
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127 There was a short discussion about the bike rack for the buses and how they would be used.
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129 Randy Marshall: What is the status of the Chapel Hill County Joint Transit Study?
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131 Darcy Zorio: We are currently trying to get a schedule from the consultant as to when we can expect things to be
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134 Tom Altieri: One of the County concerns is following consolidation, how does Orange County continue to maintain a
135 seat the table that ensures we maintain adequate service in the rural areas.
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137 Randy Marshall: Chapel Hill, Durham /Raleigh, Triangle area has sucked all the transportation money anywhere they
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140 Tom Altieri: The last item is on Bicycle Safety. The response from Chair Pelissier has been included in your packet.
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142 Randy Marshall: What is the appropriate length of time to wait to ask the Sheriff what he plans to do about this?
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144 Nancy Cole Baker: We can invite the sheriff here to discuss this.
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146 Jeff Charles: I think that is an excellent idea because part of the issue with cyclist is that sheriffs are enforcing traffic
147 safety laws for cyclists. A number of our cyclists go through red lights, stops signs without stopping and I think if
148 Orange County was known that the sheriff /deputies were enforcing by giving tickets that would benefit cyclists'
149 safety. It would also defuse some of the comments made by drivers on the other side of the fence they also need to
150 enforce the two foot path that cars have to give cyclists, etc. They need to do both. It would be good to have the
151 sheriff here and have that discussion.
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153 Renee Price: In this letter did you want the letter to talk to us or the BOCC or both?
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155 Nancy Baker: I think we were talking about forwarding the issue to the sheriff but I think......
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157 Randy Marshall: Well we don't tell the BOCC what to do with the referral, we referred it in hopes they would do they
158 did which was to refer it the sheriff. How that the sheriff has it, it seems it comes upon us to say, okay, this was
159 brought to us originally and referred to you by the Commissioners, can you give an idea what the response will be.
160 Two weeks ago a sheriff deputy was behind me and a cyclist went right through a stop and didn't even slow down
161 and it didn't even register to them that it had happened, it's not on their radar.
162 Nancy Baker: If you could invite the Sheriff to come and talk to us at a meeting that would be great.
Approved 4/16/12
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164 Jeff Charles: The Chapel Hill police department does stop bicyclist and Carrboro also stop cyclist. I would like to see
165 the Orange County Sheriff's Department doing the same thing. It is good for everybody.
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167 Paul Guthrie: While I agree with you that it's a good idea, I think you have to be aware of the fact that it's likely
168 because of the size of the County and the density of traffic it is more likely in Chapel Hill and Carrboro for an office to
169 witness it. Unless there is a visible viewing by an officer there isn't really anything they can do about it.
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171 Jeff Charles: If cyclists know they will be ticketed if caught it would be a deterrent. If the Sheriffs Deputies were on
172 record that they will be enforcing cyclist to follow traffic laws as state law requires, I think it would be a good thing.
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174 Tom Altieri: If we did invite the Sheriff or designee to attend a meeting to hear your concerns, what happens next?
175 Is the OUTBoard then done with this?
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177 Jeff Charles: I think we need to get them involved in the cycling community.
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179 Nancy Baker: I just want to hear what they have to say. I would be interesting to hear the prospective of law
180 enforcement about this issue.
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182 Randy Marshall: We'll request an update from the Sheriff in 6- months.
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184 Nancy Cole Baker: Tom, will you send a note to the Sheriff with the request that he or his designee attend one of our
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187 Tom Altieri: I think I can bring that to back to Craig and seek his opinion on that. I will need to discuss the matter with
188 Craig, I think he may have considered the matter closed.
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190 Jeff Charles: Just to be clear about bicycling, they have the same right to the road as a car. If someone says that a
191 bicyclist is a nuisance they need to change the North Carolina laws which are consistent with 50 states in the union.
192 1 wasn't here for the presentation and we had an exchange in October when we talked about this issue and I was
193 upset because it sounded as if they were saying that the bicyclist are a nuisance. They have to get over that
194 because, in fact, we have the right to the road just as pedestrians.
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196 Randy Marshall asked for a list of the bridge projects.
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199 AGENDA ITEM VII: ADJOURNMENT
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Nancy Baker, Chair
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