Agenda Item #10: for Your Information
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AGENDA ITEM #10: FOR YOUR INFORMATION A. HAMPTON ROADS TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION MINUTES The minutes from the March 15, 2012 HRTPO Board Meeting are attached. Attachment 10-A B. LETTER TO DWIGHT L. FARMER FROM SEAN CONNAUGHTON, SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, STATE OF VIRGINIA On March 13, 2012, Dwight L. Farmer, Executive Director, on behalf of the HRTPO, sent a letter to Secretary Connaughton outlining the HRPTO’s position regarding the development of the Downtown Tunnel/Midtown Tunnel/Martin Luther King Freeway Extension Project. Secretary Connaughton’s March 26, 2012 reply is attached. Attachment 10-B C. The HRTPO will hold its Annual Board Retreat on May 17, 2012. The agenda and related attachments for the Board Retreat can be found at http://www.hrtpo.org/MTG_AGNDS/TPO_HRTPO_NxtMtg.asp D. During the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) meeting of April 18, 2012, RADM Tim Alexander, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, provided a briefing on the military presence and transportation priorities in Hampton Roads. In its Resolution 2012-02, the HRTPO Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) recognized the large military presence in Hampton Roads and recommended that a representative of the military brief the CTB at least once every year. Admiral Alexander’s presentation to the CTB may be accessed at: http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/resources/2012/april/pres/Presentation_Agenda_Ite m_1_CNRMA_Brief_to_CTB_18_April_12.pdf E. During the March 15, 2012 HRTPO Board meeting, Delegate Cosgrove suggested a representative from VDOT or the Office of the Secretary of Transportation brief the HRTPO Board on the specific terms of the Downtown Tunnel/Midtown Tunnel/Martin Luther King Freeway Extension project to provide a better understanding of the project at both the local level and in the General Assembly. Mr. Tony Kinn, Director of the Virginia Office of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships (OTP3), briefed the Board on this item at the April 19, 2012 Board meeting. Attachment 10-E HRTPO Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee – May 10, 2012 Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Board Minutes of March 15, 2012 The Hampton Roads TPO Board Meeting was called to order at 10:32 a.m. in the Regional Boardroom, 723 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, Virginia, with the following in attendance: HRTPO Voting Members in Attendance: Alan P. Krasnoff, Vice-Chair (CH) Thomas G. Shepperd, Jr. (YK) Dee Dee Darden (IW) Thelma Drake (DRPT) Mary Jones (JC) Philip Shucet (HRT) McKinley Price (NN) Dennis Heuer (VDOT) Paul D. Fraim (NO) Jeff Florin (Alternate, VPA) Kenneth I. Wright (PO) Anthony Conyers (WATA) Linda T. Johnson (SU) Senator John Miller (GA) William D. Sessoms (VB) Delegate John Cosgrove (GA) Clyde Haulman (WM) HRTPO Nonvoting Members in Attendance: Brenda Garton (GL) Selena Cuffee-Glenn (SU) Mary Bunting (HA) Jackson C. Tuttle, II (WM) W. Douglas Caskey (IW) James O. McReynolds (YK) Robert C. Middaugh (JC) William Harrison (CTAC) Neil A. Morgan (NN) William Bell (FTAC) Marcus Jones (NO) Capt. Mary Jackson (USN) J. Randall Wheeler (PQ) HRTPO Executive Director: Dwight L. Farmer CTB Participants: Hollis Ellis (CTB)* Shep Miller (CTB) Aubrey Layne (CTB) OTHER PARTICIPANTS Capt. David Culler HRTPO Voting Members Absent: Molly Joseph Ward, Chair (HA) Senator Yvonne Miller (GA) Christopher Hutson (GL) Jerry Bridges (VPA) W. Eugene Hunt (PQ) Attachment 10-A HRTPO Nonvoting Members Absent: William E. Harrell (CH) Brigid Hynes-Cherin (FTA) Kenneth L. Chandler (PO) Col. Korvin D. Auch (LANGLEY) James K. Spore (VB) Wayne Shank (NAA) Jeffrey Breeden (FAA) Ken Spirito (PAC) Irene Rico (FHWA) Capt. Mark Ogle (USCG) Ivan Rucker (FHWA) Randall P. Burdette (VDOA) Tony Cho (FTA) * Late or Early Departure Others Recorded Attending: John Gergely, Louis Guy (Citizens); Eric Martin, Betty Meyer, Earl Sorey (CH); Randy Martin (FR); Brian DeProfio (HA); Jackie Kassel (NN); Bryan Pennington, Jeff Raliski, Ron Williams (NO); Paul Holt, Charles Whitehurst (PO); Eric Nielsen (SU); Bob Matthias, Mark Schnaufer (VB); Debbie Messina (Virginian-Pilot); Andy Fox, Walter Hildebrand (WAVY TV); Wendy Vachet (USN); Ellis W. James (Sierra Club Observer); Karen McPherson (Kimley-Horn); Leon Sisco (WATA); Craig Quigley (HRMFFA); Wayne Welch (Arcadis); Dana Dickens (HRP); Tracy Baynard (McGuire Woods); Ray Taylor (FHR); Peter Huber (Willcox & Savage); John Herzke (Clark Nexsen); Cathy Aiello (Aiello Enterprises); HRTPO and HRPDC Staff: Camelia Ravanbakht, John Carlock, Rick Case, Rob Case, Brian Chenault, Nancy Collins, Kathlene Grauberger, Frances Hughey, Jim Hummer, Michael Kimbrel, Mike Long, Brian Miller, Kendall Miller, Pavithra Parthasarathi, Kelli Peterson, Stephanie Shealey, Joe Turner, and Chris Vaigneur. Introductions Captain Mary Jackson introduced Captain David Culler, Executive Officer at Naval Station Norfolk who will become the Non-voting Member of the HRTPO in August 2012 after Captain Jackson’s change of command. Chair Krasnoff introduced Mr. Anthony Conyers, Acting Executive Director, Williamsburg Area Transit Authority, as a Voting Member to the HRTPO Board. Public Comment Period One person requested to address the HRTPO Board. Chair Krasnoff asked him to limit his comments to three minutes. Mr. Ellis W. James Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members of the Commission, my name is Ellis W. James. I'm a lifelong resident of Hampton Roads and a proud resident of Norfolk. I'd like to call two things to your attention this morning. On a previous occasion, I raised the issue and concern about whether or not the uranium mining project being considered in the future will have a serious impact on transportation issues which raises the question of because of limited funding that monies would go to something that is not going to benefit Hampton Roads. I hope that this body will at some point have the opportunity to hear from the staff on the question of whether Attachment 10-A or not that could have an impact. I'd like to turn my attention and yours to light rail. My good friends from Virginia Beach, and I don't pretend to try to tell them how to do their business, but I think that it is very important that this body has a rapport and a good feel for what the potential cost in the future will be for light rail if it were extended into Virginia Beach and hopefully into other areas. The issue is serious; it is not one that we can afford to wait after all of these years of waiting, and not pay close attention to. Information is the knowledge and the power that you have to have in order to be able to make good and sound decisions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) Members Comment Period Mr. Layne reported that in the three years he has been a member of the CTB there have been two votes on the Downtown Tunnel-Midtown Tunnel-Martin Luther King (DT-MT- MLK) Extension project. The first vote in July 2009 moved the project from the conceptual stage to drafting the comprehensive agreement. Yesterday, the Secretary of Transportation asked CTB members to endorse a resolution in support of the comprehensive agreement and the tolls associated with it. The vote was unanimous to adopt the resolution. He outlined his reasons for supporting the resolution citing limited transportation resources with the only major tool for leveraging those resources being the Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA). He believed there would be a greater cost to the region if the project was not constructed. He expressed his appreciation to the HRTPO Board for transmitting a letter endorsing the DT-MT-MLK as the number one project in Hampton Roads. In conclusion, Mr. Layne informed the HRTPO Board that the Route 460 project is moving forward and will have tolls associated with it. Mr. Miller agreed with Mr. Layne’s comments and stated the DT-MT-MLK is a necessary project and the only way to achieve it is to vet it through the PPTA process. He noted it was the wrong way to realize the project; however, it was the only way to finance it through statewide funding. Acknowledging his respect for the HRTPO General Assembly (GA) members, he nevertheless indicated that for many decades the GA as a group did not provide the region the ability to build the needed infrastructure. Mr. Miller commented that certain roads and projects can carry tolls. Capturing revenue from out-of-state drivers at the I-95 border is one such project. He believes the only way to raise the proper revenue to construct the area’s projects is to either index the gas tax or raise the sales tax. He explained his vote at the CTB meeting was one of practicality since a signed contract was already in place. He stated the Governor and Secretary have done a fine job given the hand they were dealt since the citizens rejected a sales tax referendum and the legislature has been unwilling to raise taxes. He indicated that until one of the two components change, conditions will remain the same. Attachment 10-A Delegate Cosgrove stated it is understandable that the CTB members are frustrated; however, as appointed representatives of a Governor’s administration who has conveyed there would be no tax increase, it is disingenuous. He explained that several senior GA members are planning to call for a Termination of Convenience of the DT-MT-MLK contract. There is precedence for this call and it can be accomplished. It has also been reported in the newspapers that there is going to be a constitutional challenge to the project by Virginia Attorney Patrick McSweeney. Finally, he stated the citizens voiced their vote in a referendum for no sales tax increase and his duty is to represent the voice of his constituents. Senator John Miller also expressed his frustration with the situation. He indicated that for four of his five years in the Senate, he tried to alleviate some of the transportation issues, yet the Senate was unwilling to remove any money from the General Fund and the House of Delegates was unwilling to increase taxes.