LAREDO & WEBB COUNTY AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION  POLICYCOMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES February 21, 2024  LIVE WEB NKhtp:/laredotkswagt.com/live PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL: Spectrum TV channel: 1300  . II.  CHAIRPERSON TO CALL MEETING TO ORDER  Judge Tano E. Tijerina, Chairperson, called the meetingto order at 1:31 PM. Graciela Briones, MPO Staff, calledrolland verifieda quorum existed. Honorable Tano E. Tijerina, Webb County Judge and LWCAMPO Chairperson Honorable Ruben GutierrezJr., Mayor Pro-Tempore, District V (left at2:00PM) Honorable MelissaR. Cigarroa, CityCounclmember, Districtlll Honorable Vanessal Perez, City Councilmember, DistrictVII Ueinedmeetingat136PM, Honorable John Galo, Webb CountyCommisioner, Pct. 3 Honorable Jesse Gonzalez, Webb County Commissioner, Pct.1 Mr. Epigmenio" "Epi" Gonzalez,P.E., TxDOT District Engineer  CHAIRPERSON TO CALL ROLL Regular members present:  Mr.. Jed A. Brown, Member-At-large Regular members not present:  Honorable Dr. Victor D. Trevino, Mayor and LWCAMPO Vice-Chairperson CM. Galo, made a motionto excuse members not present.  Second: For: Against: Abstained: 0 Motion carried unanimously. Ex-Officio members not present:  CM. Gutierrez 7 0  Honorable JudithZaffirini,S State Senator, District 21 Honorable Richard Raymond, State Representative, District42 Honorable Tracy O. King, State Representative, District 80  LWCAMPO Policy Committee Meeting Minute/Febnua21.2024    LWCAMPO Staff present: Juan S. Mendive, LWCAMPO Director Graciela! S. Briones, LWCAMPO Plannerlll JulioA. Nino, LWCAMPO Plannerlll Eduardo Bernal, LWCAMPO Plannerill Adriana A. Vigil, LWCAMPO Administrative. Assistant  Others:  Ramon Chavez, COLEngineering Roberto Garza, COL Transit Sara Garza, TxDOT Roberto Rodriguez, TxDOT Luis M. Villarreal, TxDOT  J. Carlos Flores, Webb County Engineering Anthony Garza, Webb CountyConsultant VictoriaVillarreal, Webb County Planning Blasita. J. Lopez, WC-CL RMA/UJA Engineering Baltazar Avila, UAI Engineering  III. CITIZEN COMMENTS  Speakersare requiredtoi fill out witnesscards, whichmust be submittedto! MPOS Staffno later than 1:45 P.M. the day of the meeting. Speakers shall identifythemselves: at the microphone. Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker. No more than three (3) persons will be allowedtos speak on any side of an issue.Should there be more than three (3) people who wish to speako on a spedficisue,heyahould selectnot more than three (3) representatvestospeak ont theirbehalf. The presdingoficermaylurmer limit public on the interest of order or time. Speakers may not transfer their minutes to any other speaker. Comments should be relevant to MPO business and delivered in a  professionalmanner. No derogatory remarks shall be permitted.  IV. ITEMS REQUIRING POLICY COMMITTEE ACTION:  A. Approval of the minutes for the meeting held on. January 17, 2024. CM. Gutierrez, made a motionto approve the minutesof] January 17, 2024.  Second: For: Against: Abstained: 0 Motion carried unanimously.  Mr. Brown 7 0  LWCAMPO Policy Committee Meeting Minutes /February21,2024  2    B. Discussion with possible action to approve Resolution No. MPO 2024-03, adopting and supporting the 2024 Texas Department ofT Transportation Safety Performance Measures Juan Mendive, MPO Director, presented the item and stated it was being brought back from last month's meeting. He stated that the deadline to set the targets was February 27, 2024 and as a ederalrequirement, itwas requestedt to adopt and support the Texas Judge Tijerina, asked the reasonv why the Targets hadn'tbeen approvedl last month. Mr. Mendive, stated that there were questions on some of the Target figures, and now theywerer more concise. He furtherstatedthere wasa a discrepancy onone oft the columns CM. Gutierrez, made a motion to approve Resolution No. MPO 2024-03, adopting and supporting the 2024 Texas Department of Transportation SafetyF Performance Measures  (PM1) and Targets.  Department of Transportation SafetyTargets.  that showedfiguresas: actual data instead of Target data.  (PM1) and Targets. Second: For: Against: Abstained: 0 Motion carried unanimously.  CM. Galo 7 0  Discussion with possible action on the Hachar-Reuthinger Road project. Mr. Ramon Chavez, City Engineerpresenteda briefstatus report of State Highway 84 or previously known as Hachar-Reuthinger. Road. He stated that City Council had approved Resolution 2024-R-081 accepting the charitable donation of parcels 1, 2, and 5; and Resolution 2024-R-077 approving the purchase of a tract of land identified as parcel 4. Mr. Chavez further stated that out of the 9 parcels, 5 parcels were still pending to be Mr. Chavezasoreporedtnat the documentationforthe donationofland of parcel 6had JudgeTijerina,t askedifanylssueswereforeseenwith the other4 pending parcels.  acquired. beenreceived.  Mr. Chavez, statedit was possible on one of the parcels only. Judge Tijerina, asked ifthe lettingdate had changed.  Mr. Chavez, statedith had not.  CM. Perez, statedthat she was excitedabout the informationshared especiallyonparce! 6. Sher mentioned thatifthe City acquired portionsofl Hachar and Reuthingerwhichwouc be about 99% of the right of way, TxDOT: should bet hnenlepncheltingan. Judge Tijerina, askediftheacqustionodf: Parsebwsewplwnaoorio. movet forward.  LWCAMPO. Policy Committee Meeting Minutes /February21,2024  3    Mr. Gonzalez, stated that TxDOT was currently updatingtherConsmuction Management Plan as part oft the document that must be submittedto Administration, giventhat some right of way has not been cleared or acquired prior to letting and, the plan would show this won't have an impact to the project. He also stated ithas been documented some aisinçutimesthatatlred to be adjustedand the plan emonstatedtswortes Mr. Chavez, statedt that the City'sgoal was tol have acquisitionofparcel6itembythenext Mr. Gonzalez, statedthat the main parcels were parcel 2and 61 the others wouldnot have an impact to the construction project, but that may have impact to the utilitiessostill neededto be monitored. He also stated that parcel 3 was going to eminentdomainand Mr. Chavez, confirmed and stated that the last appraisal had been received the day before. He furtherstated Citystaff continuedworkingi to make parcels 7, 8, and 9 part of CM. Perez, expressed her enthusiasm towards the project and it being delivered to the public. She stated that despite all the obstacles with the funding gap and acquiring the  the executionc of the contract. Councilmeeting of March the gth, 2024.  parcel7and: 8 were pendnglheoffereterfon parcels 9.  the packet finaloffer.  Right-of-Way, TxDOT was stillholding trueto their! lettingdate. CM. Galo, asked what the construction time was aftert the lettingdate.  Mr. Gonzalez, stated it was about 32 months. He mentioned that the availability of esources/materaiswas another concern. He stated that thel letting date was scheduled for May 2024, and itmeant whenbidswere opened;And,t theadvertsingocumed. 21 day  priort to the Letting date.  V. REPORT(S) AND PRESENTATIONS (No action required). A. Status report by the Regional Mobility Authority (RMA).  Mr. Jeb Brown, RMA Chairman, presentedthefollowngreportpart oft the packet:  WC-CLI RMA November 2024 Status Report to LWCAMPO  1. Vision Zero Webb Laredo Safety Action Plan - The work began in September. 2023. The firstformal publicengagementwillbegininfebruan/ 2024. Action was takenby the WC- CLRMA Board on adoptinga pledge to zero latalitesandserousinlunesonroadwaysin Webb County by 2040. Other agencies such as Laredo City Council, LWCAMPO Policy Committee, Webb County and School Districts willl be invitedtotake the pledge as well. Completion of the studyis anticipated for December 2024. The RMA will hosta media event Feb. 29, 2024 at 10 a.m. at the downtown U.S. Post office grounds to publidy launch the Safety Action Plan and reintroduce Vision Zero, including the commitment 2. VallecilloRoad- -The draftROW parcel plats and strip map are ntcpatedforcompleton in March. Environmental studies are currently ongoing with field visits commencingin  and promote a survey.  LWCAMPO! Policy Committee Meeting Minutes /February21,2024  4    March. Traffic Forecast modelingiscurrently ongoingand the draftreporti isa anticipated for completionin late March. The drainage analysis of the project is ongoing with the draft report to be completed by the end of March. The proposed geometry (horizontal and vertical) is complete. A draft schematic is anticipated for submittal to the Laredo District in late February 2024. The RMA is projectinga Fall 2025 Letting of the project. The RMA is finalizingitsfundingagreementwiththe slmcompenymdisamenang its Inter Local Agreement with the City of Laredo. The City of Laredo is commencing the development of the ROW agreement with the Killam Company. As the project sponsor, the executed. Advanced Funding Agreement (AFA) is solely! between the TxDOT Laredo 3. Vallecillo Overpass - In order to advance the schedule of the project, the WC-CL RMA has come to an agreement witht the TxDOT Laredo District for the development of the Overpass project. The WC-CL RMA will undertake the design oft the project, provide up to $1M ini funding for the design of the project and control the project schedule. TxDOT willo designt the remaining half oft the project through a department design contract. The agreementwil be codifiedviaa separate Advanced FundingA Agreement. 4. Concord Hills (Wormser Road/ Lomas Del Sur to Los Presidentes) = The RMA will sponsor and lead the design and construction of a new location 1.3 mile, 2-lane minor arterial roadway AtensonfromlosPrescentestowormser Road/Lomas DelSurwithin anominal ROW width of 90 in partnership with the City. The RMA has committed: $1 million to the development of the project. The project will provide a parallel route to Cuatro' Vientos and provide additional access to thenewlaredo Sports Complexandthe Municipal Water Park. The sponsorship and implementation are subject to the negotiationof: an Inter Local Agreement(ILA)! betweenthe Cityand the RMA. The RMA isw working with the City to finalize the construction cost estimate for the project and 5. Springfield Phase I, II, and IV - Similart to Springfield Phase III, the RMA has committed upto $1 milliontothe GypsiwtbeMmanctne construction ofther next Phase oft the project. The sponsorship: and implementationare. subjectto the negotiation ofan InterLocal Agreementbelweenthe City and the RMA. The RMA is workingwiththe City to finalize the construction cost estimate for the project and complete the Inter Local 6. North Laredo and Cuatro Vientos Transportation Reinvestment Zones (TRZ) -The WC CLR RMA hosted a TRZ workshop on July 19, 2023, to review the TRZ study and implementation process with the City. A second workshop was conducted on 8/28/23. The RMA is awaiting execution oft the ILA with the City to commence the North Laredo TRZ Study. The City notified the WC-CL RMA on 2/13/24 that the City will move forward with drafting and distributingt the ILA to the WC-CL RMA and commence the project. 7. FM 1472 and Killam Industrial Blvd. Turn Lanes - Project isp pending finalwalk-through, and TDLR inspection and final Close-out Construction Change Order. Project is 99+%  District and the RMA.  completethe ILA fori the project.  Agreement for the project.  complete.  LWCAMPO Policy Committee Meeting Minute/Febnany21.2024  5    8. Other Items:  RMA had a Board meetingon February 14, 2024. RMA willhaveth theirnextBoard meetinginthe Spring.  Mr. Brown, also stated he had received his reappointment from Governor Abbott as Chairman of Webb County City ofLaredo Regional Mobility Areat for another two years. B. Presentation and update by TxDOT on the FY 2025 Unified'ransportation Program Roberto Rodriguez, TxDOT, gave a presentation on the Unified Transportation Program (UTP). He started by giving a briefexplanation on existing Planning and Programming documentsusedbyTkDOTfortheprolectsdevelopment process. He explainedthere was at two-year Certification or Letting Schedule, also a four-year STIP (Statewide Transportation Improvement Program) that works in conjunction with the MPO for projectfundingandreandreadytoletwithinthneextfouryears. Hei urhermentonedtmeurp UafidrompotstonPogam, a 10-year plan consistingof projects that were: already funded for construction. From there, the MPO would develop the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) to set 20 years' worth of projects, and then, the Statewide Mr. Rodriguez, statedthat: allthe projects ont the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program STP)wereincluded: on the Letting Schedule and projects on the UTP were also included on the STIP and the two-year Letting Schedule. Mr. Rodriguez, explained the TxDOT Project Path. Every projectoutsidet the UTP starts in the Plan Authority phase and develop schematics, environmental constrains, alternatives and feasibility studies etc. and, that's how the Pociompetcopetmome UTP, through! Development. Authority UTP phase with years between 5-10 on the Letting Schedule. Which allows time for the completiono of PS&E, ROW acquisition, and necessary process to stepi intot the next phase of the Construction Authority year 1-4. Finally,projectsgo to the In Construction or Post Mr. Rodriguez, continued by presenting the UTP Development timeline. He also stated TxDOT was currently looking at preliminary numbers for the 2025 UTP based on the State'sfinancials. He: alsos statedi that the UTP PlanningTargets were about to bereleased and, these were: spedhealylorcmegow12 & 41 that were wsulyalalaedbylom.la: Mr. Rodriguez further shared the Project Selection Methodology. He explained the Statewide Prioritiesand: SystemNeedsand, the Projected Project Performance asthei two scoring systems used and whati they consisted of. Both score results would be combined to obtain a final project score and be ablet to provide a project recommendation. Mr. Rodriguezprovided an overviewof the differentfunding Categories, buti focused on the onesimpacted or selected by the MPO. He mentionedthat Category 21 Metropolitan and Urban Area Corridors, included projects selected by the MPO in consultation with TxDOT and, Texas Transportation Commission allocates funds through a formula  (UTP).  Long-Range Transportation Plan thati is 24 years.  Letting phase.  LWCAMPOI Policy Committee Meeting Minutes /February21,2024  6    allocation program. Also, Category 7 Metropolitan Mobility/Rehabilitation that worked Mr. Rodriguezbrieflywentthrough the other Categories and how some were calculated by formula and weret fixed amounts every year. He also presented the 2024UTP Funding Distribution by Category chart, and amounts that were disturbed in each Category including funds that Laredo usually gets. He mentioned as well the approximately $2.2  very similarand currentlyb beingusedi for State Highway 84.  millioncurrentlyont the 2024 -2033 UTP fundsi for the Laredo District. CM. Perezasked where was ValedlloRd.interchange listed.  Mr. Rodriguezexplainedt thisp projectwas part oft the competition listforf fundingthat had Mr. Brown, asked whenwould the draft list of allthe projects anticipated for the Laredo Mr. Rodriguez, statedt that fort thef formula-basedfunding: Categories2and. 4, the draft list was almost complete. For the other Categories, it would be a couple of months before presented for a decision on priority of projects. He mentioned some of the projectson the draft list of requests included the expansion of the lanes of the US. Border Patrol Check point at mile 29 of IH35. He also talked about US59 by the airport with a gap of fundinga and also requestingfundingfor: Sierra' Vistaand Cleltolindooverpases. CM. Gonzalez, asked what wouldit! be neededt to get theseovepassesfundes. Mr. Rodnguez,statedifCategory4or: 121 fundswere obtained fromi thel MPO, the projects U Update by MPO staff on the stakeholdermeeting held on. January 24, 2024 to discuss Mr. Mendive, shared the presentation used at the stakenoldermeeting: He mentioned there were around 20 people in attendance, including representatives from City of Mr. Mendve.statecthnatione of the purposesofthen meetingweretobetterunderstand the existing issues and problems in the area, and to understand the MPO's role in managing congestion and planning for multimodal solutions. The meeting was also to brainstorm short mid and long-term, potential solutionst to manage congestion. Judge Tijerina, askedifthere was a short-term solutiont to manage the congestion. Mr. Mendive, mentioned ani ideathat was discussedin the meetingwhich was to change some of the streetsto one way. He stated that thisoption wouldhavet to bei implemented Judge Tjerina,askedifDOT: wouldbe able to help withthe congestionissues.  beensubmitted. District be released.  could be partiallyfunded.  traffic congestion issues at the Unitec Industrial Park area. Laredo, Webb County, TxDOT, RMA, and stakeholders.  byt the Cityof Laredo.  LWCAMPO Policy Committee Meeting Minutes, February21,2024  7    Mr. Gonzalez,S stated that there have been some discussions betweenthe City of Laredo and TxDOT about making some improvements to the intersections, for instance, eliminating some left movements to improve efficiency of the signal. He further stated that TxDOT could look into doing something that would helpi int the short term, withina CM. Galo, asked what the MPO boundaries were, and if they would go past the Unitec Mr. Mendive,confirmedthe MPO boundaries passed the Unitec Industrial Park area. CM. Galo, suggesteda North-South road out of Majestics connecting to Reuthingerand, an East-West road at Doctors Road. He stated that its should coincide with the openingof CM. Perez, mentioned. a road that was used by the employees int the area that crossed the railroad tracks, but was no longerallowedto be used. She continued by stating that ifthe road could be used again, it would be as a hor-termiolutonopton. CM. Perez, stated there should be a meeting coordinated with the- railroad for a short- termsolution, whlehpTreeauatesand pocesabongetemsaluton Shes suggested Laredo Traffic Dept. could eliminatet the leftturns int the area. Judge Tjerina,requestedto! bring the itemb back to keepitir inthe forefront. CM. Cigarroa, asked ifthere were plans on having otherStakeholdersmeetings. Mr. Mendive, stated that there was a tentatively: scheduled for late February possibly Judge Tijerina, statedi that thei items be! broughtb backin60 daysand ifitcould be discussed prior, him and Mr. Mendive could go overitin Pre-Agenda: and can decideifthey bringi it  fewmonths. Industrial Parka area.  the overpass.  movedi to March. back earlier.  CM. Perez, stated thati it might be good to bring the itemi to Council.  Mr. Mendive, stated that the item was ont the Council Agenda per CM. Dr. King request to discusswhat could be done. He mentioned Councili talked about the TRZ and how the RMA, TxDOT and the MPO could help and possibly come up with other solutions and, after those conversations, the idead of having a akeholdermetingame about. CM. Perez, statedthatas status update andsome oft thesolutionsthat! have beenproposed could be presented at Council to: see ifthere was somethingCoundlcould contributeto.  VI. DIRECTOR's COMMENTS  Director's Report February 21, 2024  Mr. Mendive, ,congratulated Mr. Brownon! beingreappointedasChairmanofwC-LCRMA. Mr. Mendive, also congratulated TxDOT and their team on the US 59 Loop upgrade  groundbreaking.  Mr. Mendive presentedt the followingr greporttot the Committee:  LWCAMPO Policy Committee Meeting Minutes/ February21,2024  8    1. OnF February 20th, MPO staff met with our FHWA representative, KirkFauver,and TxDOT field representative, Sara Garza, to discuss the upcoming Transportation Management 2. The RFP for the Microtransit Feasibility Study programmed in our FY 2024 Unified Planning Work Program was ssuedonfebruary 3rd with a deadline of March 7th.  Area (TMA) Certfrationrevew,whichisscheduledior. June 25th-26th.  3. Texas Transportation CommissionMeetins: February 21, 2024 (2 p.m.) February 22, 2024 March 27, 2024 (2p p.m.) March 28, 2024 April 25, 2024 following link:  Upcoming Texas Transportation Commisionmetingand: agendas can be foundon the  https://www.xdotdotgov/abouv/eadership/texas-transportation:  commission/meeting-dates-agendas.html. 4. - Upcoming egularyscheduledMPOmeetings:  Active Transportation Committee- February 28, 2024 Technical Committee-March 12, 2024 Policy Committee- March 20, 2024  VIII. ADJOURNMENT  CM. Perez, made a motion to adjourn the meetingat 2:37 PM.  Second: For: Against: Abstained: 0 Motion carried unanimously.  CM. Galo 7 0  Juan S. Mendive, AICP N LWCAMPO Director  WebbCounty LWCAMPO Chairperson R  Tijerina  LWCAMPO Policy Committee Meeting Minutes /February21,2024  9