Salt Lake City, Utah

 

The regular meeting of the Utah Transportation Commission, held in the UDOT Rampton Complex, 4501 South 2700 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, was called to order at 9:05 a.m. by Chairman J. Stuart Adams. He welcomed those attending.

 

 

Commissioner Bodily moved to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2008, St. George area tour, and the March 14, 2008, Commission meeting held in St. George, Utah. Commissioner Holbrook seconded the motion and the minutes were approved.

 

 

There were no public comments at this time.

 

 

Tracy Conti, Operations Engineer, distributed two handouts and gave a summary of projects currently under construction. He said it’s the biggest program UDOT has ever had at one time. He also reviewed the projects advertised in March of 2008, and noted that the number of bidders on projects is going back up. Mr. Conti also reviewed safety information, including fatal crashes by month, cumulative pedestrian fatalities, cumulative fatalities, and cumulative fatalities per 100 million VMT. In addition, he discussed new information provided for annual 511 calls and fiscal year 511 costs.

 

 

Orrin T. Colby, Chairman of the UTA Board, distributed some handouts and mentioned that the grand opening for FrontRunner would be held tomorrow. He also expressed appreciation for the partnership UTA and UDOT has with each other. Mr. Colby then reviewed their 2015 Rail Program, which includes the extension of FrontRunner to Provo, and expanding the current TRAX system to include a Mid-Jordan line, a West Valley line, an extension of the system to Draper, and a line to the airport. Robert Hunter from UTA provided additional comments. He said he has enjoyed working with the UDOT Commission, and thanked them for spending time to build a superb network of transportation systems in Utah.

 

 

Max Ditlevsen, Program Finance Director, distributed a handout and said this is a request to have the $24.8 million of funding that was transferred from the CHF to the TIF last month, approved this month to be programmed to the I-15 reconstruction project in Utah County, subject to approval by the Mountainland Association of Governments in their May meeting.

 

 

 

Mr. Ditlevsen said there are three items to consider and suggested separate actions be taken on them. For the first action, he distributed a handout, referred to the second page titled Centennial Highway Fund Project Budget Changes, and pointed out the highlighted projects – 10600 South, Riverdale Road, and the 11400 South Interchange. The net total of the adjustments on the page, the increases and the decreases for all the projects, is $53 million. The request would be to approve the projects, pending action from the Wasatch Front Regional Council in their next meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Ditlevsen referred to the third page of the handout, titled Amend to FY 2008-2013 STIP, and said there are two projects listed. The first project listed is the I-15 Widening, 500 North to I-215 that was discussed in the workshop yesterday. The project cost is estimated at $125 million; there is currently $35 million programmed. This would add $55 million of TIF funds and $35 million of positive cash flow from the CHF that would be moved to the TIF in years 2011-2012. That total of $90 million, added to the $35 million, would bring the total to the estimated project value. This would also be subject to scheduled action by WFRC in their May meeting.

 

 

Mr. Ditlevsen said the second project on the handout is a project on 11400 South. It’s currently programmed in the STIP at $70 million. However, due to issues with the alignment of the Long Range Plan, action by the WFRC won’t be ready for their May meeting. Therefore, the request today would be, as a matter of public record, that approval and support for this project be established at the funding level of $150 million. That means adding $80 million of Critical Highway Needs Funds, and changing the scope of the project on 11400 South to go from I-15 to Bangerter Highway. Mr. Ditlevsen said this is not a formal STIP amendment, but approval of the project under those terms so the Department can proceed with the MPO and to move forward with other things that need to be done with the project. Additional discussion took place regarding the project’s history, the jurisdiction of 11400 South, and funding categories.

 

 

 

Mr. Ditlevsen explained that this is a request from Region 3 for a new passing lane project on US-40. The estimated project value is $1.9 million, of which $1.525 million would come from remaining funds in the CHNF that were designated for the US-40 corridor. The remaining $375,000 would come from expected surplus funds from the Passing Lanes from Duchesne to Roosevelt project.

 

Commissioner Wilson moved to approve the US-40; Passing Lane at Fort Duchesne project funding request and to add the project to the STIP. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Millington and unanimously approved.

 

 

Mr. Ditlevsen said this request is to add $3 million to the Environmental Impact Statement project for the Mountain View Corridor, bringing total funding to $21 million. He referred to the first page of the handout and said he would explain the funding side of the request, and Teri Newell from Region Two would address other issues during her presentation. Action would then be taken after that. The additional funds would come other MVC projects that have been funded in Salt Lake County and in Utah County: $2 million would come from the Salt Lake County Project, and $1 million would come from the Utah County project, so the money stays on the MVC.

 

 

Teri Newell said having the additional funds transferred to the EIS will help them progress with a couple of projects. There are also additional things that need to be done in the environmental work, such as dealing with utility issues, updating of the travel model, etc. Ms. Newell said since they have retooled the schedule, she thinks they could have a Record of Decision on the project by Christmas of this year, but extra effort and funds are needed to compress the schedule.

 

 

Ms. Newell distributed a handout and continued with her presentation. She talked about rights of way being purchased and the land donation recently made in Salt Lake County. She explained the requirements that came as part of the land donation and the construction options that could be done to take advantage of the donation with the funding that is available; however, additional work would have to be done to define things further. Ms. Newell next gave an update on the Utah County portion of the MVC. She noted that there is $130 million in the CHNF, which would build the 2100 North project from Redwood Road to I-15, with two lanes in each direction, with signalized intersections. This is part of a three-phase approach to the project. A lot of significant discussion has taken place the last few days with local officials to come to this agreement.

 

Jamie Davidson, Lehi City Manager, commented that the community is pleased with the progress that has been made to meet local and regional needs. The city is committed, in writing, to moving forward. He will provide a copy of the resolution passed by the city council. Phase One of the 2100 North project helps with their immediate east/west corridor needs, and they would like to see UDOT move forward with construction as soon as it’s feasible. Chairman Adams and Commissioner Millington both commended everyone involved who helped come up with this really strong solution.

 

 

Lyle McMillan, Right of Way director, distributed a handout and reviewed the Corridor Preservation Budget and Obligations. The fund balance as of April 10, 2008, which includes one approved acquisition with funds obligated but not yet disbursed, was $9.534 million. He said the Corridor Preservation Advisory Council met last week and approved three properties to be brought to the Commission for approval.

 

Mr. McMillan said the first property for consideration is the East Layton 89, LLC property on US-89, which was owned by Columbia Artists and approved for purchase in 2006. However, because of a billboard on the property, Reagan Signs had first right of refusal, and they purchased the property. They formed a land corporation named East Layton 89, LLC and transferred the property into that name. The property, 1.39 acres, is now on the open market and UDOT would like to stop developers from trying to rezone the property. The current value of the property is $350,000. The Corridor Preservation Advisory Council recommends purchase of the property.

 

 

 

Mr. McMillan said this request is for 2.5 acres of property with one house on it. The property owner passed away and the family is trying to sell the property. The property is in the middle of a future ramp and frontage road system. The initial estimate for the property was $350,000, but the appraisal came back at $475.000. Current zoning allows for up to four houses to be built on the property. The Advisory Council recommends purchase, as this is the best use of corridor preservation funds, preserving bare ground that is not platted.

 

 

 

Mr. McMillan said this is a hardship request, as the property owner has a severe degenerative joint disease and would also like to move to Oregon to help her daughter who has cancer. The cost for the property would be $250,000; however, there could be relocation costs associated with this acquisition. The property would be impacted by the US-89 project. The Advisory Council recommends approval of funding for the acquisition.

 

 

 

Mr. McMillan distributed a handout and provided background on the issue. This is a property trade, and per state statute anytime UDOT desires to trade land, it’s subject to the Commission’s approval. In 2001, the Legislature passed intent language that UDOT and UTA work cooperatively in good faith to identify and transfer selected parcels for future transportation use. UTA is building a transit-oriented development, and as part of that development, there’s a commuter rail station, some retail, and a considerable number of parking spaces for a park and ride and spaces for those who purchase goods and services. UDOT currently owns 6.17 acres of land, which was purchased as part of a larger parcel for the Legacy Highway project. The proposal is to exchange UDOT’s 6.17 acres for 4.17 acres of land and a 2-acre water retention basin that is taking water off of I-15.

 

Commissioner Brown wondered why doesn’t UDOT make the trade with UTA first, per the intent language? Mr. McMillan said that was originally the way it was going to be, but to UDOT, it doesn’t matter as long as they get value for value – 6.17 acres for 6.17 acres. That’s where the transit-oriented development comes in. UTA brought in a third party that is doing the development piece. Steve Meyer, project manager for the FrontRunner project, commented that the developer is trying to obtain the best transit oriented development they can, and they’ve come up with this solution, but the developer is needing to move forward quickly with their development. Commissioner Brown said he was not comfortable taking action on this when it doesn’t meet the intent language of the Legislature.

 

Tom Ellison, an attorney with Stoel Reeves representing CenterCal on its project development approvals, spoke to the question of equivalency of value of the properties and the structure of the transaction. There was further detailed discussion regarding the property trade, as well as challenges with the North Legacy issue, the study’s recommended route that goes through the property in question, and efforts made to try and find an alternate route. Most of the Commissioners expressed their concern about making a decision today and said they would like more time to review it further.

 

 

 

Linda Hull, Legislative and Government Affairs director, explained SB 245, which included a provision allowing counties to expend restaurant tax revenues on an airport of regional significance, and directed the Transportation Commission, by rule, to designate those airports of regional significance. She also explained HB 4001, which was adopted in the 2006 4th Special Session, allowing counties to expend revenues from certain local option sales taxes (3rd ¼ cent) on an airport of regional significance, as defined by the Commission as well. A proposed rule has been drafted fairly narrowly, and only applies to the expenditure of the restaurant tax by a county and the 3rd ¼ cent transit tax. The rule also defines all airports listed on the FAA’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) as an airport of regional significance, which is shown on a map in the Commission’s binders. Ms. Hull asked for approval to send the rule to Administrative Rules to start the rulemaking process and send it out for public comment.

 

 

 

Linda Hull said that SB 208 requires local governments to notify UDOT if they receive an entitlement application in a high priority corridor. Once that notification is received, the entitlement can't be granted for 45 days if it’s a land use application, or 30 days if it’s a building permit. That allows UDOT and the Commission the opportunity to respond and possibly negotiate with the property owner to buy the property, if enough funds were available. As part of the bill, the Commission is required to designate high priority corridors for corridor preservation purposes. Ms. Hull noted that the Commission took action over a year ago to designate high priority corridors for corridor preservation for a different purpose, but that list of six corridors would be a good place to start for this designation purpose. Those corridors are: US-89, Farmington to South Ogden; North Legacy, Legacy Parkway to I-15; SR-108, Syracuse to SR-126 in West Haven; Mountain View Corridor, I-80 to I-15 in Utah County; SR-9, I-15 to 520 West in Hurricane; Southern Corridor, I-15 to SR-9.

 

Commissioner Millington suggested that the Department take the next 30 to 60 days to evaluate the list and to ask the MPO’s around the state if they are aware of any other high priority corridors in their area that could possibly be added to the list. Commissioner Brown commented that he thought it would be good if there was something a little more structured in terms of defining what a high priority corridor is and what reasons a corridor would be placed on or taken off the list. Director Njord said there is some value in the Commission moving forward quickly at least on the six corridors that have already been identified. Ms. Hull pointed out a typo on the original resolution, saying that the Southern Corridor; I-15 to SR-59, should actually say Southern Corridor; I-15 to SR-9.

 

 

 

Chairman Adams moved this item up on the agenda. Cory Pope, Region One Director updated the Commission on the I-15 Davis County lane gain project, including the project scope and the time frames for the project to be completed. He said the purpose of the update was to inform the Commission of the consideration of potentially extending the express lane system into Davis County. However, there are some challenges with freeway widths in the Centerville/Bountiful area, so they are still about four to six weeks out from having a firm recommendation. He has been given the assignment of finding how to add a fifth lane between Farmington and Bountiful. Linda Hull added that there would need to be official action taken by the Commission in the future, if a decision was made to extend the express lanes into Davis County. Toll rates would also need Commission action, if raised to a higher level. No action is needed today; however.

 

 

Linda Hull said that UDOT administers this program but the Commission has the responsibility of reviewing and approving all loans, approving the terms and conditions of the loans, and prioritizing the requests. HB 104 opened up the SIB to not only state roads, but local roads as well. The Commission previously developed a rule broadly defining some of the processes and procedures, but a lot was left to internal discretion for the Commission to be able to set up specific processes and procedures later on. Ms. Hull said when receiving applications, there are two things the Commission may want to consider. One is that there is a relatively small amount of money available in the fund, the other is there is just one account that includes federal and state funds. The Commission may want to consider establishing two separate sub-accounts under the SIB.

 

Ms. Hull talked about factors the Commission might want to consider in regards to prioritization, such as how will the applications be received? On an as needed basis, an annual deadline, or issue an initial request? Then, once the applications are received, what will the Commission do with them? Will the applications have to meet certain criteria? Will all applications be allowed then prioritized? Will there be a cut off as to the type of applications to be considered? Another factor to consider is whether to give prioritization to those who can pay back the loan sooner than later. Commissioner Wilson said he would feel more comfortable if some internal procedures, policies, and criteria were created before soliciting applications, and that a committee should be created to work on those issues, then submit it back to the Commission. Commissioner Wilson and Commissioner Lewis were nominated and approved by the rest of the Commission to serve on the committee.

 

 

Butch Waidelich, FHWA Division Administrator, gave an update on the number of environmental documents that have been approved this year, and how many are expected to be approved in the future as well. He also mentioned that FHWA has a new executive director.

 

 

The WASHTO 2008 Conference was discussed. Commissioner Wilson said he should be able to attend this year.

 

 

Commissioner Holbrook mentioned that she has been attending the East/West Stakeholders Workshops. Commissioner Millington discussed UTA, and Commissioner Wilson reported on the Joint Highway Committee meeting that was held in St. George this week. The Monument Valley Welcome Center grand opening was also discussed.

 

 

Commissioner Wilson brought up the issue of the pavement condition on SR-10 that he talked about in the workshop yesterday. Mr. Braceras responded that work needed to be done to identify the scope and cost of the project. They will come back to the Commission with a recommendation/options in May. Chairman Adams discussed the North Legacy project and reallocation of funds for the project. Mr. Braceras said UDOT would need to make a request to WFRC to have the North Legacy project moved into the first phase of the long-range plan, a process that would likely take several months.

 

 

The next regular Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, 2008, in Highland, Utah. Upcoming meeting dates and locations have been scheduled as follows:

The meeting adjourned at 12:53 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

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

Charles Larsen, Comptroller

Lyle McMillan, Right of Way Director

Dian McGuire, Right of Way

Rick Campangna, Legacy Parkway Project

Cory Pope, Region One Director

Randy Park, Region Two Director

Teri Newell, Region Two

Dan Young, Region Two

Dave Nazare, Region Three Director

Scott Thompson, Region Three

Nathan Lee, Region Four Director

Rick Torgersen, Region Four

Rachel McQuillen, UDOT/URS

Butch Waidelich, FHWA Division Director

Bryan Cawley, FHWA

Trevor Hart, FHWA

Ed Woolford, FHWA

Carson Howell, GOPB

Darrell Cook, MAG

Andrew Jackson, MAG

Chuck Chappell, WFRC

Lowell Elmer, Dixie MPO

Jamie Davidson, Lehi City

Orrin Colby, Utah Transit Authority

Robert A. Hunter, Utah Transit Authority

Steve Hansen, UTA

Steve Meyer, UTA

Justin Jones, UTA

Casey Brown, J-U-B

Mike Worrall, J-U-B

Ron Clegg, PB

Dan Nelson, Civil Science

Ron Clegg, PB

Vance Hansen, Stanley

Jan Kirk, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants

Dave Kilmurray, HDR

Kevin Farley, M. Baker Engineering

Rick Black, JCB

Darrell Giannonotti, WRL

Steve Mecham, Washington

Tom Ellison, CenterCal Properties

Elizabeth Angyal, CenterCal Properties

Catherine Smith, Deseret News

Bryon Saxton, Standard Examiner

Brandon Loomis, SL Tribune