GEORGIA RAIL PASSENGER PROGRAM
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT TEAM MEETING - June

Held at the offices of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority

June 6th, 2002 - 1:30 p.m.
AGENDA
Chair calls meeting to order:
  • Introductions, opening meditation and remarks.
    •

    MINUTES

  • Adopt the minutes of the May 2nd, 2002 meeting.
    •

    APPROVAL OF BOARD AGENDA FOR JUNE 6th, 2002

  • Approve matters coming before the team and vote on any new matters requiring immediate action.
    •

    NEW BUSINESS AND BOARD COMMENTS

  • Program Update
  • Macon Corridor Next Steps for Acquisition
  • Response to PMT Questions
  • GRTA's Northwest Connectivity Study Update
    •

    ADJOURNMENT
    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    MEETING MINUTES
     - Notice having been duly given, the regular meeting of the Georgia Rail Passenger Program (GRPP), Program Management Team was held.
    COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
    Sharon Gay, Chairman
    Steven Bruning
    Jimmy Lester
    Carl Rhodenizer
    Mather Stapleton
    COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
    Brad Hubbert
    * A quorum was present
    CALL TO ORDER:
    Ms. Gay called the meeting to order at 1:38 PM 
    MINUTES:
    Motion was made by Mr. Lester and seconded by Mr. Rhodenizer to approve the minutes of the May 2, 2002. The meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
    AGENDA:

    Motion was made by Mr. Lester and seconded by Mr. Rhodenizer to approve the agenda of the June 6, 2002 meeting. The meeting agenda was approved unanimously.

    Mr. Mullins presented the month’s activities: 
    Multi-modal Passenger Terminal (MMPT)

     

    Meeting with City of Atlanta staff to review modification of the Spring Street Bridge scheduled to go into construction this fall to accommodate the MMPT site and its access.   Currently awaiting a costing proposal from the consultants.  The team has submitted the application requesting high priority project funds, and the transfer request is in process.  Mr. Mullins indicated the team is moving forward on the transfer of the City of Atlanta property to the rail effort.  The team has received an appraisal that the City of Atlanta had on file to determine the value of the property.  The appraisal report will be updated upon receipt of the FTA grant funds.  The draft RFP for the schematic design is in process.
    Rail Corridor Implementation Work  

    The team is moving forward on the Locally Preferred Alternative along the Athens corridor.

    The team has briefed various committees and local authorities as well as some coordination efforts have taken place with Dekalb County.  A contract agreement has been prepared and work scope related to the Atlanta capacity analysis has been forwarded to CSX Transportation for approval.  Comments have been received from the GDOT Office of Environmental Location on Historical Resources, Archaeology, and Ecology Impacts.  Draft Environmental document will be ready for RPMC review during the week of June 10th.   The next steps related to protecting identified station sites along the Atlanta-Macon rail corridor have been prepared.
    Grade Crossing Safety Implementation
    Draft recommendations for grade crossing safety at highway-rail grade crossings along the Atlanta-Macon rail corridor have been prepared.  The next round of meetings to review the draft recommendations for crossings is expected to occur in July.  Final report for Grade Crossing Safety Implementation plan will be ready in August/September 2002 timeframe.

    Amtrak Issue

    A kick-off meeting for the SEHSR Planning study between Charlotte, North Carolina and Macon, Georgia is tentatively scheduled for mid July.  This is a joint effort of the Departments of Transportation of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina to develop a planning and concept engineering study to examine opportunities for increased speed in the designated SEHSR corridor between Charlotte and Macon.  This study is funded by FRA’s high-speed rail designated funds for the Southeast corridor.   

    Mr. Lester questioned the future and the relationship with AMTRAK. 

    Mr. Mullins responded and indicated that congressional bills are being developed to assist AMTRAK financially and the prognosis is undetermined.

     

    Macon Corridor Acquisition Next Steps

    Mr. Wilson discussed the Macon Corridor Acquisition Next Steps.  The May PMT meeting, a report by GRC completed on the site vulnerability for stations along the Atlanta corridor was presented.  Provided to the members of the committee were a list of coordination and site preservation activities with the status of each location.  Mr. Wilson discussed each of the site locations and their prognosis.  Mr. Wilson indicated any necessary next steps, their timeline and issues regarding the Macon Corridor development. 

    Mr. Bruning questioned the timeline indicated to acquire the property and what efforts can be taken to secure the property during this time. 

    Mr. Wilson responded that communication has taken place with the potential property owners and some support is expected from the counties to preserve other development.

    Ms. Gay suggested that a Work Session taken place to provide the team members with guidance on the Station Development policy.  The consensus of the team was to prepare a draft policy for review and discussion at the August meeting.

    GRTA Northwest Connectivity Study update

    Mr. Heimer presented the Northwest Connectivity Study update.  Mr. Heimer indicated that the study is looking at all the alternative transportation modes.  Two public meeting are scheduled to take place in June, and additional meeting will be held in August.  The attempt will be to narrow down to three or four alternatives.  Mr. Heimer indicated that an objective is to not only look at modes and technology, but to look at what the needs around the activity centers. 

     

    Adjournment:

    There being no further business to come before the Project Management Team, the meeting adjourned at 2:20 pm.