MACON-BIBB COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

682 CHERRY ST., SUITE 1000, MACON, GEORGIA 31201

MATS CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING – MINUTES SUMMARY

Meeting Description:
MATS Citizens Advisory Committee – Regular Meeting
Date:
07.12.17    

Time:
6:00PM     Location:
Macon-Bibb County P & Z Commission, 10^th Floor Conference Room

MINUTES

• Called to Order: 6:10PM by Dr. John Swint, CAC Chairman

• Adoption of Agenda – Action Item: A motion was made Mr. Druitt and properly seconded by Ms. Ezell to adopt the agenda as presented. Approved.

• Public Comment Period (5 Minutes): Stephen Adams, Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority addressed the committee regarding safety issues at the intersection of Joe Tamplin Industrial Boulevard, Chestney Road, Riggins Mill Road and General Harris Drive. The intersection currently has stop signs but is possibly a good location for a round-about. Lindsay Holliday wanted to get information about GDOT’s meeting that was held on Monday, July 10, 2017 regarding Forest Hill Road.
  

• Approval of previous special called MATS CAC Minutes (April 12, 2017) – Action Item: A motion was made by Mr. Colbert and properly seconded by Mr. Druitt to approve the minutes as presented. Approved

• Adoption of draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) FY 2018 – 2021 – Action Item
  

www.mats2040.org/tip/: Mike Greenwald began this discussion by indicating that there are approximately 12 proposed projects to be included in the new FY 2018-2021 TIP. The GDOT projects ID #’s are:

• 0009861: Replacement of bridges on Houston Road at Rocky Creek & Tobesofkee Creek and Overflows (Bridges)
• 311005: I-16 Eastbound from I-75 to Walnut Creek Phase IV (Bridge Reconstruction)
• 0012701: I-16 from I-75 to Walnut Creek Phase V (Roadway Project)
• 0014897: I-16 EB & WB @ Ocmulgee River Overflow (Bridge Replacement)
• 0014895: SR 247 @ NS #718364M In Macon (Bridge Replacement)
• 0014896: CR 742/Bass Road @ NS #718357C 2 miles west of Macon (Bridge Replacement)
• 0014898: CR 1694 Oglethorpe Street @ NS #718371X In Macon (Bridge Replacement)
• 0014899: CR 5813/College Street @ NS #718370R in Macon (Bridge Replacement)
• 0013712: Replace Railroad Bridge on SR 11/SR 4/US 41 @ Norfolk Southern #734080Y, 1.4 Miles South of Macon (Bridges)
• 0013921: Bridge Replacement – Replace Bridge on I-475 @ CR 742/Tucker Road, 2 Miles West of Macon (Bridges)
• 0013929: Bridge Replacement – Replace Bridge on I-75 @ SR 87/US 23 in Macon (Bridges)
• 0014072: Bridge Replacement – Replace Bridge on i-16 Eastbound & Westbound @ Walnut Creek 1 Mile East of Macon (Bridges)

The impacts of the proposed TIP projects: (1). Advances I-16/I-75 Interchange projects; (2). Continues bridge repair projects already underway throughout Bibb and Jones Counties; and (3). Improves Roads and Bridges projects balance sheet to a surplus of $316+ million. Staff recommends that the CAC accept the FY 2018 – 2021 TIP as proposed. CAC members engaged in discussion and expressed concerns regarding the wording “Overflows”. “How can overflows be maintained”?; Overflow areas around the areas of bridges should be designed to better maintain storm water issues and concerns about poorly maintained culverts along Houston Road. It was mentioned that Macon-Water Authority will be taking over sewerage in 2019 which will result in an increase in fees. All of the aforementioned concerns should be forwarded to the MATS Policy committee. After discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Druitt and properly seconded by Mr. Tompkins to approve the draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) FY 2018 – 2021 as presented. Approved

• 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan Update: Review and adoption of Final LRTP: http://mats2040.org/lrtp – Action Item: Mike Greenwald began the review by mentioning how the LRTP, TIP and UPWP connects with each other. There will be a total of eight (8) projects being removed from the LRTP project list because the projects are too far along in the federal process and are in the process of being let to contractors for bidding. Projects being removed from the list are:
  • Three (3) Jeffersonville Road Projects
  • Bridge: SR 49 over the Norfolk Southern Railroad
  • I-16/I-75 Interchange: The first four (4) phases

The impacts of these LRTP amendments is that it cleans up the Roads & Bridges project list, advances new projects to higher priority, and it improves Roads & Bridges project balance by $240+ million. Staff recommends that the CAC accept the 2040 LRTP amendments as proposed. First, a motion was made by Ms. Neal and properly seconded by Mr. M. Brown that all transportation safety issues (particularly pedestrian) associated with the Jeffersonville Road projects be evaluated prior to constructing. (Passed). Lastly, a motion was made by Dr. Swint and properly seconded by Mr. Colbert to approve the 2040 Final LRTP Amendments as presented. Approved

• GDOT Project Status Report – Agenda Item: Gregory L. Brown distributed the GDOT project status report as submitted to meeting attendees for information purposes. Brown mentioned that the projects listed on the report are projects that are currently in the TIP and projects that are maintenance related. However, members inquired about the green shaded areas on the report to get a better understanding of the project details; and there was an inquiry about the results from a GDOT regarding the Forest Hill Road project. Jim Thomas, responded that Stantec (Consultants) held a pre-development meeting with local county departments as a result of the public hearing held at St. Francis Church. One main concern from that meeting was the discussion of a traffic signal at Charter Boulevard which is the back entrance to Coliseum Northside Hospital.
  

• Old/Unfinished Business:
  • Update of Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Vacant Positions: The vacant positions on the CAC are: District 1, District 2, District 8, District 9, and Jones County. Districts 8, 9 and Jones County became vacant because the representatives missed 3 or more consecutive regular meetings.
    
  • Citizen Transportation Planning Orientation 101: Jim and Mike will review the calendar and recommend some dates in September or October 2017 to host the orientation as a Special Meeting.
    
• New Business:
  
  • The CAC discussed a potential roundabout and pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of Joe Tamplin Boulevard, Riggins Mill Road, General Harris Drive and Chestney Road. A motion was made and properly seconded to send a recommendation to the MATS Policy Committee for this intersection to be studied at the request of the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority. Approved
• Next meeting dates: The next meeting of the CAC is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 6:00PM as a regular meeting.

• Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 7:30PM