Transportation Policy Committee (TPC)

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) met on June 28, 2023, at 1:30 PM in the Lexington Fayette County Council Chambers, located at 200 East Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, with David West presiding as the meeting officer. The committee addressed five agenda items during the session, focusing primarily on Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) policy matters and federal compliance requirements.

The meeting resulted in one formal vote, with the committee approving Resolution 2023-14, which provides MPO support for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government's (LFUCG) implementation grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All Program (SS4A). Four additional items were presented for informational purposes, including the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2024 MPO Title VI Plan (Resolution 2023-12), the adoption of a project selection process for MPO sub-allocated funding (Resolution 2023-13), a discussion regarding the federal certification review of the Lexington Area MPO with preliminary report findings, and a brief update on MPO area transportation studies.

No public comments were heard during the meeting. The session primarily served to advance administrative and policy matters related to the region's transportation planning processes and federal compliance requirements, with most items presented for committee awareness rather than requiring formal action.

Votes and Decisions

The meeting included one formal vote on a resolution supporting a federal grant application.

Resolution 2023-14 - MPO Support for LFUCG Implementation Grant Application to the USDOT Safe Streets and Roads for All Program (SS4A) was considered by the committee. This resolution expressed the Metropolitan Planning Organization's support for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government's application for implementation funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All Program.

The resolution passed by voice vote. No formal roll call was conducted, and no individual member votes were recorded. The motion and second were not specifically identified in the meeting record.

The Safe Streets and Roads for All Program provides federal funding to help communities develop comprehensive safety action plans and implement projects designed to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The MPO's support resolution would strengthen LFUCG's grant application by demonstrating regional coordination and backing for the proposed safety improvements.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed one significant financial matter related to infrastructure development.

• New Circle Road Project Grant: The council discussed a total budget of $27,000,000 for the New Circle Road project, which is funded through grant money. No specific vendor or recipient details were provided in the available materials, and no resolution number was identified for this funding allocation.

The substantial grant funding represents a major infrastructure investment, though additional details regarding the project scope, timeline, or specific grant source were not included in the extracted financial data from this meeting.

Resolution 2023-12: Adoption of Fiscal Year 2024 MPO Title VI Plan

The committee reviewed Resolution 2023-12 regarding the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2024 MPO Title VI Plan during agenda item 3.2. This resolution addressed the Metropolitan Planning Organization's compliance requirements under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Title VI Plan is a federally mandated document that ensures the MPO's transportation planning processes do not discriminate based on race, color, or national origin. The plan outlines policies, procedures, and practices to guarantee equitable participation in transportation planning and programming decisions.

The item was presented for informational purposes, allowing committee members to review the proposed plan's contents and framework. The Title VI Plan typically includes elements such as:

• Non-discrimination policies and procedures
• Public participation strategies for minority and low-income populations
• Data collection and analysis methods for demographic assessment
• Complaint procedures for addressing potential discrimination
• Staff training requirements on civil rights compliance

While specific speakers were not identified in the available records, the discussion would have covered the plan's compliance with federal requirements and its implementation strategies for the upcoming fiscal year. The MPO must update and adopt its Title VI Plan regularly to maintain federal funding eligibility for transportation projects.

The committee treated this as an informational item, suggesting that formal adoption may occur at a subsequent meeting after members have had adequate time to review the plan's details. This approach allows for thorough consideration of the document's provisions and ensures proper compliance with federal civil rights requirements in the MPO's transportation planning activities.

The Title VI Plan represents a critical component of the MPO's commitment to equitable transportation planning that serves all community members regardless of their demographic characteristics.

Resolution 2023-13: Adoption of Project Selection Process for MPO Sub-Allocated Funding

The committee reviewed Resolution 2023-13, which addresses the adoption of a project selection process for Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) sub-allocated funding. This agenda item was presented for informational purposes during the June 28, 2023 meeting.

The resolution establishes a formal framework for how the MPO will evaluate and select projects that receive sub-allocated federal transportation funding. This process is designed to ensure that funding decisions are made through a structured, transparent methodology that aligns with federal requirements and regional transportation priorities.

The discussion focused on the procedural aspects of implementing a standardized project selection process. This type of resolution typically outlines criteria for project evaluation, scoring methodologies, and the administrative steps required to move projects through the selection pipeline.

The committee treated this item as informational, indicating that members were being briefed on the proposed project selection process rather than taking formal action. This suggests the resolution may have been in development or pending further review before final adoption.

The establishment of a formal project selection process is a standard requirement for MPOs that receive federal sub-allocated funding. Such processes help ensure that transportation investments are made based on objective criteria such as safety improvements, congestion relief, economic impact, and alignment with regional transportation plans.

No specific concerns or debate points were documented during this discussion, and no key speakers were identified in the meeting record. The informational nature of this agenda item suggests it was part of the committee's ongoing work to maintain compliance with federal transportation funding requirements and improve the transparency of project selection decisions.

Resolution 2023-14: MPO Support for LFUCG Implementation Grant Application to the USDOT Safe Streets and Roads for All Program

The committee considered Resolution 2023-14, which would provide Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) support for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government's (LFUCG) grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All Program (SS4A).

Several key speakers participated in the discussion of this agenda item. Council member Gray, Vice Mayor Wu, Mr. Wilson, and Council member Brown all contributed to the deliberations regarding the resolution.

The Safe Streets and Roads for All Program is a federal initiative designed to help communities develop comprehensive safety action plans and implement projects that significantly reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on roadways. The LFUCG's grant application would seek federal funding to advance local transportation safety initiatives.

The resolution represents the MPO's formal endorsement of LFUCG's grant application, demonstrating regional coordination and support for transportation safety improvements. Such endorsements from metropolitan planning organizations are often valuable components of federal grant applications, as they show collaborative planning efforts and regional consensus on transportation priorities.

Following discussion among the committee members, Resolution 2023-14 was approved. The approval provides the LFUCG with the MPO's official support as they pursue federal SS4A program funding for their transportation safety implementation projects.

The successful passage of this resolution reflects the committee's commitment to supporting regional transportation safety initiatives and leveraging federal funding opportunities to improve roadway conditions and reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities in the Lexington-Fayette area.

Discussion regarding Federal Certification Review of the Lexington Area MPO and Review of Preliminary Report and Findings

The committee reviewed the federal certification review of the Lexington Area MPO and examined preliminary findings from the assessment. This agenda item 4.1 served as an informational discussion for committee members.

Key speakers during this discussion included Nick Vail and Matt Smoker, who presented details about the certification review process and shared preliminary findings with the committee.

The federal certification review is a required assessment that evaluates the MPO's compliance with federal transportation planning requirements and processes. The discussion focused on reviewing the preliminary report and findings from this certification process.

This item was designated as informational, meaning the committee received updates and reviewed materials without taking formal action. The discussion provided committee members with an opportunity to understand the certification review results and their implications for the Lexington Area MPO's operations and planning processes.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational, with no specific actions or decisions required from the committee at this time.

MPO Area Transportation Studies – brief update

The committee received informational updates on two ongoing transportation studies within the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) area during agenda item 4.2.

The first study discussed was the East Lexington Trail Connectivity & Traffic Safety Study. This study focuses on improving trail connections and addressing safety concerns in the eastern portion of Lexington.

The second study presented was the Northeast New Circle Rd Corridor Study. This study examines transportation issues and potential improvements along the Northeast New Circle Road corridor, a major arterial route in the area.

Both studies represent ongoing efforts by the MPO to analyze and improve transportation infrastructure and safety within the region. The updates were provided for informational purposes to keep committee members informed of the progress on these transportation planning initiatives.

No specific speakers were identified for this agenda item, and no formal action was taken by the committee. The item served as a brief status update on the MPO's current transportation study activities.