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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-30 2:00PM WORKSHOP SESSIONBRAZOS COUNTY B RYAN, T EXAS NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA WORKSHOP SESSION BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT FILED t 2021 NOV 24 A f!= 2s ll i; ' `` IMMIX u. r 0311 a. BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET IN A WORKSHOP SESSION AS FOLLOWS: MEETING DATE: November 30, 2021 MEETING TIME: 2:00 PM MEETING PLACE: Brazos County Administration Building, 200 South Texas Avenue, Suite 339, Bryan, TX 1. Call to Order 2. Discussion of planning for future road projects. 3. Adjourn The Brazos County Administration Building, 200 South Texas Avenue, Suite 339, Bryan, TX is wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking spaces are available. Any request for sign interpretive services must be made two working days before the meeting. To make arrangements, please call (979) 361-4102. Vol. J -n' PB' ��5 MINUTES NOVEMBER 30, 2021 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WORKSHOP SESSION Call to Order The Commissioners' Court of Brazos County, Texas met in a Workshop Session in Room 339 in the Brazos County Administration Building in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 with the following members of the Court present: Duane Peters, County Judge, Presiding; Steve Aldrich, Commissioner of Precinct 1; Russ Ford, Commissioner of Precinct 2; Nancy Berry, Commissioner of Precinct 3; Irma Cauley, Commissioner of Precinct 4; Karen McQueen, County Clerk, Absent. The attached sheet contains the names of those in attendance. 2. Discussion of planning for future road projects. Judge Peters asked John Polster with Innovative Transportation Solutions, Inc. to begin his presentation. Mr. Polster gave an overview on the Road Planning and Programming Process for State and Local Roadways and the potential Road Bond Program. Commissioner Aldrich stated that integration between the RMA and MPO is crucial. He said infrastructure is his highest priority and feels the Court should move forward. Commissioner Berry agreed with Commissioner Aldrich. Judge Peters also stated that transportation issues are growing and should be addressed now. Mr. Polster said he would like to start meeting with the Court members to find out the concerns for each precinct and the county as a whole. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. A copy of the Vol.._�Pg. presentation is attached. Adjourn Vol-_J� P9. I�� The foregoing minutes of the Commissioners Court Workshop Session held November 30, 2021 have been examined and are approved in open Court this the 7th day of December 2021, in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas. Duane Peters County Judge Russ Ford Commissioner, Precinct 2 Irma Cauley Commissioner, Precinct 4 Attest: c Karen McQueen County Clerk G� Steve Aldrich Commissioner, Precinct 1 4 M ZE LIN I 814MB . _ ,;1 Commissioner, Precinct 3 Pg I of I BRAZO S COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT DAY OF 24 a -I -AMC45 Name (PLEASE PRINT) Organization (PLEASE PRINT) K I W64, 1 II BUILDING ROADS IN TEXAS: FROM NEED TO CONSTRUCTION AN OVERVIEW OF THE PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING PROCESS FOR STATE AND LOCAL ROADWAYS Prepared for: Brazos County, Texas Prepared 1)�: Innovative Transportation Solutions, Inc. Brazos County Workshop Transportation Planning and Programming November 30, 2021 Agenda 1.) TxDOT Project Delivery Process 2.) TxDOTBCSMPO Concurrence Process 3.) Brazos County RMA 4.) Brazos County Opportunities 5.) Potential Road Bond Program 6.) Questions? 0 04 TxDOT Project Selection Process Needy A Need is Identified Every project starts with an idea or need. Once a need has been identified, project supporters usually approach TxDOT's local district office or their local (MPO). °Consider :Funding Building a Successful Proposal At the local level, the public and TxDOT evaluate the project and work together to gain funding and support. Early in the planning process, the district staff devises a funding strategy for the suggested project. The availability of funding is a major factor in determining whether a project is selected. Planning'.; y Develop Begins ' Project.. Planning Begins Once supported by TxDOT or by MPO, it competes with similar projects for funding. Project selection authority rests with TTC and local officials. Most of TxDOT's budget funds projects in the UTP. In evaluating which projects will receive money, TTC takes into account local support and local funds have been set aside to aid in the project's completion. Project Development Once authorized, a project goes through a development phase that includes advanced & environmental planning and documentation & preliminary engineering. When completed, the project must go through contract approval & the TTC makes the final decision authorizing construction, based on the availability of funds and local priorities. Build It This strategy oversees construction projects that add capacity to the state's transportation system, either through new projects or those which supplement the existing infrastructure. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION Each District Updated every three stibmits projects for years by MPO. Input possible inclusion on from member cities UTP. and MPO staff. 'Preventative Maintenance & Rehabilitation Structures Replacement & Rehabilitation Metropolitan Area Corridor Projects' Urban Area Projects Statewide Connectivity Corridor. Projects Congestion Mitigation i£ Air Quality Improvements Metropolitan . Mobility/Rehabilitation STP Safety Transportation Enhancements Miscellaneous District Discretionary Strategic Priority Unified Van'. Plan MOBILITY 2025 10 year, plan �_ Long-range plan updated annuallyconcurrent updated every three years - TxDOT portion of MPO portion of three STBG Funds three year year Transportation > Transportation Plan �— Congestion Mitigation Improvement Plan (if in a Non - Attainment area) Each region's TIP is put together to become the STIP after approval by the Texas Transportation Commission - State Transportation Improvement - Program Vol. 3�{� pg. tA_/ Locally Funded . Projects Unified Planning Work Program MPO work plan WHAT IS A REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY? The Brazos County Regional Mobility Authority (BCRMA) is a countywide independent local government agency. It is a regionally focused transportation and implementation entity intended to enhance the transportation network. It is locally controlled, but unlike a city or county it has no taxing authority. The creation of an RMA is allowed by Texas Statute and must be authorized by the Texas Transportation Commission. There are currently 10 RMAs in Texas. The BCRMA has the capability to work in any mode of transportation. For example, roads, aviation, transit, parking, bus and pedestrian facilities. The key role of the BCRMA in our area will likely be to accelerate the development of projects which have been determined in the local planning process. The RMA can use its capabilities to bring different agencies and funding together to leverage resources and expedite timelines. Brazos County Opportunities As has been shown from the previous information, there is significant effort put into a project before it is funded and constructed. Those steps are required if a project wishes to access federal or state funding. Brazos County has the opportunity to impact its transportation needs more directly by assisting its transportation partners with the early stages of project development such as schematic approval, environmental clearance, design, ROW acquisition and utility relocations. While much of the funding for state facilities is allocated to the various districts throughout the state, additional consideration is given to those projects that have local support and local funding. This allows TxDOT to leverage their resources to develop and construct more projects. The amount of funding the state expects to expend over a ten year period is known and is tentatively allocated to projects within each District. Those projects must meet their anticipated let dates in order for the state to expend the funds in the month they are allocated. Many times, projects miss their let dates and the state must fill that "gap" with another project. By Brazos County taking the initiative to fund the advanced planning for projects critical to the needs of its citizens, it places itself in a position to access these "gap" funds. Potential Road Bond Program One of the more traditional methods for procuring the necessary funds to address the transportation. needs of Brazos County is through voter approved road bonds. In order to make a detennination as to the viability of a road bond program, several factors should be considered. The Brazos County Commissioners Court should enlist the assistance of its financial advisors and bond council to determine the amount of funds possible for a road bond, the impact to the tax rate, and the structure of the bond covenants. Those factors will better inform the Court as to the financial limits of the bond program and its timing. If the determination is made to move forward with a road bond program, consideration should be given to such questions as: 1. Amount of the bond program 2.. Selection criteria of candidate projects that could include: - Consistency with the Mobility Plan - Leveraging potential - Regional Significant/Multi-jurisdictional - Safety - Congestion Relief - Economic Development potential. 3. Distribution of funds by Precinct 4. Input from Federal, State and Local partners The selection process should be developed in a manner that meets the most needs of the county while creating "buy in" from its partners. F3 LA 8 Pg. QUESTIONS?