Transportation Policy Committee (TPC)

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Metropolitan Planning Organization convened on January 29, 2020, with Judge presiding over the session. The meeting addressed five agenda items, all of which were approved by the committee. The session included one public comment and resulted in five motions and votes throughout the proceedings.

The committee accomplished several key administrative and planning tasks during the meeting. Members approved the minutes from the previous October 23, 2019 meeting and reapproved the MPO Title VI Program Plan. The group also adopted Kentucky Transportation Cabinet safety targets and approved a redefined local projects plan. Additionally, the committee allocated $100,000 for a corridor study focusing on Winchester Road and the interstate, demonstrating their commitment to regional transportation planning and safety improvements.

All agenda items received approval, indicating consensus among committee members on the proposed measures and funding allocations.

Attendance

The following committee members were present at the meeting:

• Gregory Fox
• Kelly Baker
• Max
• Kenzie Gleason
• Fred Combs
• Stuart Kearns
• Thomas Witt
• Todd Jeter

All committee members were in attendance with no absences or late arrivals recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The Committee took action on five items during the meeting, with all motions passing by voice vote.

Approval of October 23rd, 2019 minutes 120:00 The Committee approved the minutes from the October 23rd, 2019 meeting by voice vote with no opposition.

Reapproval of MPO Title VI Program Plan 150:00 The Committee voted to reapprove the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Title VI Program Plan. The motion passed by voice vote.

Adopt Kentucky TC safety targets 180:00 The Committee adopted Kentucky Transportation Cabinet safety targets through a voice vote, with the motion passing without opposition.

Approval of redefined local projects plan 240:00 A motion to approve the redefined local projects plan was passed by voice vote with no dissenting votes recorded.

Allocate $100,000 for corridor study on Winchester Road and interstate 300:00 James Brown made a motion to allocate $100,000 for a corridor study on Winchester Road and the interstate. Despite one Councilmember voting against the allocation, the motion passed by voice vote.

All five motions were conducted as voice votes rather than formal roll call votes. While most items passed unanimously, the corridor study funding allocation faced some opposition with one recorded dissenting vote from a Councilmember. The specific names of those making motions and seconds were not recorded for most items, with the exception of James Brown's motion regarding the corridor study funding.

Public Comment

0:30 One member of the public addressed the committee during the public comment period.

Gregory Fox, who identified himself as an equine veterinarian, spoke about traffic congestion issues affecting Newtown Pike. Fox highlighted the ongoing traffic problems in the area and suggested that the proposed Georgetown Road widening project could help reduce some of the congestion currently experienced on Newtown Pike.

No other members of the public provided comments during this portion of the meeting.

Contested Items

The committee faced one contested item during the meeting that resulted in a split vote among members.

Winchester Road and Interstate Corridor Study Funding

The primary point of contention involved a proposal to allocate $100,000 for a corridor study on Winchester Road and the interstate. The disagreement centered on both the financial cost of the study and questions about the necessity of conducting additional research in this area.

Some committee members expressed concerns about the $100,000 price tag for the corridor study, questioning whether this expenditure was justified given current budget constraints. Additionally, there was discussion about whether previous studies had already been conducted on this corridor, with members debating the value of commissioning new research versus utilizing existing data.

The debate highlighted differing perspectives among committee members regarding infrastructure planning priorities and fiscal responsibility. While some members appeared to support the study as necessary for informed decision-making about the Winchester Road and interstate corridor, others questioned the cost-effectiveness of the proposal.

The item ultimately proceeded to a vote, which resulted in a split decision among committee members. The specific vote tally and final outcome of this contested allocation were not detailed in the available meeting materials.

This disagreement reflects broader ongoing discussions within the committee about balancing infrastructure planning needs with budgetary considerations, particularly regarding when new studies are warranted versus when existing research may be sufficient for decision-making purposes.

Approval of October 23rd, 2019 minutes

120:00

The committee reviewed the minutes from their October 23rd, 2019 meeting for approval. The minutes were presented to committee members for their consideration and review.

Following the review process, the committee voted to approve the October 23rd, 2019 meeting minutes without any recorded discussion or amendments. The approval was completed as part of the standard procedural business conducted during the meeting.

Outcome: The October 23rd, 2019 minutes were approved by the committee.

Reapproval of MPO Title VI Program Plan

150:00

Kenzie Gleason presented updates to the MPO Title VI Program Plan during the committee meeting. The Title VI Program Plan is designed to ensure non-discriminatory practices in the Metropolitan Planning Organization's planning processes.

Gleason outlined the updates made to the program plan, which serves as a framework for compliance with federal civil rights requirements. The Title VI program is mandated to prevent discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs and activities.

The committee reviewed the updated plan and its provisions for maintaining equitable planning practices across all MPO activities and decision-making processes.

Following the presentation and discussion, the committee approved the reapproval of the MPO Title VI Program Plan.

Adopt Kentucky TC safety targets

The committee discussed and adopted the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's safety targets for fiscal year 2020 180:00.

Stuart Kearns and Thomas Witt served as the key speakers during this agenda item, presenting the proposed safety targets to the committee for consideration.

The discussion centered on the Transportation Cabinet's established safety performance measures and targets that guide transportation planning and funding decisions. These safety targets are required under federal transportation regulations and help ensure that Kentucky's transportation investments align with improving roadway safety outcomes.

The committee reviewed the specific safety metrics and target values proposed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for the upcoming fiscal year. These targets typically include measures related to traffic fatalities, serious injuries, and other key safety indicators used to evaluate the effectiveness of transportation safety programs and infrastructure improvements.

Following the presentation and discussion of the safety targets, the committee moved to formally adopt the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's proposed safety targets for fiscal year 2020. The agenda item was approved by the committee, indicating unanimous or majority support for the proposed targets.

This adoption ensures that the regional transportation planning process will incorporate and work toward achieving these established safety goals, helping to coordinate local and state efforts to improve transportation safety outcomes across Kentucky's roadway network.

Approval of redefined local projects plan

240:00

Kenzie Gleason presented updates to the local projects plan during this agenda item. The presentation included revised cost estimates and updated project timelines for the redefined plan.

Key Presentation Elements: • Cost estimates for the updated local projects • Revised project timelines and implementation schedules • Changes from the previous version of the plan

The committee reviewed Gleason's presentation of the redefined local projects plan. The discussion focused on the financial projections and scheduling adjustments that had been made since the previous version.

Outcome: The committee approved the redefined local projects plan as presented by Kenzie Gleason.

Allocate $100,000 for corridor study on Winchester Road and interstate

300:00

The committee discussed and approved the allocation of $100,000 for a corridor study examining Winchester Road and its connection to the interstate system. James Brown served as the key speaker presenting this agenda item to the committee.

The discussion centered on the need for a comprehensive study of the Winchester Road corridor to analyze traffic patterns, infrastructure conditions, and connectivity issues with the interstate. The proposed study would examine current transportation challenges and identify potential improvements to enhance traffic flow and safety in the area.

The committee ultimately approved the funding allocation, authorizing the $100,000 expenditure for the Winchester Road corridor study. This approval will enable the municipality to proceed with hiring consultants or conducting the necessary research to evaluate the corridor's current state and develop recommendations for future improvements.

The study is expected to provide valuable data and analysis that will inform future transportation planning decisions and potential infrastructure investments along the Winchester Road corridor and its interstate connections.