GEORGIA RAIL PASSENGER PROGRAM

	DRAFT GEORGIA RAIL PASSENGER PROGRAM (GRPP) PROGRAM MANAGEMENT TEAM MINUTES

	Office Of Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
	September 04, 2003
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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, Chair Steven Bruning Brad Hubbert Ward Edwards Carl Rhodenizer Mather Stapleton *A quorum was present

CALL TO ORDER:
Ms. Gay called the meeting to order at 1:40 PM

MINUTES:
A motion was made by Mr. Bruning and seconded by Mr. Hubbert to approve the minutes of the April 03, 2003 meeting. The meeting minutes was approved unanimously.

AGENDA:
A motion was made by Mr. Lester and seconded by Mr. Bruning to approve the agenda of the September 04, 2003 meeting. The Second agenda item should read "Proposed PMT Schedule". The modified meeting agenda was approved unanimously.

New Members
Chairman Gay recognized Ward Edwards, new member of the Program Management Team and new member to the Georgia Department of Transportation replacing Jimmy Lester. Chairman Gay also recognized David Studstill who replaced Paul Mullins after he was recently promoted. Mr. Studstill presented the month’s activities:

Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal (MMPT)
Draft 3-D survey plots are being reviewed for accuracy by the title and legal attorneys and will be finalized by early September. Legal descriptions with metes and bounds description for the perimeter of all properties owned by each individual owner are being prepared. GDOT has provided the City of Atlanta the documents for the transfer of property related to the MMPT site. Consideration of the property transfer is pending with the City Council at this time.

Rail Corridor Implementation Work
Three public hearings conducted for the Athens EA on was well attended. Detailed responses addressing all the comments are being coordinated with GRPP staff and GDOT Office of Environment Location (OEL) staff to be posted on the www.garail.com site and sent to those who submitted comments.

Macon - Griffin - Atlanta Grade Crossing Safety Implementation
Prepared the final draft report along with an executive summary for the grade crossing safety recommendations along the Macon - Atlanta “S” Line. The report contains the recommendations along with appendix materials including meeting minutes, technical analysis, and detailed tables showing the recommendations. Upon completion of GDOT’s review, this report will be transmitted to FRA and subsequently to other state and federal agencies.

SEHSR / Amtrak Issues
Work continues on the SEHSR planning study between Charlotte and Atlanta. Completed an update to the Atlanta-Jacksonville Intercity and High-Speed Rail Draft Final Report and submitted to GRPA for review and comment.

Conference Updates
There was discussion about upcoming conferences: Rail Volution’s Fall conference is scheduled for September 11-14, 2003 in Atlanta at the Hyatt Regency hotel. Staff from Intermodal and GDOT is planning a trip to Portland Oregon on October 8-10 to look at the Inner City Rail. PTA/TRB light rail transit conference is scheduled for November 16-18, 2003 in Portland, Oregon. With the theme "Experience, Economics and Evolution - From Starter Lines to Growing Systems,".

Report of Athens Line Public Hearings on the Environmental Assessment
Mr. Roberts discussed the Public Hearings on the Environmental Assessment. The public hearings were conducted in the format that DOT has designed for national public understanding. A large number of individuals appeared for the hearings and staff has received a large number of comments. Comments responses will be posted on the GA rail website. The Plan is to submit a full response to Federal Transit Administration to consider the environmental assessment to make a finding. There was continued discussion of the Athens line, environmental concerns and the successful public output at the hearings.

Macon Line Grade Crossing Safety Recommendations
Mr. Roberts presented the Macon Line Grade Crossing Safety Recommendations. This line was chosen because in addition to being a rail passenger service it is a high-speed rail line in the national network. The existing Macon line consists of 103 miles of track and 158 crossings. It is expected to accomplish to have 69 of the 158 crossing closed and make a significant effort to make grade crossing safety a part of the program. Mr. Roberts outlined the recommended stages, next steps and time frame for the Macon Line Grade Crossings. There was discussion of the public’s input to the closing of the crossings.

Proposed PMT Meeting Agenda
Ms. Gay began the discussion of the proposed change to the meeting schedule. A large portion of the committee’s work has been completed and it is being proposed to adjust the meeting schedule from a monthly basis to a bi-monthly or quarterly basis. Mr. Hubert raised question as to the intent of the committee in the future. Mr. Studstill responded that there is a plan to announce the Governors Bond package which will outline funding options for Transportation projects. Ms. Gay stated the committee would meet on a bi-monthly basis assuming there was no resistance from the two-committee members not in attendance.

Formal Action
Motion was made by Mr. Bruning and seconded by Mr. Hubert to modify the monthly meeting schedule of the Program Management Team to meet bi-monthly, with the next scheduled meeting to take place in November. The motion was approved unanimously contingent upon discussion with the absent committee members.

Discussion of next PMT Meeting Agenda
Ms. Gay raised question as to Proposed Belt-Line Project concept original from a Georgia Tech student. Who owns the right of way and what would it take to be in the hands of a transit developer? Mr. Wilson responded that MARTA is heading the study with URS as the lead Consultant. They are in the data gathering stage and the study results would answer the question. Parts of the identified line are owned by various entities.

Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the Project Management Team, the meeting adjourned at 3:00 pm.