Mercer County Regional Planning Commission, Hermitage, Pennsylvania

 

Mercer County Transportation Planning

Mercer County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

2004 MPO Meeting Minutes

SHENANGO VALLEY METROPOLITAN
PLANNING ORGANIZATION COORDINATING/TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
 Tuesday, April 6, 2004
10:30 A.M. - MCRPC Offices, Hermitage, PA

PERSONS PRESENT REPRESENTING

  • Marcia Hirschmann, Hermitage City            

  • Daniel Gracenin, MCRPC

  • Dave Ryan, Mayor - Sharon City

  • Mike Wilson, Sharpsville Borough

  • Kevin McCullough, PennDOT, Harrisburg

  • Dave Bollebacher, PennDOT, Mercer

  • Bill Petit, PennDOT, District 1-0

  • Mariah Hanson, PennDOT, District 1-0

  • Erin Wiley, PennDOT, District 1-0

  • Deborah Schreckengost, PennDOT, District 1-0

  • Bill Jones, Mercer County Regional COG

  • James A. DeCapua, Mercer County Regional COG

  • Mark Miller, Mercer County

  • Mike Nashtock, South Pymatuning Township

  • David M. Dayton, Grove City Revitalization

  • Pete Longiotti, Greenville Borough

  • Vance Oakes, Greenville Borough

  • Ken Seamans, Wilmington Township

  • Mirta Reyes-Chapman, Eastgate Regional COG

  • Bob McGhee, Coolspring Township

  • Terry Farren, Grove City Borough

  • Jack Thompson, Grove City Borough

  • Denny Puko, MCRPC

  • Stephen Theiss, Mercer County Trails Association

  • Tom Paxton, Pine Township

  • Barb Brown, Springfield Township

  • Gene Smith, State Transportation Commission

  • Elliott Lengel, Findley Township

  • Nathan S. Clark, Jr., Greenville Borough

  • Kim Green, Senator Specter

  • Denise Anthony, Senator Robbins

CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Hirschmann called the meeting to order at 10:35 A.M.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 11, 2004

Ms. Hirschmann asked for any additions, deletions, or corrections to the Minutes of the February 11, 2004 meeting.  There being none, Ms. Hirschmann asked for a motion to approve.  Mr. Seamans so moved, Mr. Ryan seconded.  The motion passed.

APPROVAL OF 2005-2008 TIP

Mr. Puko explained that at the February 11, 2004 meeting, the Committee approved a draft 2005-2008 TIP, which was then submitted to the Commonwealth for consideration.  He noted that he attended a meeting in Harrisburg on March 23rd and was informed that five billion dollars worth of near term and far term projects were cut, but none had affected Mercer County . He explained that our TIP was increased from $84 to $87 million because we had a realistic TIP, relatively balanced in terms of our project needs and realistic levels of funding availability.  Mr. Gracenin noted that we are not approving the final TIP today, but would need to approve the response from PennDOT.  If we approve the response from PennDOT, then PennDOT would start doing the Air Quality Analysis on the projects and making sure everything is in order for this summer when we need to put this out for our 30-day review period.  We would then need to act on the TIP at the July 13th MPO meeting. 

There was a question concerning the Quaker Road Bridge and removing the railroad crossings that currently exist.  Mr. Petit noted that they are looking at alternatives for the Quaker Road Bridge and whether they can modify the alignment or may be able to remove several crossings.  Also, safety features would be upgraded as part of this project.  It was suggested that we discuss the railroad crossings at Williamson Road and Quaker Road Bridge at the July MPO meeting.  Mr. DeCapua commented that the transit TIP was earmarked one million dollars through the Federal Transit Administration. If successful, this money would be utilized to build 16 passenger comfort stations throughout the participating municipalities of the Shenango Valley Shuttle Service.  Ms. Green of Senator Specter’s office stated that the Senate does not know what their allocation numbers are going to be.

There being no further discussion, Ms. Hirschmann asked to entertain a motion to accept the TIP as submitted.  A motion was made by Ms. Brown and seconded by Mr. Lengel to approve the response from PennDOT for the 2005-2008 TIP.  The motion passed.

TIP ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS

Mr. McCullough explained the amendment for the I-79/PA 208 project.  An additional $4 million in Federal funds would be obligated this year for this project along with the $1 million State match. He also reviewed some administrative actions taken on various projects.  He also commented on some concrete pavement issues on I-80 and noted the original problems when I-80 was constructed.

Ms. Hirschmann stated that we need to entertain a motion for the TIP amendment. A motion was made by Ms. Brown and seconded by Mr. Seamans to approve the TIP amendment for the I-79/PA 208 project.  The motion passed.

GIS UPDATE

Mr. Gracenin updated the Committee on the current status with the GIS project.  He noted that an RFP was put out and we hired the firm Earth Data.  A meeting was held to discuss what is in the contract and the time line.  Phase 1 of the Countywide GIS will start in the spring.  Aerial imagery of the County will be taken and processed.  Processing of the imagery should be completed by the fall of 2004.  Mr. Puko commented on a newspaper article in The Herald.  He noted that after a meeting with the County Commissioners regarding this project, the Herald published an article that incorrectly stated that this GIS would allow us to look at things like for whom individuals voted and what people make.  The newspaper printed a correction the following day stating that personal information would be kept private.

LONG RANGE PLAN ( COUNTY COMP. PLAN)

Mr. Gracenin reported that we are working on updating our long range plan, which coordinates with our County Comprehensive Plan update. We have been working with the consulting firm of Gannett Fleming to complete a new Long Range Plan.  Public and advisory committee meetings are being held to look at developing a long-range county vision, economic development sites, transportation, infrastructure, and more.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. McCullough updated the Committee on the Home Town Streets/Safe Routes to School program, which has been developed by PennDOT.  This program offers a unique funding source that will allow you to enhance the traditional downtown corridor of your community and fund projects that will enhance the safety of our children when traveling to and from school.  Projects will be funded 80% Federal and 20% local.  Other federal and state funds can be used as match in this program.

Mr. Puko explained that MCRPC is looking into the Elm Street Program that is a part of the Governor’s New Economic Stimulus Package.  The Elm Street Program is designed to provide assistance to mixed use and residential neighborhoods in close proximity to central business districts.  Elm Street projects should generally be tied to current downtown planning and revitalization efforts.

Mr. Dayton, Chairman of Grove City Revitalization thanked the MPO for their recommendation to the State for consideration for possible discretionary funds for their project and they are very grateful for that recommendation.  He questioned the status of a traffic study for the Route 208/58 intersection.  Mr. Gracenin explained that, weather permitting; traffic hoses will be put out and a turn movement count will be done.  Gannett Fleming will work on getting us some preliminary numbers so that we might find some preliminary engineering dollars, etc. to work this out.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 11:40 A.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Daniel M. Gracenin
MPO Secretary

 

Mercer County Regional Planning Commission
2491 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
mail@mcrpc.com    www.mcrpc.com

 

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