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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.2.25 UAPB Meeting MinutesMINUTES FINAL MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025 - 4:30 PM CITY OF NORTH LIBERTY – CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Iowa City: Laura Bergus, Megan Alter, Shawn Harmsen, Oliver Weilein Johnson County: V Fixmer-Oraiz, Rod Sullivan North Liberty: Chris Hoffman, Brian Wayson University Heights: Louise From University of Iowa: Greg Schmitt ICCSD: Molly Abraham STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Sarah Walz, Hannah Neel, Madelyn Stoen 1. CALL TO ORDER From called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM. The meeting was held at the City of North Liberty City Hall. a. Recognize alternates None. b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Sullivan moved to approve, Bergus seconded. The motion carried unanimously. c. Set next Board meeting date, time and location (May 21, location to be determined) Tentatively scheduled for May 21, 2025, at 4:30 PM. The location is to be determined. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA None. 3. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. Consider approval of Locally Determined Projects for the MPOJC FY2026 Transportation Planning Work Program Ralston explained that each spring, MPOJC complies a list of Transportation Planning Work Program projects for the upcoming fiscal year. This process is required by the Federal Highway Administration and the Iowa Department of Transportation and is also used by MPOJC to schedule and plan for the data collection and research necessary to complete requested projects. Ralston stated that staff is aware that projects not in the Work Program may come up throughout the year. While smaller unscheduled projects may be able to be completed, larger unscheduled projects may not be able to be completed. Ralston noted that if major projects are proposed that would disrupt the planned Work Program, they will typically be discussed with the Board before staff time is committed to the project. Ralston shared that the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval of the list of projects at their March 25th meeting. Ralston noted that this list will be augmented with regularly-occurring projects and state-and federally-required transportation planning work and further noted that he will bring the full Work Program to the next Board meeting for approval. Fixmer-Oraiz moved to approve, Sullivan seconded. The motion carried unanimously. b. Consider approval of MPOJC Surface Transportation Block Grant, Transportation Alternatives Program, and Carbon Reduction Program funding allocations Bothell explained that in February, MPOJC solicited grant applications to distribute funding from the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG), Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). 11 applications were received, requesting approximately $22 million. Bothell stated that the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee recommended funding amounts for each program at their March 25th meeting, with a vote of 9-4. Bothell summarized each project, its score, and funding requests by program: a. Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG): $10,412,327 for programming in FY29-FY30 i. Iowa City and the University of Iowa: Burlington Street Bridge – Building Better Connections Project ii. North Liberty and Coralville: Forevergreen Road Extension – Phase 2 b. Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP): $2,107,999 for programming in FY27-FY30 i. Iowa City: North Dodge Street Improvements Project (Pedestrian Facilities) ii. North Liberty: West Forevergreen Road Trail (Covered Bridge Road to South Jasper Avenue) iii. Coralville: Iowa River Trail Connection iv. Coralville: North Ridge Trail Reconstruction v. Iowa City: Burlington Street Bridge – Building Better Connections Project c. Carbon Reduction Program (CRP): $3,077,209 for programming in FY26-FY30 i. University Heights: Melrose Avenue Complete Streets Project ii. North Liberty: Dubuque Street Improvements – Phase 3 iii. Iowa City: Iowa River Trail – West Bank iv. North Liberty: Ranshaw Way Phase 6 Pedestrian Tunnel Improvements v. Coralville and Johnson County: Dubuque Street NE & Forevergreen Road Roundabout Bergus asked about the significance of a project’s inclusion in the Long Range Transportation Plan. Bothell explained that projects must be included in the Long Range Transportation Plan to receive funding. Bothell stated that if a project was allocated funding by the Board and not included in the Plan, that funding would be contingent on the project being added to the Plan. It was also noted that for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) projects, project funding would be contingent on the addition of the road to the federal-aid route system, if not already classified. Bothell explained that project scores are meant to be one tool for consideration in the Board’s deliberations and that funding recommendations do not need to be based solely on scores. Bothell noted that funding cannot be apportioned strictly according to the population of MPOJC municipalities. Sullivan asked if the 9-4 vote by the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee could be further explained. Bothell stated that there was no explanation provided by the dissenting votes. Ralston noted that two of the dissenting votes were from the City of Coralville and two votes were from the City of North Liberty, and he could only assume that they had hoped for more funding for their respective projects. Sullivan moved to approve the funding allocations recommended by the Committee, Bergus seconded. The motion carried unanimously. c. Consider approval of the MPOJC Title VI program Neel explained that because MPOJC receives federal funding, it is required to submit a Title VI Program every three years. Neel noted that each of the three area transit agencies (Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit, and University of Iowa Cambus) must also submit a Title VI Program. MPOJC submits each of these Title VI programs separately on behalf of the transit agencies. Neel stated that the Title VI Program assures nondiscrimination as outlined in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Neel noted that the broader application of the Title VI nondiscrimination law can be found in other statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Neel asked for approval of the MPOJC Title VI Program. Wayson moved to approve, Harmsen seconded. The motion carried unanimously. d. Update regarding the MPOJC FY2026 Transit Program of Projects Neel explained that Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit, and University of Iowa Cambus are programming projects for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds in FY2026. Neel noted that the projects will also be included in the FY2026 Iowa Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Transit Funding applications that MPOJC completes for each transit system and in the FY2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Neel reminded the Board that not every project listed in the Program of Projects will be funded, but projects must be included to be eligible for federal funding. Neel stated that the draft FY2026-2029 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) will be presented to the Board in May. Neel noted that all three transit agencies will hold public hearings and have their Program of Projects approved by May 1st as part of their Consolidated Funding Application process. e. Update on the MPOJC Long Range Transportation Plan revision process Stoen explained that per federal regulations, MPOs must update their Long-Range Transportation Plans at least every five years in order to receive federal funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is designed to guide decision-making about transportation improvements and transportation funding in the future. The LRTP is a compilation of plans and visions for all modes of transportation for the Iowa City Urbanized Area. Stoen noted that the plan was last updated in May 2022 and that in order to present the final plan to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board for adoption in May 2027, the revision process will begin in July 2025. Stoen explained that throughout the revision process, MPOJC staff will reach out to communities for data and a list of capital transportation infrastructure needs/projects for the years 2027-2055 to be considered for inclusion in the Plan. Stoen noted that there will also be many opportunities for public engagement throughout the process. f. Update on metro area bicycle and pedestrian collision data Walz explained that ensuring the safety and comfort of cyclists and pedestrians is a key priority of the MPO and its member communities. Collision data is used to identify high-risk intersections and corridors in Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) grant applications and as a performance measure on improving safety in the Long Range Transportation Plan. Walz stated that in the last year, there have been 39 crashes involving cyclists, with 13% of those crashes resulting in serious or fatal injuries, an increase in both number and severity of crashes compared to the previous year. Walz stated that crashes involving pedestrians are also up (37 crashes), and 38% of those crashes resulted in serious or fatal injuries. Fixmer-Oraiz asked where the crash data comes from. Walz responded that the data is sourced from the Iowa Department of Transportation's crash analysis tool, which is populated by data from police reports. Bergus asked if the increase in crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists is a trend across the US or if the Iowa City Urbanized Area is an anomaly. Walz responded that there has been an increase in these types of collisions after the pandemic, but that there has been a plateau in crash rates involving pedestrians and cyclists nationally. Walz also noted that there has been an overall increase in the number of people walking and biking in the Iowa City area and that the greater number of users may contribute to the increase in collisions. Walz explained that most collisions involving pedestrians have historically taken place in downtown Iowa City, but that there has been an increase in recent years of crashes in other MPO communities Weilein asked if the City of Iowa City had considered protected bike lanes. Walz stated that the City is looking into a pilot project of bollard-protected bike lanes, but that potential locations are limited due to the required roadway width. 4. OTHER BUSINESS a. Iowa Bicycle Coalition study on ‘Economic and Health Impacts of Bicycling and Trails in Iowa’ is now available Ralston explained that the Iowa Bicycle Coalition recently completed their study on the Economic and Health Impacts of Bicycling and Trails in Iowa. Ralston stated that the study has a lot of useful information and is what this Board allocated $2,500 towards at the November meeting. Ralston noted that the director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, Luke Hoffman, will be giving a presentation to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors on May 1st if Board members wish to attend. 5. ADJOURNMENT Bergus moved to adjourn; Wayson seconded. The motion carried unanimously. From adjourned the meeting at 5:45 PM.