Good morning everyone. We're calling the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. Uh, Mayor Ba is on his way, but I'll go ahead and start us off. Um, first, if we could all please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> And then before we get to roll, I just want to welcome me. We have Representative Mala from the city of El Paso. Welcome, REPRESENTATIVE. >> Ready for roll call. >> All right. >> All right. Uh roll call starting with Mayor Javier Perea. Um Chair Elanim, Senator Cesar Blanco, uh John Ando, Mayor Ramono, uh Senator Joseph Cvantes, Mayor Miguel Chakon, >> here. Erin Chavaria here, >> Representative Alejandra Chavez, >> Mayor Rudy Cous, >> Anthony Daiser, >> Representative Art Fiero, >> Commissioner Gloria Groto, Representative Mary Gonzalez, Iandz, >> Mayor Gabrielle, President Uh, Mayor Rena Johnson, >> Mayor Martin LMA, >> uh, Dion Mack, >> Representative Joe Moody, >> Representative Eddie Morales, Representative Claudia Ordas, Representative Vince Perez, um, Mayor Rachel Kintana >> here, Mayor Andre Canteria, uh, Judge Ricardo Sango, uh, Representative Sarah Silva, >> Thomas, >> and Representative Maldonado >> before we move on to uh, open comment, uh, Representative Chavez wanted to take a moment of silence. Representative, did you want to tell us a little bit about the moment of silence you wanted to take? OH, IT WAS >> OH, I'M SORRY. I'm sorry. Represent. It's okay. Thank you. >> Oh, no. I We lost I think the the local legend last week, Hell Marcus, who's whether you knew him or not, you knew the the vibrancy of his work and exemplified the beauty and diversity of our our community and our culture. It was just a wonderful wonderful soul and a beautiful human being. Uh he touched your life whether whether you knew him or not. So, I just wanted to take that opportunity to he meant so much to this region. Just take the opportunity to to honor him with a moment of silence today. >> Thank you. Do we have any public comment? >> Okay. >> Yes. Ready. Item one. >> All right. So, let's start with uh discussion and action items. Number one, consider approval of the minutes of the March 20th, 2026 EPB meeting. >> A motion to approve in a second. All in favor? Motion passes. Thank you. All right. Item number two, consider authorizing the opening of a 30-day public involvement period for the regional mobility strategy, RMS 2052 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the fiscal year 2027 2030 transportation improvement program, TIP, and the RMS 202 transportation conformity report. So, we have a a presentation here. Uh, but let me just open the uh the item here by letting you know that these are the three three of the core documents that the no is responsible for. The long range plan uh we always need to to have a plan that that looks beyond 20 years. Uh the tip is a short term where we program projects in the next four years. So we go from really long term to short term. and the transportation conformity report um is where we show that how we're dealing with the emissions and the the air quality issues that we have as a non-attainment region. So what we're asking you all here is to give us a green light so the the draft documents are are pretty much complete. So, as part of the federal process, we need to go to the public and and have this 30-day public comment period where we will have, you know, several meetings as you will see in the presentation. Uh, you know, get input from the general public, from stakeholders, from everybody, including yourselves and your staffs and and and so on. And once we complete the 30-day, then we will respond and address every single comment that we received, put it together and um and you know into a report. Hopefully there will be nothing, you know, substantive that require us to go back to the drawing board. U but once we do that, then we'll come back to you next month to ask you for the the final adoption of these documents, the final approval of of the documents. So that's what makes the the long range plan, the tip and the conformity report uh um you know official. Uh one more step, the conformity report does go to the federal agencies to our federal consultative partners for approval. That is a document that they approve, right? So um you know we are uh giving the the federal agencies about six months to review the document. Hopefully that'll be enough. But the way things are now, you know, who knows? But uh but you know, we're trying really hard to give them as much time as we can so that they they approve the new conformity report before the 4-year clock expires, which is early November of this year. So with that, uh we have uh Lauren Taylor from WSP, who's our uh general planning consultant. Uh she will take over the the presentation. So take it away Lord. >> Thank you Eduardo and good morning everyone. Hopefully you're able to see my screen overview. So some of this I will be able to go through quite quickly. So, as Edardo mentioned, we are here to to give you a little bit of the findings for the MTP transportation report as well as for the tip. So, as far as the NTP where we're going to start, um this has been the progress of the NP thus far. Won't go through each of the steps here, but just know that there's been quite a bit of work that's gone into developing this document. So what has been that work? Well, first the MT was to travel along connectivity and enhancing resilience are just a few findings. So part of what we did is the part of the study was looked at transportation and land use. Um and part of that involved travel demand modeling, land use modeling using a program called urban s. We did scenario planning workshops and then we also looked at existing conditions. On the screen you can see the results of our scenario planning workshops where we looked at a a car focus status quo scenario that really transportation and lane use policies of what it looks like today. Um we also looked at a transitional alternative scenario. So, as part of that scenario, really, we're looking at what does an in between of folks not just being in their cars look like, but recognizing that not a huge mode shift is probably not going to happen. Um, and so those two are those the MTP is based on the car focused scenario, but has an aspiration towards a more transitional um alternative. And we also see here where we have a visionary scenario that ideally What you've seen here is several transit opportunities and multimodal opportunities shared with land use that concentrates the growth along those translated areas. And so that's the hope for the f the future, but really recognizing that it's going to take a lot of work to get >> right. >> Lauren, let let me interject here a little bit. So, if you for those of you that were here last uh last month, uh we provided you with a little more information on on how the you know the different scenarios that that we ran and uh um unfortunately we couldn't have discussion because you know quorum was was broken at the time but uh but I hope that uh that that you remember that the the the official scenario that we have to follow and that is more driven by by the nonattainment the air quality standards, right? So, we have to assume what we feel is the most likely scenario in the future, right? And unfortunately, as much as we may not like it, but the most likely scenario that we have that we see here for the future of the region is, you know, the same trend of uh being so carentric um I hate to use the word sprawl, but yes, but we continue sprawling and uh so you know that that's what it is. And and if you remember some of the some of the parameters that we showed yes uh I'm I'm sorry last um last month the one that that to me is the most important one is this per capita VMT right the vehicle miles of travel per person that goes from you know we're increasing it three miles from help me out Lauren from 2022 to 202 that was the >> so you know in in the next 30 years. What this means is that every person in the region or every vehicle is going to travel three more miles than in 2022. And so that you know to conduct your your daily business, right? Whether you go to school, you go to work, whatever it is, right? So that puts a lot of stress on the transportation system. It means that we need more, you know, more supply, more more roads. So, but if we continue with these low density uh growth patterns on on the um uh on households without putting more care into mixed use. In other words, yeah, if we grow and we build uh housing units, well, it has to be accompanied by by employment. But the problem is that we we build housing in the outskirts, right? and people continue working, you know, downtown or or students going to UTIP and and so on. So, that puts a lot more stress on the uh on the uh on the system. So, you know, I personally don't like it. I wish we we could do that, but that is that explains what we did what Lauren was referring to as the other two scenarios. The official scenario, that's that's it. You know, that's what we have to deal with, right? But the other two scenarios are more like like what if, right? If we if we change our growth patterns assuming that that they will be more you know leading to more density then we have a better opportunity for public transportation to work. I mean, transit doesn't work when we have a low density sprawled pattern, right? So, you know, that's one of the unfortunate things and and it doesn't help us with, you know, delay and travel time and and uh and certainly doesn't help us with emissions, right? But anyway, so so that that's just to give you a little bit of the um of of the a little more information on what we did. And as a community, you know, we need to altogether try to do something, you know, try to change the the trends. You know, obviously, it's not going to happen overnight. U you know, we need uh on one side, you know, legislation to help us with uh with land use uh you know, changes in land use policies uh of the private sector. Of course, we need, you know, the developers also to to look at other types of of units so that it's not just driven. It's not just the the hammer, right? There's got to be carrots also to make it attractive for other for developers to build other types of of residential units, right? And all of this leading to a more I mean re try to reverse or at least slow down the sprawl. So, anyways, that's uh that's my soap box for for today. But but that that explains what we're doing and and in the next four years as we you know work on this on this plan and start developing the new plan or the newer plan, the next plan, you know, hopefully we'll be able to get more information and go out to the public and stakeholders and and show what we can do and or what needs to happen in in in order for us to to find a a better uh you know growth pattern for for the future. So if you want to continue, Lauren. >> Yeah, thank you Eduardo. Um, yeah. And so that's a big part of just looking at what the future can be and aiming in the future. Um, so the next part of what we did was the project nomination, prioritization, and review process. And so many of you all are project sponsors and you recall the the project um request for folks to to nominate their projects that they'd like to see moving forward and and be included in the NTP. I think one thing that's important to note here is that other processes and planning efforts are being conducted and have been by the NTP and so we want to ensure that there was a holistic and comprehensive approach um to looking at those projects. So part of that looked at uh the congestion management process. So ensuring that um we understood where congestion was and how that could be addressed and then also the border safe mobility plan. So it pulled information um data out of that effort to all come together to develop criteria um with specific scoring and rating and some of that waiting that were developed in tandem with just some of those criteria. You see here again safety is of utmost importance but also looked at land use in transportation planning to correlate with the discussion that Eduardo had about how and transportation go hand in hand into helping transit capabilities. We've also looked at comprehensive access to so we're not just thinking about vehicular users but by and vulnerable communities after that project prioritization and review process we selected projects and so I recognize that this is a little bit small of a map uh but readily available during period but I think what's important here is as part of the project selection process. This is creating an investment of nearly $9 billion for the region to help address those goals that I showed you earlier funding. We're looking at not just appropriate projects but also transit projects. And some key findings that we've identified as part of the project selection process and you'll see this in a minute is that the investments are making an impact to to the region and not just uh to roadways but also to increasing access to to transit and part of the project selection process. This did involve balancing. So not just balancing of the limited funding that is available um but also project type location scale of the project looking at both capacity having projects as well as projects that allow for state good repair. And so again this speaks to our modeling effort just to see how the projects will impact the future. This specific series of maps is intended to show level of service or LOS which is free flow of traffic and so brighter red in this instance is more congestion and so you can see that in our 2022 baseline year um there's congestion and I you all recognize that driving every day probably getting getting to this meeting right um and in 2022 with no improvements that congestion is going to be a lot worse. You can see the 375 out 10 and just some of the smaller roadways that there's congestion. Now the far right hand map is showing what happens with the improvements that have been identified in the you see there's still congestion but there's several areas there's less red congestion than would anticip would be anticipated if weren't doing anything. So again the thought here is that investment of around million dollars in the region does help in leads >> Lauren can you go back to to that slide just >> um again so I mean the maps are are small here but it's all in your backup right but but this is you know sequentially this is uh the situation in 2022 so like you know exist listing. Then we move to no build which is you know putting all the growth in population and employment and and so on without you know we're doing nothing in terms of projects and that gives us an idea so that we and then this is the change after we spend $ 8.8 8 billion dollar, you know, through the life of of the plan, right? It sounds like a lot, but remember that we have to consider inflation for for this, right? So 8.8 billion sounds like a lot of money, but it's not a lot, you know, with the uh you know, with with the the number of projects that that we have to to to choose from, right? And um but it is also a little bit uh you know, it's it's part of the challenge. you you know we spent you know this amount of money and and even in the field condition there's still a lot of red right so you know it's these these are the challenges that that we need to face and again it goes back to the fact that we are you know we're sprawling so now we need you know the congestion moves you know farther out where we don't have the transportation so we need to figure out you know what to do there um so anyway so just uh This is like the the sequential um analysis of of congestion in the region and there's a lot you know a lot of other parameters that that go into but graphically we wanted to to show you this. >> We have a question. >> Um thank you. Um the when you start the public input part of this process >> tomorrow. No. And and the the selected sites for that input. >> Yeah, we have all the sites selected and we have the flyers that that are went out already. >> Christian sent the email with flyers in English and Spanish looks like yesterday and today. >> Yeah. So, they they've been, you know, circulated and they're on the website and so we're Well, I guess Lauren, you're going to get into that, right? the the public meeting uh dates and sites. >> Yeah. So, and I can just mention it now since they're we're talking about it. So, the first public meeting will be on Wednesday, April 22nd um starting at 5:30 and ending at 7 um at the P AO Recreation Center. Um and then we're going to do three other regional meetings and smaller meetings. first being at East Urban Park um on Thursday, April 30th, starting at 5:30 and ending at 7. On May 2nd, so that's a Saturday um attention 12 will be at Southern Park Multi-Generational Center. And then lastly on Wednesday, be 13 recreation center from 5:30 to 7. So, so all of those Thank you, chair. Uh, all of those are in the city of El Paso. What about like Sakoro, Horizon, Canot, like all these other all our surrounding areas as well? >> Yeah. So, I mean, the sites were selected so that, you know, we can spread it throughout the the region, east, west, and so on. Um, and remember off the top, well, if if we can put the uh the flyer up, um, Maris or Andreas, if you can >> on the presentation farther down, there's a list. Oh, there is a list. Okay, great. But but yeah, the the idea is yeah, we're having a um you know like a big public meeting on the 22nd that's at the Padora center which is you know central but then we are having additional meetings you know in different parts of of the MO region. Yeah, I just my concern is that in areas of congestion such as Sakoro, um there's no those folks have to come in, you know, drive in uh to those locations. So, I just want to can we revisit re revisit that um and and look at some sites. >> We can add um you know, other other sites, other meetings >> and and we can help. I'm sure Mayor Cruz can help find a location in Soporo or Mayor Okano if we want to go out. Clint is seeing a lot of development. So, thank you for that, Senator. That's a wonderful suggestion. >> Definitely. >> All right. Uh, go ahead, Lauren. >> Um, so also as part of our process here as adopting presenting comment on is the transportation conformity report. Just as a information that because part of is in non payment for air quality, they are required the NTO is required to review um conforming to requirements in the state implementation plan. And so that process looks like modeling first the travel demand model of the projects that have been selected as part of the NTP and then the next step is same air quality and emissions modeling to determine whether transportation conformity has been met. And throughout this process and once the the conformity report is ready to get finalized all of that is done in tandem and coordinated with partners which those include FHWA registration just department of transportation and other so the good news is and I won't go through each of these numbers um but the good news is is that the projects that have been selected as part of this MTP are not anticipated to raise admissions in the region. The budgets that have been identified in missions that were excuse me the air quality standards that we're looking at are forc which is also ozone and then 10 and here you can see that El Paso and then a portion of donating them Mexico over review because those are the locations. Next up is the transportation improvement program or the tips. So as background, this is a document that is completed every two years and has a fouryear planning horizon. These projects identified in the TIP are expected to be constructed within that fouryear planning horizon. And part of the reason why we're discussing the TIP with the MTP and transportation comparity report is because there's are consistency between those two documents. You think about consistency that's anticipated funding project and project description. So the process uh for the tips started with the 26 unified transportation um program which identified funding for the region. Um then there was an analysis to determine what's based on the funding levels of what projects for the fouryear planning horizon. This tip it's from 2027 fiscal year 2027 through 2030. Then worked on their draft tip and that is going to be used by the text transportation and planning that's the transportation planning and programing division. Um and then where we are right now is the public comment period and public involvement. So there will be an opportunity for folks to not just look at the NTP but also projects listed. Um after that project the public comment period is completed we'll be coming back requesting that TAC and TPB approve the TIP document and once that final approved TI is completed it will be submitted to text to be included in the statewide TI which has been reviewed by so and I recognize that these are small but materials. You'll have this and then this will also be posted in the tip itself. But there have been 35, excuse me, 36 projects that have been identified for the tip and you can see that there's quite a bit of re geographic distribution as well. All right. So what's next? So we're are working on finalizing all three documents. So transportation conformity report in draft format today to request approval for circulation of this doc those three documents to the public so comments um and I mentioned those open houses and other public engagement opportunities and others that may be coming up then comment period if approved today will start tomorrow April 15th and run for 30 days. >> That's all I have as far as slides. Um, if there's any questions or just I think that shows the meeting information. >> Do we have any questions for Lauren? So, do we need a motion to open the 30-day public involvement period? >> Yes. Can I have a motion? >> We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. Motion passes. >> Um, and would there be any opposition if we move up item nine? Mr. is going to have to leave in a little bit. So, we could have a discussion on item nine. Okay. Item nine as well. >> Okay. So, item nine is to consider prioritizing the US62180 Montana Avenue Expressway and frontage roads phase 2 project uh for pursuit of category 12 strategic priority funding via the fiscal year 2027 Texad unified transportation program UTP development process. So again, the the idea for for this item is that well, you you know that in in in the last uh several years, we have been uh pursuing every year uh category 12 funding from the Texas Transportation Commission. Uh every year the commission, well, Texot and the commission approve a a 10-year plan, which is their their unified transportation program, the UTP. and and there so every year there's an opportunity to ask for category 12 uh funding. Um so it's very specifically for for that category. Uh category 12 can only be used on on system projects on text projects. So um so what what we I think we've been very successful as as a region here in the last uh uh I don't know five to seven years in in identifying and prioritizing our projects so that we can go with a with a you know a a a clear message on what our top priorities are and showing that there is consensus in the region. As we know it's, you know, it's never 100% perfect, but that is in my view one of the most important piece almost like a re requisite that, you know, if we don't have a priority and we don't show that that there's consensus, you know, they're they're not we're not going to be successful in in in getting uh funding for our projects. So um and and in the in the past few years, you know, we have been successful in getting funding for the phase one of the downtown tent project. So so far we we obtained $250 million for phase one of that project which is you know coming to uh starting construction uh very soon. And then more recently uh the border the borderland expressway phase three that was last year that we received $150 million of category 12 for phase three of that project. So you know I think we we we can see that as a as a success as a region that we've been able to to secure th those dollars. So now specifically for this year for the Montana phase 2 project, what you see here on the screen is sort of like a history of where of of the funding for that project. Um and Thomas, you know, feel free to jump in if I'm not explaining this clearly, but the Montana Avenue project is a huge project. It's over what is it? 500 million. Uh Thomas >> in total. Yeah. >> In total. >> Okay. In total, right? phases one, two, 2 A and and I think there's a phase three as well. Um phase one is what what you see under construction. Now if you remember that that project again you know good project it was funded with our category 2 and category 4 funding. When I say our funds that are by formula allocated to the region and uh so you know the project went on uh phase two knowing that obviously there was going to be a phase two for the project was first introduced in in the UTP in 2019. Right. So, so here what we're showing here is a history of uh phase 2 and how it was programmed every year in in the in the UTP. So, it it first started in in 2019 uh $146 million of uh categories two and and and four again those are uh funds that are coming to the region. And uh so it was programmed knowing that it was coming into the future as c as phase one was going under construction. So you see here the the the history um 22 23 is when we started having the the the issues with phase one the delays. So if you recall, we came here to the board and and and you know, part of the message was instead of having, you know, that money part, right, knowing that phase two was going to be delayed because phase one was was not going to be finished uh uh sooner because of those construction delays. So then the money from that from phase two was moved right to different projects and then in 2025 you know the the board agreed to pull the funding out of that project completely so that we could put it on phase two of Borderland Expressway right and that way we could show to the commission hey we're using our funds for our pri priority projects right so and that led to the success of last year when we got phase three of Portland Expressway funded part of the message was hey you know it's a partnership uh local skin in the game so for the big Portland expressway project which was divided into three phases but we built phases one and two with our local money so the message last year was commission will help us and and they agreed and that's what the the resulted 50 million. Oh, that is great. However, now it's time to put the money back to phase two. So, that that's sort of like the the rationale, right? Um again, knowing that that again it it it only category 12 can only be used on textile projects on onsystem projects. Uh the project is is ready to go, Tomas. So it's almost, you know, >> it's in the design. Uh there's approximately 76 parcels. I think we've acquired 50 of them. Uh so we're we're continuing to acquire right away. Uh I think one of the things you're missing there too is the fact that we had an additional 25 million on that and we pulled that off to build the overpasses at Global Reach and that'll be letting uh next May. >> So that's what you guys are calling 28. Exactly. Right. Which was part of two, right? So, and and then of course here there are $15 million that that resulted from the underrun of phase two of Portland Expressway. So, you know, it's all good news, right? So, we're we're able to put a little more money in there. Really, the the ask to the commission is to help us with this piece with 167. >> Yeah. So, the intention was I'm sorry, Senator. Go ahead. No, I I was just going to mention the intention was always to bring this project back. It just was delayed because of of the delay with phase one, but the intention was always to be able to continue with this project. >> Yes, sir. >> Just a just a point of clarification. We're asking for 167 or 182. >> 167. >> I think the ask would be 167. and uh and you know the 15 million that that we have in there helps towards that. Um am I why are we asking for that rather than I mean the project is 500 million why are we asking for 167 >> the 500 is in total phase one phase two uh global reach the direct connectors at 375 so um so it's not 500 million that we've already taken a bite out of that 500 million >> okay and part of to your point part of the strategy is to say well we've already spent, you know, we put our formula money, local money in for phase one. We're putting a little more in phase two, uh, phase 2a that the mas was referring to. So, you know, would be nice to to get some help. >> Are there any other questions? >> Yes. >> So, if we're looking at the history of it, we started at 146, now we're at 182. Is the 40 million based upon the ROM by the consultant at Delta? >> Uh no, it's mostly inflationary costs, you know, uh postcoid versus uh pre-COVID, uh we've seen about 25 30% increases in in just construction costs. >> Any other questions? also to mention that uh what also helps is that the commissioner's court back in January I believe also passed a resolution you know uh identifying that project as as a priority. So I think that helps because again helps with the with the message to be able to say to the commission hey you know we it's not just the no but commissioner support also supports that. If there are no other questions, can we have a motion to prioritize the uh Montana Expressway phase 2 project? We have to request category 12 funding. >> So move a second. All in favor? >> Thank you. >> We can move back to item three. >> All right. All right. So back to item three. Uh, Madam Chair, items three, four, and five referred to uh they're all related to the TTI contract. Uh, before I read it to the uh to the uh record, item three is is amending and adding capacity to the master agreement that we have at TTI, right? So, so that uh so that we can make room for uh for the next two task orders, which are items four and five. So the first step is make the bucket bigger and then uh approve the the specific uh task orders uh for specific work. So item number three is to consider authorizing the executive director to execute the first amendment to interlocal agreement for transportation planning services between El Paso NO and Texas A&M University Transportation Institute TTI to raise a contract amount to an amount not to exceed a million dollars and to extend the term of the contract to August 31 uh 2028. So again, this is making the bucket a little bigger. >> Do we have any questions? Yes, representative. >> Oh, so we have a motion. We have a motion to approve. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Several seconds. >> Yes. >> Um, all in favor? >> Thank you. >> All right. So item number four, consider authorizing the executive director to execute task order 4 with the Texas&M Transportation Institute TTI for phase one border crossing traffic data collection and analysis for an amount not to exceed $379,920. Um we don't have Claudia here but um uh this task order along with task order five which we'll uh read into the record are part of the work that uh that we will do under the TCQ writer 7 uh program. Uh we came to you uh was it last month or two months ago to to get your approval on the scope of work right that we submitted to TCQ. TCQ approved it. So now these task orders are to initiate the work and uh with task orders uh four and five um TTI is going to do the work. So um do you want me to read five to the >> Yeah, I think. >> Okay. So, then, uh, item five is to consider authorizing the executive director to execute test order of five with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, TTI, for phase 2 travel demand model integration and air quality analysis for an amount not to exceed $100,30. Have any questions regarding either task order number four or task order number five? We have a motion from Representative. Do we have a second? >> We have a second. All in favor? >> Okay. Item six, similar to what we did with TTI for the master contract, but in this case, it's UTP. So, it's considered authorizing the executive director to execute the first amendment to interlocal agreement for transportation planning services between El Paso NO and the University of Texas at El Paso UTP to raise the contract amount to an amount not to exceed a million and to extend the term of the contract to August 31st uh 2028. Again, the the the current amount, I think it's $750,000. So, we're raising it just to a million. Um given that you know we don't anticipate a lot of new work coming out out of UTIP under this contract um and if we do get more work then uh we will come and and and u develop a new agreement with them instead of you know continuously amend amend amend and increase the pot if necessary we'll come in and and u and develop a new agreement which obviously we'll bring to to the board. >> We have any questions? We have a motion to approve. >> Motion by Judge Sango. Do we have a second? >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion passes. Thank you. >> All right. Item seven, consider amending El Paso MO's transit asset management TAM targets to incorporate data from El Paso Area Transportation Services, EPADs. And with that, we have Harrison here with a brief. Good morning chair and uh board members. Um we do have a presentation for this one but um uh in a nutshell the uh transportation asset uh management um targets are required of all public transportation operators uh operating in MO areas and the uh MO is responsible for reviewing the targets that are set by each individual uh provider and uh incorporating them as part of the the MO's targets. So, um, the last time we looked at these was in February of 2023. Um, and, uh, typically we would review and update the targets, uh, on a, uh, every four years. Um, but we're, uh, moving up that timeline a little bit here so that, uh, EPATs can get their targets into the MO um, plans. uh EPATS as uh a relatively new uh transportation provider in the region um is uh uh developing their transit asset management plan and targets for the first time. And uh since they are in the process of uh doing everything that they need to do to access FDA funding as a direct recipient, uh they're asking that we review these targets um a little bit ahead of time and uh incorporate them into our uh planning documents. So that's uh that's one more hurdle out of the way for them. Uh next slide, please. So this is um a bit of explanation about uh where the requirement for the TAM uh plan and targets comes from. Um it's part of federal code and the purpose is to maintain a state of good repair um for assets uh owned by uh public transportation operators. Next slide. The FTA defines two tiers of agencies. Um, and the requirements for uh setting targets and and the details of the plan are slightly different depending on which tier uh you're in. Sun Metro is the only tier one operator that we have in the MO area. Uh, EPATS will be a tier two. Next slide. And this is just a a summary of what's required of tier one versus tier 2. So the requirements for tier 2 entities are um a little bit less. Next slide. And as I said, the MO's role is to uh review the targets that are developed by each of the uh transit agencies and concur and uh uh kind of synthesize them and collect them as part of the MOS's documents. Next slide. So this is a summary of the targets that are currently adopted. Um you see Sun Metro has theirs. Um the NMD dot targets uh are um statewide for New Mexico, but uh they cover South Central Regional Transit District, which is also a tier 2 um entity, and so they can uh utilize the statewide targets. And then we also have the uh Texas statewide targets um uh incorporated into our documents as well. So these are all of the targets that were adopted in February 2023. Next slide. And these are the proposed targets for EPATS coming from their transit asset management plan. Um the full text of which was included in the backup. So this is what uh uh we are requesting that you incorporate into the MO targets. Next slide. And here's the recommended motion uh to amend the MOS's TAM targets to incorporate the EPAT's information. Uh the TPAC did review uh these targets and this item and uh are recommending that uh the amendment be made. That concludes my presentation. If you have any questions, I will field them. >> John, did you have any additional comments? >> It's fine. Um have have you heard from city of Sakoro on doing their tan plan? >> We have not. >> We have um any other questions move to approve. >> We have a motion to approve. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> We have a second. All in favor? >> Motion passes. Thank you. >> All right. So moving to item eight. consider authorizing the executive director to sign a letter of support for the Paso Deote Foundation for the Rio Grand Rivers Park Trail and again Harrison will be speaking over this. Yes, this is a request coming from uh the PDN Foundation, but um it's kind of being funneled through them. uh and it's a result of uh action that the Rio Grand Commission is looking to take to uh designate this section of trail that is actually in Texas as part of the Rio Grand Trail which is the New Mexico north to south state lineto state line trail that is uh um planned mostly planned mostly not existing um so the reason that uh they're looking to incorporate this and uh designate this as part of the uh the Rio Grand Trail uh that is otherwise entirely in New Mexico is because of the connection that it makes between the existing portions in Sunland Park to the south and the rest of the state of New Mexico to the north. So, uh there's existing connections. It makes more sense to uh utilize the infrastructure that's there um rather than duplicate it. um in in the New Mexico side. So, uh essentially this is um a courtesy request uh from the the uh Rio Grand Commission um because the segment of trail is in Texas, but it doesn't impact uh ability to apply for grants or the city of Al, you know, it's in the city of El Paso, doesn't affect their ability to apply for grants, doesn't affect um maintenance responsibility or or anything. It is a uh a designation on paper uh at the moment and um my understanding is that the uh PDN Foundation has also reached out to both the county and uh the city parks department for uh similar um support from uh the commissioner's court and the uh city council. >> Do we have any questions? We have a motion to approve. So move. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> We have a second. All in favor? >> Motion passes. Thank you. All right. So then uh moving on to item 10. Consider approving the first amendment to the fiscal year 2026 2027 unified planning work program UPWP. And again Harrison is here. So, as you all know, the unified planning work program is the MOO's uh guide for the public and for you all to all of the work that MO staff is doing um and the funding that's associated with it. It covers a 4-year period. Um the current UPWP was adopted by the board in August of last year. Um and it covers fiscal years what 26 through uh 30 >> 27 yeah 26 through 27 two years sorry um we're making uh a few changes to the document um the first is to add the TCQ writer 7 grant funding that we've been awarded um that we are uh you you all just heard and approved the uh task orders with TTI Okay. Um related to using that funding. Um so uh description of that work needs to be added to the uh UPWP and also the funding itself needs to be added into the the budget tables. Um the second change is to add description about uh some of the work that we're going to be doing relating to the uh orderplex safe mobility plan which you all adopted uh late last year. Um we're at the stage now where we're doing implementation activities. So a lot of those activities are being described being added to the description of uh work being done in the UPWP. And the third uh change that we're proposing is uh we're shifting around some of the uh um the PL funding, our planning grant funding that we use for internal operations and a lot of our uh uh baseline uh budget. Uh we are moving some of it from task to task. The the UPWP is split into five tasks. Um and we're just moving some of that uh money around to make sure that um we don't have any overruns in any particular um task order. But the uh the amount the total amount of that planning grant funding is not changing. Uh we're just shifting from task to task. So those are the uh uh the changes that we're proposing as part of uh this first amendment to the UPWP. If you all approve, then we will forward to Hexa and NMD DOT for uh additional review. And finally the uh FHWA and FDA uh will sign off once they're finished with their review. So the uh requested motion would be to uh approve the first amendment to the UPWP. >> Any questions? >> A motion to approve. >> We have a motion to approve and a second. All in favor? >> Thank you. Motion passes. >> All right. So that concludes all the action items. So, um, moving on to reports and discussion, the executive director's report. I've got a couple of, uh, interesting things here. The the Tempo meeting, uh, that was held in Austin, March 24th and 25th. Tempo, as you know, is the the association of all NPOS's in the state of Texas. So, we had a really, really good meeting uh, this past one discussing a lot of a lot of really, you know, interesting topics. there's a lot of uh interchange of ideas between NPOS's as you know there's 24 NPOS's in the state there there's big ones there's small ones and um you know all sorts of uh uh flavors but one of one of the the uh topics that uh that I want to mention to you all there was a good discussion on the reauthorization of the transportation bill right so as you know the the existing bill expires at the end of this fiscal year which uh the the end of the federal fiscal year which is September 30th and uh so you know Congress is supposed to to give us a a new bill or to extend the current one which is I think more you know most uh likely but uh but it it's interesting that there's a lot of discussion on the new bill um you know different points of view uh without getting into a lot of the details but there's uh the state DOS for example in general terms, you know, through ASHTO and very specifically Tex have uh you know, submitted letters um you know, against some of the the provisions of the of the the new bill. Um on the other side, you have uh association like AMPO, which is a national association of NPOS's in support. There's a lot of discussion about uh you know the the funding levels. For example, if uh if you assume this, you assume that uh some of the things that I think are are pretty uh uh relevant for specifically text uh um pointing out that there may be a reduction in some of the formula uh categories specifically with bridges for example. We have a lot of bridges in the state of Texas. So, uh, you know, it's there's a lot a lot of details, but, um, what I would like to do is is maybe, uh, for the for the next meeting, you know, bring more like a summary of of what the bill is, right? And, uh, give you a like a summary of the different positions so that uh, you know, just to to be informed. And again, the I I don't think it's going to be very likely for for Congress to to pass this bill before the end of the fiscal year, but um but it's important for all for all of us to or individually as as you know, entities to see if you want to, you know, submit letters to, you know, our congresswoman uh or, you know, federal elected officials as as part of this. So um so I think that that's the the main topic for the tempo meeting. Uh the next one has to do with the Texas Freight Advisory Committee. Uh is one of the two committees at Texas well many committees but two of the the ones that we partic uh participate more more uh actively. Uh there was a meeting in Austin on the 26 but more relevant was a workshop that was held yesterday uh here in El Paso. So Textat currently is updating their statewide freight plan which is uh federally mandated. They have to update it every four years. So as part of the process, they're going throughout the state and having workshops uh um all over the state. So uh yesterday was our turn here in El Paso. So we had a good representation from the folks from the city, from the county. I mean obviously a lot of text that folks who were there and uh and people also from the private sector from the trucking industry and and others. Um so these workshops are there there's going to be a second round of of workshops uh throughout the state but eventually the the text has to submit this to to the federal uh agencies federal highway administration by the end of this calendar year. So there's going to be some activity going going on. And then finally the uh B national bridges and border crossings group BBBXG that was a meeting that uh that was held last week. Uh BBBXG is one of the uh federal uh one of the committees that is that is uh sponsored by the two federal governments of the US and and Mexico. DBXG focuses more on specific projects. There's another committee, the joint working committee, JWC, that that looks more at, you know, maybe some policy issues and data and stuff like that, but BBBXG supposedly focuses more on projects. So, it was great to be there to hear and see what other regions are are doing. Um, actually, this was a plenary meeting. So we had representation from all the the border states from California to to Texas and from Baka California to uh Tamalipas and to see what other other regions are doing as far as advancing projects. Um so for this region, you know, the city of Sundam Park, Mayor Pere, you were there presenting your port of entry and um and then for for this region, the the NO was there. we presented of the strategic plan for our our border crossings and and then the city of El Paso and the county also followed with with their presentation. So, um there was in the public session which is where all of us, you know, present our projects. Um you know, there there was again a lot of good information about other projects. Um, the bridge of the Americas is is a a topic that was not didn't come up uh very loudly at the at the public se uh session, but the private session which includes only the state and federal agencies, right? There was a lot of a lot of discussion about that as well. As you know, there's still um you know, a lot of uh discomfort with with the decision that that was um made by by GSA to close commercial traffic on on the Bridge of the Americas and and do the the um you the modernization with only private vehicles in in in mind. So, you know, again, that was that was in in the close session. Um what is important for us as as an NO is that you know we we really you know we're not we don't control that. What I think we control is really what are what what do we do right and that's the whole idea of the strategic plan that we're currently working on. So I I think the the plan itself was wellreceived by by the federal and state agencies that heard about this. You know how can you say no to developing a plan to be strategic, right? But but at the same time, we need to speed up the process to get projects out and and for us to to figure out well, you know, if we close, you know, uh commercial lanes at the at the Bridge of the Americas, you know, then what happens and and what happens to the other border crossings, you know, what do we do? How do we, you know, upgrade the the existing ones? um you know developing short-term, medium-term and long-term u actions or or projects knowing that you know physical infrastructure takes a long time. But what other what other improvements can we can we do in the in the medium short and medium term to uh make sure that the impact of of the closure of the commercial lanes at Bridge of the Americas is not uh doesn't impact us you know tremendously. So with that, those are the three topics I wanted to bring up. Happy to answer any any questions or if you have any other thoughts, >> questions? Oh, well that I think Oh, yes. Representative >> um I'm wondering if just because of the comment you made about the MO's, you know, position and basically deciding what to do based off of these decisions. Do you ever have those conversations with others that maybe have conducted studies? And the reason why I'm asking is because I I received a presentation recently from the Hunt Institute. Um Maral in this regard and I don't know if you've ever had the opportunity to speak with her or if the appeal has had an opportunity to to see what what she's doing there. >> Right. Uh yes the but the the question is procedurally you know GSA did their due diligence whether we like it or not they completed the the NEPA process where they looked at alternatives and so on and and selected the alternative of you know of closing commercial lanes. In other words, just uh reconstruct the the the the border crossing for only private. Um so as far as GSA and what I hear from from you know the the federal government, the US side, you know, it's a done deal, right? So yes, I mean there's a lot of information that uh that may that did not go into the into the NEPA process whether that's you know fatal flaw or not like a you know economic uh impact studies right but when I say that that for the MO you know it's not our to relitigate this right I think our focus should be more on on what are we going to do right if there's other people that or other groups that are still uh um you know trying to to reverse that that's that's fine but you know >> Yeah. And I don't think that that's their position. I was just asking in terms of information because she's done a holistic study on our region as a whole. >> Right. >> She has a lot of context that she provided to me. Right. >> As we have these conversations about what we can do moving forward. I think it would be good to tap into that information. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, >> oh, yeah. Okay. No, I get it. And and yes, you know, we we have been in contact with with Maida and uh because again, you know, part of what we're we're doing with the strategic plan is, you know, we we don't want to develop projects, you know, for for today's conditions. No, we need to look into the future. So really what is the outlook right on for the future and and you know looking at the nearshoring opportunities or how is that going to to impact the on the demand side right so that on the supply side in other words projects what do we need to do and and and again short-term medium-term and long-term actions >> thank you any other questions for >> no well I think that brings us to all of the items on on the agenda. Do we have a motion to adjourn? We have a motion. Second. >> We are journ. >> Thank you. >> Thank you everyone.