Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.10.24 UAPB MinutesMINUTES FINAL MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD JULY 10, 2024 – 4:30 PM CORALVILLE CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1512 7th STREET, CORALVILLE, IA MEMBERS PRESENT: Iowa City: Laura Bergus, Megan Alter, Josh Moe Johnson County: Jon Green, Rod Sullivan North Liberty: Brian Wayson, Erek Sittig University Heights: Louise From University of Iowa: Greg Schmitt Coralville: Meghann Foster, Royce Peterson ICCSD: Molly Abraham STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Hannah Neel, Sarah Walz, Madelyn Stoen OTHER: 1. CALL TO ORDER From called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. The meeting was held in the City of Coralville Council Chambers at Coralville City Hall. a. Recognize alternates Ralston recognized Erek Sittig as an alternate for Chris Hoffman of North Liberty. b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Green moved to approve; Moe seconded. The motion carried unanimously. c. Set next Board meeting date, time, and location Tentatively scheduled for September 18, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. (location to be determined). 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA None. 3. Administration a. Consider a Resolution approving adjustments to the MPOJC Planning Area Boundary as a result of the 2020 Census. Stoen stated that after each decennial census, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) are required to review their Planning Area Boundaries to ensure they include census-defined urbanized areas and any area that is expected to become urbanized in the next 20 years. Stoen explained that as a result of the 2020 decennial census, the proposed changes to the MPOJC Planning Area Boundary include the incorporation of small portions of Iowa City and Tiffin. Stoen shared that these changes would increase the population of the Planning Area Boundary by approximately 3,600 people. Furthermore, federally classified roads in the Planning Area Boundary would be eligible to receive funding from the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC). These changes would remain in effect until the 2030 decennial census unless there were a special census or an approved Planning Area Boundary change prior to that. Stoen noted that the changes to the Planning Area Boundary were approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) and the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG). Stoen asked the Urbanized Area Policy Board for approval of the proposed boundary adjustment, resulting population adjustment, and for the Board Chair to sign the attached resolution. Bergus asked whether MPOJC would voluntarily expand the Planning Area Boundary into other areas that are rapidly growing, such as North Liberty or Tiffin, prior to the 2030 decennial census. Stoen stated that any future changes to the Planning Area Boundary, prior to the 2030 census, could occur through a special census or a Planning Area Boundary change approved by this Board. Sullivan moved to approve; Alter seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 4. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. Public Hearing and consideration of resolutions of adoption and certification for the FY2025-2028 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program i. Staff presentation of the FY2025-2028 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program Neel stated that the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the programming document for all surface transportation projects that receive state or federal funds. This includes streets, highways, transit, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian projects in the urbanized area. Neel noted that the Board approved the draft TIP project list at their May meeting. Furthermore, Neel shared that the TIP also includes project status reports, regionally significant projects, an outline of the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County’s (MPOJC) public input process, project selection procedures for the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, Transportation Alternative Program, and Carbon Reduction Program; and a fiscally constrained review of the projects in the TIP. Neel noted that the MPOJC published a notice of public hearing in the Press Citizen and the Gazette 30 days prior to the meeting and did not receive any comments. Pending Board approval, the MPOJC will submit the TIP to the Iowa Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and Federal Transit Administration by July 15th, 2024. Neel asked for the Board’s approval of the FY2025-2028 MPOJC TIP. Moe asked for clarification on the funding timeline of projects. Ralston explained that funding procedures and timeline is dependent on the funding source and project. For example, the next round of MPOJC Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funds will not be available until FY2029-2030. This could be beneficial because it provides communities with time to begin the design process. Alternatively, the next round of MPOJC Carbon Reduction Program and Transportation Alternatives Program funding is available today and can be allocated toward various projects. ii. Public Hearing From opened the public hearing and there were no members of the public present. She then closed the public hearing. iii. Consider a resolution adopting the FY2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program for the Iowa City Urbanized Area and authorizing the MPO Chairperson to sign associated documents contained therein Sullivan moved to approve; Moe seconded. The motion carried unanimously. iv. Consider a resolution certifying compliance with federal requirements for conducting the urban transportation planning process in the Iowa City Urbanized Area Sullivan moved to approve; Bergus seconded. The motion carried unanimously. b. Update on the CRANDIC Bus Rapid Transit Study from MPO staff Ralston explained that in the fall of 2023, the Urbanized Area Policy Board authorized a Bus Rapid Transit feasibility study on the CRANDIC rail corridor between Penn Street (in North Liberty) and Burlington Street (in Iowa City). Ralston noted that this study is being conducted by Felsburg, Holt & Ullevig and Nelson Nygaard. The consultants are currently refining runtime, stop locations, and frequencies. Those amounts look similar to HDR’s 2020 Rail Passenger Study, with exception to stop locations. Ralston also shared that the consultants are examining whether it would be feasible to operate a multi-use trail parallel to the corridor. Additionally, they are identifying possible grant opportunities such as the Small Starts grant which is through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The FTA will compare project costs with ridership estimates to determine if the system would qualify for the grant. Ralston stated that the fourth stakeholder meeting will be held in August and the study will likely be completed soon after that. Moe asked about the composition of the stakeholder group. Ralston stated the stakeholder group is made up of representatives from Iowa City, North Liberty, Coralville, Tiffin, The University of Iowa, Johnson County, and the Iowa Department of Transportation. Sullivan asked if the consultants would provide cost estimates for the various ways rail line could be adapted. Ralston explained that the methods used to install rail lines are relatively similar, so there will not be a significant difference in cost. Regardless, the consultants can address this in more detail. c. Update on the Safe Streets & Roads for All (SS4A) grant from MPO staff Walz noted that in December 2023, the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC) was awarded the Safe Streets & Roads for All grant, which is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL). The BIL allows the MPOJC to establish a Safety Action Plan, which focuses on reducing and eliminating roadway deaths and serious injuries. Walz shared that the adoption of that plan would also allow MPOJC communities to be eligible for additional grants that address roadway safety issues. In the spring of 2024, staff submitted a draft agreement to the Federal Highway Administration. Once the agreement is finalized, MPOJC can begin working with a consultant. Finally, Walz stated that once a contract is in place, MPOJC will connect with communities to discuss the $63,000 cost share. 5. OTHER BUSINESS None. 6. ADJOURNMENT Moe moved to adjourn the meeting; Alter seconded. The motion carried unanimously. From adjourned the meeting at 5:03 p.m.