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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.13.24 UAPB MinutesMINUTES FINAL MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD NOVEMBER 13, 2024 – 4:30 PM JOHNSON COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING – 2ND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM 855 S. DUBUQUE STREET, IOWA CITY, IA MEMBERS PRESENT: Iowa City: Laura Bergus, Megan Alter, Shawn Harmsen, Mazahir Salih Johnson County: Jon Green, Rod Sullivan North Liberty: Brian Wayson, Chris Hoffman University Heights: Louise From University of Iowa: Greg Schmitt Coralville: Meghann Foster STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Hannah Neel, Sarah Walz, Madelyn Stoen OTHER: Matt Burkey, Eric Sittig, Evan Doyle, Cady Gerlach, Luke Hoffman, Marcus Coenen, Josh Palik, Melanie Bimson 1. CALL TO ORDER From called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. The meeting was held in the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building in Iowa City. a. Recognize alternates None. b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Sullivan moved to approve; Hoffman seconded. The motion carried unanimously. c. Set next Board meeting date, time, and location Tentatively scheduled for January 29th, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. at Iowa City City Hall. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA None. 3. ADMINISTRATION a. Confirm entities that will nominate Johnson County representatives to the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) Board of Directors Ralston reminded the Board of the revision and approval of the MPOJC Bylaws stipulating how appointments are made to the ECICOG Board of Directors in 2020. Per the revised Bylaws, each January the Johnson County Board of Supervisors appoints one elected official representative and one citizen representative to the ECICOG Board, and the Urbanized Area Policy Board appoints two elected official representatives to the ECICOG Board. Ralston explained that one elected official seat appointed by the Urbanized Area Policy Board will be filled by the four largest municipalities by population. The 2025 representative is to be designated by Tiffin. The other elected official seat appointed by the Urbanized Area Policy Board will be filled by the remaining municipalities on a rotating basis. The 2025 representative will be designated by Hills. Ralston will be contacting each entity responsible for designating representatives to the ECICOG Board of Directors. The designees will be recognized by the MPOJC Policy Board at the January meeting. Hoffman requested to remain on the ECICOG Board unless the City of Tiffin objected. b. Appoint a nominating committee for Calendar Year 2025 Urbanized Area Policy Board officers Ralston stated that at the January meeting, the Board will elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for the calendar year 2025 Urbanized Area Policy Board. Ralston explained that the Chairperson is responsible for presiding over all meetings of the Board. The Chairperson and/or Director are also responsible for signing contracts and other federally required documents. The Vice Chairperson assumes the duties of the Chair if not available. Ralston asked the Board to consider appointing a three-person nominating committee to recommend a Chair and Vice-Chair for the 2025 Urbanized Area Policy Board, with the nominating committee reporting at the January meeting where the Chair and Vice- Chair will be elected. Ralston noted that the current Chair, Louise From (Mayor, University Heights) and Vice-Chair, Rod Sullivan (Johnson County Board of Supervisors), have both served in their roles for one year. There is a two-year maximum term for these positions. Jon Green, Megan Alter, and Brian Wayson volunteered to serve on the nominating committee. c. Preliminary discussion of the FY26 MPOJC Budget Ralston explained that the MPOJC budget will considered by the Board at the meeting in January. Ralston reminded the Board of the focus and purpose of the MPO, which is as follows: • Fulfill requirements necessary for local communities to receive state and federal transportation capital and operating funds. • Produce professional studies to support transportation-related decisions and capital project selection/funding. • Coordinate transit planning and transit reporting consistent with state and federal regulations for Iowa City Transit, Coralville Transit, and the University of Iowa CAMBUS. • Assist local entities with review of development proposals and associated transportation planning. • To serve as a forum for other regional issues/decisions. Ralston stated that capital expenses for FY26 are expected to be like recent years. Ralston is not proposing any changes to the level of MPO staffing for FY26 and anticipates an approximate 2.4% increase in the total MPO budget – primarily due to increases in staff salaries and health benefit costs. Ralston anticipates using $280,000 of Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) ‘Planning Funds’ in FY26. This is an increase from the $230,000 used in previous years, because of increases provided by the new transportation legislation. Ralston stated that this increase ensures an appropriate balance of funds per Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines and defrays local funding necessary for MPO operations. Ralston also expects to use approximately $24,000 of internal reserves to maintain an appropriate balance of funds. d. Authorize the Executive Director to execute a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant on behalf of participating entities Ralston reminded the Board of the joint application for a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant to create a Safety Action Plan focused on reducing roadway deaths and serious injuries. Ralston explained that Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grants go directly to regional, local, and tribal communities for implementation, planning, and demonstration projects driven at the local level to improve safety and help prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. In December 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded MPOJC a $300,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant. Ralston explained that because the grant is in MPOJC’s name, authorization is needed from the Board to execute the contract to accept the funds. Following the authorization of the funds, MPOJC staff will work directly with Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin, and University Heights to secure the required local matching funds to advance the project, publish a request for proposals, and hire a consultant to complete the Safety Action Plan. From asked for a motion to authorize the Executive Director to execute the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant on behalf of participating entities. Green moved to approve, Salih seconded. The motion carried unanimously. e. Consider a Resolution providing the Executive Director the authority to execute grants and contracts on behalf of the MPOJC Ralston explained that after recent discussions with legal staff, a determination was made that the MPOJC Executive Director does not currently have the explicit authority, per the adopted MPOJC Bylaws, to execute contracts and grants on behalf of MPOJC and its member communities. Ralston stated that this lack of authority, coupled with the infrequency of MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board meetings, has led to delays in executing contracts and advancing projects in the past. Therefore, legal staff has advised that to avoid these delays in the future, a Resolution authorizing the MPOJC Executive Director to execute contracts and grant agreements be considered. If approved, the Executive Director would still be required to submit the contract or grant agreement to the Iowa City Attorney’s Office for their review prior to executing said documents. From asked for a motion to consider a Resolution providing the Executive Director the authority to execute grants and contracts on behalf of MPOJC. Sullivan moved to approve, Harmsen seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 4. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. Consider approval of scoring criteria for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG), Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) funds allocated by MPOJC Bothell explained that MPOJC grant applications for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG), Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) funding will be available in February 2025. Bothell noted that there will be approximately $15 million to be allocated to local communities. Bothell stated that before the grant applications are available, the Board has the opportunity to review and make edits to the criteria used to score and rank projects. These criteria were last reviewed and approved by the Board in November 2022. Bothell explained that these criteria align with the ‘Guiding Principles’ outlined in the MPOJC 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan, ensuring that funded projects meet the organization’s goals. If the Board decides to modify the criteria, staff recommends that the modifications align with these ‘Guiding Principles’. The scoring criteria were unanimously recommended for approval by the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) at their November 5th, 2024, meeting. Bothell reminded the Board that the scoring criteria is just one tool for assessing and comparing potential grant-funded projects and that the Policy Board is not obligated to award funding solely based on project scores. Alter asked what some of the other criteria could be besides the scoring criteria. Bothell responded that projects could be evaluated based on their merit or the need of the community, but that there has not yet been a project that fell outside of the scoring criteria. Ralston added that if projects fell outside of the current scoring cr iteria, or if the Board felt as though funds were being unequally allocated to communities, that they could discuss additional criteria. From asked for a motion to approve the scoring criteria for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG), Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) funds allocated by MPOJC. Alter moved to approve the scoring criteria, Green seconded. The motion carried unanimously. b. Update on Federal Functional Classification revision process for local roadways Bothell stated that the MPOJC grant application for Surface Transportation Block grant (STBG) funding will be available in February 2025. Bothell explained that these funds can only be used for roadways classified as collectors or higher on the Federal Functional Classification (FFC) system. At their November 5th, 2024, Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) meeting, members were asked to review the current FFC map and submit any needed revisions by November 30th. To be included on the FFC system, roadways must demonstrate a high level of transportation connectivity. Bothell noted that roadways that do not show this connectivity or new roadways not included in a community’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will not be approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). Bothell noted that this map is updated every two years in advance of funding cycles. Ralston stated that the FFC system updates are an important step in preparing for grant funding applications. Bothell also shared the estimated dollar amounts available for each funding source, which are as follows: • Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) – $10 Million (FY29 – 30) • Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) – $2 Million (FY27 – 30) • Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) – $3 Million (FY23 – 30) c. Consider approval of safety targets and performance measures for the MPO as required by the Federal Highway Administration Ralston reminded the Board of the requirement set by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that MPO’s set targets for five safety performance measures as part of the Highway Safety Improvement Program to be reported to the State Department of Transportation (DOT) by February 27th each year. Ralston stated that MPOJC can either choose to support the targets set by the State or set targets for each measure for the metropolitan area. Ralston explained that MPO’s are also required to set targets for pavement, bridge, and system reliability performance measures as part of the Highway Safety Improvement Program to be reported to the State DOT every two years. Since the performance measures were last reported, the DOT has revised three of the four targets. Ralston stated that although there is the option to create targets for our metropolitan area, there is no clear benefit to doing so. As such, Ralston recommended the adoption of the State’s targets for both the safety performance measures and the pavement, bridge, and system reliability performance measures. From asked for a motion for approval of the safety targets and performance measures. Hoffman moved to approve; Wayson seconded. The motion carried unanimously. d. Presentation of the CRANDIC Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study Ralston stated that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) feasibility study is complete. The goal of the study was to examine the feasibility of providing BRT service in the study corridor and to make comparisons to the previous passenger rail studies that were completed in 2020. The study was completed by a team of consultants from Felsburg, Holt & Ullevig (FHU) and Nelson Nygaard. Marcus Coenen and Josh Palik of the consultant team presented their findings to the Board. Coenen explained the criteria that were used in narrowing down the routes and stops for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line and how alternatives were selected. They began the process with 8 alternatives and narrowed them down to 3 alternatives. Once alternatives were narrowed down, they looked at capital improvements that would be necessary for each remaining alternative. Coenen detailed the differences in costs, service hours, frequency, and operation statistics for each remaining alternative. Changes to existing CAMBUS, Iowa City Transit, and Coralville Transit service and stops were also discussed. An important change to Iowa City Transit and Coralville Transit that was discussed was the provision of Sunday transit services, as neither transit agency currently operates on Sundays. Coenen then noted predicted boardings and total ridership trends for each alternative. All three remaining alternatives have a predicted daily ridership of around 5,000 by 2045. Based on the information presented, the consultant team recommended alternative 5 as the preferred alternative. This alternative is expected to have capital costs of around $91.95 million, with yearly operation costs around $2.35 million. Different funding alternatives were then detailed, with the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Small Starts program emerging as a potential funding opportunity. Finally, a few of the benefits of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) were discussed as compared to passenger rail including lower operating costs, the ability to tailor capacity to demand, and the flexibility in adjusting the ending terminals. After the findings were presented, next steps were discussed. These next steps included determining the preferred approach to transit (BRT or rail) on the corridor, preparing grant applications, reaching a regional consensus on the agency to operate the service, and identifying the preferred regional funding source for operating costs. Ralston noted that there will be future meetings to further discuss these options. Ralston will be attending the Iowa City City Council work session on November 19th, 2024, to begin this discussion and plans to attend the joint entities meeting in January. 5. OTHER BUSINESS a. Update from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition Hoffman updated the Board on the Iowa Bicycle Coalition’s Economic Impact Study of Cycling and Trails. Hoffman stated that this study seeks to fill in the gaps of past studies to better represent the economic value of cycling and trails across the state. As a part of this study update, specific regions will be analyzed, with the MPOJC area being one of three selected regions. Hoffman asked the Board for support in funding the study and marketing it to the public. The Board agreed to support the study. Hoffman explained that the Iowa Bicycle Coalition has also started a hands-free coalition, which advocates for the passage of a full hands-free driving law in Iowa. The coalition seeks to reduce the use of smartphones while driving to improve safety, reduce collision frequency, and collision severity. 6. ADJOURNMENT Alter moved to adjourn the meeting, Green seconded. The motion carried unanimously. From adjourned the meeting at 6:11 p.m.