Planning and Development Department Thursday, April 12

Planning and Development Department Melanie Wilson, Director

AUGUSTA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY (ARTS) METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO)

TECHNICAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 10:30 A.M.

AUGUSTA RICHMOND COUNTY MUNICIPAL BUILDING 535 TELFAIR STREET, 3RD FLOOR, SUITE 300 AUGUSTA GEORGIA 30901

Go-To-Meeting: Please visit & join the meeting space from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. https://www.gotomeet.me/augustainfotech/technical-coordinating-committee-1

You can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (872) 240-3311 Access Code: 123-461-365

AGENDA 1. Welcome and Introductions (Acknowledge Go-To-Meeting) 2. Recommend approval of the minutes of the Technical Coordinating Committee Meeting held on January 11, 2018 and February 28, 2018. 3. Review and discuss ARTS Traffic Volume Map and Level of Service (LOS) GIS Spatial Map and Data Analysis. 4. Review and discuss Socio-economic Data Collection for ARTS –Regional Population Growth and Land use Development Trends Report. 5. Review and discuss FTA 5310 Enhanced Seniors and Disabled Person– Transit Service Performance Report. 6. Review and discuss Scope of Work for 2045 Performance Based Multimodal Transportation Plan (Five-Year MTP Update) to be developed under consultant services in FY 2019. 7. Status of Other Regional Transportation Projects: a. Review of Administrative Modifications to the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and FY 2017-2022 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) b. Georgia Highways c. South Carolina Highways d. Augusta Public Transit Dept. e. Best Friend Express 8. Other Business – Announcements 9. Adjourn

1 Planning and Development Department Melanie Wilson, Director

AUGUSTA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY (ARTS) METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO) TECHNICAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETING JANUARY 11, 2018 at 10:30 A.M. AUGUSTA RICHMOND COUNTY MUNICIPAL BUILDING 535 TELFAIR STREET, SUITE 300 – ROOM 391 AUGUSTA GEORGIA 30901

MEETING MINUTES

VOTING MEMBERS ATTENDING: VOTING MEMBERS ABSENT: TCC VOTING MEMBERS ATTENDING: TCC VOTING MEMBERS ABSENT: Steve Cassell, P.E. Engineering Director Thomas Zeaser, City of North Augusta, Engineer, N. Columbia County Augusta LJ Peterson representing Aiken County Joe Berry, Aiken County Rhonda Mitchell, LSCOG Herbert Judon, Director Augusta Regional Airport Kenny Larimore, SCDOT - Planning Andrew Strickland, Director, Columbia Co. Adam Humphries, SCDOT – RPG3 Planning Michelle Jones, City of Aiken Public Works Yolanda Morris, FHWA Todd Turner, US Army - Fort Gordon Matt Schlachter, Columbia County Mark Pleasant, SCDOT John Pleveich, RATP Development Curtis Murphy, New Ellenton Patrick Stephens, Director Augusta Public Transit Hameed Malik, Augusta Engineering

OTHERS ATTENDING: Augusta Planning and Development Dept. SCDOT - Planning Carletta Singleton, Strategic LRT Manager Alex Bennett Bill Spivey – Planner II Dhruvi Panchal – Planner Udomekong Udoko, Transit Planner GDOT Ted Hicks Todd Price Ellen Wright Frank Childs Augusta Engineering Go-To-Meeting June Hamal Ann Marie Day, FHWA GA Division

POND Engineering Wolverton & Associates Kevin Skinner Leah Cassell,

535 Telfair Street ∙ Augusta, GA. 30901 706.821.1796 ∙ Fax: 706.821.1806 www.augustaga.gov 2

Pat Smeetar

1. Carletta Singleton welcomed everyone to the meeting and proceeded with introductions (Acknowledge Go-To-Meeting)

2. Recommend approval of the minutes of the Technical Coordinating Committee Meeting held on October 12, 2017. The meeting minutes from the Technical Test Network Sub-committee meeting will be held over to the next meeting.

3. Review the Scope of Work for consultant services to update the Congestion Management Process. The proposed budget is $200,000.00 ($160,000.00 federal and $40,000.00 local match). The local match provided by August, Georgia and Aiken County, South Carolina.

Carletta Singleton: provided a review of the scope of work for the Congestion Management Process update with the project cost and funding sources.

Ms. Singleton then provided the committee with an overview of the scope of work and activities for the consultant services and gave a review of the task which consisted of federal guidelines for the Congestion Management Process. The task consisted of the following;

Task 1: Review and Conduct Assessment of the Existing CMP Task 2: Research CMP Best Practices Task 3: Develop a Stakeholder and Public Outreach Approach Task 4: Data Collection and Analysis of Existing and Future CMP Transportation System Network Task 5: Analyze Traffic Congestion Problems and Needs Task 6: Review and refine Goals and Objectives Task 7: Develop Multimodal Performance Measures Task 8: Review and Update Existing CMP Strategies Task 9: Develop CMP Data Collection, Monitoring & Performance Reporting Process Task 10: Develop CMP System Performance Monitoring Evaluation

Carletta Singleton stated that this task list will play a part in the performance measures.

A motion to approve the item was made, seconded and unanimously approved by all committee members present.

4. Review and endorse Final Draft FY 2019 Unified Planning Work Program - Work Elements, work activities and budget. Carletta Singleton presented this item: The Augusta Planning and Development Department proposes to amend the FY 2018 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) to include the FY 2019 FTA Section 5303 funding for the work elements, tasks and activities under the Public Transit Section. The proposed budget below demonstrates the funding levels for each work element. This

535 Telfair Street ∙ Augusta, GA. 30901 706.821.1796 ∙ Fax: 706.821.1806 www.augustaga.gov 3

budget was included in the FY 2019 FTA Section 5303 grant application submittal to GDOT Office of Intermodal on December 4, 2017. The FY 2019 UPWP will include this budget and an overview of the ARTS transportation planning process and a description of each work element to be completed during the fiscal year 2019 (July 1 – June 30). The work elements for the FY 2019 UPWP have been expanded from five (5) to seven (7) categories including: Program Administration, Public Involvement, Transportation Data Collection and Analysis, Transportation System Planning, Public Transit/Paratransit, Performance Based Planning and Transportation Improvement Program. Special emphasis will be placed on completing a framework to identify and coordinate stakeholders relative to Coordinated Human Services transportation and enhancing public transit planning for fixed-route bus and paratransit demand- response; Regional Freight Plan; Special Transportation Studies including Congestion Management Process Update, Central Martinez Area Access Management Plan for Columbia County, the 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan; and implementing local and regional air quality initiatives. This information is available on the Augusta Richmond County website for review. This item will require a vote to recommend approval by the Policy Committee. A motion to approve the item was made, seconded and unanimously approved by all committee members present.

5. Review and endorse recommendation to the Policy Committee to adopt revisions to the Functional Highway Classification for ARTS MPO area in Richmond and Columbia Counties as requested GDOT. Carletta Singleton presented this item: The purpose of the Functional Classification review is to capture how roadways currently function based upon FHWA criteria. New changes to the guidelines in the MAP-21 prompted the reclassification of major roadways on River Watch road in the ARTS metropolitan planning area. Both Richmond County and Columbia County agreed to all of the recommended changes. There is a concern relative to changing the functional classification to a minor arterial with widening projects occurring. However, since the functional classification captures the current function of the roadway, Columbia County agreed with recommended change on the condition that once proposed improvements are completed by GDOT to widen this road from 2-4 lanes, reclassification of this road to a “Principal Arterial” is restored. The Augusta Planning and Development Department in consultation with the Engineering Department acknowledges that this corridor as a “Principal Arterial” is designated on the Federal Highway Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET) due to its proximity to Fort Gordon and subsequent importance to the US strategic defense. Additionally, this corridor is in the ARTS 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan as a regionally significant corridor for safety and security. A motion to approve the item was made, seconded and unanimously approved by all committee members present.

6. Review and discuss Draft Traffic Crash and Intersection Analysis Annual Report. Dhruvi Panchal presented this item: stated that this report includes data collected for the report came from the traffic safety office from the crash report from 2015 through 2017, the report found that the number of crashes have decreased. However, more crashes were found in downtown Augusta, and that Aiken County has more fatal crashes. However, so far, there have been no reports for crashes in Edgefield County. For traffic crash analysis, the data in this report is pulled from GDOT and SCDOT sources that consolidate all locally provided traffic crash data. The two

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main sources of data are the Georgia Electronic Accident Reporting System (GEARS), provided by the GDOT Office of Traffic Operations, and the SCDOT Traffic Safety Office, on behalf of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS). Traffic crash analysis provides a summary of all four county crash trends from year 2011 or 2016. The analysis includes crash trends by year, by week, day and time, and day of the Month. The report includes data analysis and maps. Regional non-intersection crashes, intersection crashes and pedestrian/bicycle crashes maps provide an outlook of crash trends for five years. The report also focuses on intersection accident analysis for 2011 – 2016. Intersection crash summaries by intersection for Aiken and Edgefield counties are provided by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, Traffic Engineering Safety Office and for Richmond, Columbia counties by Georgia Electronic Accident Reporting System (GEARS), GDOT Office of Traffic Operations. The report is available on the ARTS website for review.

7. Review and discuss ARTS Surface Transportation Program Funds – Z230 for transportation projects Richmond and Columbia Counties in the FY 2017-2022 Transportation Improvement Program. Carletta Singleton presented this item: These transportation projects listed below represent previous as administrative modifications or amendments to the 2040 LRTP and FY 2017-2022 TIP. After the Policy Committee has endorsed the projects, a public meeting and 30 day public comment period will be scheduled. • Hereford Farm Road - FY 21 local ROW to $1,813,501, FY 23 local CST to $3,327,846, FY 23 local UTL to $4,061,684 • Hardy McManus Road - FY 21 local ROW to $1,813,501, FY 23 local CST to $3,327,846, FY 23 local UTL to $4,061,684 • Wheeler Road - For CST FY 2020 Local funds Increased to $ 387,000 • Boston Chapel Road - CST FY 2020 Local funds Increased to $ 239,029.69 • Willis Foreman Road - Add local FY 2024 CST amount for $6,514,750, Move ROW $253,000 amount to local. Additional $1,500,000 added to project PE Phase II (federal 80% and local 20%). • Stevens Creek Road – UTL $6,542,760 and CST $28,343,111 phases are moved to tier 2.

In the fall of this calendar year, all of the projects in the TIP and LRP will be revisited and their funding source and revenue streams will be identified and carried over in the next plan update. Projects with construction costs above $20 million will require local governments to devise a financial plan for the total cost of the project.

8. Review and endorse recommendation to the Policy Committee to adopt 2017 ARTS Transportation Alternatives (TA) set-aside Grant recipients pending public review meeting. Bill Spivey presented this item: The four (4) applications received were evaluated by three (3) members of the Technical Coordinating Committee on January 9, 2018; the evaluation committee was made up of members of the TCC and ARTS’s staff. The highest scoring project was the Walton Way Accessible Sidewalk Renovation with an average total of 38 points. The second place project was the Evans to Lock Road Multi-Use Trail with an average total score of 37 points, and the third place project was the Sidewalk Installation along Kissingbower Road with an average total score of 36 points. The fourth project was the Street Lighting in the Augusta Medical District, but this type of project is not eligible for funding. TA program funding guidelines identifies street lighting as an eligible project as part of a bicycle and/or pedestrian project. TA

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funds cannot be used for maintenance work, and second, the lighting project would have to be part of a larger transportation project.

Walton Way Accessible Sidewalk Renovation, Evans to Lock Road Multi-Use Trail and Widening, Sidewalk installation along Kissingbower Road and Street lighting in Augusta Medical District.

Ann Marie Day stated; there was a discussion on the lighting project and she sent for further interpretation of the regulations for clarity purposes. She sent an email to the person that provides oversight to this program in the headquarters’ office, currently he is at TRB, and so she is waiting to hear from him. She also sent him the application so he will have an idea of what the proposal contains, and the extent of the work.

9. Discussion on ARTS MPO Planning Process for Performance Based Planning – Asset Condition and System Performance Target Settings as required by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Recently, ARTS was provided with timelines by SCDOT for the Initial Coordination Process between SCDOT and the ARTS MPO to facilitate Initial Pavement and Bridge Condition and the Initial System and Truck Travel Time Reliability Performance Target Settings. The ARTS MPO is required to set targets in coordination with SCDOT for all public roads after South Carolina has set the 4-year targets by May 20, 2018. ARTS will have 180 days or by November 16, 2018, at the latest, to either adopt and support SCDOT’s statewide targets or establish a numerical target specific to the ARTS planning area. ARTS has agreed to support the targets set by SCDOT for the MPO area. Action required by Technical Coordinating Committee, a recommendation to the Citizen’s Advisory Committee and Policy Committee to adopt and support the Initial Pavement and Bridge Condition and the Initial System and Truck Travel Time Reliability Performance Targets set by the South Carolina Department of Transportation for a period of four (4) years.

10. Status of Other Regional Transportation Projects: a. Review of Administrative Modifications to the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and FY 2017-2022 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) b. Georgia Highways (Refer to attachment) c. South Carolina Highways (Refer to attachment) d. Augusta Public Transit Dept. (no one present) e. Best Friend Express (Refer to attachment) 11. Other Business – Announcements - Election of Vice-Chair of the ARTS Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) for 2018 Calendar Year. 12. Adjourn

535 Telfair Street ∙ Augusta, GA. 30901 706.821.1796 ∙ Fax: 706.821.1806 www.augustaga.gov 6

Planning and Development Department Melanie Wilson, Director

AUGUSTA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY (ARTS) METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO)

TECHNICAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE AND CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE JOINT SPECIAL – CALL MEETING February 28, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. AUGUSTA RICHMOND COUNTY MUNICIPAL BUILDING 535 TELFAIR STREET, SUITE 300 – ROOM 391 AUGUSTA GEORGIA 30901

MEETING MINUTES

VOTING MEMBERS ATTENDING: VOTING MEMBERS ABSENT: TCC VOTING MEMBERS ATTENDING: TCC VOTING MEMBERS ABSENT: Steve Cassell, P.E. Engineering Director Thomas Zeaser, Engineer, N. Augusta Columbia County Joe Berry, Aiken County Kenny Larimore, SCDOT - Planning Herbert Judon, Director Augusta Regional Airport Adam Humphries, SCDOT – RPG3 Andrew Strickland, Director, Columbia Co. Michelle Jones, City of Aiken Public Works Planning Todd Turner, US Army Sharon Dottery, Augusta Public Transit Matt Schlachter, Columbia County Dept. Mark Pleasant, SCDOT John Pleveich, RATP Development Curtis Murphy, New Ellenton Hameed Malik, Augusta Engineering

CAC VOTING MEMBERS ATTENDING Bill Busser, Aiken County OTHERS ATTENDING: Augusta Planning and Development Dept. SCDOT – Office of Planning Carletta Singleton, Strategic LRT Manager Alex Bennett Dhruvi Panchal – Planner Udomekong Udoko, Transit Planner

Go-To-Meeting Ann Marie Day, FHWA GA Division LJ Peterson representing Aiken County Kenny Larimore, SCDOT Yolanda Morris, FHWA John Ussery, Augusta Engineering June Hamal, Augusta Engineering Marcus Jacobs, Augusta Engineering Steve Exley, Columbia County

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Rhonda Mitchell, LSCOG Ted Hicks, GDOT - Planning Tom Caiafa, GDOT - Planning Diane Lackey, SCDOT

1. Carletta Singleton welcomed everyone to the meeting and proceeded with introductions (Acknowledge Go-To-Meeting) 2. Review and adopt Final FY 2019 Unified Planning Work Program - Work Elements, work activities and budget.

Carletta Singleton presented this item: Ms. Singleton informed present members that the FY 2019 UPWP has been up for review for over a month and on the City of Augusta website in draft form. During the comment period, the review of the FY 2019 UPWP draft documents were sent out. Written comments were submitted by South Carolina, Diane Lacky, FWHA (GA), GDOT, and LSCOG. Comments received included grammatical editing and programming of budget amounts in the correct tables in reference to federal requirements with regards to transportation planning work elements and tasks activities for FY 2019.

FY 2019 beings on July 1, 2018 and ends June 30, 2019. On the budget sheet in FY 2019 Final Draft (Figure 3), is a summary sheet identifying all work elements and budgets for both FHWA planning funds and FTA planning funds for 5303.

The total budget for all MPO parties in the Transportation Planning process include:

Augusta Planning and Development Dept. (APDD) - Total: • GDOT PL - $373,763.85 = Federal 80%, $93,440.96 APDD 20% for a total of $467,204.81; Total Increase is $9,959.78. • SCDOT PL - $18,000.00 = Federal 80%, $4,500.00 ACPD 20% for a Total of $22,500.00. • GDOT FTA 5303 FY 2019 & FY 2020 - $167,246.00 Federal 80%, $20,905.75 GDOT 10%, $20,905.75 – ACPD 10% for a Total of $209,057.50; Total Increase is $6,735.10. -Local/State Match provided by GDOT, Richmond County, GA & Aiken County, SC

Aiken County Planning and Development Dept. (ACPD) • SCDOT PL - $210,800.00 Federal 80%, $52,700.00 ACPDP = 20% local match for a total of $263,500.00; -Local/State Match provided by Aiken County, SC

Lower Savannah Council of Govt. • SCDOT FTA 5303 - $48,000.00 Federal 80%, $12,000.00 LSCOG 20% for a Total of $60,000.00 -Local/State Match provided by Aiken County, SC

All work elements that will be carried forward for FY 2019 are outlined as staff activates. There will be three Special Planning Studies.

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Work Element 4.4.3. - One Special planning Study will involve updating the Five Year Long Range Plan which in due September 2, 2020.

Staff will perform their normal annual work tasks and work elements to support the LRP. This included demographic data collection and updating the Socioeconomic Database for traffic analysis zones.

The required Travel Demand Model is conducted by GDOT, they will begin modeling process will begin around early November 2018. Consultants will be hired to update the LRTP. The last 2015 Plan Update was done in house. Due to many other major planning projects that we need to undertake for FY 2019 and FY 2020, the special studies will be handles through consultants. Staff will provide supporting work elements and activities towards that work. This is poised to begin with a draft scope will be presented to the Test Network Committee on March 22, 2018. UPWP Work Element 4.4.1 - Congestion Management System Process will be updated by consultants between March and June, 2018. This work will be carried forwards though FY 2019 through December 2018. The Congestion Management System Process is expected to be updated in December 2018 in time for the Policy Committee to adopt. The CAC and the TCC will be involved in the review of the work under the consultant and there will be a public meeting associated with the special study. UPWP Work Element 4.4.2 – The Central Martinez Area Access Management Plan was funded but supplemental PL funds through the GDOT. The goal is to move the draft scope through the committee process. Once the CMP has reach competition or near completion hopefully FHWA will allow us to move forward the Central Martinez Area Access Management Plan. Carletta Singleton asked for a motion to approve. LJ Peterson made a motioned, Steve Eacely second. The motion was approved unanimously. The vote carried forward at the recommendation of the Technical Committee to approve the FY 19 UPWP. Vote ballots will be sent via email to members who did not attend today’s meeting. Carletta Singleton called for a vote to recommend approval to by the Citizens Advisory Committee. The vote carried forward.

3. Other Business Carletta Singleton presented this item: There are no reports on the Highway status from GDOT. They did inform us via email that since the last meeting there haven’t been any changes or updates to the status of projects. There was no email sent from South Carolina with an update on their projects. 4. Adjourn

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AUGUSTA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY AGENDA ITEM – STAFF REPORT

DATE: March 22, 2018

AGENDA ITEM: 3: Review and discuss ARTS Traffic Volume Map and Level of Service (LOS) GIS Spatial Map and Data Analysis Background: The Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) is the transportation planning process established for the Augusta GA – Aiken SC urbanized area. The Federal‐Aid Highway Act of 1962 established the requirement for transportation planning in urban areas throughout the country. On July 6, 2012, the President signed Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP‐21), transportation legislation reauthorizing surface transportation programs through Fiscal Year 2014. The transportation planning process currently operates under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.

Regional transportation planning within the ARTS region is coordinated by the Augusta Planning and Development Department (APDD) on behalf of ARTS and coordinates the work of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the ARTS area. Reduced congestion and improve mobility for all modes of transportation is a goal-identified in the ARTS Transportation Vision 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

ARTS Transportation Vision 2040 LRTP Vision, Goals, and Objectives: Congestion and Mobility, Accessibility and Connectivity • Promote street networks that reduce travel delays and congestion. • Continue to implement and promote strategies and policies such as system preservation, access management, manages lanes, travel demand management, mass transit, complete streets and alternative transportation to reduce congestion condition. • Promote revitalization of the urban core through improved accessibility and connectivity. • Provide a plan that positions public transportation as a viable alternative to single occupant vehicles, through routing and scheduling changes and other system improvements.

The ARTS area encompasses 804 square miles and includes all of the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC urbanized area as defined by the 2010 Census, and additional areas expected to become urbanized within the next 20 years. The study area includes all of Richmond County, Georgia and parts of Columbia County, Georgia and Edgefield and Aiken Counties in South Carolina.

The Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) – Traffic Volume Map and Level of Service Map for year 2016 is part of congestion management process. It is completed to provide an

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understanding of regional traffic congestion and identify road segments in need of improvements, and strategies and projects to improve.

Traffic Volume Map Annual average daily traffic (AADT) volume map presents the traffic average for a specific year at specific points. In order to undertake planning, design, construction and maintenance of the road network, the assessment of present traffic flow and future traffic growth is necessary. Traffic volumes are basic requirements for planning of road development and management schemes. Traffic flow pattern appears to be random in distribution, as it reflects people’s motivation in terms of different composition of vehicles on different types of roads under varying environmental conditions. Some of the key areas in which traffic flow data is needed for development and management of the road network includes:

a) Determination of a road widening needs and general improvement or strengthening of existing road through a reconstruction and construction of a new roads b) To check the efficiency of the road network by comparing current traffic volume with the level of service c) To plan prioritization of roads improvement; to assess economic benefits arising from roads improvements d) Investigation of various capacity and design problems for both roads and bridges and parking facilities e) Design and improvement of new/existing junctions f) Assistance in planning new developments such as roads in a new town, subdivisions, land use, which generally includes shopping centers, hotels, commercial and industrial complexes, service stations and other traffic generators activities g) Determination of the need for implementation of traffic improvement and traffic control measures, such as synchronized/coordinated traffic signals, stop signs, one way roads, no entry h) To study future traffic trends and assisting in predicting traffic flows in the future for a given period i) To classify roads on their functional basis

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Level of Service (LOS) Map Level of service efforts to response how good is the present traffic situation on a given facility. Thus, it gives a qualitative measure of traffic, whereas road capacity analysis gives a quantitative measure of a facility. Capacity and level of service varies with the type of facility, prevailing traffic and road conditions. The intention of LOS is to relate the traffic service quality to a given flow rate of traffic. It is a term that designates a range of operating conditions on a particular type of facility. Highway capacity manual (HCM) developed by the transportation research board of USA provides some procedure to determine level of service. It divides the quality of traffic into six levels ranging from level A to level F.

LOS standards for a road segment are based on the ratio of the daily traffic volume to the segment's daily capacity. This volume-to-capacity ratio is an indication of the amount of delay a driver would encounter on the road segment. This level of service is based upon travel delay and is expressed as letters "A" through "F", with "A" being the highest or best travel condition and "F" being the lowest or worst condition. Level of service A describes operations with a very low delay. Level of service B generally occurs with good progression and/or short traffic signal cycle lengths, causing higher average delays. Level of service C has higher delays than level of service B. These higher delays may result from fair progression and/or longer cycle lengths. Level of service D means the influence of congestion has become more noticeable. Level of service E is considered the limit of acceptable delay. Level of Service F has delays that are considered unacceptable to most drivers. This condition often occurs with over saturations, i.e., when arrival flow rates exceed the capacity of the intersection. Table 1 shows the LOS standards for ARTS congestion management process and the corresponding volume-to-capacity ratios and average speeds for urban arterial roads. For all four ARTS county roads, Level of Service standards categorized as per table 1. Table 1 Level-of-Service Standards for Urban Arterials

Level-of-Service Standards for Urban Arterials Level-of-Service Volume-to-Capacity Ratio Average Travel Speed A VC Ratio < 0.30 >= 35 MPH B 0.30 =< VC Ratio < 0.50 >= 28 MPH C 0.50 =< VC Ratio < 0.70 >= 22 MPH D 0.70 =< VC Ratio < 0.85 >= 17 MPH E 0.85 =< VC Ratio < 1.00 >= 13 MPH F VC Ratio >=1.00 < 13 MPH Source: ARTS Congestion Management Process

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The factors affecting level of service (LOS) are listed as follows:

a) Speed and travel time b) Traffic interruptions/restrictions c) Freedom to travel with desired speed d) Driver comfort and convenience e) Operating cost.

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Below table 2 shows road segment with level of service “E” or “F” in ARTS area. Among them few of are already identified under CMP (congestion management process) corridor study 2014. Table 2 Congested Road Segments

Congested Road Segments with LOS- E, F – ARTS 2016 Road Identified Under CMP Study Corridor 2014 Richmond County Wheeler Road from I-20 to I-520 CMP corridor Wrightsboro Road from I-520 to Damascus road Gordon highway from Fort Gordon to Milledgeville Road Deans bridge Road from Meadowbrook Dr to I-520 Windsor Spring Road from Rozier Road to Richmond Hill Road Peach Orchard Road from Windsor Spring Road to Tobacco Road Old Savannah Road from Phinizy Road to Tobacco Road US 78 from county line to Old Savannah Road Walton Way Ext near I-20 through Davis Road CMP corridor I-20 from Washington road to Wheeler Road Belair Road Ext 15th street CMP corridor 5th street Bobby Jones to Washington road

Columbia County I-20 from Flowing Wells Road to Appling Harlem Road Washington Road from Bobby Jones Expressway to William Few Parkway Furry Ferry Road from Baston road to North Belair road CMP corridor Old Evans Road Evans to Lock Road CMP corridor Washington near Martinez Blvd. CMP corridor

Aiken and Edgefield County Whiskey road from east pine log road CMP corridor I-20 near W Martin Town Road Silver Bluff Road CMP corridor Hitchcock Parkway East Pine Log Road Belvedere Clearwater Road Edgefield Road over I -20 Edgefield Highway Source: Level of Service Map, ARTS Study 2016

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Richmond and Columbia County Data collection and process Data Collection 1. GDOT functional classification shapefile, Office of planning, GDOT 2. GDOT traffic volume Data source and how to download data http://mydocs.dot.ga.gov/info/publicdownloads/Downloads/Forms/AllItems.aspx 3. Click on Downloads on the left side of the page 4. Scroll down to the OTD folder and click on the triangle to the left of the folder 5. Click on the triangle to the left of the Data folder 6. Click on the triangle to the left of the Road_Inventory_Data folder 7. Scroll to the 2016_Baseline folder and click on the triangle to the left of the folder 8. Click on the 2016_Baseline folder and several items will show up (DataDictionary_Baseline2016(a word document), Baseline_2016.txt (contains a text only of the 2016 Data), Baseline_2016.gdb(a geodatabase containing all routes and data) 9. Click on the file for opening/download prompts

Data processing and adjustments 1. For richmond and columbia county shapefile data received from office of planning GDOT contains infromation for avarage annual daily traffic for all TC(traffic controller) Number,K factor,Directional factor. 2. It does not have infromation for facility type,area type, hourly capacacity,volume to capacity ratio. These data is required to creat Level of service map. 3. By considering referance of GDOT functional classifcation shapefile data, have identified facility type and area type for each road feature and edit shapefile received from office of planning GDOT. 4. Based on the travel demand model report for ARTS, identify hourly capcity from Table2-5: Hourly capcity per lane by facility type and area type*Note - capacity factor % is proportional of daily traffic in the 5. To find Capacity = (hourly capacity) peak periods – which is K factor given is data. For few of the (capacity factor%) road segment K factor value is 0 – for that road segment in 6. To find Volume capacity ratio = volume/ capcacity urban area has K factor =0.09 and rural area =0.10

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Aiken and Edgefield County Data collection and process Data Collection 1. SCDOT traffic volume Data source and how to download data a. Download traffic volume shapefile 2016 statewide traffic lines from http://info2.scdot.org/sites/GIS/SitePages/GISFiles.aspx?MapType=Shape

b. Shapefile data 2015_Base_Year_HighwayNet_Output_Aiken_Edgefield_County from office of planning, SCDOT

Data processing and adjustments

1. For Aiken and edgefield county data found from two different source. As traffic volume for year 2016 file download from SCDOT GIS page has traffic volume for only major roads. For other county roads data collected from office of planning, SCDOT – “2015_Base_Year_HighwayNet_Output_Aiken_Edgefield_County” 2. Year 2016 data file contains traffic volume data but does not contain capacity data to find volume capacity ratio. 3. Year 2015 data has all required information of traffic volume and capacity, volume capacity ratio 4. Use referance of year 2015 data file and identify capacity for major roads and enter value of capacity in year 2016 data to find volume capacity ratio. ( capacity remains same untill, facility type changes) 5. To find Volume capacity ratio = volume/ capcacity

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DATE: March 22, 2018

AGENDA ITEM: 4: Review and discuss Socio-economic Data Collection for ARTS – Regional Population Growth and Land Development Trends Report. Background: Regional population growth and land use development trends report is annual task of MPO. This report is based on socio-economic data of all four counties. In LRTP process one of the first steps is to analyze socioeconomic data to develop current and forecast future conditions for the four counties within the MPO. The socioeconomic data is then modeled and used to predict travel patterns. The outputs of this model help in creating the future vision and transportation needs of our region.

Transportation networks are consistently affected by business development as employees and customers of businesses make trips to business sites. UPWP (Work Element 3.1 – Socioeconomic Data / Environmental Justice (EJ) requires the collection of socioeconomic data, including regional employment and labor data, in order to develop an understanding of where and how transportation networks and corridors may be affected by new, expanding, downsizing, or closing businesses. By geocoding socioeconomic data such as employment and commercial activity, the ARTS will more clearly see which roads and corridors may need further review and analysis. Additionally, utilize the information for social and economic development purposes, including the recognition of corridors and regions with expanding economic activity and housing growth and studies on the types of businesses that may flourish in the Augusta region.

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Socio- Economic Data Collection Many of the data sources and methodology followed is consistent for all four counties. The majority of socioeconomic data came from the US Census Bureau and various state sources. Below table data shows, the types of socio-economic data collected from various source from all four counties under ARTS MPO. County Types of Data Sources Population and Housing Residential Population and Housing Estimates from July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016- Vintage Census GA Dept. of Labor, Workforce Statistics & Economic Research, Local Area Unemployment Employment Statistics Unit Columbia Median Household Income US Census American Community Survey 2012-2016 – Census block level School Enrollment Georgia Department of Education Business license Columbia County Development Services Certificate of occupancy Columbia County Development Services Population and Housing Residential Population and Housing Estimates from July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016- Vintage Census GA Dept. of Labor, Workforce Statistics & Economic Research, Local Area Unemployment Employment Statistics Unit Richmond Median Household Income US Census American Community Survey 2012-2016 – Census block level Scholl Enrollment Georgia Department of Education Business license Richmond County Planning and Development Business & Licensing Certificate of occupancy Richmond County Planning and Development Business & Licensing Population and Housing Residential Population and Housing Estimates from July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016- Vintage Census SC Dept. of Labor, Workforce Statistics & Economic Research, Local Area Unemployment Employment Statistics Unit Aiken and Median Household Income US Census American Community Survey 2012-2016 – Census block level Edgefield Scholl Enrollment Aiken County Public Schools , South Carolina Department of Education Aiken County Planning & Development, Aiken County Planning & Development and SC Business license Department of Revenue Certificate of occupancy Aiken County Planning and Development, Edgefield County Building & Planning

A regional level data variable will be reviewed under Regional Population Growth and Land use Development Trends Report are: • Total Population • Total Households • Total Housing Units • Household Density • Population Density • Total Employment and Employment by Category • Median Household Income • School Employment • School Enrollment • Certificate of Occupancy • Building Permits

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Below table shows Socio-Economic Data required and collected from ARTS County Departments

Columbia North City of ARTS Growth Richmond Richmond County Columbia Aiken Augusta North Aiken City of Trend Report Data County County 2010- County Grovetown Grovetown Aiken County County 2010- Augusta 2010- Aiken Edgefield Edgefield 2010-2016 2017 2016 2017 2010-2016 2017 2010-2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2010-2016 2017 Yet to Certificate of collect          Occupancy 2016 data Residential          

Commercial       Building Permit        Residential        Commercial        Business Licenses Gross Gross Yet to / Occupational not Yet to collect Sales & Yet to collect Sales &   collect       taxes list from available 2010 data Liquor 2010 data Liquor 2010 data county/city/town License License School    N/A N/A employment

School enrollment         N/A N/A  

PK - 12; Public         N/A N/A   Private College/University

Data need to be collected (blank cell)

 Data available

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County Level Projections (2045) for Socio- Economic Data

County level forecast will be estimated by MPO for population, housing and employment. The control totals will be projected to 2045. Steps will be followed for projections are;

The following abbreviations and terminology will be used in the following discussion: “BY” refers to Base Year “FY” refers to Future Year “Category Value” refers to the value of any of the household, population or employment categories.

1) Calculate annual growth rates (FY Category Value – BY Category Value) (BY Category Value) Growth Rate (%) = ------(FY – BY) The result is a yearly growth rate for population, housing, and employment.

2) Apply annual growth rates to the base year data to obtain 2045 values Growth rates derived in Step 1 were applied to the base year 2016 socio-economic data in order to calculate 2045 forecast values

FY 2045 Category Value = (BY Category Value) (1 + (Zonal Annual Growth Rate (FY − BY))) . ∗ ∗

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ARTS Employment Density Map

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ARTS Population density

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ARTS Housing Density

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DATE: April 12, 2018 AGENDA ITEM: 5: Review and discuss FTA 5310 Enhanced Seniors and Disabled Person– Transit Service Performance Report. Background: The Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) is a bi-state Metropolitan organization(MPO) having jurisdiction over of Richmond County and portion of Columbia County in Georgia and portion of Aiken and Edgefield County in South Carolina. The regional agency assists local jurisdictions with transportation projects to meet federal and state transportation planning requirements.

Augusta Public Transit (APT) and Lower Savannah Council of Government (LSCOG) 5310 Program - Mobility Management On May 1 2017, the Augusta Public Transit Dept. launched a shared ride system to better serve seniors and individuals with disabilities that live within the urbanized area of Richmond County. In October 2017, Lower Savannah Council of Government began launching its mobility management program which help to coordinate the trip requests with service providers in order to serve seniors and individuals with disabilities that live in both Aiken and Edgefield County. Both transit services are offered through a cooperative funding agreement between Augusta Georgia’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Georgia’s Department of Human Services (DHS). Prior to the implementation of these services, individuals that lived beyond ¾ mile of a fixed route bus line did not qualify for transportation through Augusta Transit and Lower Savannah Council of Government’s Paratransit services. Both new services provides transportation for seniors that are 60 years of age and older as well as individuals with disabilities that meet certain criteria. During the month of May to December, the Augusta Public Transit (APT) Department in cooperation with the Augusta’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) began advertising the program through local media source and other advertising venues. Augusta Public Transit (APT) received a number of inquiries from individuals and a few organizations seeking more information about the program and the qualifications. A large number of these individuals were disabled individuals interests in certifying for the program. In conjunction with the 5310 program, Augusta Public Transit (APT) also developed a Travel Training Program. There were several elements in this program, which included a standardized training syllabus, instructors guide, power point presentation, and a participant handout. The program was able to introduce and familiarize citizens in Richmond County on the benefits of public transit as well as how to use the system. On October 2017, Lower Savanah Council of Government (LSCOG) began its mobility management program. The mobility management program provided trip services for seniors and individuals with disability in urban portions of Aiken and Edgefield Counties. The most common areas served by LSCOG

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mobility management program include Aiken, North Augusta, Graniteville, Warrenville, Burnettown, Langley, Clearwater (the Midland Valley area). Since the launching of the 5310 transportation program, both Augusta Public Transit (APT) and Lower Savannah Council of Government (LSCOG) have provided numerous trips for seniors that are 60 years of age and older as well as individuals with disabilities that meet the criteria under the FTA section 5310 Enhanced Mobility for Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities program.

Mobility Management Mobility Management consists of short-range planning and management activities and projects for improving coordination among public transportation and other transportation service providers carried out by a recipient or sub-recipient through an agreement entered into with a person, including a government entity, under 49 U.S.C. chapter 53 (other than section 5309). Mobility management does not include operating public transportation services. Mobility management is eligible as a capital expense and can be used to coordinate new mobility services with traditional public transportation and other alternative services. The purpose of mobility management is to improve coordination among existing public transportation providers and other transportation service providers in order to expand the availability of transportation options.

Augusta Public Transit Mobility Management Program Through the FTA Section 5310 funds, APT mobility management program has provided an opportunity to add human service coordinated trips to the resources available to residents living in the urbanized portion of Augusta Richmond Co. outside of the ¾-quarter mile of fixed route bus service. With assistance from the ARTS MPO, APT has issued a solicitation for bids to procure vendor(s) to provide transportation services.

GIS Map In conjunction to the APT’s mobility management program, the APT utilized a GIS address matching and transit service area mapping tool called the ARTS Transit Service Area lookup map. The ARTS Transit Service Area lookup is a configurable web application template that is used to provide the general public, internal staff and other interested parties the with information about a location (See Figure 1). The ARTS Transit Service Area lookup map was very beneficial to the APT’s paratransit, and 5310 program. The GIS map enabled the APT to look up the address of eligible riders and determine their area of location outside of their ¾ quarter mile transit buffer. Since the launching of the ARTS Transit Service Area lookup map, the APT has not had any issues with the GIS map tool.

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Figure 1: ARTS Transit Service Areas Lookup GIS Map

Source: ARTS

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Lower Savannah Council of Government Mobility Management Program LSCOG mobility management program is funded by the 5310 program and serves members of the public in urbanized areas of Aiken and Edgefield County who are age 60+ and/or disabled. Mobility managers tasked to determine service eligibility and help coordinate trip requests with the service provider. LSCOG has issued a solicitation for bids to procure vendor(s) to provide transportation services. LSCOG recognizes that the total number of people served will be smaller than the anticipated number of trips; both because trips are counted as “one-way” and because some passengers will take multiple trips over the course of the program.

5310 Invoice Quarterly Expense Report- May 2017 through March 2018 The following information below includes expenses incurred by Augusta Pubic Transit and Lower Savannah Council of Government for Mobility Management and Purchase of Service for transportation trips reported from May 2017 through March of 2018. Table 1-9 provide a summary of the invoice expenses for the FTA Section 5310 Enhance Mobility for Elderly and Disability Persons Funds and State Match from Georgia Dept. Human Services for Coordinated Human Services Transportation covering the month of May of 2017 through March of 2018. Table 1-9 shows the invoice expense amounts of FTA Section 5310 Funds and State Match covering the travel trips provided by APT and LSCOG which cover the month of May 2017 through the month of March of 2018. Table 1. FTA 5310 Invoice Expenses Amount for April, May and June 2017

FTA 5310 Invoice Expenses Amount for April, May and June 2017 Total Federal (FTA 5310) GA-DHS State Match Augusta-Richmond $1,251.38 $1,001.10 $250.28 Co.-Augusta Planning and Development (ARTS MPO)

Augusta Public Transit $1,251.38 $1,001.10 $250.28 (APT)