Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System

= B<= /b>angor Area Comprehensive ransportation ystem

Policy Committee Meeting Minutes=

July 18, 20= 06

PRESENT:
Bill Reed, Veazie

Linda Johns, Brewer

Duane Scott, MDOT

Rob Kener= son, BACTS

David Struck, Orono

Don Cooper<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic"'>, BACTS

Jim Ring, Bangor

Dianne Currie, BACTS

Frank Higgins, Brewer

Dean Bennett, EMDC

Stan Moses, Bangor

Jaci Hancock, EMDC/BACTS

1.         = Call to Order
The Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System Policy Committee met on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 in the Penobscot Boardroom at EMDC, 40 Harl= ow St, Bangor, Maine. The meeting was called to order at = 9:45 a.m. by Bill Reed, Chair.

2.         = Approval of May 16, 2006 Meeting Minu= tes

Jim Ring made a motion to approve the May 16, 2006 Policy Committee meeting minutes as presented. David S= truck seconded the motion. The meeting minut= es were unanimously approved without revision.

3.      =             FY 2006-2008 Capita= l Work Plan (BTIP) Allocation of Additional Funding
Rob Kenerson presented a handout spreadsheet entit= led “2006-2008 BTIP Comparative Iterations” setting out the allocat= ion of an additional $500,000 in state funding among qualified projects as recommended by the Technical Committee.&nb= sp; It was noted that the Technical Committee had spent a significant am= ount of time on this allocation methodology at its July 11^th meeting. Following a brief discussion, Jim Ring made a motion to adopt the allocation as proposed; Fra= nk Higgins seconded the motion which was unanimously approved.

Rob reminded the committee that there was interest in assuring that a municipality with more than one project is permitted to allocate any funds received under the allocation formula between projects, as deemed appropria= te by the municipality. There fo= llowed a discussion of the need to allocate approximately $33,500 to Bangor’s Ohio Street project (13071) so that funds are adequate to assure completion= of that project as presently scoped. Jim Ring made a motion to amend the BTIP to increase the funding for project 13= 071 to $359,500 and take this money from project 13074 (Stillwater Avenue to Hogan Road). The motion was seconded by David S= truck and unanimously approved.

4.         = BACTS Budget

Rob Kenerson gave an informatio= nal presentation of the ’06-’07 BACTS budget. He reminded the committee that any= funds not spent in FY ’06 will be carried over to FY ’07 as this is a two-year budget. At present, = staff costs are running approximately $30,000 under budget. There are remaining funds in the B= rewer North Main Street Study account. Rob reported that BACTS is in a relatively good position to fund stu= dies and, if appropriate, expand the scope of current studies (Signal Corridor, Truck). For example, monies c= an be allocated to extend the corridor area being studied and/or to fund the purc= hase of 24-hour detection equipment to provide data for the study and serve a mu= ch needed traffic signal control function.   Considering the current situ= ation where funding for construction is so scarce, it is very important to have planning monies available that can be spent in a way that will have an actu= al positive impact on the efficiency of the current road system. Rob noted that the committee will = be working on the UPWP amendment in a few months and solicited those present to share any ideas that they might have with respect to needed studies and oth= er planning-related activities.

Rob reported that he received confirmation from John Perry of the Federal Highway Commission that the approximately $11,000 in remaining PVPILOT funds can be used to fund a study of an Old Town to Bangor bicycle and pedestrian= trail along portions of the Penobscot River.&nbs= p; This project would be managed by John No= ll.

5.         = Other Business<= /p>
Rob advised the committee that the new SAFETEA-LU legislation pending before Congress contains a provision that would include the stretch of the Maine Turnpike f= rom Portland to Augusta on the “Preliminary List of Nationally and Exceptionally Significant Features of the Federal Interstate System”. The Maine Turnpike Authority is op= posed to this designation as it would add a significant burden in increased overs= ight on projects that is disproportionate to the purported “historic” nature of this stretch of road. The Turnpike Authority has requested that BACTS (and the other Maine MPOS) write letters in support of its position. After discussion, it was moved by Jim Ring; seconded by Linda Johns = and unanimously approved that Rob be directed to draft a letter in support of t= he Turnpike Authority’s position that the portion of the Maine Turnpike = from Portland to Augusta be removed from the above menti= oned list.

Don Cooper requested that the committee approve an adjustment in FY ‘06 BACTS expenditures under the ’06-’08 TIP to reallocate $80,000 from federal operating assist= ance to preventative maintenance. = Don noted that as this was a request for a minor change it is deemed to be an adjustment, not an amendment, and as such, does not require notice and publ= ic hearing. The adjustment propo= sed by Don was moved by David Struck, seconded by Jim Ring and unanimously approve= d.

In response to an inquiry from the committee, Rob reported that no action is expected on the earmarks pending before Congress until sometime this fall at the earliest. He also reporte= d that the efforts that once focused on a pedestrian bridge across the Penobscot in Orono has been broadened in concept to a bicycle-pedestrian trail proposal.=

Rob advised the committee of the following meeting schedule: August 8^th Technical Committee and Traffic Signal Committee (update on the Corridor Signal Study= by James Sewall, Inc., and consideration of ’08-’10 BTIP shortlist= ); and August 15^th Policy Committee.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jaci S. Hancock

PRESENT:	Bill Reed, Veazie	Linda Johns, Brewer
	Duane Scott, MDOT	Rob Kener= son, BACTS
	David Struck, Orono	Don Cooper<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic"'>, BACTS
	Jim Ring, Bangor	Dianne Currie, BACTS
	Frank Higgins, Brewer	Dean Bennett, EMDC
	Stan Moses, Bangor	Jaci Hancock, EMDC/BACTS