Transportation Policy Committee meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Committee met on January 24, 2018, at 1:30 PM in the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council Chambers at 200 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky, with David West presiding. The committee addressed five agenda items during the session, all of which were approved through formal votes. The meeting included one public comment period and covered routine administrative matters as well as significant policy adoptions. Key accomplishments included the adoption of the Draft 2018 Lexington Area MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and approval of a resolution supporting KYTC adopted safety performance measures, alongside approval of meeting minutes, the 2018 meeting schedule, and a new Technical Coordinating Committee Chair.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on January 16, 2018:

Present: • David West • Bob Amato • Steve Kay • Richard Moloney • Amanda Bledsoe • Peggy Henson • Fred Brown • James Brown • Carrie Butler • Pam Shepherd • Jon Larson • Barry House

Absent: • Jim Gray • Harold Rainwater • Kevin Stinnett • Bernadette Dupont • Abigail Rivera

Late: • None

A total of 12 members were present and 5 members were absent. No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included five unanimous votes on various administrative and policy matters for the Lexington Area MPO.

Meeting Minutes Approval The committee unanimously approved the October 25, 2017 meeting minutes without discussion or opposition.

2018 Meeting Schedule Members unanimously approved the proposed 2018 Lexington Area MPO meeting schedule, establishing the calendar for the upcoming year's regular meetings.

Technical Committee Leadership The committee unanimously approved the appointment of Mr. Fred Combs as the new Chair of the MPO Technical Coordinating Committee. This leadership change will take effect for the 2018 meeting cycle.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan A significant policy decision was made with the unanimous adoption of the Draft 2018 Lexington Area MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. This comprehensive planning document will guide future bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure investments and policy decisions throughout the metropolitan planning area.

Safety Performance Measures Resolution The final vote was unanimous approval of a resolution supporting the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) adopted safety performance measures. This resolution aligns the MPO's safety priorities with state-level transportation safety standards and requirements.

All five motions passed with unanimous consent, indicating strong consensus among committee members on these items. The voting records show no opposition, abstentions, or dissenting votes on any of the measures considered. However, specific vote counts, individual member voting records, and the names of members who made or seconded the motions were not recorded in the available meeting documentation.

*Note: Transcript timestamps were not available in the source materials for these voting actions.*

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one resident addressed the council regarding transportation infrastructure concerns.

Ms. Clark spoke about issues related to the Newtown Pike Extension project and traffic congestion in the area. She expressed concerns about the timing and budget for Phase 3 of the Newtown Pike Extension. Additionally, Ms. Clark raised issues about reduced vehicular capacity on Euclid Avenue, which she believes is contributing to increased congestion on smaller side streets in the surrounding area.

The public comment period focused primarily on transportation and infrastructure matters affecting local traffic patterns and project implementation timelines.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for this public comment period.*

Appointments

The meeting included one appointment action during the January 16, 2018 session.

• Fred Combs was appointed to the MPO Technical Coordinating Committee

The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Technical Coordinating Committee serves as an advisory body that provides technical expertise and recommendations on transportation planning matters within the metropolitan area. This appointment fills a position on the committee to ensure continued technical oversight of regional transportation planning initiatives.

Approval of October 25, 2017 Meeting Minutes

The committee reviewed the meeting minutes from October 25, 2017 as agenda item 3. The minutes were presented for formal approval as part of the standard meeting procedures.

The committee approved the October 25, 2017 meeting minutes without recorded discussion or amendments. No specific concerns were raised regarding the accuracy or completeness of the minutes during the review process.

Outcome: The October 25, 2017 meeting minutes were approved.

Approval of 2018 Lexington Area MPO Meeting Schedule

The committee considered agenda item 4, the approval of the 2018 Lexington Area MPO Meeting Schedule. This resolution item involved reviewing the proposed calendar of meetings for the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the upcoming year.

The meeting schedule was presented to the committee for formal approval, establishing the dates and times when the Lexington Area MPO would convene throughout 2018. This annual scheduling item ensures that all stakeholders and committee members have advance notice of meeting dates to facilitate participation and planning.

Following the presentation of the proposed schedule, the committee voted to approve the 2018 Lexington Area MPO Meeting Schedule. The resolution was adopted, officially establishing the meeting calendar for the organization's activities during the year.

The approval of this schedule represents standard administrative business for the MPO, providing the framework for the organization's regular meetings and ensuring compliance with public meeting requirements and advance notice provisions.

Request for TPC Approval of new MPO Technical Coordinating Committee Chair

The Transportation Policy Committee considered the appointment of a new chair for the MPO Technical Coordinating Committee during agenda item 5.

Max Conyers presented the request for approval of Mr. Fred Combs as the new chair of the MPO Technical Coordinating Committee. The appointment represents a leadership transition for the technical committee, which provides technical expertise and recommendations to support the MPO's transportation planning activities.

The committee approved the appointment of Mr. Fred Combs to serve as the new MPO Technical Coordinating Committee Chair. No significant discussion or concerns were raised regarding this appointment during the meeting.

This appointment ensures continued leadership and coordination of the technical committee's work in supporting the MPO's transportation planning and project development processes.

Adoption of the Draft 2018 Lexington Area MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

The committee considered agenda item 6, the adoption of the Draft 2018 Lexington Area MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. Scott Thompson served as the key speaker presenting this resolution to the committee.

The draft plan contains comprehensive recommendations designed to enhance bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure throughout the Lexington metropolitan planning area. The plan encompasses three main categories of improvements: policy recommendations, program initiatives, and specific infrastructure projects aimed at creating better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

The committee approved the draft master plan, moving forward with the Metropolitan Planning Organization's efforts to improve non-motorized transportation options in the region. This adoption represents a significant step in the MPO's commitment to developing a more comprehensive and accessible transportation network that accommodates various modes of travel beyond traditional vehicular traffic.

The master plan will serve as a guiding document for future bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure investments and policy decisions within the Lexington Area MPO's jurisdiction. The approval of this plan demonstrates the committee's recognition of the importance of alternative transportation modes and the need for systematic planning to support bicycle and pedestrian mobility throughout the metropolitan area.

Approval of Resolution for Lexington Area MPO to Support KYTC Adopted Safety Performance Measures

The committee considered agenda item 7, a resolution for the Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to support the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's (KYTC) adopted safety performance measures.

Barry House served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presenting the resolution to the committee members. The resolution was designed to formally align the Lexington Area MPO with KYTC's established safety performance measures framework.

The committee approved the resolution without recorded opposition. This approval demonstrates the MPO's commitment to supporting statewide transportation safety initiatives and maintaining coordination with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's safety objectives.

The resolution represents part of the ongoing collaboration between local metropolitan planning organizations and state transportation agencies to ensure consistent safety standards and performance measurement across Kentucky's transportation network. By approving this resolution, the Lexington Area MPO formally endorsed KYTC's safety performance measures as part of their regional transportation planning efforts.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*