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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.08.16 TTAC Minutes APPROVED MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th, 2016 -10:30 AM EMMA HARVAT HALL, IOWA CITY, CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Dan Holderness, Vicki Robrock Iowa City: Mark Rummel, Chris O’Brien, Jason Havel, Ron Knoche, Scott Sovers Johnson County: Tom Brase, Greg Parker North Liberty: None Tiffin: None University Heights: Wally Heitman University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey RTBC: None Iowa DOT: Catherine Cutler ECICOG: Brock Grenis FHWA: None STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Darian Nagle-Gamm, Emily Bothell, Sarah Walz OTHERS PRESENT: None 1. CALL TO ORDER; RECOGNIZE ALTERNATES; CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES There was one alternate at the meeting; Scott Sovers for Geoff Fruin (Iowa City). Holderness motioned to approve the meeting minutes. Heitman seconded the motion. 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 SCORING CRITERIA FOR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT (STBG) PROGRAM AND TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES SET-ASIDE (TA SET-ASIDE) FUNDS ALLOCATED BY MPOJC Ralston explained how projects previously funded by the MPO scored using the existing scoring criteria versus how projects would score using the draft scoring criteria provided to the Committee. Ralston stated that the existing criteria and draft criteria are largely the same, except for the addition of question 10 in the draft criteria regarding “local commitment”. The intent is to use the same criteria for both STBG projects and Transportation Alternative projects. 2 Staff asked for a recommendation from the Committee regarding the draft scoring criteria to present to the Urbanized Area Policy Board. Holderness commented on the weight given to system preservation as compared to system expansion. Parker commented that system preservation criteria may be applicable to areas not growing, but may not be applicable to growing areas like Johnson County. McClatchey asked what ‘improvement’ encompassed in question 4 of the draft scoring criteria. Ralston stated improvement encompassed any work in an existing facility corridor from patching to reconstruction. O’Brien motioned to approve. McClatchey seconded the motion. Holderness and Robrock opposed, the motion carried 9-2. 4. DISCUSSION REGARDING POTENTIAL DESIGNATION OF CRITICAL URBAN FREIGHT CORRIDORS IN THE MPO URBANIZED AREA AS REQUESTED BY THE IOWA DOT Neumann explained that the Iowa DOT is currently working on identifying Critical Urban Freight Corridors within urban areas or MPOs as part of the National Highway Freight Network, which will be included in the DOTs freight plan, updated every five years. Designated corridors are eligible for funding allocation to the state over the next five years as part of the FAST Act. FY2016 funding has already been allocated; corridors provided by the MPO could be eligible for FY2017 funding. The deadline is December 2017 to get designations into the freight plan. Neumann explained the criteria for a road designated as an Urban Freight Corridor. Any corridor designated and prioritized by the MPO will be submitted to the Iowa DOT. Corridor designation is limited to 75 miles statewide. The Iowa DOT will prioritize all Urban Freight Corridor routes on a statewide list. Neumann proposed four potential areas that could be classified as Urban Freight Corridors. Areas identified as potential Urban Freight Corridors should be tied into the national highway network (I-80/I-380). Projects designated as corridors are eligible for an 80-20 cost share (requiring 20% local match). Iowa DOT requested this information by November 18th. Knoche stated that he would like to see Taft Avenue added to the Scott 6 Industrial Park route. Other Committee members expressed concerns over the proposed corridor through Tiffin because of the schools. Neumann also stated that the coal route for the University of Iowa power plant still needed to be identified. Ralston stated that the MPO was still open to receiving proposals for Urban Freight Corridors until the next meeting with the Policy Board. 5. UPDATE ON THE LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN REVISION PROCESS AND DISCUSSION OF DRAFT MATERIALS Nagle-Gamm explained that the Committee and Board previously approved the use of nine guiding principles to provide a framework for the Long Range Plan. Nagle-Gamm reviewed the ‘Health’ guiding principle chapter. Nagle-Gamm discussed performance measures, a new requirement by the Federal Highway Administration/Iowa DOT that will be implemented in the long range plan, and how it will be used to assess transportation network. 3 Nagle-Gamm reviewed the ‘Bicycling and Pedestrian Network’ Chapter, informing the group of the results of a cyclist safety survey. Nagle-Gamm provided a map to the committee which reflects the proposed projects in the long range plan. One member brought up that some of the listed projects had already been completed. Nagle-Gamm replied that they were still listed to ensure that they meet all federal requirements during the transitions between long-range plans. Nagle-Gamm highlighted the PCI map (Pavement Condition Index), showing the condition of arterial roads in Johnson County. Nagle-Gamm added that traffic transportation studies have expanded to include bicycles and pedestrians level of service, in addition to vehicle level of service. Nagle-Gamm updated the Committee on the overall progress of the long-range plan, explain that in the winter, the plan will be organized into its final form and provided for comment. 6. UPDATE ON I-380 CORRIDOR TRANSPORTATION & CRANDIC PASSENGER RAIL STUDY Neumann updated the group on the Iowa DOT and ECICOG (East Central Iowa Council of Governments) ridesharing programs. DOT and ECICOG held a promotional event on October 20th announcing the new Corridor Rides car and vanpooling programs through the DOT’s web-based ride sharing site. Phase 2 of the CRANDIC Passenger Rail Study was presented to the stakeholders in September with some discussion at the board level. Capital cost projections were down to around $40 million, with the potential to be as low as $30 million with cost-saving measures. General consensus among that board is that it warrants additional study. Additional study could include ridership and revenue forecasting, cost/benefit analysis, financial plan, and a phased implementation schedule which could include increased service between Iowa City and North Liberty, with extensions to the Eastern Iowa Airport and Cedar Rapids. Contact will be maintained between the stakeholders, DOT, and CRANDIC. Heitman asked if CRANDIC expected to make a profit from the venture. Neumann stated that CRANDIC offered to fund the startup costs, which would then be paid back to CRANDIC by stakeholders. CRANDIC would also operate the system and stakeholders would pay for that service. 7. UPDATE ON RECENT ACTIVITIES Neumann indicated that there was an update of recent activities in the packet. O’Brien stated that Iowa City Transit’s triennial review will be May 3-4, conducting by the FTA. Sovers updated everyone on the progress of the Washington Street project. The project was slightly behind schedule, but the hope was to be substantially completed by the end of November. Havel updated the Committee on the 1st Avenue grade separation project. The project is close to completion, with a few finishing touches in early 2017 and also noted that temporary pavement has been completed on the Gateway Project so that traffic can be diverted and work continued through the winter. 4 Parker stated that the Mehaffey Bridge Trail separation project was fully funded; final design expected by the end of next summer. The Highway 965 bridge is expected to open by the end of the week, officially by the end of November. Heitman stated that the Sunset/Melrose intersection project is complete. McClatchey commented on the LED lights and suggested that this should be modeled as a best practice for other critical intersections in the urbanized area. McClatchey updated the Committee on campus activities including the opening of the Children’s Hospital and Pharmacy Building which will create challenges down the road. Holderness stated that design work for Coral Ridge Avenue Phase 3 (Oakdale Boulevard to Forevergreen Road) and 1st Avenue (6th Street to 9th Street) will begin in the next few weeks, with construction beginning in 2018. Design work will also begin on Clear Creek Trail, Phase 6 and 7. Cutler stated that design work on the I-80/I-380 interchange continues. Work on the Forevergreen Road/I-380 interchange will begin in the fall of 2017. 8. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. 9. ADJOURNMENT Knoche moved to adjourn; McClatchey seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 11:28.