Mercer County Regional Planning Commission, Hermitage, Pennsylvania

 

Mercer County Transportation Planning

Mercer County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

2006 MPO Meeting Minutes

SHENANGO VALLEY METROPOLITAN
PLANNING ORGANIZATION COORDINATING/TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
10:30am - MCRPC Offices, Hermitage, PA

PERSONS PRESENT & REPRESENTING

  • Marcia Hirschmann Hermitage City

  • Daniel Gracenin MCRPC

  • Jeremy Coxe MCRPC

  • Kevin McCullough PennDOT

  • Don Hall PennDOT, District 1-0

  • Bill Petit PennDOT, District 1-0

  • Erin Wiley PennDOT, District 1-0

  • Chris Boyer Krantz PennDOT, District 1-0

  • Bob Lucas Sharon City

  • Mark Miller Mercer County

  • Tom Stanton Wheatland Borough

  • Pat Turner Rep. Rod Wilt

  • Mike Wilson Sharpsville Borough

  • Tom Strosser PennDOT

  • Lee McCoy Sandy Creek Conservancy

  • Tom Paxton Pine Township

  • Vance Oakes Greenville Borough

  • Pete Longiotti Greenville Borough

  • Terry Farren Grove City Borough

  • Robert L. McGhee Coolspring Township

  • Barb Brown Springfield Township

  • Ken Seamans Wilmington Township

  • David George West Middlesex Borough

  • Dan Blair Greenville-Reynolds Development

  • Tom Tulip Mercer County Regional COG

  • Ron Faull Liberty Township

  • Stephen Theiss Mercer County Trails Association

  • Dan Wallace Mercer County Trails Association

  • Diane Helbig Commissioner Michele Brooks

  • Chuck Gilliland Shenango Township

  • Gary Gulla Hermitage City

  • Ian Garfoli Hermitage City

  • Elliott Lengel Findley Township

  • Bill Jones Mercer County Regional COG

CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Hirschmann called the meeting to order at 10:30 A.M.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 15, 2005

Ms. Hirschmann asked for any additions, deletions, or corrections to the Minutes of the November 15, 2005 meeting. There being none, Ms. Hirschmann asked for a motion to approve. Mr. Seamans so moved, Mr. George seconded. The motion passed.

PRESENTATION OF TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM PROJECTS

Mr. Gracenin explained that we received several projects requesting a total of approximately $3.4 Million. He explained that we have approximately $1,158,000 allocated for the four year period. Next, he distributed to the voting members a scoring sheet so they can score on a project while people are talking about their projects. Each applicant was given 5 minutes to discuss their project.

Mr. Vance Oakes from Greenville Borough explained that after they submitted their project for funding, they found out that Greenville Borough was awarded a Federal earmark, which will pay for their Downtown Streetscape project, so they are withdrawing their application for funding. He also wanted to lend Greenville Borough’s support for the Shenango River Trail project, which will be explained later.

Mr. Gary Gulla from the City of Hermitage explained two projects for the Highland Road Improvement Project, Phase I and Phase II. PennDOT is widening Highland Road and has already been given the okay for construction. Phase I would offset PennDOT’s road widening project on Highland Road, adding sidewalks and providing a pedestrian link to the Hermitage City School Recreation Project. Phase I will eventually add bike lanes and signals at three intersections for a total cost of $184,000. Phase II would be the continuation of the Highland Road widening project enhancements for a total cost of $529,000.

Mr. Terry Farren from Grove City Borough explained the Grove City Scenic and Environmental Enhancement Project, Phase II. Phase II will begin construction following completion of Phase I street corridor improvements in downtown Grove City. Improvements consist of: handicap ramps per ADA standards at all pedestrian crossings; street trees and landscaping; sidewalks; benches and trash receptacles; curbs and drainage improvements; decorative street lights with underground service; and electric service outlets for holiday light displays. Total cost for this project is $999,925.

Mr. Dan Wallace explained the Shenango River Trail project in Greenville Borough. The Shenango River Trail will be developed through a phased construction plan. The Mercer County Trails Association is seeking funds for dormant railroad beds to construct a paved public trail for walking, running, bicycling, in-line skating, cross country skiing, free from motorized vehicle traffic. The trail will provide a safe place for people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors. Phase I of the project will run from Main Street (downtown Greenville) to Porter Road or approximately 1.35 mile trail. Total cost for this project is $386,400.

Mr. Lee McCoy explained the Multi-Purpose Rails to Trails linking Sandy Lake and Stoneboro communities. Sandy Lake and Stoneboro Boroughs purchased the railroad bed over 10 years ago to provide a walking, hiking and bicycling trail. This project was first approved in 1991, but was slowed due to title clearances. Planning has already taken place such as surveys and environmental studies. A recent appraisal was completed for the 13.5 acres which was $132,000. This rails to trails project will involve clearing, grubbing and fill for leveling. Three cross pipes will need to be placed along the trail, 200 feet of boardwalk and the construction of decking that will be placed on an old bridge. This has been an ongoing project and the total cost to complete this project is $230,000.

Mr. Mike Wilson explained the Walnut Streetscape extension project in Sharpsville Borough. This project would provide excavation of an existing embankment on Walnut Street between Shenango and High Streets to add sidewalks, where none exists, and a 325 foot long retaining wall that will range in height from 3 feet on the ends to 18 feet in the center. Landscaping and vegetation will follow. Total cost for this project is $259,900.

After the presentation of projects, Mr. Gracenin explained that we will need to make a recommendation to PennDOT regarding the funding. He stated that under our TIP, we have over $1 Million allocated for the four year period, starting in 2007. Each municipality must put up a 20% match and should be completely ready to go. After discussion and tallying the scoring sheets by the voting members, a motion was made by Ms. Brown to fund the top three projects: the Sharpsville Borough project at $259,000; the City of Hermitage-Highland Road Improvement Project, Phase I at $184,000; and the Sandy Creek Conservancy rails-to-trails project in Sandy Lake Borough at $230,000 and the remaining money be put in the line item for potential cost overruns and future projects. Mr. Stanton seconded. The motion passed. Mr. Gracenin noted that during our last round of Transportation Enhancement Program Projects, we held back $150,000 for potential cost overruns on prior projects.

It was also noted that the three projects that did not receive funding (the Highland Road Improvement Project, Phase II, a Mercer County Trails Association rails-to-trails project and the Grove City Borough’s Scenic & Environmental Enhancement project), be submitted by rank to the Secretary of Transportation for possibly receiving discretionary funds. A motion was made by Mr. Oakes and seconded by Mr. George to submit all three projects by rank for discretionary funds. The motion passed.

LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN – PRIORITIZATION OF PROJECTS IN M.C.

Mr. Gracenin distributed a Long Range Transportation project list to the voting members and explained each project briefly. He asked that they look at the Highway Capital projects in order to create a top 10 priority list. We will submit a draft 2007-2010 TIP at the next MPO meeting, which is scheduled for January 31st.

2005-2008 TIP ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS

None were presented.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Gilliland had a question regarding the PA 60/318 project, which is currently on the TIP. Mr. Hall from PennDOT explained what needs to be done in order to bring this project up to interstate standards which would significantly increase the cost of that interchange. A diamond interchange was anticipated for this interchange at a cost of approximately $2.5 to $3 Million. PennDOT is looking at a combination of part of a diamond and part of a clover leaf interchange at a cost of about $6.5 to $7 Million.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 12:35 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Daniel M. Gracenin,
MPO Secretary

 

Mercer County Regional Planning Commission
2491 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
[email protected]    www.mcrpc.com

 

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