HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_08.21.2013_SpecialMinutes of the Meeting of
Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board
and the Governing Body of the
City of Georgetown, Texas
Special Session
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
The Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board Special Session of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met
on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 presiding.
Board Members Present:
William Maples - Chair, Rachael Jonrowe - Vice -Chair, Truman Hunt - Secretary, John Hesser, Scott
Rankin, Ray Armour, Chris H'Luz, David Johnson, John Pettitt
Board Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Ed Polasek, Jana Kern, Bill Dryden, Wes Wright, Bridget Chapman,
OTHERS PRESENT:
Bonnie Stump, Walt Davy, Marshall Friedman, Gail & Dave Metdoo, Roy Peck, Jim Mann - Citizens;
Bruce Barton & Mark Allen- Omni Projects, Inc.
Minutes
Regular Meeting
REVISED
Mr. William Maples called the Special GTAB Board meeting to order on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at
10:00 AM.
Board may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene in Executive Session at the request of the
Chair, a Board Member, the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Council Member, or legal
counsel for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551,
and are subject to action in the Regular Session that follows.
I. LEGISLATIVE REGULAR AGENDA:
A. Discussion and possible recommendation to City Council regarding how City of Georgetown
membership will affect the Passenger Rail/Freight Rail National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) process and related studies of the Lone Star Rail District. -- Ed Polasek
Polasek stated that the Lone Star Rail District is in the process of selecting a firm to complete the
environmental process for the Lone Star Rail Project. This will include an analysis of the Rail Relocation
for Union Pacific and establishment of Passenger Rail on the existing Union Pacific Line. The Rail District
has budgeted $3 million dollars in FY'12 and appears to have carried over this amount in FY'13.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has determined that they will be the lead agency for the
Lone Star project. The project has also been identified as an "Administrator's Priority" project, so the
Lone Star Rail process is being fast -tracked. The LSRD Board expects to select a consultant for the NEPA
(National Environmental Policy Act) scoping process in September or October. Scoping for the EIS
process will begin at that time.
Agencies can no presuppose an outcome of an EIS process. However, member jurisdictions will be
involved in the scoping and definition of alternatives for the EIS process. Again, the Rail District Board
cannot go into the project assuming the Round Rock to Georgetown connection will be the selected
alternative. However, if the City is not involved in the project, the Board may start with the route to
Taylor, or stop the line at the last station in Travis County, or go into Round Rock only if they chose to
become a member as the Locally Preferred Alternative. They may still choose to study the Georgetown
connection, but it will not be priority. Also, there will be coordination with the Texas to Oklahoma Rail
Study by TxDOT that will take place through this EIS process. The Texas to Oklahoma study will be
looking for an alternative to go North of the Lone Star route. Through this study and the environmental
process alternative routes through Williamson County will be analyzed to continue the project North.
If the City decides to enter at a later date, we may be responsible for all the EIS study cost to bring the
Georgetown Route into the process.
Motion by Armour, seconded by Hunt that "The Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board
recommends that City Council reconsider membership in the Lone Star Rail District, as
continuing membership through the Environmental Process that will afford the City the
opportunity to:
A. Provide Direct input into the Scoping process of the EIS;
B. Environmental process would Federally clear corridor for range of transit/transportation
options (e.g. eligible for future Federal Funding);
C. Supports City of Georgetown Transportation Planning Goals;
D. This recommendation does not necessarily extend to funding construction/operations of
the Lone Star Rail project; however, it affords the GTAB Board time to continue studying
the Lone Star/Transit Options as directed by City Council on July 9. 2013, while pursuing
environmental clearances; and
E. Continued membership is an annual budget decision."
Approved 8-1 Messer against)
II. ADJOURN
Motion by Hunt, seconded by Rankin to adjourn meeting. Approved 9-0
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:13 AM.
Approved: Attest:
William Maples - Chair
s
Jana R. Kern — Board Liaison
Truman Hunt — Secretary