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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.25.16 UAPB Minutes1 MINUTES APPROVED JCCOG URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD WEDNESDAY MAY 25, 2016 – 4:30 PM IOWA CITY CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Jill Dodds Iowa City: Susan Mims, Pauline Taylor, Terry Dickens Johnson County: Janelle Rettig, Mike Carberry North Liberty: Amy Nielsen, Terry Donahue Tiffin: Steve Berner University Heights: Wally Heitman University of Iowa: David Ricketts STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Darian Nagle-Gamm, Frank Waisath OTHERS PRESENT: Jason Havel (Iowa City Staff) 1. CALL TO ORDER Mims called the meeting to order at 4:30PM a. Recognize alternates No alternates present. b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Motion to approve meeting minutes was made by Taylor and seconded by Donahue. The motion was unanimously approved. c. Set date of next meeting The next meeting was tentatively set for Wednesday July 13th, 2016 in North Liberty. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA None Jill Dodds arrived at 4:35. 3. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. Consider a resolution approving the FY2017 MPOJC Transportation Planning Work Program Nagle-Gamm discussed the work done to solicit projects for the Transportation Planning Work Program through local agency requests and public input. The Transportation Technical Advisory Committee had unanimously approved the Work Program at its May 18th meeting. A motion to approve the FY2017 Transportation Planning Work Program was made by Rettig and seconded by Nielsen. The motion was unanimously approved. 2 b. Consider approval of the Draft FY2017-2020 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Neumann discussed the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) projects that are included for FY2020, including two STP projects for Iowa City and a TAP project for Coralville. Neumann also noted that several projects have carried over from FY2016 to FY2017 due to the software used by the DOT for the TIP. Neumann indicated that the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) unanimously recommended approval of the draft TIP at its May 18th meeting and that the final TIP is due in July. Rettig asked for clarification about the Clear Creek Trail project extending from Coralville to Tiffin. Ralston noted that it is a carry-over from FY2016. The motion to approve the Draft FY2017-2020 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program projects list was made by Rettig and seconded by Nielsen. The motion was unanimously approved. c. Update on the 2017-2045 Long Range Transportation Plan revision process and consider prioritization of a fiscally constrained capital infrastructure projects list Nagle-Gamm summarized feedback from community workshops and online surveys, referencing the displays brought to the meeting and reviewed the top five responses for possible projects. Future projects were scored and broken into four categories: Road & Bridge, Bike & Ped, DOT, and Illustrative. The Dodge Street & Forevergreen Interchange projects being undertaken by the Iowa DOT were moved to the DOT projects list to avoid duplication by local agencies. In the case of the Forevergreen Road project between the proposed interchange and Highway 965, and because the Dodge Street/Highway 1 project is expected to be substantially funded through yet unidentified DOT sources. This results in $18 million in funding becoming available for other projects near the fiscal cut-off. Nagle-Gamm explained how more affordable projects below the funding cut off could be moved ahead of more expensive ones that cannot be fully financed. Ralston explained how the fiscally constrained projects list was broken up into 10 year increments and funding sources are based on 10 year averages. Rettig requested clarity on use of the ‘gap’ number for explaining the need for DOT fuel tax funding for local projects during this political moment. The motion to approve the fiscally constrained capital infrastructure projects list was made by Berner and seconded by Heitman. The motion was unanimously approved. d. Update on the Iowa DOT I-380 corridor transportation study Neumann provided an update on the status and results of the corridor transportation study being undertaken by the Express Bus Service Subcommittee and indicated that three possible routes have been identified that could service stops in Cedar Rapids (downtown and Kirkwood), Coralville (intermodal facility), and Iowa City (downtown interchange, University of Iowa campus and Hospitals and Clinics). Neumann noted that the DOT held two open houses on May 17 and 18. DOT indicated that service should 3 begin in 2018, before the I-80/I-380 interchange construction begins. Neumann stated that the DOT may provide funding for the service until 2025, while construction on the interchange is being completed and that area transportation providers would be responsible for service after that time. Heitman asked if a stop at the Cedar Rapids Airport would be included in the route. Neumann responded that there was not enough demand for service to the airport, but a shuttle from the Kirkwood stop may be possible. e. Update on the CRANDIC Passenger Rail Study Neumann summarized the work done in the Phase 1 study and recommend moving forward with a Phase II study that would focus on potential upgrades to 8.1 miles of the CRANDIC line between Forevergreen Road in North Liberty and Gilbert Street in Iowa City. Neumann noted that Phase II will also explore the location of approximately 6 stations/stops and determine a schedule for service during peak and non-peak times. CRANDIC has agreed to eliminate freight service along this portion of the line and to share administrative and maintenance facilities in order to reduce costs and improve safety along the route. The cost of the Phase II study is approximately $50,000, which would be split between stakeholders. Donahue asked how much work would need to be done on the tracks. Neumann responded that ties and rails would need to be replaced and would allow passenger rail cars to travel at about 39 mph. Heitman asked if future upgrades to the line would be needed to accommodate higher speed rail service. Neumann explained that high speed rail service along this route would not likely be included in the study. Terry Dickens arrived at 5:05. 4. OTHER BUSINESS a. Update from Iowa City Staff on significant community projects Havel presented updates on three major projects being undertaken by Iowa City. The streetscape improvement of Washington Street downtown is being split into two phases and is scheduled to be completed by September 2016. Carberry asked about the offshoot onto Linn Street outlined in the plan diagram. Havel responded that it was associated with utility work being done under the sidewalk. Havel also provided an update on the First Avenue railroad grade separation and displayed photos of the work being done. The rail line will be raised with First Avenue passing beneath it. The bridge will be constructed during June and a road closure may be possible in September, near the end of the project. Havel noted the Gateway Project is scheduled to begin on May 31 and be split into three major parts. Park Road will be redone first during 2016, to be completed around the time Hancher is reopened. Work on the Park Road bridge and Dubuque Street will be done during 2016-2017 and connections with nearby streets and private accesses will be completed in 2018 to wrap up the project. Taylor asked about how the construction would impact traffic flow along Dubuque 4 Street. Havel responded that traffic would be restricted to one lane in each direction for the duration of the project, with minor short-term closures during the project. Mims thanked Havel and Iowa City Staff for the update on the projects and was glad to see these major projects underway. Rettig provided an update to Board members about work to be done Highway 965, noting that a crack was discovered on the supports for the south bound lane during routine inspection. Rettig noted the south bound lane is now closed and a weight limit of 20 tons has been imposed for the bridge. The bridge deck was scheduled to be replaced in 2018, but will now be replaced as soon as possible with VJ Engineering making it their top priority and reallocating all necessary assets to complete the project. 5. ADJOURNMENT The motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Dickens and seconded by Rettig. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 5:20 PM.