180 Hart Field Road

Morgantown, WV 26508

(304) 291-9571

www.plantogether.org






Technical Advisory Committee

November 14, 2006

Minutes


  1. Attendance:



The meeting began at 1:30 in the second floor conference room of the Morgantown Municipal Airport. Those in attendance were: Chet Parsons, Asel Kennedy, Zane Schuck, Don Bailey, Chris Fletcher, Terry Hough, Ed Sneckenberger,


  1. Public Comment:


Don Spencer said planning needs to be a continuous process. He said there is going to be another 3-4 thousand units being constructed by outside companies. This is of great concern to residents. He thinks it is extremely important to reduce the impact on our streets. He is asking the TAC for two things: First, an extension of the West Run Road by trail only from Van Voorhis Road to the Monongahela River. This would create an “at-grade” access from West Run to the downtown campus. Secondly, create a bike trail on the Airport / Dug Hill Road. It would create a level access from Easton Hill School to the downtown campus.


  1. Long Range Transportation Plan:


Bill Troe started by asking the group for comments and recommendations on the

Transportation Plan. He reminded the group that if a project gets inputted into the plan then another must come out. We must remain in the budget.


He also stated that he and Chet decided that one of the changes was to change the name of “cost-constrained” to a more recognizable or common term. Some of the new terms that Bill thought of were: fundable,


Some of the revisions that have been made primarily had to do with the cost estimates. The revisions that were made allowed the northern part of the Inner Loop to be transferred over to the cost constrained or funded part of the plan. In talking with the DOH, initially the cost estimate of the 705 Connector was about 50 million dollars that has since been changed to about 35 million dollars which provides an extra 15 million dollars. Also due to private participation for the Falling Run Corridor, we were able to come up with an additional four million. With the 15 million from the 705 Connector and the 4 million from the Falling Run Corridor, URS was able to bring back the northern part of the Inner Loop.


Zane Schuck reminds members that we need to have a credible package that achieves all of the objectives that we want before we take it to Senator Byrd. Zane says that the plan needs to have a “whole concept” in order for it to be marketable. He says he cannot tell what the concept is in terms of what it is supposed to accomplish overall. Chet responds that we will discuss public review at a later time.


Ed Sneckenberger finds it unfortunate that the Inner Loop is in the Long-Term category. Chris Fletcher reminded that group that over the past few meetings, we have decided not to say that a certain project is more important that another project.


Don Williams reminded the members that in the beginning there was a model done. The model showed that the scheme contained in the packet brings the level of service of area corridors up. It shows that the justifications weren’t random, but that it had merit based on level of service. Chet agreed by saying the committees spent six months in prioritizing projects. He feels confident in the projects that were chosen.


Zane believes that this kind of conservative approach has created this crisis that we have in Morgantown. He believes that this line of thinking over the past 30 years is the reason that we have this present crisis. He wants the plan to acquire the property for future growth. In response, Chris Fletcher states that since this plan, there is a new process in place and he is confident that the City will respond in those corridors within the City to protect the corridors. He believes that it would be impossible to buy up all of this right of way in hopes that the money will come later and the property that was acquired may not be needed any more. Richard Warner said realistically the state doesn’t have the money to buy all the right of ways in all the communities within the state.

Ed Sneckenberger believes that URS does not consider neighborhoods. He feels that Collins Ferry Road which is currently listed as an “industrial” road instead of “residential”. Chet Parsons said that we have listened to the public which is why it went from a widening to just adding a turn lane.


Asel Kennedy said that this plan will not solve all the transportation issues in Morgantown. He said we have never advertised that it would solve all the traffic problems, but it would alleviate some of the issues. Don Williams stated the reality is the funding limits cannot keep up with the growth and that is not just in Morgantown. It is like that everywhere.


Bill Troe informed the group that URS is going to provide the public with a Citizen’s Guide to the plan. It will be a brief summary of the projects using more common and recognizable terms.


Richard Warner said that as far as we know the MPO will be here from now on with a governing body that will push the plan through. That is why we are so much ahead of where we were ten years ago.


  1. Next Meeting:


There will be a Public Meeting on November 30, 2006 at 6:30pm in the Erickson Alumni Center.


The next meeting of the TAC will be on December 19, 2006 at 1:30 in the second floor conference room of the Morgantown Municipal Airport.


  1. Adjournment:


The meeting adjourned at 2:46.