Transportation Policy Committee (TPC)

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) met on June 22, 2022, at 1:30 PM in the Lexington Fayette County Council Chambers, located at 200 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507, with Jessamine County Judge Executive David West presiding. The committee addressed five agenda items during the session, taking two formal votes and receiving three informational presentations. No public comments were heard during the meeting.

The committee accomplished several key tasks, including the approval of meeting minutes from their April 27, 2022 session and the adoption of Resolution 2022-9, which established the Fiscal Year 2023 Lexington Area MPO Title VI Plan. The remaining agenda focused on informational discussions covering federal transportation programs and local planning initiatives. Committee members received updates on the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SSR4A) program, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, and ongoing MPO Area Transportation Studies.

The meeting represented routine business for the Transportation Policy Committee, combining necessary administrative approvals with educational briefings on emerging federal transportation funding opportunities and local planning efforts.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included two formal votes, both conducted by voice vote and passed unanimously.

Meeting Minutes Approval The board voted to approve the meeting minutes from April 27, 2022, with one correction. The motion passed by voice vote with no opposition. The approved correction changed "kytc" to "lex tran" under item 2c sub part 3 of the original minutes.

Resolution 2022-9: Title VI Plan The board voted to adopt Resolution 2022-9, which formally approved the Fiscal Year 2023 Lexington Area MPO Title VI Plan. This resolution passed unanimously by voice vote with no dissenting votes or abstentions recorded.

Both votes were conducted without roll call, so individual member voting positions were not recorded. No specific vote counts were documented for either motion, as is typical with unanimous voice votes where no opposition is expressed.

Approval of Meeting Minutes from April 27, 2022

The committee reviewed and considered the meeting minutes from their April 27, 2022 session for approval. During the discussion, a correction was identified and addressed regarding the accuracy of the recorded information.

The specific correction involved changing the reference from "kytc" to "lex tran" under item 2c sub part 3 of the April 27th minutes. This amendment was necessary to ensure the minutes accurately reflected the discussion and decisions made during that previous meeting.

Following the discussion of the correction, the committee proceeded to vote on the approval of the amended meeting minutes. The minutes from April 27, 2022 were approved with the noted correction incorporated.

This agenda item represents standard procedural business for the committee, ensuring that official records of their meetings are accurate and properly documented for future reference.

Resolution 2022-9: Adoption of Fiscal Year 2023 Lexington Area MPO Title VI Plan

The committee considered Resolution 2022-9 for the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2023 Lexington Area MPO Title VI Plan during their meeting. The Title VI Plan is designed to ensure equal opportunity for participation in transportation planning processes, fulfilling federal civil rights requirements for metropolitan planning organizations.

A notable update to this year's plan includes provisions for translating documents into Mandarin Chinese, reflecting demographic changes in the Lexington area. This addition demonstrates the MPO's commitment to serving the evolving linguistic needs of the community and ensuring that non-English speaking residents have meaningful access to transportation planning information and opportunities for public participation.

The Title VI Plan serves as the framework for the MPO's compliance with federal civil rights laws, which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs. The plan outlines procedures for public engagement, language assistance services, and methods for ensuring equitable access to transportation planning processes.

Following discussion, the committee approved Resolution 2022-9, formally adopting the Fiscal Year 2023 Title VI Plan. This approval ensures the Lexington Area MPO maintains its compliance with federal requirements while adapting its services to better serve the community's changing demographics through enhanced language accessibility measures.

Discussion regarding the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SSR4A) program

The committee reviewed agenda item 4.1, which focused on the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SSR4A) program during their June 22, 2022 meeting.

Chris served as the primary speaker for this discussion item, presenting information about the federal SSR4A program. The program is designed to address highway safety by working to reduce both fatalities and serious injuries occurring on roadways.

Key program requirements were outlined during the discussion:

• Development of a comprehensive safety action plan
• Establishment of a vision zero goal targeting the elimination of traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2050

The SSR4A program represents a federal initiative aimed at improving road safety through systematic planning and goal-setting. The vision zero approach reflects an ambitious safety target that seeks to eliminate preventable traffic deaths and serious injuries within the next three decades.

This agenda item was classified as informational in nature, indicating that the committee received updates and details about the program rather than taking formal action. The discussion provided committee members with an understanding of the program's structure, requirements, and long-term safety objectives.

The presentation covered the foundational elements that participating jurisdictions must address, including the development of strategic safety planning documents and the adoption of measurable safety goals aligned with the 2050 vision zero timeline.

Discussion regarding the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program

The committee reviewed agenda item 4.2, which focused on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program and its implications for developing charging station infrastructure along designated transportation corridors.

Chris served as the primary speaker for this discussion item, presenting information about the federal program's requirements and implementation strategies. The conversation centered on how the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program would facilitate the development of electric vehicle charging stations along key transportation routes.

The discussion was informational in nature, with committee members receiving updates on the program's framework for establishing charging infrastructure along designated corridors. These corridors represent critical transportation routes where electric vehicle charging stations would be strategically placed to support long-distance electric vehicle travel.

The committee examined various aspects of the program, including planning requirements, funding mechanisms, and coordination with state and local transportation authorities. The discussion covered how the program would integrate with existing transportation infrastructure and the timeline for implementation.

No specific concerns or objections were raised during the discussion, and the item concluded without requiring any formal action from the committee. The session served as an informational briefing to keep committee members updated on federal electric vehicle infrastructure initiatives and their potential impact on local transportation planning.

The outcome was purely informational, with no votes taken or formal decisions made regarding the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program. The discussion provided committee members with necessary background information about this federal initiative and its role in supporting the transition to electric vehicle transportation infrastructure.

MPO Area Transportation Studies – brief update

Chris provided updates on various transportation studies currently underway in the MPO area during this informational agenda item.

The presentation covered progress on multiple ongoing studies, with specific mention of two key projects:

• East Lexington Trail Connectivity & Traffic Safety Study - Updates were shared on this study examining trail connections and safety improvements in the eastern Lexington area

• Northeast New Circle Corridor Land Use & Transportation Plan - Progress was reported on this comprehensive planning effort for the northeast section of New Circle Road, which examines both land use patterns and transportation infrastructure needs

The updates were presented as part of the MPO's regular reporting on active transportation planning studies across the metropolitan area. These studies represent ongoing efforts to improve connectivity, safety, and coordination between land use and transportation planning.

This was an informational item with no action required from the committee. The updates provided members with current status information on these important regional transportation planning initiatives.

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