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Home My WebLink AboutPR 23878: SETRPC-MPO, REDESIGNAE AND EXPAND ITS PLANNING AREA AND JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES TO INCLUDE JASPER COUNTY, TX City of _ nrt rthu — �r'lrrS www.PortArthurTx.gov INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM Date: August 16, 2024 To: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Through: Ron Burton, City Manager From: John Cannatella, PE, Capital Project Engineer RE: PR No. 23878: Support the recommendation by the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission-Metropolitan Planning Organization(SETRPC-MPO)to redesignate and expand its planning area and jurisdictional boundaries to include Jasper County, Texas. Introduction: The intent of this Agenda Item is to seek the Port Arthur City Council's approval to support the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission - Metropolitan Planning Organization's (SETRPC- MPO) recommendation to redesignate and expand its planning area and jurisdictional boundaries to include Jasper County, Texas. Background: The Jefferson, Orange Hardin Regional Transportation Study (JOHRTS) Transportation Planning Committee's intent is to consider expansion of the existing South East Texas Regional Planning Commission - Metropolitan Planning Organization (SETRPC-MPO) boundary to include Jasper County. The SETRPC Executive Committee passed a resolution for Jasper County,Texas to join the SETRPC on July 15,2020. The Governor's office approved Jasper County's request to join the SETRPC on April 27,2021.Jasper County is gradually being incorporated into all SETRPC-MPO plans and programs, such as the JOHRTS Metropolitan Transportation Plan-2050 (MTP-2050) and the JOHRTS FY 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and the Travel Demand Model has been updated to include Jasper County, Texas. The SETRPC-MPO was in an area of non-attainment for ozone/carbon prior to 2005,therefore, federal law requires that MPO boundary adjustments go through the redesignation process, which includes providing a resolution of support from MPO jurisdictions representing 75% of affected populations and the central city(23 CFR 450.310). The City of Port Arthur falls under the SETRPC-MPO jurisdiction. The SETRPC is currently working with the Texas Department "Remember,we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur" 444 4t Street X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8182 X FAX 409.983.8294 S:\Engineering\PUBLIC WORKS\PW-ENGINEERING\C.I.P.PROJECTS\Year 2024\SETRPC-MPO\Agenda\Agenda Memo SETPRC MPO Jasper County e: of Transportation (TxDOT) Transportation, Planning & Programming Division (TPP) on the necessary steps required to finalize the incorporation of Jasper County, Texas into the SETRPC-MPO. The approved City of Port Arthur resolution will be included in the package that will be submitted to TxDOT, which will then request approval from the Governor's office for the redesignation of the SETRPC-MPO boundary to include Jasper County, Texas. Budget Impact: No funds are impacted with the passage/acceptance of this proposed resolution. Recommendation: It is recommended that the City of Port Arthur's City Council approve PR No. 23878 authorizing the City Manager to support the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission—Metropolitan Planning Organization's (SETRPC-MPO) recommendation to redesignate and expand its planning area and jurisdictional boundaries to include Jasper County, Texas. "Remember,we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur" P.O.Box 1089 X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8101 X FAX 409.982.6743 PR No. 23878 8/16/2024 mje Page 1 of 4 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO SUPPORT THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION — METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION'S (SETRPC-MPO) RECOMMENDATION TO REDESIGNATE AND EXPAND ITS PLANNING AREA AND JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES TO INCLUDE JASPER COUNTY, TEXAS. NO CITY FUNDS ARE IMPACTED BY THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION. WHEREAS, the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission — Metropolitan Planning Organization (SETRPC-MPO) has made significant progress in improving air quality in its current Metropolitan Planning Area and is currently in attainment for all National Ambient Air Quality Standards under the Clean Air Act of 1970; and, WHEREAS, 23 CFR 450.312(b) states that Metropolitan Planning Organizations that were in non-attainment status prior to August 10, 2005 are required to redesignate in order to make boundary adjustments; and, WHEREAS, 23 CFR 450.310(h) allows the SETRPC-MPO to redesignate with support from the Governor and units of general purpose local governments that together represent at least 75 percent of the existing metropolitan planning area population; and, WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur recognizes the importance of integrating Jasper County, Texas in their comprehensive, cooperative and continuing regional transportation planning process; and, WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur acknowledges that Jasper County, Texas sends a large percentage of commuters in and out of its current Metropolitan Planning Area to PR No. 23878 8/16/2024 mje Page 2 of 4 Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange for work, entertainment, shopping, medical services, education, financial services, and vocational training within the three county region; and, WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur recognizes that inclusion of Jasper County,Texas will enhance regional coordination, regional transportation modeling, and support development of an integrated transportation system that meets the current and future needs of the area; and, WHEREAS, major highways run through Jasper County and would improve SETRPC-MPO disaster evacuation since US Highway 69 and US Highway 96 are major evacuation routes; and, WHEREAS, upgrades are planned for the future route of US Highway 190 under proposed Congressionally Authorized IH 14, with Spurs off US Highway 69 and US Highway 96 as designated improvement projects for efficient movement of military equipment and provide better access to the Port of Port Arthur, the Port of Beaumont, and the Port of Orange; and, WHEREAS, the Jefferson, Orange, Hardin Regional Transportation Study (JOHRTS) Transportation Planning Committee has provided a draft resolution from the voting members to support the redesignation and expansion of its Metropolitan Planning Area boundary to incorporate Jasper County, Texas within its jurisdictional boundaries, see Exhibit A; and, WHEREAS, approval PR No. 23878, in support of the SETRPC-MPO recommendation to redesignate and expand its planning area and jurisdictional boundaries to include Jasper County, Texas, is herein deemed an appropriate action; now, therefore; PR No. 23878 8/16/2024 mje Page 3 of 4 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR: THAT, the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct; and, THAT, the City Council of the City of Port Arthur hereby authorizes the City Manager to approve supporting the SETRPC-MPO's recommendation to redesignate and expand its planning area and jurisdictional boundaries to include Jasper County, Texas; and, THAT, a copy of the caption of this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council. READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED this the day of , A.D. 2024 at a meeting of the City of Port Arthur, Texas by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor: Councilmembers: Noes: Thurman Bill Bartle Mayor ATTEST: Sherri Bellard City Secretary PR No. 23878 8/16/2024 mje Page 4 of 4 APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: Roxann Pais Cotroneo, Esquire Ron Burton City Attorney City Manager APPROVED AS FOR AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS: id/A. Lynda (Lyn) Boswell, MA, ICMA-CM Director of Finance • o n Cannatella, PE City Engineer Clifton Williams, CPPB Purchasing Manager EXHIBIT A SETRFC SOUTH EAST TEXAS REGION August 8, 2024 John Cannatella Capital Improvement Projects Engineer City of Port Arthur P.O. Box 1089 Port Arthur,TX 77641 RE: DRAFT RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT JASPER COUNTY INTO SETRPC-MPO Dear Judge McDaniel: I am writing to inform you of the Jefferson, Orange Hardin Regional Transportation Study (JOHRTS) Transportation Planning Committee's intent to consider expansion of the existing South East Texas Regional Planning Commission - Metropolitan Planning Organization (SETRPC-MPO) boundary to include Jasper County. As you are aware,following elected officials' requests to include Jasper County within the SETRPC,the SETRPC Executive Committee passed a resolution for Jasper County to join the SETRPC on July 15, 2020. The Governor's office approved Jasper County's request to join the SETRPC on April 27, 2021. Jasper County is gradually being incorporated into all SETRPC-MPO plans and programs,such as the JOHRTS Metropolitan Transportation Plan-2050(MTP-2050)and the JOHRTS FY 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and the Travel Demand Model has been updated to include Jasper County. The items completed above are the first of several steps needed to be completed to incorporate Jasper County into the SETRPC-MPO. These will include working with TxDOT as well as with the Governor's office to approve the Metropolitan Planning boundary redesignation of the SETRPC-MPO to include Jasper County. As the SETRPC-MPO was in an area of non-attainment for ozone/carbon prior to 2005, federal law requires that MPO boundary adjustment goes through the redesignation process, which includes providing a resolution of support from MPO jurisdictions representing 75% of affected populations and the central city (23 CFR 450.310). The SETRPC is currently working with TxDOT Transportation Planning& Programming Division (TPP) on the necessary steps to finalize the incorporation of Jasper County into the SETRPC-MPO,and the following steps remain to be completed: (1)Revision of JOHRTS By-Laws; (2) Development of a resolution for JOHRTS voting members to support and adopt the addition of Jasper County into the SETRPC-MPO; and (3) TxDOT to request approval from the Governor's office for the redesignation of the SETRPC-MPO to include Jasper County. President-Wayne McDaniel,Hardin County 11st VP-Johnny Trahan,Orange County I 2nd VP-Mark Allen,Jasper County 3rd VP-Glenn Johnson,Port Neches I 4th VP-Kimberly Cline,Lumberton 15th VP-Amanda Gates,Kirbyville Treasurer-Cathy Nagel,Pine Forest I Secretary-Cary Erickson,Jefferson County Executive Director-Shanna Burke 2210 Eastex Freeway Beaumont,Texas 77703-4929 (409)899-8444 I(409)347-0138 fax setrpc@setrpc.org I https://www.setrpc.org rr There are several needs and opportunities supporting the inclusion of Jasper County in the MPO boundary: • Jasper County is experiencing significant growth in the southern portion of the county bordering Orange County. • Residents of Jasper County commute to Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange to work in oil refining and petrochemical manufacturing facilities and rely on medical services (including the VA Clinic in Beaumont), shopping, entertainment, financial services, higher education, and vocational training facilities within the three-county region. • Major highways in Jasper County include US 69,US 96,US 190,SH 62,and SH 87.Adding Jasper County would improve SETRPC-MPO disaster evacuation coordination,as US 69 and US 96 are major hurricane evacuation routes. • Upgrades are planned for the future route (US 190) of proposed Congressionally Authorized IH-14,which will connect through our MPO,with Spurs off US 69 and US 96 projects to improve the movement of military equipment and to provide better access to Port of Beaumont, Port of Port Arthur,and Port of Orange. Please find enclosed the following template: • Resolution for the JOHRTS Transportation Planning Committee voting members to support the redesignation and expansion of its Metropolitan Planning Area Boundary to Accept Jasper County. This resolution will be included in the package that will be submitted to TxDOT, which will request approval from the Governor's office for the redesignation of the SETRPC-MPO Metropolitan Planning Area Boundary to include Jasper County. Please let me know when you anticipate the approval of this document. Thank you for your attention to these details. If any questions arise,feel free to contact me at 409-899- 8444 x7520. Sincerely, Bob Dickinson,Director Transportation and Environmental Resources Enclosure 2