Phase II Meeting #7 - Unadopted Minutes
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Upper Ohio Valley Bridge Advisory Committee
January 15, 2003 - 1:30 p.m.– 3:00 p.m.

On January 15^th at 1:30 at the Holiday Inn in Steubenville, Ohio, meeting coordinator John Brown called the meeting to order.

Before proceeding with agenda items, John Brown introduced the following items:

• Purpose of Meeting. To hear the preliminary recommendation and conclusions of the bridge consultant and to make comment specific to this recommendation and conclusions.
• Expectations of Meeting. No advisory committee vote will be made at this current meeting. This is the first time a consultant recommendation will be heard.
• The Problem: The BHJ Regional Bridge System Study evaluated the future regional bridge system network between the Ft. Steuben Bridge and the Ohio County line, a 17 mile river corridor. It is understood that two of the three bridges in this corridor are near 100 years of age. It is understood by year 2020 these two bridges (Ft. Steuben and Market Street) will not be operative; consequentially, further road network and bridge options must be considered and funded.
• Upcoming Meetings and Review. A public information meeting to receive comment from the general public and Advisory Committee will be held on February 5^th at the Millsop Center in Weirton.
• Review of Consultant’s Recommendation and Conclusions. The Bridge Advisory Committee (BAC) is advisory. Following a public information meeting (February 5^th), the BAC will meet (March 12^th) to vote upon the consultant’s recommendation and conclusions. The BAC’s comments and preference will be considered by the Brook-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on March 19^th. The comments and preference of the TAC will be considered by the BHJ Transportation Policy Committee, the final determining board for regional transportation priorities in the BHJ region, on May 21^st.
• Final Regional Determination: The BHJ Transportation Policy Committee through the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21) and its 71 members of locally elected officials and designates is the determining board.
• Need for a Consensus to Solicit Federal and State Bridge Funding: Without a local consensus through the BHJ Transportation Policy Committee, it will be difficult to solicit federal and state bridge funding.

Jack Pflum, Project Team Leader for Edwards and Kelcey Consultants, stated after two and one-half years of work with the BAC and substantial funding from both the Ohio Department of Transportation and the West Virginia Department of Transportation, a recommendation and conclusion statement had been prepared.

Mr. Pflum stated this recommendation and conclusions were driven by the guidance of the BAC, public information meetings and extensive quantitative research. Specifically, over a one-year period, the BAC and consultant prepared a 19-point matrix which included items such as vehicles hour of travel, total travel time, capital costs, reduction in total user costs, technical feasibility and benefit/cost ratio.

He noted this documented effort is a key support item for future technical studies to support the feasibility and funding of bridge system improvements.

Mr. Pflum stated the following assumptions and recommendations. These items were summarized in hand-out form and distributed prior to Mr. Pflum’s presentation.

Assumptions

• It is assumed the Ft. Steuben and Market Street bridges will not be in service for the planning year 2020.
• The construction of a new bridge in the 17-mile corridor between the Ft. Steuben bridge and Ohio County line is BHJ’s #1 regional transportation priority.
• The formal System Study review and consideration of regional needs has been under consideration since 1999.
• The thirty-one (31) member Bridge Advisory Committee has oversight for the preparation and completion of this study.
• The seventy-two (72) member BHJ Transportation Policy Board is the federally recognized adoption board for this transportation recommendation and priority.
• Consensus for the final recommendation and priority is essential. Without BHJ Transportation Policy Board adoption and a public consensus, it will be difficult to leverage federal, state and local funds for this high cost transportation system investment.

 First Priority

Construct a roadway and intersection capacity improvements to serve Half-Moon Industrial Park. These improvements are as follows.

• Realign and improve Freedom Way/Birch intersection
• Improve alignment and widen the intersection of Freedom Way/WV 2 and West Virginia approaches
• Improve Freedom Way to a full three lane roadway
• Improve and widen University/SR 7 intersection and Ohio approaches

 Second Priority

 Construct a new Ohio River bridge, south of Wellsburg

• Prepare engineering and environmental studies to establish a specific location for the new bridge and configuration or roadway connection to WV 2 and SR 7.

Third Priority

Construct a new Ohio River bridge to connect WV 2 with Steubenville at Washington Street.

• Prepare engineering and environmental studies to establish a specific alignment location and impact on WV 2,. SR 7, and the existing street system in the Steubenville central business district.

Upon this presentation, general comment followed and centered on the following items.

• Interpretation of Priorities: What happens if priority #1 does not occur first? Can priority #1 and #2 be completed in tandem?

Priority #1 encourages the use of Veterans Bridge, an underutilized bridge. While priority #1 and #2 may be completed together, Priority #1 can not be excluded.

• What is the projected cost for priority #1?

 $6 to $8 million.

• Rt. 7 and University Boulevard Site Limitations: With restrictions such as a railroad truss, counter 90 degree turns @ Rt. 7 and University Boulevard, a limited truck turning lane @ the same intersection, and conflicting merges @ or near the truck turning lane does a realistic design exist?

 This is a challenging design. All traffic flow elements need to be considered.

• True life expectancy of Ft. Steuben and Market Street bridges.: What are the actual expected use dates for these bridges?

An actual expected life time has not been stated; however, the Ohio Department of Transportation has placed a price of maintenance limitation on the Ft. Steuben Bridge. In recent years, maintenance costs for this bridge have increased progressively.

• What happens if a local consensus from the Policy Board is not forthcoming?

The #1 regional transportation priority, as defined by the Policy Board, may be delayed or deferred.

The meeting concluded with a restatement of the review schedule for the consultant recommendation.

February 5^th. Public Information Meeting.

March 12^th. Bridge Advisory Committee. Request for consideration of consultant’s recommendation and conclusions.

March 19^th. BHJ Technical Advisory Committee. Request for consideration of consultant’s recommendation and conclusions.

May 21^st. BHJ Policy. Board. Consideration by designated policy setting board for the region.

The meeting adjourned at 3:00.