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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.22.16 TTAC Minutes APPROVED MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 -10:30 AM EMMA HARVAT HALL, IOWA CITY MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Scott Larson, Ellen Habel, Dan Holderness Iowa City: Jason Havel, Scott Sovers, Mark Rummel, Geoff Fruin, Chris O’Brien Johnson County: Tom Brase, Ed Bartels North Liberty: Dean Wheatley Tiffin: Steve Berner University Heights: None University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey Iowa DOT: Catherine Cutler RTBC: None ECICOG: None FHWA: None STAFF PRESENT: Brad Neumann, Darian Nagle-Gamm, Sarah Walz, Emily Bothell, Grant Shirts OTHERS PRESENT: Dave Ricketts 1. CALL TO ORDER; RECOGNIZE ALTERNATES; CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES Neumann called the meeting to order at 10:30 and recognized Scott Sovers as an alternate for Ron Knoche (Iowa City), Ellen Habel as an alternate for Vicky Robrock (Coralville), Scott Larson as an alternate for Kelly Hayworth (Coralville), Steve Berner as an alternate for Doug Boldt (Tiffin), and Ed Bartels as alternate for Greg Parker (Johnson County). Wheatley moved to approve the minutes for the meeting on January 19th, 2016; Holderness seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA None 3. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING LOCALLY DETERMINED PROJECTS FOR THE FY17 MPOJC TRANSPORTATION PLANNING WORK PROGRAM Nagle-Gamm explained that every spring the Federal Highway Administration and the Iowa DOT require localities to determine transportation projects for the impending fiscal year. The MPO relies on the work program to guide data collection and research for the projects. A list has been provided for all the projects requested by member communities with two recent additions. The City of Hills has asked for an entryway speed limit sign evaluation as well as a pedestrian school zone evaluation. The current list will be added 2 to the full work program which will be provided at the next meeting. Holderness moved to approve; Fruin seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 4. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING THE MPOJC FY17 TRANSIT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS Neumann explained that each year the Federal Transit Administration requires each transit agency in the metropolitan area to produce a program of projects. It consists of a list of potential capital projects without funding sources specifically identified. The FY17 program of projects has been provided. Most of the purchases listed are for federally funded buses. The projects will be included in the Iowa DOT’s annual consolidated funding application for each transit system. Some of these projects will be carried over to the Transportation Improvement Program at which time a funding source will have been identified. Projects must be listed to be eligible for state or federal funding. McClatchey moved to approve the recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board; Habel seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 5. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING THE MPOJC TRANSIT CAPITAL EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PLAN Neumann explained that every year each transit agency in the metropolitan area updates their Capital Equipment Replacement Plan which prioritizes capital equipment programming for the replacement of large capital items. It also shows useful life and estimated cost of replacement. The current program was provided. O’Brien moved to approve the recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board; McClatchey seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 6. UPDATE ON MPOJC LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN REVISION PROCESS AND CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING SCORING CRITERIA FOR THE PROJECT NEEDS ASSESSMENT Nagle-Gamm explained that this agenda item is intended to follow up on the committee’s discussion in January. The committee’s recommendations from the previous meeting had been presented to the Urbanized Area Policy Board. The Board’s initial feedback was to accept the TTAC recommendation, and to also increase the weight of “Choice” criteria; however, the Board deferred a final vote on the criteria until their next meeting. The scoring criteria, including the TTAC and Policy Board comments, was provided. Fruin brought up a criteria item categorized under “Economic Opportunity”. Currently, the criterion focuses on access to new employment centers. Fruin suggested a third point category that would target projects that improve transportation access to existing commercial centers. Fruin stated that we need to be looking at existing areas as much if not more than new areas. Fruin said that he believed our region is going to be forced to look at maintaining the existing more so than providing for the new and if new development is defined as not just greenfield development then he would be satisfied. Nagle-Gamm stated that the original intent was for it to be defined more along the lines of greenfield development. Neumann asked if Fruin would prefer the new item to be valued as one point or more than one point. Fruin responded that one point should be sufficient. 3 Wheatley stated that he agrees that system preservation is a top priority. There are some other criteria items that may affect that, such as congestion priorities, which were discussed at the last meeting. Fruin stated that he didn’t want to get into the appropriate weights. The Policy Board will do that. Fruin stated that his intent was to explore questions of what we are actually measuring and there seemed to be a missing item on the criteria. Nagle-Gamm mentioned that staff had debated internally on weights for the “Efficiency” criteria. Specifically if they should be swapped. The committee agreed that the scoring for the “Efficiency” criteria could be left as is. McClatchey brought up the third criteria item under “Choice”. He recommended adding bus stop pull-offs as one of its examples. Habel suggested that if a point is to be given to existing commercial centers, it should be conditional on having the existing commercial centers being converted to a greater or higher use. If commercial centers remain the same use, the criteria item is redundant with number four in system preservation. Fruin offered that number one should not just address greenfields but should be expanded to address all economic opportunities including infill development. Ralston related that making such a change may be as simple as placing the word “existing” before “jobs and retail” under Goal 1-Number 1. McClatchey stated that without making the change, greenfield growth is likely to be overrepresented. Ralston mentioned that even after projects are scored the committee will have an opportunity to say if they agree or disagree with the scoring for individual projects at a later date. Holderness moved to approve the recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board, adding the word “existing” to the Economic Development criteria and “bus pull-off” to the “Choice” criteria; Fruin seconded the motion. Wheatley Opposed. The motion carried 13-1. 7. DISCUSSION OF CALENDAR YEAR 2015 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ANNUAL WORK REPORT Ralston asked if there were any questions regarding the report provided. There were no questions or comments. 8. OTHER BUSINESS Brase updated the Committee that the four new vehicles from Iowa City are working well. McClatchey noted that he is looking forward to this Fall when several university buildings will be opening. Wheatley stated that they are looking into implementing an internal transportation system that would operate in North Liberty. 4 Havel updated the Committee that the grade separation project on 1st Avenue is progressing and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The Gateway project is out for bid and its expected completion is 2018. Construction on Washington Street will begin in April with a completion date in October of 2016. Berner indicated that designs for a roundabout at Park Road and Highway 6 are being considered. Tiffin is also designing Park Road from Highway 6 up to Forevergreen Road. Ireland Avenue will be completed this spring. Cutler updated the Committee that a public comment period for the entire I-80 corridor is underway. Committee members are encouraged to complete the online survey. 9. ADJOURNMENT Habel moved to adjourn; McClatchey seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 11:05.