MRPC Large Conference Room
October 14, 2010

Members Present:
Ed Worley (Crawford), Donald Dodd (Dent), Ron Jost (Gasconade), Richard Huse (Maries), James Kleffner (Maries), Russell Scheulen (Osage), Candace Connell (Phelps), Bruce Harrill (Pulaski), George Sanders (Pulaski), Cecil Penland (Pulaski), John Casey (Washington) and T.R. Dudley (Washington)

Alternates, Ex-Officio, and MoDOT:
John Petersen (Phelps-alt), Mike Dusenberg (D5 MoDOT), Will Atkinson (D9 MoDOT), Willie Johnson (D9 MoDOT) and Amy Bryant (D9 MoDOT)

Guests:
Brad Dunnagan (Linn), Ronda Thompson (Linn), Robert Conway (Archer Engineers), Cyndra Lorey (RREC), Linda Wilson (Crocker), Lyle Thomas (St. Robert), Norman Herren (Pulaski), John Nilges (LSTC), Carla McDaniel (LSTC), Jerry Haggerman (LSTC) and Ray Schwartz (Maries)

Staff:
Richard Cavender, Bonnie Prigge, Connie Willman and Lisa Warnke  

Call to Order & Welcome:
Donald Dodd, District 9 co-chair , called the October 14, 2010, Transportation Advisory Committee meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.

Approval of August 12, 2010 TAC Minutes:
Donald Dodd, District 9 co-chair, presented the minutes for the August 12, 2010, TAC meeting for approval. Ron Jost made a motion to approve the minutes for the August 12, 2010, TAC minutes as presented. Jim Kleffner seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Enhancement Projects:
Connie Willman explained that MoDOT Enhancement projects will be selected on October 18, 2010, for District 9 and mid-November for District 5. Connie told the committee that they will be hearing presentations on the proposed projects in Districts 5 and 9 will be asked to rank them for the region. There are four projects in District 9 and two projects in District 5. The projects are as follows:

District 5

• Brad Dunnagan and Ronda Thompson presented the City of Linn Sidewalk Enhancement Project. Brad and Ronda informed the committee that currently the sidewalks along 4 th street are not handicap accessible. Making sidewalks improvements to this area would fix that deficiency. This project would provide ADA accessibility throughout the entire downtown area, including crosswalks on the south side of the street. There would need to be some coordination between MoDOT and the city along Hwy 50. The city has already acquired some of the easements for phase 2 of the project. The presenters stated that there would be no problems meeting the requirements of the enhancement program requirements.

• John Nilges, Jerry Hagerman and Carla McDaniel presented the Linn State Technical College Power Center Plaza Enhancement Project, which will improve the popular travel hub of the campus with up-todate sidewalks, lighting and landscaping. The group informed the committee that this project is adjacent to Hwy 50 and will provide a gateway to the City of Linn, lower the impact to the storm water drainage system for storm runoff, be used for community events, and be a safe ADA-compliant travel corridor for the campus. The primary purpose of the project is to make the plaza handicap accessible while enhancing the community, local schools and businesses. Linn State Technical College will provide the match funds for this project.

District 9

• Candace Connell presented the City of St. James Sidewalk Extension and Pedestrian Lane Enhancement Project. Candace stated that currently there is no sidewalk from downtown St. James across I-44 to the middle school. Candace provided information to the committee to show that there is no safe pedestrian traffic way crossing the interstate at this time and that there is a large volume of vehicle and pedestrian traffic at this location. The plan is to have a sidewalk on one side of the interstate crossover with pedestrian crosswalks. The project incorporates design possibilities using either side of the crossover for project and will go with the side that is easiest, has the best traffic flow and is most cost effective. The primary purpose is providing safe pedestrian crossing for children and adults. The most significant impacts of this project are safety from school to school, community development, economic development, and tourism. The city will be providing the match funds for this project.

• Linda Wilson presented the City of Crocker Sidewalk Enhancement Project. This project is to put sidewalks along Highway 17 on the south end of town from 11 th Street to Keith Road. Linda said the primary purpose of this project is to provide safe pedestrian traffic along the major roadway. Currently parts of this area have only gravel paths along the highway with no handicap accessibility or curbing and guttering. Linda stated that the city has defined five phases of sidewalk improvements on the southern end of Crocker and would like to get funding for two of the phases at this time. The total cost for both projects would be $250,000 and the city will provide the match funds.

• Lyle Thomas presented the City of St. Robert Pedestrian Bridge Enhancement Project. Lyle informed the committee that currently there is no safe route for pedestrians to cross I-44. The average daily traffic count at this time is 18,000. Lyle stated that the primary purpose for this project is to provide a safe crossing for all foot traffic. Lyle explained that I-44 separates the community with the north side being primarily major chain retail and restaurants and the south side being parks, city government, other businesses and Fort Leonard Wood. Lyle stated that a large number of the service men on furlough cannot drive so they are restricted to using cabs or walking to the stores and restaurants and there is currently not a sidewalk on the I-44 crossover. The proposed free span bridge will be eight feet wide and 200 feet long and will be fenced for pedestrian traffic only. The sidewalk would be handicap accessible. The City of St. Robert is currently working on two other enhancement projects one is for a street lighting project and the other is for a pedestrian trail on the north outer road. Lyle informed the committee that the projected cost of the pedestrian bridge will be $500,000. The city is requesting $400,000 and will provide the match funds.

• Willie Johnson and Amy Bryant from District 9 MoDOT presented the City of St. James MoDOT Sidewalk Enhancement Project. The project is located along Route 68 from the Veteran’s Home to the city cemetery along both sides of the highway. The project consists of upgrading the current sidewalk and making it all ADA compliant. The estimated cost of the project is $482,300. MoDOT will provide the match funds for the project as well as provide the project design, project administration, project inspection and handle all project requirements. The money would be going to construction only and not for engineering or other services.

• Willie Johnson and Amy Bryant presented the City of Salem MoDOT Sidewalk Enhancement Project. This project is located along Highway 19 and consists of sidewalk upgrades along the west side of the roadway from Highway 32 and Highway 72 junction to Center Street. The project will be to make existing sidewalks ADA compliant. The estimated project cost is $252,000. MoDOT will provide the match funds for the project as well as provide the project design, project administration, project inspection and handle all project requirements. The money would be going to construction only and not for engineering or other services.

The TAC members ranked the projects as follows:

Combined project ranking:

• City of St. Robert Pedestrian Bridge Project
• City of Crocker Sidewalk Project
• City of St. James Sidewalk and Pedestrian Lane Project
• City of Linn Sidewalk Project
• Linn State Technical College Power Center Plaza Project
• City of St. James MoDOT Sidewalk Improvement Project
• City of Salem MoDOT Sidewalk Improvement Project

By District:

District 5 project ranking:

• City of Linn Sidewalk Project
• Linn State Technical College Power Center Plaza Project

District 9 project ranking:

• City of St. Robert Pedestrian Bridge Project
• City of Crocker Sidewalk Project
• City of St. James Sidewalk and Pedestrian Lane Project
• City of St. James MoDOT Sidewalk Improvement Project
• City of Salem MoDOT Sidewalk Improvement Project

Letter to Senator Bond Regarding Senate Bill 3743:
Connie Willman explainedto the TAC members about SB 3743. She informed the committee that SB 3743 is the multi-year SAFETEA-LU reauthorization for federal surface transportation programs. Among other things, this bill will give recognition to Regional Transportation Planning Organizations for areas outside the boundaries of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). Staff presented a draft letter in support of this legislation for board consideration.

Bruce Harrill made a motion to approve sending a letter of support for the SB 3743 to Senator Kit Bond and Senator Claire McCaskill. Jim Kleffner seconded the motion. Motion passed

MoDOT Updates and Staff Reports:

District 5

Mike Dusenberg, MoDOT District 5, informed the committee that there is not much construction taking place at this time. He stated the main concern at this point is the right-of-way issues on Highway 50 East from 50/63 Junction to west of Linn.

Mike discussed MoDOT’s five-year direction. He informed the committee that MoDOT has run out of money and is in the position where there is no more money coming. He said that MoDOT will determine how to address all the needs and issues that are still out there. He informed the committee that there has been a 31 percent decline in fatality accidents in the past five years and that 86 percent of the major roads have been improved (Better Roads, Brighter Futures Program). He stated that there is an 85 percent satisfaction rate with the communities with MoDOTs work. The plan at this time is to keep the major roads in good condition and maintain the minor roads. MoDOT has made some budget cuts as well and are saving money through snow removal due to the mild winters, mowing and workforce retirement. MoDOT has been able to save these funds and put that money back in to road construction. They will continue to put money toward practical operations in maintenance which involves mowing, snow removal, striping, signing and pavement repairs. There will be a redirection of funds to put toward pavement repairs for overlays and patching although they won’t be able to make significant safety improvements or do major improvements such as four-laning Highway 63. MoDOT is looking for solutions to provide more funding at the state and federal level. Next summer there are plans to work on some of the minor roads including the overlay of Hwy 42 from Osage Beach to Vienna. MoDOT will continue to work on the Safe and Sound Bridges.

District 9
Willie Johnson, District 9 MoDOT, re-emphasized that MoDOT will put the available funding in to maintenance work and practical operations. He said that there are not many construction projects coming up in District 9. He stated that the best way to maintain the partnership with the regional planning commissions at this time is to communicate MoDOT’s current plans and keep the RPC’s updated on the road maintenance schedules. Willie stated that most of the road maintenance in District 9 next year will be on low volume roads doing partial overlays and patch work with chip seal. Willie provided a map to the committee for the chip seal and overlay programs. Willie said that it is important to continue to educate the public on MoDOT’s processes.

Next Meeting:
The next TAC meeting will be held on Thursday, December 9, 2010. Refreshments will be at 3:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m.

Adjournment :
Being no further business Richard Huse made a motion to adjourn the October 14, 2010 TAC meeting at 6:05 p.m. T.R. Dudley seconded the motion. Motion passed.

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District 5 Co-Chair Date