February 15, 2008
Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Bodily moved to approve the minutes of the January 18, 2008, Commission meeting held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Commissioner Millington seconded the motion and the minutes were approved.
Public Comments
Jim Peterson, representing the Utah Airport Operators Association, addressed the Commission regarding House Bill 365, the shortage of approximately $10 million per year of funding for Utah’s airports, and the use of Airport Construction Funds to supplement operation of the State’s aircraft. Also discussed was the possible purchase of a new plane to replace an older one.
Mayor JoAnn Seghini from Midvale City and Deputy Mayor John Hiskey of Sandy City requested help from the Commission and UDOT to improve U.S. 89, State Street, between 7200 South and 9000 South, because it’s a serious choke point, in bad condition, and is a dangerous road.
UDOT Scoreboard
Tracy Conti, Operations Engineer, distributed a handout reporting on fatal crashes by month, cumulative pedestrian fatalities, cumulative fatalities, and cumulative fatalities per 100 million VMT. Additional information included in his report was average freeway commute speeds to downtown SLC (AM peak times) from Ogden, Provo, Tooele, and Park City, and from downtown SLC (PM peak times) to Ogden, Provo, Tooele, and Park City. Mr. Conti said he would try to include this data in his report quarterly rather than yearly. Jim McMinimee, Project Development Director, distributed a handout and presented his information on the advertising and construction of UDOT projects.
U.S. 40 Corridor Study Update
Merrell Jolley, Project Manager from Region Three, updated the commission on the U.S. 40 Corridor Study. The study limits went from Heber City to Jensen, and took 10 months to complete. The powerpoint presentation given by Mr. Jolley included information on what was heard from the public, how projects were developed, goals used to rank projects, and projects selected for implementation.
Legislative Session Update
Linda Hull, Legislative and Government Affairs Director, distributed a handout showing the bills UDOT is tracking during this year’s Legislative session. She reviewed several bills and answered questions from the Commission.
Planning and Programming
Max Ditlevsen, Program Finance Director, said approval is needed to bring the Chokepoint List into CD. He pointed out that one change was made, and that was to the Telegraph Street in Washington project. The proposed program amount went from $9 million to $11 million. There was additional discussion regarding the State Street project that was talked about earlier, and adding it to the list under Region Two. Carlos Braceras, Deputy Director, noted that it could be put on the list, but it would have to go through the prioritization process to see where falls within the list. The Commission could then use that information in the April workshop to make the final selection.
Commissioner Holbrook made a motion to approve the Chokepoint List as presented, but to also add the U.S. 89; State Street, from 7200 South to 9000 South project to the list to be prioritized. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lewis and approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Max Ditlevsen said this item is for approval of the 2007 Scenic Byway Program. The projects have gone through a process administered through the Utah Travel Council, and now need to be put on to the program.
Commissioner Wilson moved to approve the request to add the 2007 Scenic Byways program to the STIP. Commissioner Bodily seconded the motion and it was approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Max Ditlevsen referred to the fact sheet and said this is a project to add turn lanes at the Beaver Mountain turn-off to reduce safety hazards that exist there. It will also require extending the length of the box culvert extension. NHS funds in the amount of $441,000 need to be added to this project.
Commissioner Bodily moved to approve the request for $441,000 of additional NHS funds to go to the U.S. 89; SR-243, Beaver Mountain Turn-off project. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Wilson and approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Max Ditlevsen passed around some pictures showing the condition of the Emory Bridge and recommended moving forward with repairs. He also recommended that the $900,000 for the repairs come from $8.5 million of available State Construction Funds. Randy Park, Region Two Director, provided additional information on the project. He noted that once the repairs were made, the region would work on turning ownership of the bridge over to Summit County.
Commissioner Wilson moved to approve the funding request for the Emory Bridge repair. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Millington and approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Max Ditlevsen distributed some handouts and explained that proposing contractors were asked to respond regarding how much construction could be completed on the Redwood Road project for a base price proposal of $61 million, and to submit bids for two options as well. He also explained that when the project proposals, the cost of right of way, associated engineering costs, and contingency funds were added together, the revised estimate for the project came to $108.2 million. Current funding for the project is at $81.5 million, leaving a difference of $26.7 million. Mr. Ditlevsen proposed that $27 million come from the Critical Highway Needs Fund, which has a balance of $87 million. Additional discussion took place regarding the project and the funding scenario.
Commissioner Millington moved for approval of the additional funding for the SR-68; Redwood Road, Bangerter Highway through Saratoga Springs project. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Wilson and approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Max Ditlevsen said there is $5 million remaining from the completed SR-266; 4500 South, I-15 to State Street project, and they would like to transfer those funds to the I-80; State Street to 1300 East project for a needed bridge deck replacement. He noted that it is an appropriate use for the TIF funds.
Commissioner Millington moved to approve the transfer of funds to the I-80; State Street to 1300 East project as proposed. Commissioner Bodily seconded the motion and it was approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Max Ditlevsen said that this request is for work to be done in Parley’s Canyon. They are requested that $4.3 million of NHS funds be moved from the I-84; Morgan County Line to Henefer project to the I-80; Parleys Canyon project. An additional $600,000 of the same type of funds would be added to the project for a total of $4.9 million. Randy Park explained the concept of the project in further detail.
Commissioner Holbrook moved to add the Parley’s Canyon project to the STIP and to provide funding as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lewis and approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Max Ditlevsen said that there is about $8.5 million remaining to be programmed from the $25 million of CHNF funds designated for improvements to U.S. 40. The request is for $4 million of those funds to be added to the West Roosevelt to Ioka Junction project, currently funded at $3.3 million. The project includes a realignment of the intersection at Ioka Junction, and adding center median and shoulders from the junction to West Roosevelt.
Commissioner Millington moved for approval of the funding increase for the U.S. 40; West Roosevelt to Ioka Junction project as proposed. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bodily and approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Max Ditlevsen explained that the engineer’s estimate for this passing lanes project has been revised – from $3.2 million to $6 million. The proposal is to use $3 million of the remaining funds programmed for the U.S. 40 corridor, leaving a balance of $1.5 million of the original $25 million programmed for the corridor.
Commissioner Millington moved for approval of $3 million to be added to the U.S. 40; MP 139 to MP 141 Passing Lanes project. Commissioner Wilson seconded the motion and it was approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Max Ditlevsen distributed a map of the Southern Parkway and pointed out the five segments identified on the map. The request is to establish two new projects on the Southern Parkway corridor, and to transfer CHNF funds to those two projects to provide preliminary engineering work. Mr. Ditlevsen reminded the Commission of the property trade that recently occurred and the contractor who bid a value of work on what would be segment two. Because of that value of work, they would like to take $10 million from the $30 million of CHNF funds that were programmed there and split it between the two new projects. There was additional discussion regarding the rapid development taking place in the corridor.
Commissioner Lewis moved to approve the transfer of $10 million of CHNF funds from PIN 6828 to create two new Southern Corridor projects as explained. Commissioner Holbrook seconded the motion and it was approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Merrell Jolley said there has been some serious discussions with the Legislature about the I-15 project in Utah County. If direction does come from the Legislature to move forward on the project, there are a few things that will need to be done, the first of which would be to procure a program manager in preparation for the design/build project. That consultant would advance the project to a point where the Department would be able to select a design builder. The Department would then come back to the Commission for approvals needed for funding, etc. Mr. Jolley noted it would take a few months to procure a program manager, and approximately 15 months to have a design builder selected.
Accomplishments/Conditions and Needs Report
Tim Rose from Systems Planning and Programming gave a powerpoint on Asset Management. His presentation focused on construction cost inflation, the current health of the Bridge System and the Pavement System, funding needs for the Bridge and Pavement Systems, and total funding needs. Mr. Rose also answered questions from the Commission.
Resolutions
Cory Pope, Region One Director, said the region is completing a project that includes the reconfiguration of the intersection of SR-13 and SR-83. The project will realign SR-13, resulting in a short segment of the existing state highway to be transferred to Corrine City and Box Elder County. The new alignment of SR-13 will require UDOT to accept a short segment of 4800 West onto the state system. Mr. Pope said that Corinne City and Box Elder County have submitted letters of concurrence for the proposed changes.
Commissioner Bodily moved to approve the resolution as explained. It was seconded by Commissioner Millington and approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Cory Pope also presented information for the Parrish Lane/SR-105 – Legacy Highway to I-15 resolution. He said that UDOT currently maintains SR-105/Parrish Lane, from I-15 to SR-106, and this resolution would add about a half-mile extension of road, westerly from I-15 to the Legacy Parkway, to the state system.
Commissioner Millington moved for approval of the resolution. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Wilson and approved. Commissioner Brown was absent for the vote.
Use of Corridor Preservation Funds in Utah County
Merrell Jolley discussed the use of corridor preservation Funds in Utah County. To be able to use the corridor preservation funds, corridors need to be state corridors or future state corridors. He referred to the map in the binders explained that in the future, when 4800 West is completed as a five lane arterial road, the proposal is that it would become a state route and SR-146 would then become a county road. Utah County is pursuing construction of the 4800 West corridor, parts of which are already constructed. Mr. Jolley proposed that UDOT participate in the right of way purchases with the 50% match of funds to Utah County’s corridor preservation funds from their increased vehicle registration fees. Carlos Braceras noted that the end of the two-year time limit for UDOT to access the money set aside to match county funds is coming up in June, so there is some urgency from the county to access those funds.
Darrell Cook from the Mountainland Association of Governments commented on the need for this to be done now and where the funds would go to first. Utah County Commissioner, Larry Ellertson also commented on several of the properties that have been identified for use of the corridor preservation funds. Discussion ensued on SR-74 and whether it should be included as part of the transfer discussions, and the amount of money available for the property purchases. Mr. Braceras said action is not needed on this today; they just want to get a sense from the Commission if they agree to this concept. If they agree, the region would then work with the county and MAG to bring back parcels to the Commission for purchase. He also suggested that the Commission could pass a resolution indicating that based on certain conditions in the future, once 4800 West is constructed it would become a state road. A reversionary clause could be included that if those things didn’t happen, the monies that were allocated for the match would be paid back. However, the proposal shouldn’t be dependent on the inclusion of SR-74, but it should at least be explored.
Prioritization List Update
Kevin Nichol from Systems Planning and Programming updated the Commission on the prioritization process and lists. He referred to the handouts and said the three sheets contain four lists of projects – widening existing facilities, new facilities, upgrade existing at-grade intersections, and new interchanges on existing freeways. He noted the changes and additions that have been made since December.
Informational Items
Butch Waidelich, FHWA Division Administrator, reported on SAFETEA-LU, the President’s budget, rescissions for 2009, and a new executive order from the President.
Commissioner Adams reported that TransCom met yesterday, and Commissioner Millington reported on the UTA Board.
The next regular Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 14, 2008, in St. George, Utah. Future dates and locations were discussed and scheduled as follows:
April 24-25, 2008 – Salt Lake CityMay 20-21, 2008 – HighlandJune 19-20, 2008 – Garfield, Wayne or Sevier CountyJuly 17-18, 2008 – Castle DaleAugust 21-22, 2008 – Garden City
The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.
The following Commissioners, staff members and others were in attendance:
J. Stuart Adams, Chairman
Stephen M. Bodily, Vice-Chairman
Glen E. Brown, Commissioner
Bevan K. Wilson, Commissioner
Jerry B. Lewis, Commissioner
J. Kent Millington, Commissioner
Meghan Z. Holbrook, Commissioner
LeAnn G. Abegglen, Commission Secretary
John R. Njord, Executive Director
Carlos M. Braceras, Deputy Director
Jim McMinimee, Project Development Director
Shana Lindsay, Project Development
Tracy Conti, Operations Engineer
Linda Hull, Director of Legislative and Government Affairs
Ken Connaughton, Director of Public Affairs
Ahmad Jaber, Director of Systems Planning and Programming
Max Ditlevsen, Program Finance Director
Robert Pelly, Systems Planning and Programming
Tim Rose, Systems Planning and Programming
Kevin Nichol, Systems Planning and Programming
Charles Larsen, Comptroller
Lyle McMillan, Right of Way Director
Cory Pope, Region One Director
Randy Park, Region Two Director
Jason Davis, Region Two
Merrell Jolley, Region Three
Jim McConnell, Cedar District Engineer
Rick Torgersen, Region Four
Kirk Thornock, Region Four
Butch Waidelich, FHWA Division Director
Greg Punske, FHWA
Ed Wofford, FHWA
Darrell Cook, MAG
Andrew Jackson, MAG
Doug Hattery, WFRC
Lowell Elmer, Dixie MPO
Mayor JoAnn Seghini, Midvale City
Kane Loader, Midvale City
John Hiskey, Sandy City
Larry Ellertson, Utah County Commission
Jim Petersen, Utah Airport Operators Association
John Hafen, Utah Airport Operators Association
Kevin Mock, URS
Craig Friant, J-U-B
Casey Brown, J-U-B
Mike Worrall, J-U-B
Brent Jensen, HDR
Sue Lee, HDR
Ron Clegg, PB
Dan Nelson, Civil Science
Dave F. AMEC
Braden Peters, AMEC
