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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.13.15 TTAC Minutes APPROVED MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015 -10:30 AM EMMA HARVAT HALL, IOWA CITY MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Ellen Habel, Dan Holderness, Vicky Robrock Iowa City: Geoff Fruin, Jason Havel, Ron Knoche, Mark Rummel, Chris O’Brien Johnson County: Tom Brase, Greg Parker North Liberty: Dean Wheatley Tiffin: Michon Jackson University Heights: Louise From University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey, Chet Wieland Iowa DOT: Catherine Cutler RTBC: Terry Dahms ECICOG: None FHWA: None STAFF PRESENT: Brad Neumann, Kent Ralston, Darian Nagle-Gamm, David Sweeney 1. CALL TO ORDER; RECOGNIZE ALTERNATES; CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES Neumann called the meeting to order at 10:30 and recognized Chet Wieland as an alternate for Sadie Griner (University of Iowa) and Ellen Habel as an alternate for Kelly Hayworth (Coralville). Jackson moved to approve the minutes for the Committee meeting on November 4, 2014; Holderness seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA Ralston updated the Committee on the resignation of Kris Ackerson from the MPOJC staff. He explained that Sarah Walz was hired to oversee bicycle and pedestrian planning activities. Neumann recognized new member Geoff Fruin, Assistant City Manager for the City of Iowa City, as well as the promotion of Ron Knoche to Public Works Director and Jason Havel to City Engineer for the City of Iowa City. 3. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5307 TRANSIT OPERATING FORMULA FUNDING APPORTIONMENT FOR FY2015 AND TRANSIT STATISTICS FOR FY2014 Neumann explained that $2.4 million was available to MPOJC for transit operating assistance in FY2015. These funds are apportioned between Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit, and University of Iowa Cambus and is based on a formula giving equal weight to operating and maintenance costs, locally determined income, revenue miles, 2 and fare revenue. Neumann explained that the performance statistic “Operating Deficit Per Trip” indicated actual operating cost after fare, the balance of which is covered through state and federal subsidies, and local revenues and taxes. He asked for a motion to approve funding apportionment pending one possible correction to a figure for Iowa City. Parker moved to approve the recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board; O’Brien seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 4. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING ADOPTION OF A REVISED MPO COMPLETE STREETS POLICY Ralston presented a draft of the MPOJC’s Complete Streets Policy, which was revised after review by the National Complete Streets Coalition, and which is to be included in applications for Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds. Knoche asked how exceptions to the policy would be determined, especially considering that applications for funding are typically made before projects reach design stage. In this case, Ralston said, the policy would allow for some back-and-forth between MPO staff, project applicants, and the Committee. He indicated that the new language of the policy essentially formalizes current practice. Parker moved to approve the recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board; Jackson seconded the motion. The motion passed, with Wheatley opposed. 5. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE FEDERAL FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION MAP Ralston explained that proposed transportation projects must be located on designated federal aid roadways in order to utilize federal funding. When the urbanized area boundary was adjusted in 2010, the urban roadway functional classification no longer extended to the boundary, resulting in several segments of roadway that were not eligible for funding. Formal approval of changes to roadway classification would allow the MPOJC to utilize federal funding for projects along the entirety of these roads. Wheatley moved to approve the recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board; Holderness seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 6. UPDATE ON THE MPO SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM (STP) AND TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM (TAP) GRANT APPLICATION AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) SCHEDULES Neumann outlined tentative timelines for the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding process for FY2019-2020, as well as the timeline for adopting projects into the FY2016-2020 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which formalizes which projects receive federal funds, and when funding is received. The MPO estimated that $5.4 million would be available in STP funds and $890,000 would be available in TAP funds for FY2019-2020, and anticipated that a total of $8.7 million would be allocated through the TIP, which includes transit funding. 7. UPDATE ON THE MPO TRANSPORTATION PLANNING WORK PROGRAM SCHEDULE Ralston outlined the timeline for documenting FY2016 projects in the MPOJC Transportation Planning Work Program. He said that the MPO would begin soliciting projects in February, and that he would bring the document before the Committee at its March meeting for approval. 3 8. UPDATE ON THE IOWA DOT I-380 CORRIDOR TRANSPORTATION SCHEDULE Neumann updated the Committee on the transportation study for the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids I-380 corridor, which the Iowa DOT recently completed. The study recommended four commuter improvements which could be implemented in combination or individually. The most expensive of these was the inter-regional, fixed-route express bus. The study also recommended a subscription bus service which would primarily serve specific employment centers, as well as formalized van pooling and carpooling alternatives. Neumann said that the Iowa Legislature, which requested the study, is supportive of the formation of an implementation committee to identify the preferred alternatives and system operator, as well as funding options. 9. UPDATE ON IOWA DOT PARK AND RIDE SYSTEM PLAN Neumann updated the Committee on the completion of the Iowa DOT Park and Ride System Plan, which identifies existing and potential park and ride locations across Iowa with the goal of developing a formal statewide system. The Iowa Department of Transportation identified potential park and ride locations in North Liberty and Coralville, and Neumann said the DOT would look to partner with those communities to develop those properties. Long-term, a State website would help users locate parking locations and shared-ride opportunities. Neumann noted the potential for the Park and Ride System Plan to tie into potential commuter improvements in the I-380 corridor. 10. OTHER BUSINESS Knoche explained that the Gateway Project at Dubuque Street and Park Road has moved to the design phase with construction scheduled to begin in Spring 2016. He stated that plans for the Dubuque Street pedestrian bridge over I-80 would be brought before the City Council at the March meeting. Brase stated that all fares for Johnson County SEATS program are now $2. Havel updated the Committee on the 1st Avenue grade separation project, which would begin receiving bids on March 17. He noted that this project will include a road diet on 1st Avenue, and that engineering department was also considering applying the road diet to Mormon Trek Boulevard. Wieland stated that the University was taking bids for the installation of steam lines at Grand Avenue and Riverside Drive, as well as for the reconstruction of Hawkins Drive from 2nd Street in Coralville to the Finkbine Commuter Lot. Habel said that Coralville was beginning the planning process for the area west of Coral Ridge Avenue and east of I-380 with the first public input meeting to be conducted on January 21. McClatchey stated that the new residence hall on Grand Avenue was slated to open in fall 2015. Wheatley said that plans for Liberty High School were being modified to accommodate anticipated traffic demands. Cutler said that the Iowa DOT Commission would conduct its first public input meeting on April 14 in Bettendorf. Holderness explained that a flood mitigation project on 5th Street in Coralville would bid in February, along with a project related to the 808 on 5th mixed-use development. He 4 stated that these projects were slated for completion in August and that portions of 5th Street would be closed for the majority of the construction season. In addition, he said that the roundabout planned at the intersection of Holiday Road and 12th Avenue would bid in June. 11. ADJOURNMENT Knoche motioned to adjourn; Parker seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 11:10.