Macon-Bibb - Planning - March 17th 2010

MATS TCC COMMITTEE
MEETING
DATE: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
TIME: 10 a.m.
PLACE: Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Office, 10^th floor, 682 Cherry St.

MATS - TCC - Committee 3-17-2010 (click below for larger image)

AGENDA

--Roll Call
--Approval of Minutes
1. Second St. Project and Sardis Church Rd. Extension Presentation of Projects
2. Jobs for Mainstreet Update of Program
3. CAC Comments Committee Presentation
4. Project Status Report Presented by Georgia D.O.T.
5. Old/New Business
ADJOURN

Audio of Meeting was recorded by 2 people. Available upon request.

TC Committee

MATS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE
January 20, 2010

                     Name                                  Representing

          1. Van Etheridge                       MAAI
          2. Lindsay Holliday                    CAC
          3. Ken Sheets*                         Bibb Co. Engineering
4. Greg Brown                          Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Comm.
5. Sherry Evans                        Macon Economic & Community Development
          6. Don Tussing*                        Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Comm.
7. Tom Queen                            Georgia D.O.T.
8. David Gowan                         Bibb Co. School District
          9. Ken North                            Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Comm.
10. Jim Thomas*                          MATS Project Director
11. Bill Causey*                         City Engineer
12. Greg Floyd                            Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Comm.
13. Tri Vo*                               Nigel Floyd, Traffic Engineer
14. Tim Pitrowski*                       Jones Co. Zoning Director
15. Lisa Golphin*                        Tony Rojas, Water Authority Director
16. Gene Simonds*                        Director, Central Services
17. Andy Edwards                         FHWA
18. Corbin Davis                         FHWA
19. Scott Coffman*                      Manager, Middle GA Airport
20. Wanzina Jackson*                     Director, Economic & Community Dev.
21. Kelly Gwin*                          Georgia D.O.T.
22. Bill Rountree*                       Georgia D.O.T.
23. Willie Johnson*                      Larry Smallwood, Fire Dept Chief
24. Stephen Adams*                       Kathy Bowden, Macon-Bibb Industrial Auth.
25. Rick Jones*                          Director, Macon-Bibb Transit Authority
26. Gene Simonds*                        Director, Central Services
27. Ann-Marie Day                        FHWA
28. James Webb                   Chairman, CAC
29. David Fortson                        Bibb Co. Engineering
30. Mike Stucka                          Macon Telegraph
31. Radney Simpson                       Georgia D.O.T.
32. Todd Hill                             MAAI

*Voting member

MATS TECHNICAL MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 20, 2010

A meeting of the MATS Technical Coordinating Committee was held on January 20, 2010 in the Planning & Zoning Office. There were 16 voting members in attendance, thereby establishing a quorum. The minutes of the previous meeting were introduced and approved. A motion was made to re-elect Tony Rojas as the Vice-Chairman of the Technical Committee that was subsequently approved by the Committee members.

The first item discussed on the agenda was the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Don Tussing stated that there were some revisions made to the LRTP as a result of the I-16/I-75 projects being moved into the 2020 network. These projects were moved into the 2020 network in order to expedite the environmental review process. It was stated there had been a slight reduction in the projected costs as a result of these projects being moved into the 2020 network and the amounts were discussed. Under the Conformity Determination Report (CDR), Mr. Tussing discussed the Ozone and PM 2.5 emissions in regards to air quality for the I-16/I-75 projects. He stated there was a slight reduction in air quality levels as a result of the projects being moved into the 2020 network.

In summary, it was stated that the proposed changes to the LRTP and the CDR as a result of the I-16/I-75 projects were minor. James Webb asked if the emissions levels in regards to air quality levels were monitored. Mr. Tussing stated that the emission levels are not monitored and the analysis in the CDR is a modeling exercise to determine if the budget is met in the State Implementation Plan. He also added that the MATS Committee members will be sent the air quality monitoring data that EPD used for 2008. Subsequently, James Webb also inquired if there were any real numbers that were used to back up the emission level projections. Andy Edwards stated the modeling process uses real word vehicle emissions as well as emission standards. However, the monitoring process is a separate procedure that is used to determine if Macon is meeting the air quality standards. Therefore, the air quality monitors do not correlate into the modeling process. After further discussion, a motion was made by Ken Sheets and seconded by Kelly Gwin to approve the revisions to the LRTP and CDR. The motion was approved by the Committee members in attendance.

The next item on the agenda was the Transit Projects presented by Rick Jones. He stated that one of the goals of the Transit Authority is to improve the quality of the fleet because the current level is poor. Currently, ridership levels have declined and the federal operations support lags 6 to 8 months behind what is needed. The Transit Authority has ordered five new buses and delivery is expected in March. In addition, there are plans to locate a new maintenance facility for the Transit Authority. Finally, it was stated that the Transit Authority has submitted a grant to purchase 20 new fareboxes under the economic stimulus plan for Phase 2 of the ARRA program. A motion was made by Kelly Gwin to amend the TIP to include the new ARRA project which was seconded by Don Tussing. The motion was subsequently approved unanimously.

Under the Safe Routes to School Program, David Gowan gave a presentation to the MATS Technical Committee. He stated the program is designed to encourage children to walk and bicycle to school. The program is a federally funded program that is administered by the Georgia Department of Transportation. One of the goals is to make bicycling and walking a safe and alternative way for children to get to school. The five components of the program were discussed and it was stated there were currently five schools participating in the program. Last year, the City of Macon received a grant as part of this program and sidewalks as well as crosswalks were installed as a result. Lindsay Holliday stated that the CAC would like to see traffic calming measures included in the program. Mr. Gowan commented that this could be included in future applications.

Tom Queen of GDOT presented the project status report. There were not many changes in the report since the last presentation to the MATS Committees. Mr. Queen stated that the River Drive Streetscape project is scheduled for construction in 2010. There was a question concerning the accuracy of the construction date for the Forest Hill Rd. project in the report. Subsequently, Bill Rountree of GDOT stated the status of any project can be accessed on the GDOT website.

There were no comments presented to the committee by the CAC. Under Old Business, Lindsay Holliday reviewed the Chellman Report. This report examined the proposed widening of Forest Hill Rd. and presented an alternative solution. As part of this report, it was suggested that portions of the road should have a six foot wide path on each side and the speed limit should be decreased to 35 mph. This would alleviate the need to widen Forest Hill Rd. according to the proposal that was originally approved. Mr. Holliday questioned the traffic counts and growth projections in the area of Forest Hill Rd. According to the report, the traffic count estimates by GDOT are overstated by a significant amount. Don Tussing stated that the analysis contained in the report was incorrect. He commented the section of Forest Hill Rd. between Wimbish Rd. and Vineville Ave. is currently at capacity according to traffic counts. He stated that the traffic on Forest Hill Rd. hasn’t increased according to projections because drivers have shifted to other roads. The MATS model has shown an increase in traffic on other facilities in the North Macon area such as Bass Road. However, Lindsay Holliday stated the proposal in the Chellman Report is feasible and would save a substantial amount of money. Subsequently, Jim Thomas stated that if the current Forest Hill Rd. project is discarded then it would be necessary to restart the whole process again. The environmental assessment would have to be done again and this would require additional time. Being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.

MATS Committee

i

MATS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTE

Some meeting notes:

It was interesting to see Don Tusssing lead the charge to defeat the idea of an Origin and Destination [O+D] Study for the interstate system in Macon. I think that Mayor Reichert wanted this study. Tussing insisted that the study was too expensive, would take too much time, and it was unnecessary too because [he] "we already know where the traffic is coming from and where it is going to". He was referring to the results of his computer modeling. Tussing is very proud of his computer models.

Someone from GDOT said the last true O+D study he was aware of was done in the early 80's by some Ga Tech students who actually stopped some vehicles on Interstate-85 to ask the drivers their O+D.

I suggested the existing traffic cameras might be used to record the tags of vehicles on the interstates - then use a computer - not to model, but to compile the actual data for a fact based O+D.

- Lindsay

CAC comments (3-10-2010)

#10) New business / Origin and Destination Study for interstate traffic needed: At the last MATS Policy Committee meeting (3 February 2010) a vote was made to add, to the next round of MATS Committee meetings, discussion of the concept and funding of an Origin and Destination Study for the local interstate traffic. The MPO staff was to determine if, and when, such a study had been done previously. However, in discussion after the meeting, it became clear that no one really seems to know of such a study and that, even if one does exist, it would be so old and outdated that it would be all but useless.

Therefore, the CAC proposes that the MPO staff be directed by Policy to immediately investigate possible funding for a thorough and comprehensive Origin and Destination study which will cover the main interstate system through our region and the main secondary routes which feed the interstates.

Such a comprehensive study will, no doubt, be difficult and expensive to undertake. However, the information gleaned from such a current investigation is the very essence of the data that MATS needs to fulfill its mission of planning for the safe and adequate transportation needs of our region. Without such information we are, essentially, “shooting in the dark”, and basing decisions and proposals on incomplete information.

An Origin and Destination study should answer many questions about the regional traffic patterns of both through-traffic and local traffic. It will point to logical ways to reroute traffic to more efficient patterns, and will enable us to redesign our traffic patterns in ways which will improve quality of life issues and the safety and congestion issues we face. This study would also inform our planning process of how best to reduce the through-truck traffic on our local, surface roads.

Such a study should go “hand in hand” with concepts such as the Sardis Church / Sgoda Road extension concept, as well as determine exactly what kind of improvements our local interstate system is in need of and how those improvements can be accomplished in ways which will positively impact our local community traffic.

It is very possible that Federal stimulus funds could be tapped to accomplish this study in the near term or that it is a project worthy of an “earmark” in upcoming budget discussions. The information gleaned from such a study will be invaluable and will likely lead to any number of ways to actually save tax monies by indicating where they can be most effectively and meaningfully used.

Macon-Bibb.com

Macon Area Transportation Study
memberships
By-Laws
Citizens Advisory Committee here
Caution Macon

Macon-Bibb Planning and Zoning MBPZ.org

Traffic Cameras Bibb Engineering
The City of Macon	The County of Bibb
Georgia	U.S.A.

CAUTION Macon

This page sponsored by:
Lindsay 'Doc' Holliday	e-mail
Holliday Dental Associates 360 Spring Street Macon, GA 31201	office 478-746-5695 home 478-742-8699 Thank-You...

CAUTION Macon


	i

	MATS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTE
	Some meeting notes: It was interesting to see Don Tusssing lead the charge to defeat the idea of an Origin and Destination [O+D] Study for the interstate system in Macon. I think that Mayor Reichert wanted this study. Tussing insisted that the study was too expensive, would take too much time, and it was unnecessary too because [he] "we already know where the traffic is coming from and where it is going to". He was referring to the results of his computer modeling. Tussing is very proud of his computer models. Someone from GDOT said the last true O+D study he was aware of was done in the early 80's by some Ga Tech students who actually stopped some vehicles on Interstate-85 to ask the drivers their O+D. I suggested the existing traffic cameras might be used to record the tags of vehicles on the interstates - then use a computer - not to model, but to compile the actual data for a fact based O+D. - Lindsay CAC comments (3-10-2010) #10) New business / Origin and Destination Study for interstate traffic needed: At the last MATS Policy Committee meeting (3 February 2010) a vote was made to add, to the next round of MATS Committee meetings, discussion of the concept and funding of an Origin and Destination Study for the local interstate traffic. The MPO staff was to determine if, and when, such a study had been done previously. However, in discussion after the meeting, it became clear that no one really seems to know of such a study and that, even if one does exist, it would be so old and outdated that it would be all but useless. Therefore, the CAC proposes that the MPO staff be directed by Policy to immediately investigate possible funding for a thorough and comprehensive Origin and Destination study which will cover the main interstate system through our region and the main secondary routes which feed the interstates. Such a comprehensive study will, no doubt, be difficult and expensive to undertake. However, the information gleaned from such a current investigation is the very essence of the data that MATS needs to fulfill its mission of planning for the safe and adequate transportation needs of our region. Without such information we are, essentially, “shooting in the dark”, and basing decisions and proposals on incomplete information. An Origin and Destination study should answer many questions about the regional traffic patterns of both through-traffic and local traffic. It will point to logical ways to reroute traffic to more efficient patterns, and will enable us to redesign our traffic patterns in ways which will improve quality of life issues and the safety and congestion issues we face. This study would also inform our planning process of how best to reduce the through-truck traffic on our local, surface roads. Such a study should go “hand in hand” with concepts such as the Sardis Church / Sgoda Road extension concept, as well as determine exactly what kind of improvements our local interstate system is in need of and how those improvements can be accomplished in ways which will positively impact our local community traffic. It is very possible that Federal stimulus funds could be tapped to accomplish this study in the near term or that it is a project worthy of an “earmark” in upcoming budget discussions. The information gleaned from such a study will be invaluable and will likely lead to any number of ways to actually save tax monies by indicating where they can be most effectively and meaningfully used.