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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.08.15 UAPB MinutesMINUTES APPROVED MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015 – 4:30 PM JOHNSON COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Tom Gill, Jill Dodds Iowa City: Jim Throgmorton, Marian Karr, Michelle Payne, Rick Dobyns Johnson County: Janelle Rettig, Rod Sullivan North Liberty: Terry Donahue, Amy Nielsen Tiffin: Steve Berner University Heights: Mike Haverkamp University of Iowa: -- ICCSD: Tuyet Baruah STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Darian Nagle-Gamm, Emily Ambrosy, Sarah Walz, Grant Shirts, Matthew Van Hoeck OTHERS PRESENT: Jim Schnoebelen (Iowa DOT), Cathy Cutler (Iowa DOT), Greg Parker (Johnson County), Aaron Granquist. 1. CALL TO ORDER Gill called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM. a. Recognize alternates Marian Karr was recognized as an alternate for Terry Dickens (Iowa City), and Mike Haverkamp was recognized as an alternate for Louise From (University Heights). b. Consider approval of meeting minutes The motion to approve the meeting minutes was made by Dobyns; Sullivan seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. c. Set next Board meeting date, time, and location Next meeting was set for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at Iowa City, City Hall. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA No discussion of non-agenda items occurred. 3. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. Public hearing and consideration of resolutions of adoption and certification for the FY16-19 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program i. Staff presentation of the FY16-19 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program Neumann explained that the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a document listing federal, state, and local surface transportation and transit projects. The Board approved the draft project list in a previous meeting held May 27, 2015. These projects include Coralville’s First Avenue Improvement Project, North Liberty’s Penn Street Capacity Improvement Project, Iowa City’s Hwy 1 Trail Project, and Tiffin’s Clear Creek Trail Project. The TIP also contains details on the public input process, project selection procedure, update of current projects, and a fiscal analysis. The document was submitted to the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on June 15 for comment. The final document is due July 15. In response to an inquiry from Gill, Neumann confirmed that the FY16-19 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program contained the funding recommendations made at a previous Board meeting. ii. Public Hearing No comments were offered by the public in attendance regarding the FY16-19 Transportation Improvement Program. iii. Consider a resolution adopting the FY16-19 Transportation Improvement Program for the Iowa City Urbanized Area and Authorizing the MPO Chairperson to sign associated documents contained therein Payne moved to approve the FY16-19 Transportation Improvement Program for the Iowa City Urbanized Area and to authorize the MPO Chairperson to sign the associated documents therein; Donahue seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. iv. Consider a resolution certifying compliance with federal requirements for conducting the urban transportation planning process in the Iowa City Urbanized Area Payne moved to approve the resolution certifying compliance with federal requirements for conducting the transportation planning process in the Iowa City Urbanized Area; Rettig seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. b. Update on the MPOJC Long-Range Transportation Plan revision process Nagle-Gamm explained that the MPOJC Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is a planning document that helps the urbanized area make decisions about transportation improvement and funding through the next 25 years. The document is updated every 5 years through a planning process that takes approximately 2 years to complete. The document thoroughly investigates all modes of transportation for the entire urbanized area. The LRTP contains elements and covers topics such as public transit, bike and pedestrian plans, arterial streets plan, population projections, land use projections, historic transportation perspectives, summary of community visions, existing and forecasted arterial street deficiencies, and a fiscally constrained list of transportation projects in the metro area. This plan is necessary to secure various sources of federal funding. Nagle-Gamm offered a rough timeline for the 2 year planning process: Now – Sept. 15, present goals of the LRTP to interested groups Oct. 15 – Dec. 15, collect data and public input for the LRTP Jan. 16 – Sept. 16, prepare the draft document and receive feedback Sept. 16 – May 17 (due date), public comment period and document adoption Organizations are encouraged to request a presentation by MPOJC staff that explains the long-range transportation planning process. Throgmorton voiced that the planning process leads to the production of a single plan yet he is aware that other places around the country develop multiple scenarios that are considered before adopting a final plan. Throgmorton asked if the MPOJC staff will prepare at least 2 scenarios for the next 25 years in the metropolitan area. Nagle-Gamm responded that a single final scenario will need to be decided upon, but that staff is open to suggestions regarding the character and number of proposed scenarios. Throgmorton expounded that at least two alternative scenarios could be developed based on potential development patterns and that the implications of those patterns could be investigated such as road investment and maintenance over time. Throgmorton related that there are many that hold the opinion that the current conventional transportation system has been over built to the point that we cannot afford to maintain what we have built much less to build new in the future. Ralston noted that the FHWA and the DOT do want, by the time of the final draft, a singular specific set of projects. Nonetheless, he believes the development of alternative scenarios is a good idea. Ralston recapitulated that the Board is encouraged to request MPOJC staff’s presence at any of their meetings including non-governmental meetings. He stated his intention to send a follow-up e-mail reminding the Board of this possibility. Baruah requested that the school district superintendent be sent the email as well. The forth coming election in addition to the planned construction of new school facilities are going to make the LRTP very relevant to the school district. If new officials are elected they should be informed about MPOJC’s role in the metro area. 4. ADMINISTRATION a. Update on transportation legislation Ambrosy mentioned at the previous meeting that congress approved a continuing resolution to extend MAP-21 through July 31 of this year. Congress will need to find 8 billion dollars in new revenue to fund programs through the end of the calendar year. On June 23, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act (DRIVE Act), which is a 6 year federal highway program, was unveiled. The act would invest 32 billion dollars more than would be achieved by maintaining the current funding levels. Congress will continue short term extensions unless a long term transportation funding package, like DRIVE, is agreed upon. The house approved the FY16 Transportation Housing and Urban Development Funding Bill, and the transportation funding is expected to remain stable. 5. OTHER BUSINESS a. Presentation from Iowa DOT District 6 staff on significant projects in the urbanized area Schnoebelen displayed a power point presentation. He presented a list of projects in the area. He explained that the district is studying the I-380 corridor at the state legislature’s request. One such study was the Iowa Commuter Transportation Study which investigates the commuter needs of the I-380 corridor. Some of the recommendations that came out of that study included an interregional express bus service, subscription bus services, car pool programs, and a van pool programs. In addition, statewide ride matching software is in the process of being purchased. This fall, the Iowa DOT is applying for an ICAAP grant (clean air grant) which can contribute to transportation funding. Park and ride activity was studied specifically, and locations for park and rides are being considered along the I-380 corridor. An intermodal study, nicknamed: “Big MO”, is also underway for the corridor that will look at traffic mitigation strategies and evaluate those strategies via a cost-benefit analysis. “Big MO” is a DOT lead study through one of their consultants. The commuter study has several sub- committees of which Neumann is a member of one of them. The study gives special consideration on how to best handle traffic flow during the construction of the I-380/I-80 interchange. The construction period may be an opportune time to introduce and increase commuter adoption of alternative forms of transportation. Schnoebelen’s PowerPoint contained diagrams of current plans for the I-380/I-80 interchange reconstruction project as well as crash data associated with the interchange. Throgmorton asked if speeds were reduced if safety would be improved. Schnoebelen responded that most of the accidents at the interchange are not speed related, but that is a consideration. Schnoebelen continued that there will be no loops in the new interchange’s turbine style design. The FHWA has approved the concept through the interchange justification report process. The interchange’s environmental documents have also been approved. In addition, the DOT commission has approved the project in the 5 year program with construction beginning in 2019, and a public information meeting will be held on September 29 in preparation for the right of way acquisition process. Payne voiced that she knows the Forevergreen Road project is planned to begin in 2019 but sought clarification as to when the I-380 project will begin. Schnoebelen responded that although the I-380 interchange project is also planned to begin in 2019 the I-380 interchange project will start with off system construction until the Forevergreen project is completed. Gill asked how long it will take to complete the I-80/I-380 interchange project. Schnoebelen replied that the project will take 4-5 years to complete. It may be possible to complete the project more quickly as long as it doesn’t increase project costs or put too great a strain on traffic flow. Throgmorton inquired as to the standing of the proposed Amtrak route going to Omaha. Cutler answered that the environmental impact study is still underway and funding has yet to be identified for the project. Illinois has already completed their environmental study. Throgmorton questioned how much funding was required to implement the Amtrak route, how that compares to the money being spent on the I-80/I-380 project, and asked why we’re investing so much on highway construction and not on rail. Schnoebelen stated that, according to their findings, a 5% reduction of traffic off the highway onto passenger rail would represent a very high ridership. Even with this amount of reduction, capacity and safety issues on the highways would remain. Ralston brought up that the CRANDIC railroad along with the MPO and DOT is studying the feasibility of passenger rail on the CRANDIC line between the Eastern Iowa Airport and Iowa City. This is a very recent occurrence. Throgmorton stated that these considerations clearly relate to his previous point on alternatives. The Amtrak and CRANDIC rail projects could have an impact on future development patterns and traffic volumes. Dobyns sought clarification on whether or not the CRANDIC passenger rail and the express bus service are the two primary options under consideration. Schnoebelen replied that at this point in time no options have been eliminated from the discussion. Rettig suggested that it is not an either or question because both are needed. Rettig continued by saying that we have to be more visionary. We cannot rely on single person automobile traffic as a solution to all of our transportation issues. Donahue asked if the Board has access to the DOT’s PowerPoint so that they can show it to their councils. Ralston stated that he can get it from the DOT and make it available on the MPOJC website. b. Report from Johnson County staff on significant projects in Johnson County Parker reviewed recent and future construction projects within the County. He stated that his department’s goal is to provide the level of service residents expect as well as to provide a safe route for drivers. Donahue asked how the road use tax has helped accelerate secondary road programs. Parker replied that the road use tax bill was signed in March, but they had not yet received their first disbursement. The tax accelerated the Sutliff Road project because they were able to spend next year’s road use tax revenue. The tax should bring an additional $1 to $1.3 million dollars in annual revenue to the county. c. Update from the Johnson County citizen representative on East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) activities Aaron Granquist expressed his gratitude for being reappointed to his position. He pointed out that ECICOG is represented in the Corridor Commuter Transportation Steering Committee by Doug Elliot (the executive director of ECICOG) who serves as the chair. He also mentioned that ECICOG is exploring future branding options with Iowa’s Creative Corridor. The City of Coralville has contracted with ECICOG to develop the Clear Creek Watershed Management Authority. The draft agreement and bylaws have reached a final draft and are under local legal review. Approval is expected in mid-July. ECICOG was awarded a contract to update Johnson County’s comprehensive plan this fiscal year. Finally, ECICOG continues to perform development review on behalf of Shueyville, Iowa. 6. ADJOURNMENT Rettig announced that the first Johnson County Community ID will be issued by the auditor’s office at the Johnson County Administration Building on July 17, 2015. Motion to adjourn made by Gill; Payne seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 5:45 PM.