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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.08.22 TTAC MinutesMINUTES APPROVED 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.