HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.31.23 UAPB MinutesMINUTES APPROVED
MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD
WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023 – 4:30 P.M.
CITY OF CORALVILLE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1512 7TH ST. CORALVILLE, IA
MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Laurie Goodrich, Meghann Foster
Iowa City: Laura Bergus, John Thomas, Pauline Taylor
Johnson County: Rod Sullivan, Jon Green
North Liberty: Brian Wayson, Chris Hoffman
University Heights: Louise From
University of Iowa: David Kieft
Tiffin: Steve Berner
ICCSD: Molly Abraham
STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Hannah Neel, Sarah Walz
OTHERS PRESENT: Cathy Cutler
1. CALL TO ORDER
Thomas called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. The meeting was held in the City of Coralville
Council Chambers in Coralville, Iowa.
a. Recognize alternates
Ralston recognized David Kieft as an alternate for Erin Shane (University of Iowa).
b. Consider approval of meeting minutes
Sullivan moved to approve, and Bergus seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
c. Set next Board meeting date, time, and location
Tentatively scheduled for July 12th, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. in North Liberty, Iowa.
2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
3. ADMINISTRATION
a. Consider approval regarding changes to the MPOJC Transportation Technical Advisory
Committee representation.
Ralston stated that per the MPOJC bylaws, the Transportation Technical Advisory
Committee (TTAC) is a permanent standing committee intended to provide policy and
funding recommendations to the Urbanized Area Policy Board (UAPB). The Committee is
comprised of 16 voting members and four ex-officio non-voting members.
Ralston explained there is no policy established to review representation on the
Committee to ensure that it is roughly proportional to the population of MPO member
entities. However, a review after each decennial census seems appropriate and is
consistent with the requirement for the Policy Board. After reviewing the 2020 census
populations, the current representation on the Committee shows that North Liberty should
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have additional representation. Ralston shared a few options that were shared with the
Technical Advisory Committee at their May 23rd meeting. The options were intended to
balance representation while keeping the total number of representatives manageable.
Option 1: Mirror the composition of the Urbanized Area Policy Board (UAPB) – 16 voting
members.
Option 2: Remove one Coralville representative and provide one representative to North
Liberty – 16 voting members.
Option 3: Remove one University of Iowa seat and provide two representatives to North
Liberty – 17 voting members.
At their May 23rd meeting, the City of North Liberty indicated a desire to simply add one
new representative to the Committee and the Committee unanimously recommended
approval without additional changes.
Green moved to approve the Committee’s recommendation and From seconded. The
motion carried unanimously.
4. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
a. Consider approval of Draft FY2024-2027 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program
(TIP) projects.
Neel explained that the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the local
programming document for federal and state surface transportation and transit projects.
Project pages from the draft FY2024 - FY2027 TIP were shared with the Board.
Neel stated that three new Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) projects (awarded
by the Policy Board in March 2023) were added to the TIP and programmed in FY27. The
projects include Coralville’s Dubuque Street NE and Forevergreen Road Roundabout
project ($675,000), North Liberty’s South Dubuque Street Reconstruction project
($1,100,000), and University Heights’ Sunset Street and Melrose Avenue project
($225,000).
Neel shared that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Program 5307 operating funds
were also apportioned by the Board in January for FY23 and the FY24 estimated funding
amounts are included in the draft TIP. The TIP also includes projects from the MPO Transit
Program of Projects, which will be considered by the Board in July.
The Transportation Technical Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval
of the draft FY24-27 TIP list of projects at their May 23rd meeting. Neel stated that upon
approval, staff will begin the 30-day public comment period and submit the draft TIP to our
public input organization mailing list, the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Federal
Highway Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration. Upon review by these
stakeholders, staff will present a final draft of the TIP for consideration in July.
Hoffman moved to approve, and Berner seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
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b. Consider a resolution approving the MPOJC FY2024 Transportation Planning Work
Program.
Ralston stated that the MPOJC Transportation Planning Work Program includes all locally
requested projects from member entities and general projects and procedures required by
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration
(FTA). Staff relies on the Work Program to organize data collection and manage project
workflow throughout the year.
Ralston asked the Board to review the attached draft and share any modifications before
staff submits the document to the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), FHWA,
and the FTA for final approval.
Ralston reminded the Board that the MPO will continue to accept project requests as they
come up throughout the year and that the Work Program represents approximately a
quarter to a third of the total projects the MPO will complete.
At their May 23rd meeting, the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee unanimously
recommended approval of the Work Program. Ralston asked the Board to consider
approval of the FY24 Transportation Planning Work Program.
Sullivan moved to approve, and Hoffman seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
c. Update on Metro Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Collision Data.
Walz gave an update on current pedestrian and bicycle collision trends in the urbanized
area. Walz explained that despite the rapid growth in population across the Metro area
and increased vehicular miles traveled since 2012, the number of bicycle collisions
reported in 2022 is lower than any year before the COVID-19 pandemic. Trail count data
also shows an increase in people biking and walking on the trails. The number of bicycle
collisions that result in serious injury or death has been trending downward. The most
serious injuries tend to occur on higher-speed roads and two of the bicycle fatalities
happened outside of city limits on higher-speed roads.
Pedestrian collisions have begun to increase as have the severity of injuries. However,
Walz added that the investments communities have made to update intersections and
pedestrian crossings have paid off. Based on the Iowa City pedestrian collision data, the
Iowa City Metro compares very well to other cities in the state as our area has a lower
collision rate. This is a feat considering the higher bike and pedestrian numbers as
compared to other areas of the state. The pedestrian and bicycle collision data are utilized
by the MPO and Transportation Technical Advisory Committee when making funding and
policy recommendations.
d. Update from Iowa DOT District 6 staff on major projects in the urbanized area.
Cutler, from the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), provided an update on
relevant projects in the Iowa City metro area. The Interstate 80-380 interchange is making
progress with some traffic shifts on southbound I-380. The Iowa DOT estimates that all
lanes and ramps will be open by September 2023. The 1st Avenue and Interstate 80
Interchange project will have a head-to-head configuration on the southbound lanes whilst
working on the northbound bridge. This configuration will remain for the rest of the year.
Next year it will be the opposite so work can be completed on the southbound bridge.
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Cutler explained that the Herbert Hoover Highway and the Interstate-80 project has head-
to-head traffic on the eastbound lanes with the westbound ramps currently closed. This
configuration will likely exist most or all of the construction season. Interstate-80 is also
getting graded to West Branch to prepare for future widening.
The first letting for the Interstate-380 six-lane widening project will be this December. The
Penn Street interchange reconstruction will not start until late next year and into 2025. The
Iowa DOT is also working on the Wright Brothers Boulevard interchange down to the
Swisher interchange to widen I-380 to six lanes. That section of the project is being let in
August, ahead of the Penn Street portion.
e. Update on the CRANDIC Bus Rapid Transit Study from MPO staff.
Ralston explained that MPOJC has interviewed and scored the consultant proposals for
the Bus Rapid Transit Study and has selected one. Once the funding from the communities
has been acquired, the MPO will be able to move forward. Ralston had reached out to all
the relevant entities represented on the Policy Board for funding. Iowa City’s Council will
need to approve the documentation and funding request.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Bergus; Sullivan seconded. The meeting was adjourned by
Thomas at 5:20 PM.