HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.17.23 TTAC Agenda PacketMEETING NOTICE
MPOJC Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
Tuesday, January 17, 2023 – 10:30 AM Emma Harvat Hall
Iowa City City Hall
AGENDA
1.Call to order; recognize alternates; consider approval of meeting minutes
2.Public discussion of any item not on the agenda*
3.Consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding Federal
Transit Administration Section 5307 Transit Operating Formula funding apportionment for
FY2022
4. Consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding an
amendment to the FY23-26 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – amending
funding amounts for the I-80 6-Lane Widening Project
5. Consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding
amendments to the FY23-26 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – including
new funding for bus replacements for Coralville Transit and University of Iowa CAMBUS
6.Consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding setting of
safety targets and performance measures for the MPO as required by the Federal Highway
Administration
7.Consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding the
Surface Transportation Block Grant, Transportation Alternatives Program, and Carbon
Reduction Program grant funding process
8.Update on the MPOJC FY24 Transportation Planning Work Program & FY24-27
Transportation Improvement Program schedules
9.Other Business
10. Adjournment
*Public input is permitted on any agenda item. Please indicate to the Chair if you wish to comment on an agenda
item. To request any disability-related accommodations or language interpretation, please contact MPOJC staff at
319-356-5230 or Kent-Ralston@Iowa-City.org 48 hours prior to the meeting.
MINUTES DRAFT
MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022 – 10:30 AM
CITY OF IOWA CITY – EMMA HARVAT HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Kelly Hayworth, Vicky
Robrock, Scott Larson
Iowa City: Jason Havel, Scott Sovers, Ron Knoche,
Darian Nagle-Gamm
Johnson County: Tom Brase
North Liberty: Ryan Rusnak
Tiffin: Doug Boldt
University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey
Iowa DOT: Mark Harley (alternate)
STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Hannah Neel
1.CALL TO ORDER
Ralston called the meeting to order at 10:30 AM.
a.Recognize alternates
Mark Harley was recognized as an alternate for Catherine Cutler (Iowa DOT).
b.Consider approval of meeting minutes
Boldt moved for approval, McClatchey seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
2.PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Ralston introduced a new hire for MPOJC, Tunazzina Alam.
3.CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD
REGARDING APPROVAL OF DRAFT FY2023-2026 MPOJC TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)
Neel explained that the annual Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a local
document for programming federal and state surface transportation and transit funds,
complied annually and submitted to the Iowa DOT. Neel noted that Iowa City Transit has
requested this amendment to increase apportioned federal funding, decrease apportioned
local spending amounts, and add a new designated funding source for the proposed Iowa
City Transit maintenance and bus storage facility.
Neel noted that there is currently $16 million in federal funding and $9.92 million in local
funding for a total of $25.9 million in funding currently proposed in the TIP. Neel then
proposed the amendment to the TIP with a requested $19.8 million in federal funding and
$7.2 million in local funding. She then explained that there will also be a $750,000 increase
in congressionally designated federal funding from the new Transit Infrastructure Grant,
for a total of $27.75 million in funding for the project. This $750,000 is to be utilized for
preliminary design of the new transit maintenance and storage facility.
Brase moved for approval of the amendment to the TIP, Nagle-Gamm seconded. The
motion carried unanimously.
4.CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY
BOARD REGARDING SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT (STBG),
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (TAP), AND CARBON REDUCTION
PROGRAM (CRP) SCORING CRITERIA FOR FUNDS ALLOCATED BY MPOJC
Bothell opened by stating that the MPOJC Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG)
funding application will be available in February of 2023, but the Transportation
Alternatives Program (TAP) funding may be delayed due to the passage of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Bothell asked the Committee to review the previously adopted scoring criteria before the
upcoming applications are available (last reviewed and approved in November 2020). She
then continued to summarize the criteria and their use in the MPO’s Long Range
Transportation plan.
Bothell then discussed the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) and how the MPO has been
allocated approximately $340 thousand in funding, per year, for the next five years. She
then gave examples of uses for this funding such as traffic control devices or electric
vehicle charging infrastructure. Bothell noted that the Iowa DOT must create a ‘Carbon
Reduction Strategy’ to allow funds to be allocated and that the Committee will be updated
once more information is provided by the DOT. She also noted that there is currently no
scoring criteria for CRP, but it is anticipated the program will be similar to the TAP criteria
and that the same scoring criteria could therefore be used.
Bothell asked the Committee to make a recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy
Board regarding the STBG, TAP, and CRP scoring criteria. She reminded the Committee
that the scoring criteria is one tool to be used to assess and compare potential grant
funded projects. The Policy Board is not required to award funding based solely on project
scores.
Ralston then noted that those in attendance should begin to think more broadly about the
increase in funding and how they could best implement that funding in their communities.
Ralston finally noted that this would also be discussed with the Board at their November
16th meeting and that it will then be re-visited in January.
Knoche moved for approval of the scoring criteria, Larson seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
5.DISCUSSION REGARDING POTENTIAL FEDERAL FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
CHANGES FOR MPOJC URBANIZED AREA ROADWAYS
Bothell explained that the use of Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds is only
permitted on roadways that are classified as a collector street or higher in the Federal
Functional Classification (FCC) System. She then asked each community to review the
current classification map and submit any updates to roadway classifications before
November 30, 2022.
Bothell stated that roads that do not provide a high level of transportation connectivity or
new roadways that are not included in a community’s Capital Improvement Program will
not be approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT). She finally noted
that about 33% of our roadways in the urbanized area are currently classified on the FCC
system and that there is opportunity to add approximately 11 additional miles.
6.CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY
BOARD REGARDING PERFORMANCE MEASURE TARGET SETTING FOR THE MPO
AS REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Ralston noted that these targets were last approved in 2018 and that four-year targets
need to be reconsidered and reported to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) by
April 1, 2023. He explained that there are two options for each target; to support the State’s
4-year targets, or to set different, quantifiable targets for the metropolitan area. He said
that by adopting these targets, the MPO is required to show how we are satisfying these
targets in the Transportation Improvement Program and the Long Range Transportation
Plan. Ralston recommended the Committee adopt the state’s targets, due to time
constraints and the lack of clarity in future reporting requirements or penalties to MPOs in
funding distribution related to not meeting targets.
Brase moved to adopt the State’s targets and Hayworth seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
7.UPDATE ON THE METRO TRAILS COUNT PROGRAM
Ralston opened by explaining that in the past, the trail counters have been used to collect
data for periods of about a week. He stated the counters are now left out for an extended
period (approximately 3 months) to correct for differences in trail use due to outside factors
like weather, road closures, or other events.
8.OTHER BUSINESS
Rusnak noted that Jones Boulevard between Penn Street and Dubuque Street is near
completion and progress on their new City Hall building is forthcoming.
Nagle-Gamm noted that there has been a transition from the Passport parking application
to the Park Mobile application in Downtown Iowa City. She also noted that parking meters
are being updated to reflect the application change and to accommodate a change in the
availability of 3G connection. She also said that they are continuing to evaluate the transit
system to determine what their next steps are.
Havel noted that the 2nd Avenue bridge has recently opened, along with the roundabout
at 1st Avenue and Scott Boulevard. He said that they have also received federal planning
money for the Burlington Street bridge replacement project which they hope to get started
in 2023.
Sovers noted that American Legion Road is near completion and, that it should be fully
opened by the end of November. He also said that the Highway 6 Trail is under
construction – work is being done on storm sewer and intersection connection
improvements.
Larson added that the North Liberty Road/ Forevergreen Road roundabout opened at the
end of September, but the east leg is not yet open. He also mentioned that they have
opened Jones Boulevard and a roundabout at Jones Boulevard/ Spring Rose Circle. The
Clear Creek Trail connection project is also moving along but they expect most of the work
to be pushed to the spring. Finally, Westcor Drive is now fully paved and will be open to
the public soon.
Harley from the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) gave an update on the
Interstate 80/380 Interchange saying it is going according to schedule. He also noted that
in Coralville the 1st Avenue interchange work has started. Finally, he noted that the Herbert
Hoover Interchange construction is also still on schedule.
McClatchey stated that CAMBUS is finalizing a design for a new parking ramp near the
hospital and that they hope to break ground on it this spring. He noted that they are still
struggling with transit staffing but that they are hoping to add more service soon. He also
said that he has seen that bus pricing has increased drastically along with wait times for
new buses and that more intensive maintenance of existing bus fleets is going to be
necessary.
9.ADJOURNMENT
Knoche moved to adjourn the meeting, Havel seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Ralston adjourned the meeting at 11:10 am.
Date: January 10, 2023
To: Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
From: Hannah Neel, Associate Transportation Planner
Re: Agenda Item #3: Consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy
Board regarding Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 Transit Operating
Formula funding apportionment for FY2022
Iowa DOT has indicated that MPOJC has a total of $4,565,146 available in FY2022 FTA Section
5307 operating assistance. This amount includes Small Transit Intensive Communities (STIC)
funding. The funds are apportioned by MPOJC to Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit, and
University of Iowa Cambus based on the MPO’s local formula of 25% operating/maintenance
costs, 25% locally determined income (LDI), 25% revenue miles, and 25% fare revenue.
As with past years, COVID-19 has created issues in calculating the FY2022 apportionment due
to changes to transit service and ridership levels which impact data used in the formula. After
discussions with the transit managers, staff is recommending that we once again use the
FY2019 data to apportion the FY2022 funding. FY2019 was the last full year of pre-COVID
transit data that we have to use in the formula. Since the amount of funding being apportioned
for FY2022 increased substantially from FY2021, each transit agency will see a large increase
in funding.
Section 5307 funds can be used for transit operating and capital expenses. The following tables
show the proposed FY2022 apportionment, using the FY2019 data, and for comparison, the
FY2021 apportionment. Once approved, the MPO will complete and submit the required annual
FTA Section 5307 applications on behalf of each transit system.
Please be prepared to make a recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding
the apportionment of the FY2022 FTA Section 5307 operating funds.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this information, please contact me at 319-
356-5235 or Hannah-Neel@iowa-city.org.
2
Proposed FY2022 Section 5307 Operating Apportionment
System Total Operating
Cost
Locally
Determined
Income*
Revenue
Miles
Fare
Revenue
Multiplier
**
FY2022
Apportionment
Coralville $1,850,999 $1,155,536 271,809 $417,982 .1583 $722,663
[.1387] [.1261] [.1325] [.2357]
Iowa City $7,720,438 $5,573,858 1,029,923 $1,355,399 .6133 $2,799,804
[.5787] [.6083] [.5020] [.7643]
CAMBUS $3,770,329 $2,433,108 749,902 $0.00 .2284 $1,042,679
[.2826] [.2656] [.3655] [0.0000]
TOTAL $13,341,766 $9,162,502 2,051,634 $1,773,381 1.0000 $4,565,146
[1.000] [1.000] [1.000] [1.000]
*Locally Determined Income is Total Operating Cost minus FTA and STA funding
**Multiplier is an average of the percentages of the total operating costs, locally determined
income, revenue miles, and fare revenue.
Approved FY2021 Section 5307 Operating Apportionment
System Multiplier
Total
Apportionment
Coralville 0.1583 $470,519
Iowa City 0.6133 $1,822.924
CAMBUS 0.2284 $678,878
TOTAL 1.0000 $2,972,321
Date: January 10, 2023
To: Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
From: Hannah Neel, Associate Transportation Planner
Re: Agenda item #4: Consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board
regarding an amendment to the adopted FY2023-2026 MPOJC Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) – Amending funding amounts for the I-80 6-Lane Widening
Project.
The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the programming document for all surface
transportation projects that receive state or federal funds, including street and highway, transit,
rail, bicycle, and pedestrian projects in the Iowa City urbanized area. MPOJC submits the TIP
annually to the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) to document the status of local
transportation projects using state and federal funds. To utilize these funds, projects must be
included in the TIP with an accurate scope and identified funding sources.
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has requested an amendment to the adopted
MPOJC FY2023-2026 TIP increasing the federal funding amount and the total project cost for
the I-80 6-lane widening project.
Amend the FY2023-2026 TIP to change a project funding amount:
Current FY2023 project funding amounts for the 6-lane widening on I-80 project on I-80
from 1.5 miles east of IA 1 to 0.5 miles east of County Rd X30 in Johnson County, Iowa
(TPMS ID 38151).
Total: $7,224,000
Federal Aid: $6,140,100
New FY2023 project funding amounts for the 6-lane widening on I-80 project on I-80
from 1.5 miles east of IA 1 to 0.5 miles east of County Rd X30 in Johnson County, Iowa
(TPMS ID 38151).
Total: $15,537,000
Federal Aid: $13,983,300
Staff is requesting a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board for approval
of the proposed amendment.
I will be at your January 17th meeting to answer any questions you may have.
Date: January 10, 2023
To: Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
From: Hannah Neel, Associate Transportation Planner
Re: Agenda item #5: Consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board
regarding amendments to the adopted FY2023-2026 MPOJC Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP) – including new funding for bus replacements for Coralville Transit and
University of Iowa CAMBUS.
The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the programming document for all surface
transportation projects that receive state or federal funds, including street and highway, transit,
rail, bicycle, and pedestrian projects in the Iowa City urbanized area. MPOJC submits the TIP
annually to the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) to document the status of local
transportation projects using state and federal funds. To utilize these funds, projects must be
included in the TIP with an accurate scope and identified funding sources.
Coralville Transit and University of Iowa CAMBUS have requested an amendment to the
adopted MPOJC FY2023-2026 TIP to include a new project, funding source, and funding
amount for the capital replacement of a light duty bus in the Coralville Transit fleet and a light
duty bus in the University of Iowa CAMBUS fleet.
Amend the FY2023-2026 TIP to include new projects, funding source, and funding
amounts:
Project & funding amounts for the capital replacement project of a light duty bus in the
Coralville Transit fleet.
Total: $149,937
Federal: $77,200
Shortfall Assistance: $45,421
Local: $27,316
Project & funding amounts for the capital replacement project of a light duty bus in the
University of Iowa CAMBUS Transit fleet.
Total: $146,965
Federal: $92,528
Shortfall Assistance: $32,393
Local: $22,044
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is offering shortfall funding assistance due to
recent dramatic price increases for vehicle replacements. In order for Coralville Transit and
University of Iowa CAMBUS to receive this extra funding, it must be programmed in the
FY2023-2026 TIP.
Staff is requesting a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board for approval
of the proposed amendments. I will be at your January 17th meeting to answer any questions
you may have.
Date: January 10, 2023
To: Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
From: Emily Bothell, Senior Associate Transportation Planner
Re: Agenda Item #7: Consider a Recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy
Board Regarding the Surface Transportation Block Grant, Transportation
Alternatives Program and Carbon Reduction Program grant funding process
The MPOJC typically conducts our competitive grant process biennially and calendar year 2023
marks the next grant cycle year. This biennial process has historically reflected the desire of
both the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) and the Urbanized Area Policy
Board (UAPB) to allow for two years of funding to be allocated at once – thereby allowing
projects to receive larger funding awards.
MPOJC staff anticipates approximately $9.3 million in Surface Transportation Block Grant
(STBG) funding will be available for programming in FY2027-2028 and approximately $300,000
in Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) funding will be available for programming in FY2023.
Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding (approximately $900,000) will be delayed
due to pending program changes related to the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (IIJA) and revised program guidance released by the Iowa Department of
Transportation. Until these details are finalized, MPOJC cannot solicit for TAP applications or
apportion funding.
We plan to solicit for STBG applications this calendar year but recommend we delay the
solicitation for CRP applications for the purposes of aligning them with TAP. That said, we are
looking for direction from this Committee as to when we solicit for CRP and TAP applications.
Options for consideration are as follows:
1. Solicit for CRP and TAP applications in the winter of 2024 followed by our standard biennial
solicitation in the winter of 2025.
2. Solicit for CRP and TAP applications in the winter of 2025, keeping with our standard
biennial solicitation.
Please be prepared to make a recommendation to the Policy Board regarding the grant funding
timeline at your January 17th meeting. I will be available to answer any questions you may have.
The 2023 grant process will follow this tentative timeline:
• February 1, 2023 – Grant applications distributed
• February 22, 2023 – Application submittal deadline (3 weeks to submit applications)
• March 7, 2023 – Regional Trails and Bicycling Committee meets to provide
recommendations on projects
• March 21, 2023 – Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) meets to
provide recommendations on funding allocations for projects
• March 29, 2023 – Policy Board meets to approve funding allocations for projects
• May 2023 –TTAC and Policy Board consider Draft Transportation Improvement Program
• July 2023 – Policy Board considers Final Transportation Improvement Program
Date: January 10, 2023
Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County
To: Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
From: Kent Ralston; Executive Director
Re: Agenda Item #8: Update on the FY24 Transportation Planning Work Program and
FY24-27 Transportation Improvement Program schedules
FY24 Transportation Planning Work Program
The Transportation Planning Work Program is a document developed each year to identify
projects which will be addressed by MPOJC the following fiscal year. The Work Program is
developed in a coordinated effort involving the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee,
Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), and Urbanized Area Policy Board. Annual Work
Program items include all state and federally required planning processes and documentation,
ongoing and routine projects, and special projects requested by member entities.
We will begin soliciting for FY24 Work Program projects in February. If you have special
projects in mind for the Work Program, please feel free to discuss them with any MPO staff
person. The draft Work Program must be submitted to the Iowa DOT, Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) by March 31st. The
Urbanized Area Policy Board will approve the final Work Program in May.
FY24-27 Transportation Improvement Program
The MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the programming document for
federally funded transportation improvements within the Iowa City Urbanized Area. This
document includes federally funded transportation projects for all modes of transportation
including streets, highways, transit, and bicycle and pedestrian projects.
The importance of the TIP is that it formalizes the specific projects to receive federal funds, and
the year in which the projects receive funding. The Urbanized Area Policy Board considers
approval of the annual TIP after receiving a recommendation from the Transportation Technical
Advisory Committee (TTAC). In 2021, the Urbanized Area Policy Board apportioned $7.38
million and $520,000 in Surface Transportation Block Grant and Transportation Alternative
Program funds, respectively. These funds totaling $7.9 million will be reflected in the FY24-27
TIP. The Policy Board will also allocate more than $9 million in 2023 to be programmed in
FY27-28.
In July, the Urbanized Area Policy Board will consider the FY2024-27 TIP for adoption. In
preparation for public review of the draft TIP, staff will work with you to ensure projects are
programmed in the appropriate fiscal year.
I will be at your January 17th meeting to answer any questions you have.