1
CAPTIONING
AUGUST 5, 2014
METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the ***following meeting. It should be used for informational ***purposes only. This document has not been edited; ***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words ***that did not translate.
>MARK SHARPE: GOOD MORNING.
IT'S TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 5th.
APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY.
WE HAD A LITTLE [NO AUDIO]ISSUE, BUT WE'RE ALL HERE READY TO START.
WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE AND PRAYER, BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
>LES MILLER, JR.: OUR GRACIOUS AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU TOUCHED US WITH YOUR LOVING HANDS TO WAKE US TO SEE ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAYS.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR A REASONABLE PORTION OF HEALTH AND STRENGTH.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU LET US COME TOGETHER TODAY TO WORK IN HARMONY, COLLECTIVELY, TO MAKE THIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
KEEP US ON ONE ACCORD.
LET US UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN DISAGREEBUT MUST COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS PLACE A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP OUR KEEP OUR MINDS REGULATED AND OUR HEARTS HUMBLE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WE ASK THAT WHEN YOU TAKE US BACK TO OUR HOMES, WE FIND EVERYTHING SAFE AND SOUND.
THESE AND ALL BLESSINGS WE ASK IN YOUR NAME.
AMEN.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MILLER.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
DOES ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK?
IF SO, COME FORWARD.
WE HAVE NO COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC.
WE'LL GO TO MS.ALDEN AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.
>BETH ALDEN: GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS.
BETH ALDEN, MPO STAFF.
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN AFTER OUR SUMMER RECESS.
THE COMMITTEES HAVE MET A COUPLE TIMES OVER THE SUMMER AND HAVE SUPPORTED THE ACTION ITEMS THAT ARE ON YOUR AGENDA FOR TODAY.
THERE IS A TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENT; THERE IS AN UPDATE, AN ANNUAL UPDATE OF THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED SERVICE PLAN; AND A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS REPORT, SO THOSE HAVE ALL BEEN REVIEWED AND SUPPORTED.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CAME UP AT THE COMMITTEES, THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE HEARD A STATUS REPORT ABOUT EAST HILLSBOROUGH AVENUE AND THE DEPARTMENTS AND CITY OF TAMPA'S FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES ON EAST HILLSBOROUGH, AND SO THERE'S SOME NOTES ON THAT IN YOUR PACKET.
THE POLICY COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION BILL REAUTHORIZATIONAND SUPPORTED SENDING A LETTER ADVOCATING FOR SUSTAINABLE FUNDING, AND THAT'S ON YOUR AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
THE POLICY COMMITTEE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT ADDING A SEAT TO THE BOARD FOR A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, AND SO THAT IS GOING TO BE RESEARCHED BY YOUR ATTORNEY.
THE BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD THEIR ANNUAL RETREAT AND STRATEGY SESSION AND WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON CREATING AN CYCLOVIA EVENT SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WAS HELD IN CLEARWATER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
THEY'D ALSO LIKE TO CREATE A BICYCLE-FRIENDLY BUSINESS AWARD AND BRING THAT TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION OF RECOGNIZING BICYCLE-FRIENDLY BUSINESSES.
AND THE LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S COMMUNITY TRAFFIC SAFETY TEAM AND HAS SCHEDULED A JOINT MEETING TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT WORK TOGETHER.
AND THOSE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS SUMMER.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MS.ALDEN.
I SEE NO QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS.
WONDERFUL.
>BETH ALDEN: THANK YOU.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO CONSENT.
WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS OF CONSENT.
CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE THEM?
>SANDRA MURMAN: [INAUDIBLE]
>KEVIN BECKNER: [INAUDIBLE]
>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BECKNER.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY AYE IF YOU SUPPORT THE MOTION.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
ROLL CALL FOR CONSENT?
THE CLERK: THERE'S ONE OTHER ONE ON THERE, COMMISSIONER, THAT'S A T.I.P. AMENDMENT THAT WAS PUT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT HAS TO BE A ROLL CALL.
>MARK SHARPE: AH, ITEM "D."
OKAY.
LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S DO ITEMS "A"THROUGH "C," JUST --
>SANDRA MURMAN: I MOVE "A"THROUGH "C."
> [INAUDIBLE]
>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL AND A SECOND.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
ANY OPPOSED?
OKAY.
"A" THROUGH "C" PASSES.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEM "D."
CAN WE HAVE A MOTION OF SUPPORT.
>SANDRA MURMAN: MOVE APPROVAL.
>LES MILLER, JR.: [INAUDIBLE]
>MARK SHARPE: WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
NOW WE'LL DO THE ROLL CALL VOTE.
RECORDING SECRETARY: OKAY.
COULD YOU TURN YOUR MIKES ON, PLEASE.
RECORDING SECRETARY: MILLER.
LES MILLER, JR.: YES.
>RECORDING SECRETARY: BECKNER.
>KEVIN BECKNER: YES.
>RECORDING SECRETARY: LOPANO.
>JOE LOPANO: YES.
>RECORDING SECRETARY: LOTT.
ABSENT.
CHILLURA.
ABSENT.
SHARPE.
>MARK SHARPE: YES.
>RECORDING SECRETARY: SUAREZ.
COHEN.
>HARRY COHEN: YES.
>RECORDING SECRETARY: POLZIN.
>STEVE POLZIN: YES.
>RECORDING SECRETARY: MURMAN.
>SANDRA MURMAN: YES.
>RECORDING SECRETARY: WAGGONER.
>JOE WAGGONER: YES.
>RECORDING SECRETARY: MONTELIONE.
>LISA MONTELIONE: YES.
>RECORDING SECRETARY: THANK YOU.
MOTION CARRIES.
>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR ACTION ITEMS.
THE FIRST ONE UP IS TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED SERVICE PLAN UPDATE.
WELCOME.
>MICHELE OGILVIE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS.
THE ANNUAL UPDATE OF THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED SERVICE PLAN IS BEFORE YOU AGAIN TODAY FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THE LOCAL COORDINATING BOARD CALLED THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED COORDINATING BOARD, CHAIRED BY MR. COHEN -- COUNCILMAN COHEN, PRESENTS TO YOU AND ADVISES WITH DIRECTION THE WAY WE'D LIKE TO SEE COORDINATION OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED GROUP IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ADVISE EVERYONE.
AND WHO ARE THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED?
THEY'RE LOW-INCOME, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THE ELDERLY, AND CHILDREN AT RISK, AS DEFINED BY LAW.
THE UPDATE FOR 2014 APPROACH CAME OUT OF THE CTC EVALUATION THAT YOU APPROVED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
IT ADVOCATES FOR SUNSHINE LINE TO MAINTAIN SERVICES AND TO IDENTIFY THE COSTS FOR PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SERVICE FOR A PRIORITY IV GROUP, WHICH IS EMPLOYMENT/WORK-RELATED TRIPS, EDUCATION, SHOPPING, AND RECREATION.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPLORED IN THIS UPDATE AND ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED ARE THAT THE STATE UPDATED ITS METHODOLOGY FOR POPULATION FORECASTS, AND WE USED IT, FIRST COUNTY IN THE STATE TO DO SO.
PROJECT NUMBERS OF TRIPS NEEDED ARE BASED ON POPULATION FROM THAT UPDATE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE, WE HAVE PLACED SOME OPERATION AND CAPITAL COSTS IN THAT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION LATER THIS YEAR.
AND MAP-21, AS YOU KNOW, CHANGED THE WAY WE WERE ABLE TO ACCESS JOB ACCESS TRIPS, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AND HAPPILY TO REPORT TO YOU THAT HART HAS REACHED OUT TO US, AND WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING SOME MORE TRIPS FOR PEOPLE TO WORK.
THE METHODOLOGY REPORTS THAT THE TD POPULATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS 32%.
THE COORDINATED TRIPS, WHICH INCLUDE HARTPLUS, PROVIDES 24% OF THE NEEDED TRIPS THAT THE METHODOLOGY SAYS WE HAVE.
52% OF THE POPULATION WE DO HAVE HAS ACCESS TO TRANSIT, WHICH IS A 3/4-MILE RADIUS.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS, AND IT'S ALWAYS SURPRISING TO ME, BUT WITHIN THE -- THE STATE HAS ADOPTED THIS AS THE OFFICIAL GROWTH PATTERN FOR OUR -- FOR OUR STATE, AND IT DOES SHOW THAT WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED POPULATION.
THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE ON THE FAR RIGHT.
OTHER PARTS OF THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED SERVICE PLAN INCLUDE A TRICOUNTY ACCESS PLAN UPDATE THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU EARLIER THIS YEAR, I THINK IN APRIL, WHICH REQUIRES -- WHICH REALLY TALKS ABOUT THE POPULATION'S DESIRE TO HAVE MORE FIXED ROUTES AND MORE FLEX ROUTES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND, OF COURSE, MORE ACCESS TO THE OTHER TWO COUNTIES, PINELLAS AND PASCO.
THE SOLUTIONS THAT THIS PLAN HAS WITHIN IT -- AND WE WILL -- WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON -- IS THAT WE'D LIKE TO -- IS THE GOAL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY FOR ACCESS TO THE HIGHEST-QUALITY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, EFFICIENT, RELIABLE, AND SAFE, WHICH IS STRAIGHT OUT OF MAP-21, ACTUALLY; AND STRATEGY 2.4 -- I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED -- WHICH SAYS THAT WE WILL ALL CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY, EVALUATE, AND PURSUE FUNDING SOURCES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
OTHER SOLUTIONS ARE THAT THE CTC, THE SUNSHINE LINE SUPPORTED TWO PARTS OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HIGHLIGHTED A FEW MINUTES AGO, AND THOSE ARE EMPLOYMENT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND PRIORITIES ARE NOW REVISED BY CATEGORIES SO THAT THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY ON HOW TO GET PEOPLE TO JOBS AND TRAINING.
SOLUTIONS OUTSIDE THE TDSP HAD TO BE HIGHLIGHTED.
AS I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WHICH IS BRINGING FORWARD SOME -- OR EXPLORING SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO GET MORE PEOPLE TRIPS, AND EVEN IN A STATUS-QUO SITUATION, WE WILL HAVE A FEW MORE TRIPS PROVIDED SYSTEMWIDE BY THE -- THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THE SUNSHINE LINE NEEDS SOME ADDITIONAL -- 28 VEHICLES TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH OF THE POPULATION, 2.5 MILLION FOR OPERATING, 7.2 MILLION FOR OPERATING, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE -- WE CAN NOW GET FROM 5310, WHICH IS A FUNDING SOURCE FROM THE STATE, AND HART CAN ALSO HELP US GET SOME OF THAT OPERATING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT -- YOU KNOW, WE OVERLAP AS TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGEDIN CERTAIN PLACES.
OTHER SOLUTIONS OUTSIDE THE TDSP, WE HAVE GOOD NEWS, THAT THERE -- THE FREEDOM RIDERS ARE BACK AND PROVIDING SERVICES FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO SOME OF THE OTHER KINDS OF TRIPS, LIKE SOCIAL TRIPS OR ATTENDING MEETINGS.
WE HAVE -- THE TRICOUNTY ACCESS SUBCOMMITTEE PLANNING GROUP IS MEETING, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO -- TO IMPLEMENT AND ADVOCATE FROM EACH ONE OF THOSE MPO BOARDS, THAT'S PASCO, PINELLAS, AND YOU-ALL, TO GET MORE -- RAISE THE AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR TRIPS BETWEEN OUR COUNTIES.
REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND HAVE BEEN UPDATED AS NEEDED.
AND I'D LIKE TO, ONCE MORE, REMIND YOU THAT WITH
$1.6 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING, 2.4 MILLION IN LOCAL FUNDING, WE PROVIDE TODAY 600,000 TRIPS WITH A 99% CLIENT SATISFACTION.
OUR RECOMMENDED ACTION THIS MORNING IS THAT YOU SUPPORT THE REQUEST OF THE TDCB, THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED COORDINATING BOARD, TO SUPPORT THE UPDATE OF THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED SERVICE PLAN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
>MARK SHARPE: COUNCILWOMAN MONTELIONE, AND THEN COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>LISA MONTELIONE: THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT, MICHELE, AND AS ALWAYS, A JOB WELL DONE.
I NOTICED IN THE COMMITTEE REPORTS, ONE OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE WAS TO CEMENT A REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH PASCO AND PINELLAS, AND YOU MENTIONED IT IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
BEING THAT A FEW OF US SIT ON THE TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT AREA BOARD, WHICH ALREADY MEETS WITH PASCO AND PINELLAS REPRESENTATIVES, WOULD IT BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD TAKE UP THERE AND THEN SUGGEST TO PASCO AND PINELLAS REPRESENTATIVES THAT THEY FORM A COALITION?
>MICHELE OGILVIE: THAT WOULD BE A PRAYER ANSWERED, YES.
>LISA MONTELIONE: I WILL MAKE A NOTE OF THAT FOR THE NEXT TMA BOARD MEETING.
>MICHELE OGILVIE: THANK YOU.
>LISA MONTELIONE: YOU'RE WELCOME.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN MONTELIONE.
COMMISSIONER MURMAN.
>SANDRA MURMAN: THANK YOU.
AND AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE DISADVANTAGED AND DISABLED.
I KNOW THERE'S STILL A LOT OF UNMET NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND YOU KNOW THE POPULATION IS EXPANDING.
I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO SEND THIS INFORMATION FOR INCLUSION INTO THE POLICY LEADERSHIP GROUP AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WOULDN'T SAY IT WAS PURPOSELY OVERLOOKED, IT WAS NOT.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALLYEVEN THOUGHT OF IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW, THE FIXED ROUTES AND THE CORRIDORS AND ALL THAT, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK MONEY FOR EXPANSION, WHETHER IT BE PURCHASING VEHICLES OR SERVICES FOR TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED, SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE POLICY LEADERSHIP GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND I DON'T KNOW, MR. CHAIR, IF I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE YOU SEND A LETTER OR COMMUNICATE THIS TO THE POLICY LEADERSHIP GROUP AS CHAIR OF THE MPO, BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT.
>MARK SHARPE: WE CAN -- IF WE CAN MAYBE AMEND THE RECOMMENDED STAFF RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WAS TO ACCEPT THE REPORT, AND THEN WE'LL ACCEPT THE REPORT AND ALSO INCLUDE IN THERE A LETTER WILL BE SENT BY THE CHAIR OF THE MPO TO THE POLICY LEADERSHIP GROUP INDICATING THAT WE WISH TO HAVE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED IN THEIR FINDINGS.
>SANDRA MURMAN: OKAY.
>MICHELE OGILVIE: THANK YOU.
>SANDRA MURMAN: AND I'LL MOVE TO ACCEPT THE REPORT WITH THOSE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
>HARRY COHEN: [INAUDIBLE]
>MARK SHARPE: OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION OF APPROVAL -- WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MURMAN AND IT WAS SECONDED BY MR. COHEN, COUNCILMAN COHEN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS?
IF NOT, THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
ANY OPPOSED?
MOTION PASSES.
>MICHELE OGILVIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOARD MEMBERS.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
THEN WE HAVE THE MAP-21 REAUTHORIZATION LETTER OF SUPPORT. MS.ALDEN.
>BETH ALDEN: GOOD MORNING, AGAIN.
AND THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WAS DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, BROUGHT TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE.
THE MOVING AHEAD FOR PROGRESS IN THE 21st CENTURY ACT AUTHORIZED FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION SPENDING THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 30th OF 2014.
IT HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER TEN MONTHS BUT WITHOUT A CLEAR SOURCE OF SUSTAINABLE FUNDING IN THE LONG RUN.
IN THE PAST, FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION BILLS HAVE GONE FOR A PERIOD OF SIX YEARS, BUT BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GAS TAX HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FULLY FUND OUR COUNTRY'S TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, THIS HAS -- THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION BILL HAS CONTINUED TO BE KIND OF EXTENDED AND EXTENDED PIECEMEAL.
THE FEDERAL GAS TAX WAS LAST RAISED IN THE EARLY 1990s.
AT THIS POINT, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE RAISED ON THE ORDER OF 14 TO 17 CENTS PER GALLON TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH OF OUR TRANSPORTATION'S NEEDS AND KEEP UP WITH INFLATION AND VEHICLE EFFICIENCY RATES, WHICH HAVE REDUCED GASOLINE CONSUMPTION.
OUR -- OUR FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM DOES PROVIDE ABOUT 70 MILLION A YEAR TO THE TAMPA BAY METROPOLITAN AREA, IN ADDITION TO FUNDING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS, A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS OF FDOT, AND SO LAST WEEK AT THE POLICY COMMITTEE WE DISCUSSED SENDING A LETTER TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SUPPORTING A MORE LONG-TERM AND SUSTAINABLE REAUTHORIZATION OF FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION SPENDING.
THE POLICY COMMITTEE INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ABOUT THEIR POSITION.
WE DO HAVE A ONE-PAGE STATEMENT FROM FDOT, AND WE HAVE A SPOKESPERSON WHO HAS JOINED US THIS MORNING, COMING DOWN FROM FDOT'S CENTRAL OFFICE IN TALLAHASSEE, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. DAVID LEE, WHO'S THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR STATEWIDE PLANNING AND POLICY ANALYSIS, WHO COULD MAYBE SHARE WITH YOU SOME PERSPECTIVES ON THIS FROM THE STATEWIDE LEVEL AND IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
MR. LEE.
>MARK SHARPE: MR. LEE, WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE, SIR.
THANK YOU.
> THAT HELPS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO COME DOWN AND PARTICIPATE IN YOUR MEETING.
I RECOGNIZE YOU HAVE A VERY FULL AGENDA, SO I WILL TRY AND KEEP MY REMARKS VERY BRIEF AND THEN RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>MARK SHARPE: THANK YOU.
> I THOUGHT MY BACKGROUND MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
I WORKED IN WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR 13 YEARS WITH THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS, FOLLOWING FEDERAL LEGISLATION, AND I'M NOW IN MY 26th YEAR HERE IN FLORIDA FOLLOWING FEDERAL LEGISLATION.
I MUCH PREFER TO FOLLOW IT FROM FLORIDA THAN FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
>MARK SHARPE: I WAS GOING TO SAY IS IT ANY CLEARER FROM TALLAHASSEE THAN WASHINGTON?
> YES.
SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY DURING THAT SPAN OF TIME TOO TO ACTUALLY WORK -- TO GO UP ON -- IF YOU WILL, ON LOAN TO SENATOR BOB GRAHAM AND WORK IN THE SENATE, WHICH WAS KIND OF A HIGHLIGHT OF MY CAREER, I'LL SAY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORT OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE'VE PUT FORWARD THAT WE'VE ALREADY SHARED WITH THE FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, THREE SIMPLE POINTS.
ONE IS THAT MAP-21, AS BETH HAD POINTED OUT -- THE PRIOR -- THE PRIOR ROUNDS OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION HAVE BEEN FIVE- OR SIX-YEAR BILLS.
MAP-21, WE ACTUALLY CONSIDER TO BE A FIVE- OR SIX-YEAR BILL IN TERMS OF THE POLICY CHANGES THAT IT MADE BUT ONLY HAD TWO YEARS OF FUNDING, SO OUR FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS LET'S GIVE MAP-21 TIME TO WORK.
WE REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF THE SIMPLIFICATION OF PROGRAMS.
WE HAD REACHED MORE THAN 100 FEDERAL PROGRAMS IN TRANSPORTATION, SO SIMPLIFYING THAT, GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION, WAS WELCOME NEWS.