Robert Studer

The meeting involved discussions and actions on several agenda items, focusing primarily on contract amendments and work authorizations for ongoing projects. Key discussions included amending the interlocal agreement with El Paso County for the Darington Roadway Project to add design services for construction phasing and a temporary roadway ('shoe fly'), and authorizing related work authorizations with Huitt Zar Inc and Atkins North America Inc. Item 3C was requested for deletion. For the Bob Hope Drive Extension project, amendments were discussed to fund additional design services related to TexDot roundabouts, a joint use pond with El Paso Water, and mitigation for construction waste on private properties, along with Right-of-Way Acquisitions. An amendment for the Ascension Street Improvements project, missed in the previous month's resolution, was presented to cover Atkins oversight services. Finally, resolutions were sought to authorize negotiations for revised agreements with the Village of Vinton and TexDot for the Valley Chile Road Project, which requires increased federal and local funding due to cost overruns from inflation. The board also addressed the Paso Del Norte Tex. Raise Grant Trail project, involving an interlocal agreement with TexDot and work authorizations for design and oversight services.

The board meeting covered several actions related to capital projects and agreements. Key discussions included authorizing the award of components for the Wer Aerial Tramway Phase One project to the lowest responsible bidder, International Eagle, and execution of the construction contract. For the Roos Drive Phase 2 project, the board authorized the award to the lowest responsible bidder, Tri-State Electric, and approved amendments to work authorizations with Ganette Fleming Inc. and Atkins for related services. The board also resolved to reject the bids received for the Fabens Airport T-Hanger Improvements project, as the sole bid exceeded the probable cost and available funding, requiring coordination with El Paso County. Furthermore, actions were taken regarding the Sun Cycle Bike Share Fleet Enhancement project, including pursuing increased grant funding and executing an advanced funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation. Amendments were approved for service contracts, specifically adding architectural rates to the indefinite deliverable professional engineering design services contract with Ganette Fleming Inc., and authorizing an amendment to the work authorization with CA Engineering Group for the John Hay Street Extension project to upgrade plans to the 2024 specification book. Finally, the board approved an amendment to the agreement related to the Secorro Transportation Reinvestment Zone Number Two to transfer funds back to the City of Socorro to complete design work for a signalized intersection and other preliminary design tasks.

The meeting began with the recognition of former CRRMA Board Chair Scott McGoiffin, acknowledging his seven years and three months of service and highlighting major completed projects during his tenure, such as the America Interchange project and the El Paso Street Car project. The board then adopted the minutes for the August 26, 2015 meeting. Key actions involved authorizing the Executive Director to execute instruments related to the El Paso Street Car project scope addition, specifically an agreement with the El Paso Water Utility Public Service Board for utility improvements (totaling $4.5 million, with any overruns covered by RMA contingency) and an interlocal agreement with the City of El Paso for downtown infrastructure improvements. Furthermore, the board awarded the Mission Ridge Boulevard/Arterial One Extension project to CMD Endeavors Incorporated as the lowest responsible bidder, following a tight bidding process with six responsive bids, and authorized execution of the construction contract. The board also authorized an agreement with the El Paso Water Utilities for utility improvements related to the Mission Ridge project and a work authorization with Atkins North America for construction engineering and inspection services. Finally, the board addressed the Win Road Project, seeking approval for an interlocal agreement with the City of El Paso and a work authorization with Atkins North America for oversight, as the project aims to create alternate ingress/egress for commercial trucks at the border.

The board meeting, called to order at 9:06 a.m., included initial recognition of the vice-chair for leadership. During the public comment period, a citizen expressed concerns regarding the transparency of publicly available fiscal and annual reports, noting outdated information. Following this, the Executive Director of the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) provided a presentation detailing the MPO's structure, its adherence to the 'continuous cooperative and comprehensive' (3C's) planning process, and federally required planning documents such as the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), Public Participation Program, Congestion Management Process, Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and Transportation Conformity Report. Discussions addressed the MTP's 20-year forecast, the TIP's four-year funding focus, and the requirements for demonstrating congestion mitigation, noting exceptions for cross-border pollution impacts. Specific inquiries were raised concerning the timeline for the Northeast Parkway project, which is currently slotted in the MTP's horizon year (2040), and the MPO's consideration of I-10 rebuilding impacts, which depends on pending studies from TexDOT.

The board meeting included updates on the Passive Streetcar Project, which is approximately 17% complete, with rail components arriving from Austria and foundation work progressing. Discussion covered construction updates, including foundation pouring for the maintenance facility and progress on wastewater and water line replacements. The update on the 2013 Comprehensive Mobility Plan detailed the status of various projects, categorizing them into design, construction/nearing construction, and RMA-funded projects. Design projects like Eastlake Phases 1 and 2, Rojas Drive, Vista del Sol, and the Darrington Road project were reviewed with cost estimates and anticipated letting dates. Projects under construction, such as Old Hueco Tanks Road and Mission Ridge Boulevard, were reported as generally on schedule. RMA-funded projects, including the Gregg Edgemere extension and the Aguilera International Highway, were also discussed, noting financial progress and schedules.