thursday, july 16, 2020 2:00 p.m....hyperloop and maglev right of way cost could be significantly...
TRANSCRIPT
Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization
Thursday, July 16, 20202:00 p.m.
Call to Order, Proof of PostingWaco MPO Website July 10, 2020
City of Waco Website Quorum of Waco City Council
July 10, 2020
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Roll Call of Policy Board Members
Chairman Bell will ask each Policy Board member to respond present on the conference call to determine a quorum
Mayor Deaver or other Representative of the Waco City Council will conduct a roll call of Council Members to determine a quorum
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Reading of Public CommentsUnder social distancing guidelines, visitors were
requested to submit comments in advance
MPO Staff will read into the record any comments received
Visitors are allowed to listen to the meeting, but will not have an opportunity to speak on the call unless registered in advance
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Addressing the Board There is one separate public hearing upcoming:
Amendment to the 2020-2021 Unified Planning Work Program
Members of the public may address the Policy Board if registered in advance Each speaker will be prompted when it is their opportunity to
speak
Each speaker is allotted one 3-minute presentation regardless of the number of agenda items speaker wishes to address
Non-English speakers and hearing impaired requiring translators may have up to 6 minutes
Persons representing a group may have up to 10 minutes
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Approval of Meeting MinutesJune 18, 2020
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Unified Planning Work ProgramFY 2020-2021
UPWP AmendmentsConsideration and Action regarding approval
of Resolution 2020-7: Adoption of Amendment 1 to the Fiscal Year 2020 – 2021 Unified Planning Work Program
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What is the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)? UPWP serves as the operating budget for the MPO for
FY 2020 & 2021
Identifies how federal highway and transit planning funds are intended to be used
Identifies each task the MPO intends to accomplish and total funds to be used
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FY 2020 - 2021 UPWPProposed Amendments Amend Subtask 1.5 – Travel & Training
Reduce by $10,000 for FY 2020 Budget Total = $4,000
Reduce by $7,000 for FY 2021 Budget Total = $5,000
Amend Subtask 5.1 – Waco Transit System Fixed Route Realignment Study Moves beginning of project from FY 2020 to FY 2021 Reassigns $93,750 in FTA 5307 funds & local match
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Public Involvement Public Process
Conducted 15 day comment period June 22, 2020 – July 7, 2020
No formal comments received
Conducted virtual public informational meetings June 22, 2020 at 12:00 noon and 5:30 p.m.
June 29, 2020 at 12:00 noon and 5:30 p.m.
All materials posted on MPO website
MPO Technical Committee Recommended Adoption
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Resolution 2020-7Conduct Public Hearing
Consideration and Action Waco MPO Policy Board approval of Resolution
2020-7: Adoption of Amendment 1 to the Fiscal Year 2020 – 2021 Unified Planning Work Program
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Laredo to Fort Worth High Speed Transportation Study
High Speed Transportation Study
Review and Discussion regarding the final consultant report for the Laredo to Fort Worth High Speed Transportation Study and possible next steps
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PROJECT PURPOSE
Fort WorthWacoKilleen-TempleAustin
San Antonio
Laredo
• The project purpose is to conduct aHigh-Speed Transportation (HST) study that connects Fort Worth, Waco, Killeen-Temple, Austin, San Antonio, and Laredo.
• It will evaluate various technologyoptions and modes of travel.
• It will recommend corridorsand potential station locationsto include in future NEPA documents.
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LEVEL 1: CITY PAIRIDENTIFICATION
Fort Worth-Austin-SanAntonio-Laredo
FortWorth Waco Killeen/Temple Austin San Antonio Laredo
FortWorth Austin San Antonio Laredo
Fort WorthWaco Killeen/Temple
Austin San AntonioLaredo
NCTCOG
2 corridor wide routes to be consideredService Area Population
Corridor WideRoutes
Fort Worth to Laredo-All stops
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TECHNOLOGIES: PRIMARY(INTER-REGIONAL)Hyperloop Maglev Train High-Speed Rail (Over 150 mph)
~40- 60 ft right-of-way ~75 - 95ft right-of-way ~45 - 65ft right-of-way
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High Speed Rail• Traditional steel wheel on steel rail• Max Speed about 200mph, typical about 150mph• Proven technology, engineering and operational costs well known
Maglev• Magnetic levitation over center beam• Eliminates drag / resistance from steel wheels• Max Speed about 350mph, typical about 250mph• One operational line in China, operational costs estimated
Hyperloop• Sort of a maglev train operating within a vacuum sealed tube• Vacuum eliminates drag from air resistance• Max speed estimated near 500mph, no estimate about typical• No estimates on design, construction or operational costs
Primary Technology Definitions
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Guaranteed Transit Conventional Rail Higher-Speed Rail (Up to 150 mph)
TECHNOLOGIES: INFILL(INTRA-REGIONAL)
Typical managedlaneright-of-way
Typical Conventional Rail right-of-way
Typical Higher-SpeedRail right-of-way
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POTENTIAL STATION DISTANCEFindings• For Level 1:
• Optimal station distances and service area population find thatHyperloop, Maglev and High-Speed Rail are appropriate for all stops, as well as a Fort Worth-Austin-San Antonio-Laredo stopping pattern
Fort Worth to Laredo-All stops
Fort Worth-Austin-SanAntonio-Laredo
FortWorth Waco Killeen/Temple Austin San Antonio Laredo
FortWorth Austin San Antonio Laredo
FortWorth Waco Killeen/Temple Austin San Antonio Laredo
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90 miles 60 miles 70 miles 80 miles 155 miles
• Applied high-level criteria to narrow down feasiblesegments from TOPRS
• A total of 23 city-to-citysegments evaluated.
• Corridor types included:o Greenfield (new location)o Existing highway corridorso Existing railroad corridorso Existing utility corridors
LEVEL: 2 TOPRS SEGMENT & PRIMARY TECHNOLOGYCOMPATIBILITY
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Highway Corridors• Maglev and HSR cannot operate along highway routes because both have more
restrictive horizontal and vertical design criteria. To follow an existing highway, the speed of the technology would be greatly reduced.
• Hyperloop has less restrictive design criteria and could follow highway routes but a reduction in speed would be necessary.
Freight Corridors• Hyperloop, Maglev and HSR cannot operate on existing railroad tracks.• Track gauge for high-speed systems is incompatible with freight rail and potential
interference with overhead catenary systems for electrical HSR vehicles.• High-speed transit systems require 100 percent grade-separation to achieve high speeds.
Utility Corridors• Primary technologies are feasible generally following utility corridors, and favorable in
Texas due to geography and long segments of uninterrupted linear paths.
LEVEL: 2 TOPRS SEGMENT & PRIMARY TECHNOLOGY COMPATIBILITY
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LEVEL: 2 – HIGHEST SCORING TECHNOLOGY AND ALIGNMENT
Maglev
HSR
HL5
SP1
HL4
SP1
HL6
SP1
HL1
1SP
2
HL1
2SP
2H
L3SP
1H
L10
SP2
HL9
SP2
HL2
SP1
HL1
SP1
HL7
SP2
MLE
V2SP
2H
SR1
SP1
HL8
SP2
HSR
2SP
2
High LowHyperloop
MLE
V1SP
1
HL– Hyperloop MLEV- MaglevHSR- High Speed Rail
SP1- Stopping Pattern 1- All (6) StopsSP2- Stopping Pattern 2 – Fort Worth- Austin- San Antonio- Laredo (4) Stops
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STATION ANALYSISAssessed station suitability based on identifiedmetrics:
Multimodal Connectivity• Access to transit stops• Transit connectivity• Existing railroads• Existing transit hubs and park & rides
Major Activity Centers/Access to Regional Tourism• Modal suitability density (population+ employment)
Environmental Considerations• Feature coverage (Floodplain, wetland, historic sites,
etc.)
Existing and Future Land Use/Available Land• Land usecompatibility
Not Used• Geometric design, alignments, grade
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STATION ANALYSISKTMPO- Killeen- Temple
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WMPO- WacoNCTCOG- Fort Worth
LEVEL 3: OTHER FACTORS TOCONSIDER
Station Location Benefits• Urban vs. suburbanlocation• Freight co-benefit of station location
Operational• Required area for ancillary facilities• Reliability• O&M costs• Technology Maturity
Interoperability• Compatibility with existing technologies
Regulatory• Regulatory environment• Public and institutional plan consistency• Public support
Convenience• Passenger experience• Travel efficiency
Safety &Resilience• Vehicle and track safety measures
• Level 3: Develop a discussion and ranking of difficult to quantify criteria applicable totechnologies.
• Outcomes: Provide an additional qualitative assessment of technologies in relationto the outcomes of Level 2.
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LEVEL: 2 PRELIMINARYFINDINGS HIGHEST SCORINGEND-TO-END TECHNOLOGY AND ALIGNMENT
• Hyperloop with six potential stops in:• Fort Worth• Waco• Killeen/Temple• Austin• San Antonio• Laredo
• Alignment generally follows:• Traveling south from Fort Worth to Waco
generally following a UtilityCorridor.• From Temple to San Antonio, generally
following IH-35.• From San Antonio to Laredo in a greenfield
corridor.
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MPO Comments & NCTCOG Responses Concerns with recommended alignments
Report suggests Hyperloop technology could use IH-35 alignments with minimal deviations whereas Maglev could not Similar speed & alignment limitations may apply to both
Hyperloop and Maglev Right of way cost could be significantly higher than identified by
study Could result in changes to final technology recommendations Tier II study may need to reevalute
Response – Hyperloop staff suggests technology can use a tighter curve radius than Maglev Response: IH-35 alignment is a viable option Note: November presentation acknowledged lower travel speeds
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MPO Comments & NCTCOG Responses Questions regarding station analysis
High level analysis to flag high scoring census tracts with access challenges should have been a part of study
Station approaches would require through services to use slower speeds through each urbanized area Station analysis should have been thoroughly vetted through 6
MPO Boards Several ‘high scoring’ locations within Waco would never be
accessible to a high speed system
Response – Purpose of the HST study is to: Identify if emerging technologies are viable for the corridor Provide information for the Tier II NEPA study Indicate general location of each station for further study
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MPO Policy or Technical Considerations Any technology above 150 mph is beneficial to Waco Region
Proven Technology vs. Cutting Edge (Level of Risk?)
Hyperloop appears to be viable Test track in Middle East If I-35 corridor developed and successful, other systems likely to
connect Tier II study likely needs to revisit alignments
Station location Closer to downtown better, but Potts Interchange area could have
significant benefits (BRT service) Dependent upon design geometrics
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Laredo to Fort Worth High Speed Transportation StudyWhat’s Next? Report submitted by NCTCOG to TxDOT Rail
Division TxDOT interest and resources for a Tier 2 study?
Status of Dallas / Houston High Speed Rail
Private sector interest? Hyperloop: I-35 corridor top 20 global corridor
How does COVID-19 change interest?
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Discussion of Final Consultant Report
Laredo to Fort Worth High Speed Transportation Study
TxDOT Waco AreaProject UpdatesBuilding the Texas Transportation System
July 16, 2020
Footer Text July 10, 2020
US 84 SPEEGLEVILLE OVERPASS
ROADWAY: US 84COST: $28,651,608.00LIMITS: Harris Creek Rd. to Bosque RiverSCOPE: GRD, STRS & SURFTIMELINE: APRIL 2018 – AUGUST 2020
• Contractor opened new overpass bridges in early June.
• Completing signing and remaining frontage road and intersection work.
• Total project completion expected this Summer.
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Footer Text July 10, 2020
FM 939
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ROADWAY: FM 939COST: $6,842,742.00LIMITS: SH 31 TO FM 2937SCOPE: REHAB/WIDENTIMELINE: APRIL 2019 – Summer 2020
• Contractor has completed all paving and striping throughout project.
• Contractor installing permanent signs.
• Total project completion expected this Summer.
Footer Text July 10, 2020
FM 938 @ Tonk Creek
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ROADWAY: FM 938COST: $663,129.76LIMITS: FM 938 @ Tonk CreekSCOPE: REPLC BR & APPRSTIMELINE: FEB 2020 – SUMMER 2020
• Roadway closed and bridge removed in early March.
• Contractor anticipates reopening bridge in July.
• Total project completion expected in Summer 2020.
Footer Text July 10, 2020
FM 1637 PH II
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ROADWAY: CHINA SPRINGS HWY COST: $14,452,070.00LIMITS: .37 MI W of FM 2490 to .482 MI W of FM 185SCOPE: WDN GR SURFTIMELINE: JUNE 2018 – SPRING 2020
• Work complete with the exception of punch list items.
Footer Text July 10, 2020
FM 1637 PH III
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ROADWAY: FM 1637COST: $9,968,707.00LIMITS: Bosque Co. Line/FM 185 TO FM 56SCOPE: Hazard Elimination, shoulder widening, and overlayTIMELINE: AUGUST 2019 – FALL 2020
• Contractor has completed widening in Bosque County and will continue working in one mile sections towards China Spring.
• Total project completion expected in Fall 2020.
Footer Text July 10, 2020
IH 35 4B Update
Contractor has completed over $150 million of work through June 2020
Contractor’s schedule still projects on-time finish
Project Wide:
– Water and Wastewater Relocations continue throughout the project – anticipate completing in next 4-6 months
– 24” Waterline replacement scheduled for this summer and will impact 4th St for several weeks
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Footer Text July 10, 2020
IH 35 4B Update
Southbound Frontage Road:
– Installing storm drain between 5th and 12th St. Anticipate paving and opening new frontage road later this summer.
Northbound Frontage Road:
– Working subgrade from south end of project to U Parks. Anticipate paving later this summer.
– Paving operations continuing north of Forrest St this week and will be ongoing through the summer.
Cross Streets:
– University Parks: Working on connection of NBFR and EB University Parks.
– US 84: Opened new EB lanes on east side of IH 35.
– Behrens: Beginning construction of intersection with new NBFR.
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Footer Text July 10, 2020
IH 35 4B Update
Mainlanes:
– Continuing demo of UPRR bridge.
– Constructing new bridges at 11/12th St, 4/5th St, University Parks, Brazos River, MLK Blvd, BU 77, US 84, Behrens Circle, and LP 340. Will start working on new bridge at UPRR this Summer. Installed new bridge beams at 11th/12th St and will continue setting beams at U Parks and 4th/5th St this week. Other locations to continue being set through the Summer. Will impact cross street and frontage road traffic.
– Earthwork continues entire length of new mainlanes with retaining wall work started at several new bridges (LP 340, US 84, U Parks, 4th/5th St).
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Directors ReportA. Request for agenda items to be considered for future
meetings• Next Policy Board meeting:
• Thursday, September 17, 2020 at 2:00pm• Format likely to be virtual through December
• Proposed National Highway System designation changes
• Discussion on TxDOT vision zero and fatal crashes within McLennan County since 2010
• Updates on COVID-19 travel impacts
• Discussion and Updates from TxDOT regarding significant highway construction
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Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization
Thursday, July 16, 20202:00 p.m.