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Advisory
Committee
Meeting #8
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Bridge Study Advisory Committee
August 18, 2000
Below are the minutes
taken by Lisa Kush for the Bridge Study Committee conducted on August
18, 2000 at the Holiday Inn, Steubenville, Ohio. This is a full list of
attendees and description of happenings.
On August 18, at 1:30
p.m., the Bridge Advisory Committee was called to order by Chairman David
Snelting. The meeting proceeded in the following manner.
- Minutes from the
May 3rd meeting were unanimously approved as submitted by
the committee.
- Caleb Faux, Project
Manager for the Bridge Study and a member of the consultant firm of
Plum, Klausmeier & Gehrum (PKG) explained to the advisory board
what the next step of the Upper Ohio Valley Bridge Study would include,
expectations and limitations. Faux said that the Phase I final report
is now in the hands of both funding agencies, West Virginia and Ohio
Departments of Transportation.
- Mr. Faux reported
that Phase II, the identification of an appropriate river crossing corridor
will require consultants to analyze cost benefits of every alternative.
These alternatives include the maintenance one or both of the older
bridges and the ramifications if one or both are closed. In addition,
the consultants will look at possible corridors for the construction
of a new river crossing "We can sink money in one or both of the
two older bridges and afford them the opportunity to play out their
useful life span. The amount of money needed to repair those bridges
would not only need to be quantified, but what the cost benefit would
be if one of them were later closed," explained Faux.
After explaining where
the study currently stands and where it is going, Faux noted the following:
- The consultants
and client, BHJ, will revise the scope of services for Phase II over
an estimated 12 month period and prepare optional corridors with cost
and benefits.
- The consultants
will meet with the advisory board to evaluate possible alternatives.
Public meetings will not be held until the consultants have results
to report. The consultant’s Phase II report does not identify an exact
corridor. Once the corridor is determined it becomes the basis for an
environmental impact study – a long step before bridge construction,"
said Faux adding that if the consultants do not look at every alternative
their efforts will have been wasted along with the funding agencies
dollars. Public Consensus, elected official support, environmental reviews
and funding solicitation each have a direct affect on a final construction
decision.
Richard Warner, West
Virginia Department of Transportation Urban Studies Section Head, pointed
out that WVDOT and ODOT have to come together to work out differences
with planning and procedures. Faux added that WVDOT and ODOT must also
work out which state will serve as the lead agency as well.
Norm Schwertfeger,
Brooke County Commissioner, said that it is critical for both states to
be on the same page before moving forward in the study. Warner agreed
adding that the two states are presently resolving their concerns with
planning and procedures.
The meeting adjourned
at 3:30 p.m. The next meeting date will be determined in the future A
target date is slated for early December.
| Persons
Present: |
|
| Don
Baily |
West
Virginia Department of Transportation |
| Frank
Bovina |
Village
of Mingo Junction |
| Kelly
Brooker |
Pflum,
Klausmeier & Gehrum Consultants |
| John
Brown |
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Metropolitan Planning Commission |
| Joe
Cicchirillo |
Follansbee
City Manager |
| Pat
Comiskey |
Wellsburg
City Manager |
| Caleb
Faux |
Pflum,
Klausmeier & Gehrum Consultants |
| Adrian
Freund |
Pflum,
Klausmeier & Gehrum Consultants |
| W.
Duane Heck |
Brooke
County Commission |
| Russ
Irvin |
City
of Wellsburg |
| Perry
Keller |
Pflum,
Klausmeier & Gehrum Consultants |
| Lisa
Kush |
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Metropolitan Planning Commission |
| Bob
Laukert |
Village
of Wintersville |
| Mike
Paprocki |
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Metropolitan Planning Commission |
| Shawn
Price |
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Metropolitan Planning Commission |
| Daniel
Sikora |
West
Virginia Department of Highways |
| David
Snelting |
City
of Steubenville |
| Dave
Speer |
Ohio
Department of Transportation, District 11 |
| Richard
Warner |
West
Virginia Department of Transportation |
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