GEORGIA RAIL PASSENGER PROGRAM
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT TEAM MEETING - November

Held at the offices of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority

November 7, 2002 - 1:30 p.m.
AGENDA
Chair calls meeting to order:
  • Introductions, opening meditation and remarks.
    •

    MINUTES

  • Adopt the minutes of the October 3, 2002 meeting.
    •

    APPROVAL OF BOARD AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER 7, 2002

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

    NEW BUSINESS AND BOARD COMMENTS

  • GRPP Program Update
  • Report from Macon Corridor Local Advisory Committee (MACLAC) meeting
  • Video of ADA access at Commuter Rail stations
    •

     

    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:
    Steven Bruning
    Brad Hubbert
    Jimmy Lester
    Carl Rhodenizer
    Mather Stapleton
    COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
    Sharon Gay, Chairman
    * A quorum was present
    CALL TO ORDER:
    Mr. Rhodenizer called the meeting to order at 1:40 PM
    MINUTES:

    Motion was made by Mr. Lester and seconded by Mr. Bruning to approve the minutes of the October 3, 2002. The meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
    AGENDA:
    Motion was made by Mr. Bruning and seconded by Mr. Stapleton to approve the agenda of the November 7, 2002. The meeting agenda was approved unanimously.

    Recognition of Guest:

    Crew Heimer introduced guests from the senior graduating class from Georgia Tech. Each year Georgia Tech assigns to an engineering company student engineering innovations.  Visiting today are students assigned to the Atlanta station project.

     
    Multi-modal Passenger Terminal (MMPT)
    The title review of the MMPT site is completed.  Meetings are being held to review the information with the attorneys who compiled the report.  Meetings continue with area real estate developers to obtain additional advice on the next steps relative to MMPT development.  
    Rail Corridor Implementation Work  
    The kick-off meeting for the Macon Corridor Local Advisory Committee (MACLAC) was held October 15, 2002 at the Griffin Regional Welcome Center with over 30 local and regional officials attending.  Georgia Rail Consultants briefly covered the Georgia Rail Passenger Program history and Macon corridor status and next steps.  Various questions from the attendees focused on the roles of localities and the timeline of development.   Consultants and staff begin to incorporate RPMC and state agency comments on the draft Environmental Assessment for the Athens–Atlanta line. Additional funding was provided by GRPA to conduct a newly-required survey of the Georgia aster.  Completion of the EA process is now expected by Spring 2003.   Staff continues to update the GRPP revenues, costs, and timeline for both commuter and intercity lines with completion of the update expected by early December 2002.

    Macon-Griffin-Atlanta Grade Crossing Safety Implementation

    Staff has met with the Georgia Department of Transportation Office of Traffic Operations, Office of Utilities, and Districts 3 and 7 staff to review the guiding principles and draft recommendations for grade crossing safety.  Staff has begun arranging meetings for November and December with localities and the FRA to review this material.  The final report for Grade Crossing Safety Implementation Plan is expected in early 2003.

     

    SEHSR /Amtrak Issue

    Data on the Charlotte-Atlanta corridor has been obtained to developed typical train schedules to test for future operations, and prepared for field inspection of the line.  Staff continues to work to define the role of Amtrak and Norfolk Southern in the study.   Coordination and progress meetings are being held with other states and FRA. 

     

    Video of ADA access at Commuter Rail stations

    A video was presented to the members of the committee to illustrate the ADA access at Commuter Rail stations.

    December GRPP Meeting

    Mr. Stapleton requested that staff consider relocating the committee meeting during the legislative session to allow for interaction and dialog with new legislators.  Mr. Mullins indicated he would look at available options and report back to the committee in December.

    Adjournment:

    There being no further business to come before the Project Management Team, the meeting adjourned at 2:10 pm.