actually help us. Uh good morning everybody online and in the room here. Um I'm Harrison Ford, assistant director with El Paso ML. Uh we are waiting uh on a few more members to arrive so that we can reach quorum and start the meeting. So, uh, we're going to be on a holding pattern here until we see if we get enough members. Um, so until then, uh, just hang tight. Thank you. Also, if you want to introduce legal the new legal council as well. Yes. All right. Good morning, uh board members, um everybody, uh in the audience. Uh my name is Harrison Floyd. I'm the assistant director El Paso MO. Uh we do not have enough members here for a quorum at the moment. Uh what we're going to do is uh go through our report only items. Um and some other housekeeping things. Uh if by the time we are through with those items we have a quorum then great, we can officially start the meeting. If not, then that'll be it. So, um before we actually move into the report items, uh I want to introduce our new legal representatives. Uh as you all know, folks in the lobby waiting. Oh, yeah. We'll get them in. Um as you all know, uh Serio Estrada uh left Chem Smith, our uh legal representation. um to take a position with the city of El Paso. So, uh we have new uh folks who we're going to be working with on a uh regular basis. Um and I believe online we have Deborah Tjo. Um she's going to be kind of our main point of contact uh moving forward. Um I've got a little bit of a bio here for her. Uh Deborah Tjo is the chair of Chemmith's public and environmental law department and a member of the trial department and focuses focuses on representing governmental entities and private clients in administrative matters and in trial and appellet proceedings before state and federal courts. Miss Tjo specializes in groundwater issues, open government, regulatory takings, endangered species, elections, water quality, constitutional issues enforcement permitting and litigation. Uh, and she has consistently been selected for inclusion by best lawyers in America for the area of administrative/regulatory and environmental law and was named a Texas super lawyer and top attorney by Austin Monthley in government and administrative law. Um, Deborah, do you want to uh say anything else uh or introduce yourself? Well, it's nice to meet everyone. Been uh at Temp Smith uh for the last 23 and a half years. Um working with lawyers in all kinds of different areas and I do a lot of general counsel representation. So kind of the soup to nuts of things that largely governmental clients need in ter terms of support at meetings, open government laws and all the kind of issues that that come up in the day-to-day course of affairs. So I'm happy to uh be working with the El Paso MO and to just help you guys as you need it. Um and if anybody, you know, needs anything particularly from me, uh please reach out. Don't hesitate and let me know. Um, and I think are you gonna Harrison introduce Lillian Sanchez who's there too in person? Yes. Yes. So Deborah is based in Deborah is based in the Austin office of Chemmith. So we probably won't see her here in person very often. Um, Lillian is going to be our uh uh um our representative here at meetings physically most of the time. Uh so Lillian Sanchez Poras is an associate in the firm's labor and employment department. Uh she has a bachelor of arts in multimedia journalism from UTEP Sumakum LA and is a graduate of the University of Screnson School of Law where she earned her JD in 2021. Uh Lillian, do you want to also introduce yourself? Say anything else? Hello everybody. I'm Lillian Sanchez Pores. I'm really happy to be here and like Deborah said, if you need anything, we're we're here for you all. Thank you for having me. So, we've already uh had several meetings with uh both of them to kind of on board and explain uh a lot of the procedures that we have been doing with um uh Serio uh and kind of the recurring things that make that we do at a staff level to make sure that they're up to date on everything that's happening with the MO. So, uh, uh, we're excited to be working with both Deborah and Lillian, and, uh, we think it's going to be a good relationship moving forward. Welcome. Okay, so we can move on to the report and discussion items. And the first one of those is item five. It's the congestion management process, objectives, and network update. Uh so in March we provided a introductory uh presentation to you all on the updates that uh are going to be taking place with the CMP. Since then we've started that update and we've been doing work um toward uh making that update. It's the first update that we're doing to the CMP since 2019. So it's it's certainly due. Um and uh this presentation it's going to be uh quick on um uh the performance measures and the goals and objectives of the updated CMP. So I will turn it over to Robbie Utart who is online. Good morning everyone. Just to check can y'all hear me? Okay. Yes, we can hear you. Okay, great. Um, I see the presentation's on screen. Thank you. Um, yep, just as Harrison said, today I'll just give a quick update to the TPB on where we're at in preparing the uh, congestion management process document. Next slide, please. So, just as a reminder, here's the eightstep framework that we're following. So, again, there's eight steps right now. I'm just going to give you all an update on where we're at with the first three steps. Those being developing regional objectives, uh defining the CMP network, and developing multimodal performance measures. So, I'll show you where we're at um with those findings. Next slide, please. So, just wanted to start off by letting y'all know that in the next couple slides I'll go through the three goals that we formulated for the CMP. But I want to share just some of the background and the basis for how we got to them. And if you remember from my last time I came and spoke to y'all um there's this integrated um relation in integral relationship between the CMP and the MTP and to fulfill that in integral relationship. We um developed the CMP goals uh they were informed by what we have for the MTP goals. Um so that thinking of that MTP as that overarching umbrella document for the region, the CMP goals are really focused on congestion management which goals of the MTP are really related to that. So they fit within and align with those MTP goals. Um we also started off um before getting into determining what those goals and objectives are um by evaluating the 2019 CMP network just to see you know how effective were those strategies that were chosen in 2019. So we were able to look back and see which of those strategies were implemented through various projects across the region and we were able to assess performance of those strategies at two levels and one of those was systemwide. So looking at the region as a whole at some of these performance me performance metrics like travel time um index and planning time index and also looking at cor if a project was implemented on a specific corridor we were able to um run other performance measures to identify if that corridor is perform per performing better. Um and some of those performance measures were um truck travel time reliability and peak hour um of excessive delay. Um so that really helped in informing specifically the objectives for each goal. Um, you know, we really wanted to in approaching the CMP make sure that we had uh quote smart goals so that they were um specific, measurable, really getting at that measurable, the mm smart um so that we can when we update this at the next cycle in about um four or so years for the next MTP cycle, we can really look back and see if our object objectives were fulfilled. Um and then we aligned each performance measure with each objective. So next slide please. So I'll just briefly then go through each goal. So goal one, there's a lot of text on this slide, but I think it's important just to go through each one. Um the goal one is um the area is reliability and performance. So the goal is to optimize system reliability and performance. There's several objectives under this goal as this is the goal that is like extremely relevant to congestion management. So um one objective uh improve travel time reliability on the roadway network by 10% compared to 2019 performance by 2026. And for that we'll be using the planning time index as a performance measure. Um and again I just want to point out as this is the first one I'm going through these percentages that we're talking about for keeping um for these objectives we made sure that these were attainable by looking at our systemwide and corridor level um performance measures um historically. So this is within the trend that the N the NO in the region is moving towards. Second objective is increase number of reliable segments by 5% compared to the 2019 performance by 2026 on a interstate roadways and b non-instate roadways. The performance measures are percent of a interstate and b non-instate roadways providing reliable travel times using um level of travel time reliability. Um the third objective is restore performance to the 2019 levels of truck travel time reliability on the freight transportation system by 2026 using truck travel time reliability index as a performance measure. The fourth is to restore performance to 2021 levels of annual hours of peak hour delay per capita along commuter routes by 2026. The performance measure for this one is annual hours of peak hour excessive delay per capita. Um the fifth one is decrease duration of non-recurring congestion events by 5% compared to 2019 performance by 2026. Uh performance measure for this is duration of non-recurring congestion events. Um, and the last one for this goal is to decrease frequency of non-recurring congestion events by 5% compared to 2019 performance by 2026. For this one, um, conversely, we're looking at frequency of non-recurring congestion events as a performance measure. Next slide, please. So goal two is within the goal area of health and environment to improve health and environmental conditions in the region. For this one we have two objectives. The first one is to decrease frequency of non-recurring congestion events by 5% compared to 2019 performance by 2026. This performance measure is the frequency of recurring congestion. Um the second objective is to restore vehicle miles traveled BMT to 2019 levels by 2026. And of course that performance measure is the average average annual VMT per capita. Next slide please. Goal three. The goal area is access and connectivity. Um to enhance communities and lives through improved access and opportunities. We have three objectives. One of them um we're sharing with the last goal too. So it's this first one. So again to restore vehicle miles travel to 2019 levels by 2026. That performance measure is average annual VMT per capita. Um the second one is to improve travel time reliability on the roadway network by 10% compared to 2019 performance by 2026. That's the planning time index. And this last one is to maintain percent of non-S single occupancy vehicle nons so 21 levels um which is 20% uh by 2026 and for that we'll be using the percent of non-S single occupancy vehicles non so travel. Next slide please. All right. So that was all covering really that step one in defining the CMP objectives which really we pair down into or step one and step three because it's um goals objectives and then step three is performance measures that align with those goals and objectives and then this is our update on um that step two which is the CMP network. And so this is that updated CMP network where we will be analyzing the congestion data and um really the definition of the network is just the geographic area of application. It's the no area um for which we have um this type of congestion data which comes from the national performance management research data set. Um the TMC's are the traffic message channels which um it's just a jargony name for segment links that they give it within that data set. Um and then yeah really just the method for defining this is you know gathering this data set identifying which of this network where this congestion data is located is within NP. Um so um next slide please just kind of get into some next steps. So next steps um we have these goals and objectives the performance measures we have the network that has all this data. So right now what our team is currently doing is we're we collected this data. Um we're um assessing exactly what those challenges and needs are from a congestion management perspective. Um and our next step when we'll return to y'all um is we'll show you what the data showing us um and demonstrate you know what are some of those strategies at that um at that systemwide level for the whole region are and then what are some of those proposed strategies at that corridor level. So highlighting um specific links or TMC's where we're seeing some issues from a couple different um angles of congestion. Um and then ultimately we'll share um an implementation strategy um through the MTP and also through coordinating activities with some partners. Um and then actually ultimately um we'll have the document and the TAC and y'all the TPP will review and hopefully ultimately approve the CMP document. Um I think that's my last slide. Unfortunately, we cannot entertain questions, but go on to the next presentation. Yeah, thank you, Robbie. Thanks. So the next report and discussion item is uh number six, update on the official cancellation of the central business district phase 4 CBD4 project using 12,16,000 of category 7 STP funds in fiscal year 2021 and uh an Gante will explain that. Good morning chair and board members. Um, so the CBD4 project was a city of El Paso project uh that let in 2021. Um the project was discontinued and it took kind of a while to go through the appropriate processes and what ultimately happened was uh most of the money from that project uh minus a little bit that had been expended on uh PE activities uh was returned. So we have about $1.3 million back in the pot. uh as a result of that project's cancellation. And so we wanted to make everyone aware uh that that had occurred and that we now have uh 11.3 million returned to us in category 7 funds. And that is our uh um kind of most flexible category where a lot of our added capacity uh type projects uh are funded. And that is essentially it. Uh if anybody has any questions, I would be happy to answer them. Entertaining questions because I don't have a quorum. Oh, okay. Well, I guess keep them to yourself because Toma uh there's there's I'm not sure for legal. Can they comment without without engaging staff? I would eat outside of caution and just let's not do it since we don't have Yeah. Um so the at the staff level our uh thought on that funding is that essentially it goes back into the the pot. Um we have the uh project call for the 2015 MTP happening right now. Uh so it's a perfect opportunity to uh for the city if they want to uh not resubmit the project but submit a new project that covers some of the same work or um uh expanded or contracted whatever uh this is a good opportunity to do that. Um we know that the the work that was planned for CBD4 it's good uh it's a valuable project um and that work is definitely needed. So, uh, uh, if the city does resubmit, then, um, you know, we'll be evaluating it along with everything else. And, uh, uh, it should have a pretty good chance, I would think. Um, so that's the that's how we're planning on moving forward with that right now. [Laughter] There's nothing about telepathy. All right. So item seven is the executive director's report or I guess in this case the assistant director's report. Um and uh most of these uh topics are from Eduardo of course. Um so so just a few things that he participated in uh mostly this week that uh I can give you some updates on. uh first of all that uh we are uh getting ready to get started on the international border crossing strategic plan. Um it's been a long time coming but we are uh I believe we're uh pretty much clear to get started. Uh so we're going to uh be getting that underway doing a kickoff very soon. Um and uh we're working on coordinating all of the stakeholders on both sides of the border who are going to participate in that. So keep an eye out. Um Eduardo participated in a number of meetings um uh many of them in Wades this past week um on border crossing related topics. Uh on Tuesday, the county of El Paso organized a work session with stakeholders from Mexico and the US on the Torreno port of entry. Um if uh judge, do you want to say anything about that? And and I'll also yield to Commissioner. extremely you know lot of individuals from different the Mackiladoras Makiladora association lot of discussions so uh we did a not myself but we did a survey based on their usage like uh some of the obstacles and some of the things that we need to do talked about the studies that we're trying to accomplish and and the collateral things that we need to do u I thought it was extremely uh very positive very productive uh and I was glad to see it over there because that sort of make makes a makes a big difference. Security obviously was one of the big measures you know everyone talking about the fact that um they said that there hasn't been any incidences there for almost six seven months I guess was it that so there had never been any incidents but the perception continues uh that there is a security issues and that that's going to be one of the big factors um sort of it's sort of the process the the fact that that they will be there's a construction that is going to take place whether it's a year from now or two years but there's they're trying to make the necessary adjustments we talked about the importance of logistics for the makiladora they don't work in terms of a year they work in terms of three four years to be able to to make the changes and looks like they're beginning to accept the idea that they do have to utilize the other bridges that that might be saturated to obviously uh from the county pitching that uh it's a great op a great option and but also that we should use it as a system that if you know Santa is going to play a major role anything west to going east and then take some of the pressure off of the other bridges and so I I felt it was very very productive and uh they're looking forward to some more discussions. So, Commissioner Lee, no. Um, just the only thing to add is it was great to hear on the Mexican side a lot of the discussions that they're having regarding continuing to exprove improve and expand infrastructure um on their end. So, that was those were positive discussions I think and you're right, Judge, they're they're going to take several years to implement, but we're glad to hear that they're having those discussions and are already thinking about those things. So, I thought overall it was very productive. um bringing the two sides together is always um always extremely insightful. So, and just the fact that the numbers are being reduced at BOD so it's not like we're have the numbers like before uh we're now at sometimes at 150 crossings which we were as everybody knows a lot of you know a huge investment became pretty much a white elephant maybe two trucks per month and now we're hitting 150 and and and above. So, we know that they're already trying to get used to maybe taking that route. I mean, it's still difficult. You're going to have exchanges that we don't have. They have to come back to the warehouses. Uh, one of the things that was exciting is that you never see for sale for land there around that area. And so they showed us some pictures of a lot of the brokers having land for sale around the new area which we thought the majority of the land was either UT uh or state land. And so we thought we're going to have a little bit of difficulty but it looks like uh some of the agricultural land is going up for sale and I think that's going to sort of uh this is the first time they're way ahead of us. I mean they're already looking at the possibility of gasoline stations. are looking at the possibility of rest areas uh already being constructed on the Mexican site where these they're going to start the construction. So I think we we sort of need to match a little bit better with them and we're going to we the countyy's looking for you know what else can we do to make sure that it keeps that traction going forward. So like I said we're a productive meeting. Yeah. Great. Um, few other things that uh, Eduardo participated in on Tuesday. He spent the whole day in Wadis on Tuesday. Um, a meeting with Desaro Economico deodes uh, to establish a relationship with them, bring them in as a key stakeholder for our IBC strat plan. Uh, he attended another meeting. He was invited by Desura Economico del Norte uh a separate group. Um and that was uh specifically a discussion about BODA the impacts of the commercial closure. Um and then on Thursday, New Mexico Border Authority uh and dearo econom um held a workshop to discuss the opportunities between Chihuahua and New Mexico and that was focused on the senator support of entry. Um unfortunately, if uh Herard though from the border authority were here, I would ask him to give an update on that, but he's not. So unfortunately uh that's that's it. That's uh what I have for the executive director's report and um since we still do not have quorum, we can't actually have a meeting. Um I didn't realize that people relied on Eduardo to be to show up. No. Um well, thank you all for uh being here. Uh sorry we couldn't actually have it. Uh we did have uh enough confirmed members for a quorum until this morning. We had a couple of cancellations uh last minute. So uh I guess it just happens sometimes. So um that will conclude. Um we want to welcome welcome back to the Yes. Thank you. did say that to let you know that he was on his 10th uh from his high school, his 10th reunion from high school. So, I'm sure if that's possible, but he said convey that to all of you. Thank you. Have a good uh weekend. Yeah. And one last thing, um we are having our next uh stakeholder meeting for the Border Plex safe mobility plan that is uh June 3rd in the afternoon. Believe information invitations have already gone out. Uh it's on Zoom so very very easy to attend and we very much hope to see all of you there.