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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOUTBoard minutes 101508Approved 2/18/09 1 MINUTES 1 ORANGE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING 2 OCTOBER 15, 2008 3 4 MEMBERS PRESENT: Sam Lasris, Cedar Grove Township; Nancy Cole Baker, Pedestrian Access Advocate; Jan 5 Grossman, Bicycle Transportation Advocate; Julian (Randy) Marshall, Bingham Township; Paul Guthrie, Chapel Hill 6 Township; Karen Barrows, Little River Township; Eric Tillman, EDC Representative; Bryn Smith, CFE 7 Representative; 8 9 MEMBERS ABSENT: Al Terry, Transportation Services Board Representative; Dawn Brezina, Eno Township; Pascale 10 Mittendorf, Hillsborough Township; Alice Gordon, Board of County Commissioners; 11 12 STAFF PRESENT: Karen Lincoln, Transportation Planner; Tina Love, Administrative Assistant II 13 14 OTHERS PRESENT: Pat Strong, Triangle J. COG 15 16 I. Call to order 17 18 II. Consideration of additions to the agenda 19 20 Karen Lincoln handed out email from Chuck Edwards regarding proposed 2009 resurfacing Orange County request 21 for comments. This gives the OUTBoard a chance to look at the program and comment. Sam Lasris added this item 22 to the end of the agenda. 23 24 Sam Lasris gave the Board an update regarding a report that Alice Gordon presented to the Board of County 25 Commissioners meeting with her version of the OUTBoard’s Goals and Objectives. She combined the OUTBoard 26 with the Planning Board comments and submitted it for consideration. Sam Lasris would like the OUTBoard to look 27 at it again in order to possibly make one last comment before the Commissioner approve it at the last Board of 28 Commissioners meeting in November. Would go directly to Alice Gordon with comments and thinks she would 29 appreciate the input. 30 31 Motion by Paul Guthrie to add items to agenda. 32 Seconded by Randy Marshall 33 Unanimous 34 35 III. Board Comments/Updates 36 37 Randy Marshall asked about the status of an OUTBoard member serving on the Train Station Committee as a couple 38 of members had expressed an interest. Karen Lincoln let the members know that it had not been decided but that 39 she would put Paul Guthrie down with Randy Marshall as an alternate. 40 41 Nancy Baker commented about seeing that the two (2) foot shoulders had been added to Orange Grove Road and 42 that the OUTBoard finally has something on the ground that they have accomplished and she has seen bicyclists 43 using it. She wants to send Chuck a note thanking him for making sure it got done and it is noticed. 44 45 IV. Approval of Minutes 46 47 The OUTBoard approved the September 17, 2008 minutes with changes by affirmation. 48 49 V. Future Agenda Items 50 51 Sam Lasris asked for the Board to have a free for all session, a brain storming to see what is on everybody’s mind. 52 53 Karen Lincoln gave an update regarding comments from Commissioner Jacobs that the [priorities set forth in the 54 County’s bicycle plan are not the priorities requested by the OUTBoard and Board of Commissioners. He takes that 55 as an indication that it is a bad plan, and the Commissioners agreed. They want the OUTBoard to update the bicycle 56 Approved 2/18/09 2 plan. Sam Lasris related that Commissioner Jacobs said that in the past the bicycle plan had been oriented for 57 commuting and he has noticed that the OUTBoard has structured its priorities oriented toward recreation. He 58 (Commissioner Jacobs) stated while he had no issue with that, he wanted it to be part of our charge to write that 59 plan. Karen Lincoln noted that if you are using the bicycle plan to ask NCDOT for bicycle improvements on roads, 60 the plan has to serve a transportation function and recreation is not a transportation function, that is connecting 61 places where people want/need to get to. However, there is a need for recreational routes and the bicycle plan 62 should include those and how they connect with the bicycle transportation routes. The plan should be coordinated 63 with the work of Parks and Recreation. 64 65 Paul Guthrie noted that the transportation work that is done next few years is going to have to be supported by local 66 money and local expenditures. It seems like one of the things needed beyond the existing programs, which are so 67 heavily tied to particular forms of financing, and as part of this board’s function, the board needs a committee or 68 activity that would bring topics to the group for discussion with materials on how to improve transportation in Orange 69 County, simple or complex. This would bring a broader perspective. For example, should we be looking at ideas of a 70 strategy to begin to get fueling stations in Orange County that can handle hydrogen, electric, natural gas, as well as 71 gasoline as over the next 5, 10, 15 years those types of vehicles become more common in the County. It takes a 72 while to get that sum and you have to get private industry to do it. Another area that would be interesting is to take a 73 look at the existing public and private transportation systems that haul significant numbers of people and look if 74 there’s a more efficient way to organize those structures so one feeds into the other. This would help to get the 75 group thinking along those lines. It was decided that the name for this group would be future strategies. 76 77 Pat Strong related to the Board that in December the NCDOT is going to request a call for proposals to look at 78 coordinating existing public transportation systems, and is hopeful that Durham and Orange County Public 79 Transportation will respond to that. There may be an initiate there that would feed that particular effort. With respect 80 to the alternative fuels, staff at Triangle Joint Council of Governments has compiled alternative fuels proposals that 81 give expertise to tie into the various possibilities. He complimented the Board for the proactive position. 82 83 Karen Barrows followed up to Paul’s comment that she would like to see the Board do as Paul had suggested and 84 the Board should set aside sessions for education on those topics it thinks is important . There must be people who 85 know how to move priorities up a list and if a workshop could be arranged it would be helpful. Thinks the Board 86 should take more initiative. 87 88 Jan Grossman suggested that the board could accomplish more at meetings in less time, if subcommittees were 89 formed to tackle specific areas and the subcommittees brought recommendations back to the entire OUTBoard. One 90 (subcommittee) being a TIP group that kept up with the transportation needs and status of projects, and then 91 submitted a plan to the board each year. 92 93 Paul Guthrie counseled the members to be aware that, if they are serious about getting into this, it would take 94 dedication to more time spent in research, homework, more meetings. 95 96 Jan Grossman related that it is necessary to get information on other jurisdictions and joint interest projects. 97 Suggested that members should be taking some of the work that Karen Lincoln produces and help lighten her load. 98 Wants to table discussions on any topic that doesn’t have current data until later time. 99 100 Bryn Smith asked about the creation of a separate transportation plan. 101 102 Karen Lincoln agreed and stated that the Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) topic was discussed at the TCC 103 subcommittee and that comprehensive transportation plans are done at the county level for each county. The MPO 104 anticipates working on the CTP in 2009. 105 106 Eric Tillman stated these are good suggestions but t the board needs to ensure that projects are within the interest of 107 the Board of Commissioners. If not it will not get approval. He also related that this subject had come up in the past 108 and Commissioner Gordon had agreed. 109 110 Approved 2/18/09 3 Paul Guthrie agreed and elaborated that the Board pay attention to the vibe or feedback, is there an audience and 111 then at what point and how do you shape the final report or recommendation that attracts the most attention and 112 success. You get a topic or idea you may want to reach out and get a sense of where people are on it. 113 114 Karen Lincoln related that in the past boards approached the BOCC for support for projects at planning retreats. She 115 has not been asked to prepare anything this year for such a retreat. In the future there is perhaps the possibility for 116 the OUTBoard to request a work session with the Board of Commissioners to discuss needed projects, etc. 117 118 Nancy Baker asked that there be a pedestrian connectivity as part of the comprehensive transportation plan. She 119 informed the members that Hillsborough had just finished up their pedestrian connectivity plan and thinks it would fit 120 right into the comprehensive plan. 121 122 Paul Guthrie suggested that the connectivity plan start out in regions or areas where there are currently connectivity 123 issues and then, as the County becomes more developed and urbanized, go to a comprehensive countywide 124 connectivity plan. But start with pieces where there are critical issues. Hillsborough is a great example because 125 there are some very critical issues of connectivity for pedestrians. 126 127 Pat Strong suggested that the board might want to consider the comprehensive transportation plan as it relates to 128 funding. Even though the CTP doesn’t have funding restrictions per say, if you are going to the trouble to develop an 129 elaborate multimodal plan, you want some degree of insurance of funding and you must understand the state of 130 affairs as far as funding is concerned. His idea is that the General Assembly Special 21st Century Transportation 131 Committee will resume meeting and those meeting are open to the public. During the course of the year about half 132 are held in Raleigh and the other half dispersed through the State. He has attended many and there are times during 133 the meeting that the subcommittee chair will ask for public comments. He thinks it would benefit the Board to have 134 someone in regular attendance at these meetings. That individual could come back and report on what was heard 135 and its implications. There will be a number of Bills introduce in next years session because it is the beginning of the 136 first year of the bi-annual budget. There will be a lot of talk about funding and budget changes and local options for 137 transportation. They are charged with coming up with a plan and a proposed budget for changes in the 138 transportation laws and funds. 139 140 Paul Guthrie asked about getting information from the North Carolina Railroad Commission on the report they issued. 141 He commented on the separation of rail that the big problem is they don’t want to interrupt the freight traffic. Also for 142 the first time they mentioned putting in a system from Goldsboro to Greensboro. 143 144 Karen Lincoln will give the Board the handout and possibly do a PowerPoint in the future if requested. The study 145 looked at what would be needed to upgrade the corridor for commuter rail. It has come up with the costs of what 146 would be needed then it has a proposal including costs per mile for each segment. She also mentioned that North 147 Carolina Railroad owns a 200 foot corridor so they are in a position to put in more rail. 148 149 Nancy Baker commented that Paul is the perfect choice for being the rail expert and also that in addition to forming 150 groups that members be chosen to be experts on certain topics and that a separate list of experts be created. 151 152 Sam Lasris put up the following items: First, periodically the Planning Board would do a ordinance review and since 153 the transportation has not been updated since 1990 he suggested the OUTBoard form a group to tackle the 154 transportation part which will help when getting into the comprehensive transportation plan; Second, he suggested 155 doing the same with the Economic Development Design manual which was created only by staff. It has very little 156 about transportation and should be updated. He suggested that adding sidewalks to the manual it will make it easier 157 going forward. It also ties in with objective of tying land use and transportation. The path would be to give the 158 outcome of the committee to the Planning Board who would in turn give to the Board of Commissioners. 159 160 161 Bryn Smith would like to see a committee on non asphalt infrastructure, buses and shelters, fleet development, 162 researching new transportation for future strategies. To include both public and private. 163 164 Nancy Baker suggested that Bryn and Al be up on all issues for public transportation. Nancy poled members for a 165 volunteer for the airport. Bryn Smith volunteered. 166 Approved 2/18/09 4 167 Sam Lasris noted that Safe Routes to School be addressed and Nancy Baker noted that it would include facilities like 168 bus stops. 169 170 Karen Lincoln would like the Board to look at projects that need to get done that have fallen through the cracks. 171 172 The members identified what groups would be formed and designated members as follows: 173 174 Bicycle Plan Jan Grossman 175 Future Strategies Paul Guthrie and Bryn Smith and Eric Tillman 176 TIP / All Projects Jan Grossman 177 Comprehensive Transportation Plan Sam Lasris and Randy Marshall 178 Pedestrian Connectivity Plan Nancy Cole Baker 179 General Assembly Representative Pat Strong and Eric Tillman 180 Review of Zoning Ordinances/EDD Sam Lasris and Randy Marshall 181 Public Transportation-Bus Bryn Smith and Al Terry 182 Safe Routes To School / Small Projects Nancy Cole Baker 183 184 Experts were determined to be: 185 186 Airport-Bryn Smith 187 Rail-Paul Guthrie 188 Bicycle-Jan Grossman 189 190 Karen Lincoln updated the members on the vacancies of the Board. 191 192 Sam Lasris reported on the Board of Commissioners meeting. The Board of Commissioners went through the whole 193 comprehensive plan and it was apparent that only two of the Commissioner had read it, that being Alice Gordon and 194 Barry Jacobs. It was a very quick run through and this Board had the least rewrites than anyone. The rewrite went 195 through with no problem, it was golden, the only question was the goals and objectives. Alice’s point was that 196 Chapel Hill’s MPO and RPO and all the other boards have the environmental elements in their plans and that we 197 need to have the environment as part of our goals and objectives even though they understand we are a 198 transportation board. Alice spent the better part of the weekend trying to combine ours goals and objectives with 199 what came from the consultant and what the Planning Board had commented on and she submitted these (revisions) 200 that went through without any comment. There will be one more meeting in November where they will finalize it. All 201 the other elements have to come back to them and then they will vote. If there is anything in here, language, not 202 tossing out any of these goals and objectives but if we want to clear up language or make any comments it would go 203 directly to Commissioner Gordon who said she would appreciate it because she did say she had a hard time doing it. 204 She added a goal about environment and she integrated Planning and OUTBoard comments. The Planning Board 205 voted to approve the plan without any real discussion. After the last OUTBoard meeting he met with Alice and 206 discussed it. An abbreviated comprehensive plan will be made for the public due to the sheer size. 207 208 The board agreed, although the revised goals and objectives were wordier and somewhat redundant than the 209 OUTBoard recommendation and did not follow the order established by the OUTBoard’s draft framework for the 210 Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Commissioner Gordon’s revisions did contain everything the OUTBoard had 211 wanted in the objectives. The board’s consensus was that the revisions were fine and did not diminish the intent. 212 213 MOTION by Paul Guthrie to thank Commissioner Gordon for her hard work in moving this through the planning 214 process. Seconded by Bryn Smith 215 Vote: Unanimous 216 217 MOTION by Sam Lasris to thank planning staff in particular Karen Lincoln. Seconded by Nancy Baker 218 Vote: Unanimous 219 220 Approved 2/18/09 5 Jan Grossman brought up the contract resurfacing and made a recommendation that the last item under additional 221 consideration is Eubanks Road that the Board had added that we’d like to see bike lanes added and it seems it 222 should be pushed up and maybe knock off Old NC 10, which we are not pushing. 223 224 Nancy Baker mentioned that Borland Road was being resurfaced but that the Board was unaware therefore was 225 unable to request the shoulders to be widened to accommodate bicycles. She wants to make sure the Board has 226 that information in the future. 227 228 Karen Lincoln informed the Board that there is a report and but by the time they get it out it is often too late. 229 230 VI. Safe Routes to School Action Plan Award Update 231 232 Karen Lincoln let the Board know that NCDOT would determine who the consultant would be and would be 233 contacting the Board. After they meet with the Board and determine a work plan, they will get back to NCDOT to 234 finalize the contract. 235 236 Nancy Baker had the contact name and will make contact. She advised that the Board about the award and that the 237 Mayor had attended the Walking School Bus held at Cameron Elementary School. The turnout for the event was 238 good. Looks like January for public meetings. 239 240 VII. Adjournment 241 242 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. 243 244 ___________________________________ Sam Lasris, Chair