OahuMPO Policy Committee Minutes

Minutes of the

Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

POLICY COMMITTEE

Open Session

Monday, January 7, 2008, 1:30 p.m.

Council Committee Room, Room 205

Honolulu Hale, 530 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

Members Present:
Senator Will Espero, Chair	Representative Ryan Yamane
Councilmember Nestor Garcia, Vice Chair	Senator Carol Fukunaga
Councilmember Todd Apo	Acting DOT Director Brennon Morioka
Councilmember Gary Okino	Acting DTS Director Wayne Yoshioka
Councilmember Rod Tam

Member(s) Absent: Councilmember Charles Djou, Representative Marilyn Lee, Representative Joseph Souki, and Senator J. Kalani English

Guests Present:
Francisco Figueiredo (Councilmember Djou)		Mark Au (DTS)
Sarah Kaopuiki (Senator English)		Liz Fischer (FHWA)
Ken Tatsuguchi (DOT)		Charles Carole (NB #10, CAC)
Patrick Tom (DOT)		Joe Francher (NB #26, CAC)
Glenn Yasui (DOT, TAC)

OahuMPO Staff Present: Gordon Lum (Executive Director), Lori Arakaki, Randolph Sykes, Marian Yasuda, and Pamela Toyooka

Chair Will Espero called the meeting to order at 1:38 p.m. A quorum was present.

I. EVALUATION AND SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR OAHUMPO STAFF – PLANNER AND FINANCIAL SPECIALIST

At 1:38 p.m., eight members were present. In accordance with HRS sections 92-4 and 92-5(a), Chair Espero asked for a vote to go into executive session, in order to discuss salary adjustments for two OahuMPO staff. Senator Carol Fukunaga moved and Vice Chair Nestor Garcia seconded that the Policy Committee convene an executive session. The motion was unanimously carried (a majority of members to which the board is entitled to and 2/3 of the members present must vote in the affirmative).

[Councilmember Rod Tam arrived.]

At 1:42 p.m., Chair Espero convened the executive session in the Conference Room 1. The executive session adjourned at 1:46 p.m. The open session of the Policy Committee meeting reconvened at 1:47 p.m.

Vice Chair Garcia moved and Senator Fukunaga seconded that a 4% salary adjustment, effective January 7, 2008, be approved for the Planner and the Financial Specialist. The motion was unanimously carried.

II. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 22, 2007 MEETING

Vice Chair Garcia moved and Councilmember Gary Okino seconded that the October 22, 2007 minutes be approved as circulated. The motion was unanimously carried.

III. FYs 2008, 2009, 2010, AND 2011 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)

III.A. Revision #2

Handout: FYs 2008-2011 TIP Revision #2: Expedited Administrative Modifications

Chair Espero indicated that TIP Revision #2 contained project deferrals and changes in cost estimates for nine State projects. These corrections required Policy Committee action, but no solicitation of public comments or prior action by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

Gordon Lum added that Revision #2 would result in a decrease of $9 million in federal formula funds.

In response to a question from Councilmember Todd Apo, Glenn Yasui said that the deferral of projects S06 (Farrington Highway, Intersection Improvements, Haleakala Avenue) and S08 (Farrington Highway, Intersection Improvements, Nanakuli Avenue) from FY 2008 to FY 2010 were due to right-of-way and Section 4(f) issues. Mr. Yasui indicated that the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) would need to get back to the Policy Committee with the project schedules. Moving these projects to FY 2009 may cause the TIP to be financially unconstrained, unless other projects are moved back to later years. Councilmember Apo indicated his desire to see these projects accelerated if conditions change. In response to an additional question, Mr. Yasui stated that the decrease in cost estimates for project S90 (North-South Road, Kapolei Parkway to Vicinity of H-1 Freeway, Phase II) resulted from a lower contractor bid than what was originally programmed.

No one offered testimony.

Representative Ryan Yamane moved and Councilmember Apo seconded that Revision #2 to the FYs 2008-2011 TIP be approved. The motion was unanimously carried.

III.B. Revision #3

Handouts: FYs 2008-2011 TIP Revision #3: Amendment; Public Review Summary

Chair Espero indicated that TIP Revision #3 contained seven State projects that were deleted or deferred outside of the four-year TIP, or changed in cost estimates. These revisions required technical and public reviews, as well as Policy Committee action.

Mr. Lum described the financial, technical, and public reviews relating to Revision #3. The technical review included results from the intergovernmental review (four Honolulu Fire Department comments were detailed); consistency checks with the Oahu Regional Transportation Plan and Oahu Regional Intelligent Transportation System Architecture; Congestion Management Process analysis; TAC recommendation; and Title VI/Environmental Justice evaluations.

In the reporting of the public review, Mr. Lum noted three public comments from two individuals which did not support the deferral of projects S34 (Interstate Route H-1, Waiau Interchange to Halawa Interchange, Widening, Eastbound) (1 comment) and S35 (Interstate Route H-1, Waiawa Interchange, Westbound, Waipahu Off-Ramp Improvements) (2 comments). In response to a question on S35 from Vice Chair Garcia, Mr. Yasui indicated that this project was intended to widen the off-ramp from one to two lanes. Councilmember Apo asked for the status of the P.M. contraflow lane, which was a factor in deferring S35. Mr. Yasui indicated that HDOT would make a decision this year and hold a public information meeting.

In response to a question on project S07 (Farrington Highway, Intersection Improvements, Lualualei Homestead Road) from Councilmember Apo, Mr. Yasui indicated that HDOT would need to get back to the Policy Committee regarding the smaller scoped projects planned for the area.

No one offered testimony.

Senator Fukunaga moved and Vice Chair Garcia seconded that Revision #3 to the FYs 2008-2011 TIP be approved. The motion was unanimously carried.

IV. FEDERAL CERTIFICATION REVIEW FINDINGS

IV.A. Metropolitan Transportation Planning Process

Handout: OahuMPO memo to Policy Committee and attached 2007 Certification Review Report

With regard to the certification of the metropolitan planning process, Mr. Lum identified the three actions that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/ Federal Transit Administration (FTA) can take; they can: 1) certify the process meets all the federal requirements; 2) certify the process substantially meets federal requirements, subject to corrective actions; and 3) not certify the process. Mr. Lum stated that the FHWA and FTA found that the OahuMPO fully complied with the federal requirements.

Liz Fischer, of the FHWA, summarized the recent federal certification review by FHWA and FTA on the metropolitan planning process. Ms. Fischer stated that the OahuMPO has met all the federal requirements and that the FHWA and FTA has certified their metropolitan planning process. This review process involved the OahuMPO providing a tremendous amount of documentation to a very lengthy list of questions. Ms. Fisher noted that the OahuMPO provided a very thorough set of responses in addition to documentation, whether it was existing resources available online through their website or additional resources needed to substantiate the FHWA and FTA standings. FHWA and FTA were very, very pleased with what they saw come out of the OahuMPO review. Ms. Fischer stated that the OahuMPO had top-notch, professional staff. She stated further that, because this is a process and review where the FHWA and FTA looked for areas where the OahuMPO could improve, two recommendations were identified – 1) to increase direct communication between the Policy Committee and members of the public on transportation issues; and 2) to better document data sources in publications and documents. Ms. Fischer stated that FHWA and FTA really appreciate and congratulate the OahuMPO staff for the work they do.

Mr. Lum stated that the OahuMPO has begun implementing the two recommendations. With regard to the first recommendation, the Policy Committee Chair has included the CAC meeting highlights, presented by the CAC Chair, as a regular agenda item for Policy Committee meetings; and an early public involvement process is included for the Overall Work Program. With regard to the second recommendation, staff has been instructed to identify areas in publications and documents where footnotes can be used.

IV.B. Statewide Transportation Planning Process

Handout: OahuMPO letter to FHWA & FTA regarding Statewide Transportation Improvement Program

Mr. Lum noted that the Statewide findings were being presented due to its interaction with the metropolitan process and the findings’ impact on the TIP.

Chair Espero noted that FHWA and FTA found that HDOT did not fully meet the Statewide Transportation Planning Process requirements. This resulted in a six-month, rather than a four-year, approval for the Statewide TIP (STIP). The same approval restriction was also applied to the Oahu TIP. In March, FHWA and FTA will review HDOT’s progress in meeting the requirements, which may result in an extension of the STIP approval.

Ms. Fischer summarized the recent federal certification review of the Statewide planning process. She reported that 19 corrective actions were identified in the Statewide planning program area. Ms. Fischer commended HDOT for taking proactive steps to address these actions – specifically recognizing the HDOT leadership for appointing key staff, Ken Tatsuguchi, to spearhead the process and assure that it moves forward. FHWA and FTA have strong hopes and belief that HDOT is making the right steps to improve their processes.

Mr. Lum noted that TIP Revisions #2 and #3 were requested in anticipation of the STIP approval extension in March. The timing of the revisions reflected the more complex and time-intensive amendment process of the TIP and the need to dovetail with the STIP process.

V. CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CAC) MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Charles Carole, CAC Chair, provided the highlights of recent CAC activities. The CAC received presentations on the Bus Fixed Guideway system and the Congestion Management Process. The presentation at the CAC’s upcoming meeting will be on Urban MagLev trains.

Mr. Carole reported that the CAC had passed two resolutions, but would not be presenting them to the Policy Committee yet. He went on to explain that: 1) the first resolution would urge the Policy Committee to request that HDOT undertake an H-1 corridor study; and 2) the second resolution was to form a subcommittee on public and private partnerships. Mr. Carole stated that the CAC still urges the State Senate transportation committee to hear bills on public and private partnerships. Mr. Carole added that the CAC had a reference from the House Majority office saying that the Law of the Splintered Paddle refers more to public safety rather than to public finance of the highways.

VI. OTHER BUSINESS (ANNOUNCEMENTS ONLY)

Chair Espero noted the receipt of a memo from Representative Rida Cabanilla regarding a Joint Task Force to conduct a review of the State Highway Fund. The memo was distributed to each member present.

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:28 p.m.