Jim Humphrey attended the NC BOT meeting on Wednesday, November 4, 2009. Below are his notes. Thanks Jim for sharing!

Highlights

-The BOT will consider changing design standards and public notification processes/requirements for noise abatement walls in the next months. The long time between adoption of environmental documents and actual construction of NCDOT projects causes problems with citizens purchasing property along planned corridors. There was talk of increasing city, real estate agent and closing attorney accountability for sharing info but no decision was reached. There was a feeling that increased legislation will ultimately be required. Federal Standards are being revised and NCDOT must show their policy complies 6 months after the federal rules are finalized (federal rules are expected by mid 2009) A NCDOT Noise Barrier Aesthetics Committee will be formed to look at improved aesthetics for future and existing noise walls. Increased use of textures, colors and murals will likely be part of future recommendations.

-The legislature adopted legislation allowing cities and counties to permit golf carts on public roads. The NCDOT is developing requirements for use on state maintained streets and model ordinances for cities to consider. The NCLM is expected to assist in publicizing.

-The NCDOT is asking the BOT to authorize public hearing regarding potential changes allowing oversize/overweight transport of some loads on Sundays. Changes were requested by companies that move large boats.

-The nation’s first totally “green” airfield lighting (all runways) is being pursued at the Raleigh-Durham airfield thru use of LED lighting.

-The NCDOT will become more involved in Norfolk Southern and NC Railroad Board Meetings (and visa versa) in order to enhance partnerships.

-A Complete Streets Advisory Committee has been formed to assist the NCDOT in implementing it’s Complete Streets Policy. Tracy Newsome of Charlotte is the Vice-Chair.

-The NCDOT is looking seriously at tolling ferry operations to generate revenues.

-A draft Annual Report highlighting NCDOT’s accomplishments and shortfalls is complete and being reviewed by the BOT. The report will include a scorecard of progress on key accountabilities.

-A draft Ethics Policy has been distributed to board members for comments and approval.

NC Board of Transportation Meeting Oct. 7, 2009
Key Information by Jim Humphrey, City of Charlotte

1. The NCDOT has responded to comments regarding it’s draft Subdivision Roads Manual. The manual regulates the design of subdivision/secondary roads. Copies of the manual and NCDOT response were handed to board members. They will be asked to approve the manual at the November meeting. I indicated to Dilbert Roddenbury, state Secondary Roads Manager, that Charlotte staff continues to have concerns.

2. Ethics rules have been changed for NCDOT to effectively not allow them to accept any gift, even if they have no role in selecting vendors. The BOT and staff will undergo training. I understand that they will not even be allowed to travel with someone outside the department.

3. NCDOT staff will be implementing a process to develop a draft Sustainability Action Plan. A senior management advisory group will be formed to oversee the process. Work will start immediately and the draft Action Plan should be developed soon after the first of next year. Lacy Love heads this initiative.

4. Revenues and spending at NCDOT are down. The revenue shortfall (2% down) was expected. The department plans to gear up work to spend available funds.

5. Mark Foster explained federal rescission. The current rescission is larger than in the past ($250m) but will not affect any existing TIP projects. Some of the rules have been changed which result in reducing flexibility NCDOT has had in the past regarding how to manage funding cuts. NC had the 10th largest rescission.

6. Powell Bill funds were distributed to 507 cities/towns. Revenues were down 4% from last year.

7. Don Lee, State Roadside Environmental Engineer, discussed the state’s first “Green” Rest Area located on US 421 in Wilkes County. It includes bio-retention, Xeriscape landscaping strategies, special lighting, geothermal heating/cooling and many other features. I was particularly impressed with the degree of monitoring/evaluation that was being done/planned. I will send info to Charlotte’s Building Management/Construction folks. Other cities may find this subject of interest.

8. Kevin Lacy and Sara O’Brien gave an overview of the 2009 Safe Routes to Schools funding allocations which provides $15.6m for infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects. All Divisions in the state have projects.

9. Tom Norman, state Pedestrian and Bicycling Manager indicated they are monitoring many stimulus projects across the state. They are encountering problems because designs submitted to them are creating liability and safety issues. For example, not meeting ADA requirements. He feels training to municipalities is needed. He also indicated the first regional bicycle plan nears completion for the Lake Norman area. The next plan to be developed will be in the New Bern area.

10. Rodger Rochelle, Transportation Management Branch Manager, presented info on a public/private partnership for staffing a visitor center in Randolph Counties. A private provider staffs and maintains the facility at no cost to the NCDOT using money received from leasing/renting private sponsorship space.

11. On a Charlotte note, Miriam Perry indicated the NCDOT share of funding for engineering work for the Blue Line to NE Charlotte was on the Board’s agenda for approval. There was also a grant for some work at the Eastland Station.

12. David Joynor’s wife died. David heads the NC Turnpike Authority.

13. Future items on the Safety and Emerging Issues Committee include Improving the Appearance of Noise Walls and Rules Governing Golf Carts on Public Roads.

Sept. 2nd Board of Transportation Meeting

*Thanks to Jim Humphrey with the City of Charlotte for sharing these notes he took at the meeting.

Draft Project Prioritization Process for Urban Loops-Don Voelker gave a presentation emphasizing the draft nature. He listed 6 principles guiding development including support statewide growth, data driven and transparent, consistent with overall strategic prioritization process (i.e. for non loop projects), include benefit/cost, subject to public review and allow Secretary of DOT to have ability to change ranking (but he will have to explain basis). Project will be scored utilizing need and benefit factors. Need factors and their potential scoring emphasis included congestion (high), safety (low) and pavement condition (low). Benefit factors included travel time saving (high), environmental readiness (low to medium), air quality (medium to high), economic development potential (high), freight movement (medium), multimodal (medium) and land use (medium). The rating for economic development is determined based upon Dept of Commerce info. Ultimately projects across the state will be compared based upon their “Priority Ratio” which is their Need Factors score plus Benefit Factors score divided by the project cost. It was stated other factors that will be considered in scheduling projects include build useable segments (is it a segment that begins and ends in a logical place), avoid lapse in planning documents, paying for cash flow for projects started in previous years, apply funds based upon favorable construction conditions (low construction cost due to contractor availability) and the amount of non-loop (non-DOT funds) funding provided (such as thru public/private, TIFIA, Tolls, etc.). The implementation schedule includes production of a pilot report outlining the methodology, BOT input, MPO input from loop areas, a 30 day comment period via the web site and finalization in the spring of 2010 (presumably so the new method could be used in prioritization of new loop projects, not current loop projects, for the new 5 Year Work Program). Don’s presentation should be on the NCDOT web site.

Sustainability-Lacy Love updated the Environment and Planning Committee regarding a “Sustainability in Transportation” peer exchange he and others from NCDOT attended sponsored by USDOT and others. He spoke of the “triple bottom line” approach to sustainability by evaluating performance on the basis of economic, social and environmental impacts and allocating equal consideration to these driving forces in project and operational decisions. He stated next steps for NCDOT included clarifying what sustainability means to NCDOT and their role, inventorying what they already do since some actions already consider sustainable criteria (example, LED signals) and continuing dialog with AASHTO, local communities and other resource agencies regarding their efforts. The presentation was for information only at this point, but it seems clear NCDOT is very interested in pursuing the concept. If you want to see an example, the state of Washington produces a sustainability report each year which is probably on their web site. Lacy’s presentation should be on the DOT website.

New Federal Rules on Mitigation-Bill Gilmore updated the Safety and Emerging Issues Committee on new rules which the NCDOT must comply with by June 2010. A copy of Bill’s presentation should be on the NCDOT web site.

Legislative Update-Johanna Reese updated the group on a number of bills and other legislation. Some of the info that I highlight include (pardon me if the bill numbers are incorrect) HB 881 which among other things authorizes the DOT to sell salt and stone to municipalities and counties, SB 648 which allows the NCDOT to pay developers directly for road improvements, HB 12 which clarifies how GARVEE funds will be accounted for in Equity Formula calculations, HB 148 (Intermodal Bill) that authorizes sales tax and other revenue options for transit, HB 1617 that places the Turnpike Authority in NCDOT, SB 200 which puts a floor on the gas tax and SB 750 which clarifies gap funds which the legislature authorized for the NCTA will not be subject to the equity formula. It was mentioned that a statewide bill was approved that allows golf carts on public roads under certain conditions and authorizes local fees for licensing (no bill number was given). Johanna indicated a number of studies were authorized (but not mandated) on subjects such as the Equity Formula, reducing costs via various paving methods, and tolling at state lines.

Complete Streets-Tom Norman indicated a process will be presented to senior DOT leadership for approval soon which suggests a DOT and Stakeholder group (including municipalities and MPOs) be formed to develop a complete streets workbook that could be given to stakeholders. Timetable for production of the workbook is 12 months. He also mentioned a goal to change DOT geometric and design standards so they better align with the complete street philosophy. Quarterly updates will be given to the Multimodal Committee regarding DOT efforts to pursue the complete streets philosophy and measures will be developed.

Bide and Ped Applications-Tom Norman indicated that this Friday the NCDOT will call for applications for Bike and Ped planning grants. 90 communities now have Bike and Ped Plans. In the future, cities that have Bike and Ped plans will be more likely to receive bike and ped funding.

I-85 Corridor Study/Yadkin River Bridge-Jim Trogden mentioned the NCDOT had begun soliciting contractors for the design/build project submitted for Stimulus discressionary money. I believe the NCDOT wants to have a contractor chosen and ready to begin work in the event project funding is authorized by the feds. Jim indicated he expects the state to “fare well” on it’s application (a similar indication was stated in his remarks at the recent Metro Mayors luncheon in Concord).

5 Year Work Plan-Board was given an update of work to develop a 5 year work plan. An interim 5 year work plan was handed to Board members which essentially takes current projects and initiatives and places them in a new format. Major sections of the plan/format include a timetable for developing 20, 10 and 5 year programs, a summary of program areas and where all transportation funds go, a summary of expenditures (by mode, tier and region), a detailed project listing (by division, mode and TIP number), project support costs, operations and maintenance summary, administrative funding, listing of where other DOT funds are going and targets for measuring successful administration of the budget. The interim work plan is intended to be in place until the Board approves a new work plan next May. Jim Trogden indicated it merely contained what they are currently doing and working on and that it did not have a strategic focus. MPOs and localities will be invited to comment on the new format and will be involved in development of the new work plan. I do not know if the interim work plan is on the DOT web site.

I was unable to attend the Rail and Transit Committees meetings. The TIP Committee did not meet.