HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.20.16 TTAC Minutes
APPROVED
MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 -10:30 AM
EMMA HARVAT HALL, IOWA CITY, CITY HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Dan Holderness, Vicki Robrock, Kelly
Hayworth
Iowa City: Mark Rummel, Chris O’Brien, Jason Havel,
Geoff Fruin
Johnson County: Tom Brase, Greg Parker
North Liberty: Dean Wheatley
Tiffin: None
University Heights: Wally Heitman
University of Iowa: None
RTBC: Terry Dahms
Iowa DOT: None
ECICOG: None
FHWA: None
STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Darian Nagle-Gamm, Emily Bothell,
Sarah Walz
OTHERS PRESENT: Dotti Maher (University Heights City Council)
1. CALL TO ORDER; RECOGNIZE ALTERNATES; CONSIDER APPROVAL OF
MEETING MINUTES
There were no alternates at this meeting. Brase motioned to approve the meeting
minutes. Wheatley seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
3. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD
REGARDING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FY17-20 MPOJC TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) – REGARDING REPURPOSED FUNDING FOR
CORALVILLE CLEAR CREEK TRAIL PHASES 6 & 7
Neumann explained that the city of Coralville requested this amendment for the FY17-20
TIP. Coralville would like to repurpose these funds under the Deer Creek/I-380 Phase 6
& 7 trail projects that are currently in the TIP.
Neumann explained that there would be a public hearing for this at the next MPO Board
meeting.
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Dahms asked if the money already funded was enough to complete the entire project.
Hayworth responded that there would be enough money to complete the project.
Holderness also informed the group they were still working with the DOT to obtain
specific permits for the two separate bridges involved in the project.
Wheatley motioned to approve. Dahms seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.
4. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD
REGARDING FEDERAL FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION CHANGES FOR MPOJC
URBANIZED AREA ROADWAYS
Bothell explained that the MPO had been working with the Iowa DOT to update the
Federal Functional Classification System Map for the Iowa City Urbanized area that
identifies which roads are federal aid routes. Only 35% of the roadways in the Iowa City
area can be listed in the Federal Functional Classification system, and currently the
urbanized area is approximately 17 miles under the 35% threshold.
MPOJC staff solicited for roadways to be added to the Federal Functional Classification
system and received approximately 28 miles of roadways for consideration. Of the 28
miles of roadways requested, only 15.51 were ‘pre-approved’ by the Iowa DOT.
Ralston informed the group that the Iowa DOT has confirmed that having a project in a
community’s CIP does in fact demonstrate commitment to that project, although the Iowa
DOT would still need to review and approve those projects for eligibility.
Staff asked for a recommendation on the proposed Federal Functional Classification
revisions to the Policy Board.
Holderness motioned to approve. Fruin seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.
5. DISCUSSION REGARDING SCORING CRITERIA FOR SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT (STBG) AND TRANSPORTATION
ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM (TAP) FUNDS ALLOCATED BY MPOJC
Ralston informed the group that grant applications for FY2020-2022 MPOJC Surface
Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program (formerly known as the Surface
Transportation Program), and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding will be
available this winter. As such, Staff wanted to provide the committee with the opportunity
to review the current STBG and TAP scoring criteria and provide comments.
Ralston explained that this year’s review of the scoring criteria is different than pervious
reviews in that the board adopted new scoring criteria for the Long Range Transportation
Plan in March 2016. The scoring criterion makes the connection between the guiding
principles that are shaping the plan and the scoring process encouraged by the Iowa
DOT and Federal Highway Administration.
The approved scoring criteria used to rank the LRTP projects were largely based on the
existing STBG and TAP scoring criteria, although there are several key differences. The
Long Range Transportation Plan scoring criteria awarded more points to maintain or
improve existing facilities, but in the STBG and TAP funding criteria, new road/trail
alignment projects are awarded more points. The adopted Long Range Plan scoring
criteria awards points in low income neighborhoods, but does not award points for
reductions in vehicle delay in intersections as does the current STBG scoring.
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MPOJC staff suggests using the Long Range Transportation Plan scoring criteria as a
basis to revise the scoring criteria for the STBG and TAP funding since the two will have
many similarities.
Ralston clarified that these scoring criteria are not all that different from the current
criteria for Long Range Plan, thus could be used for both. The criteria are merely a tool
to help guide the scoring process and are not set in stone.
Some objection occurred regarding the basis of scoring criteria, and many suggested
specifying transportation in each scoring criteria as some criteria appeared too broad.
As recommended by the committee, Ralston agreed to take a couple of projects that
were already approved and apply the Long Range Transportation Plan scoring criteria to
them to see how they would change.
Wheatley objected to using the same criteria for both the Long Range Plan and the
STBG and TAP program funding.
6. UPDATE ON THE LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN REVISION PROCESS
AND DISCUSSION OF DRAFT MATERIALS
Nagle-Gamm updated the group on current activity from the Long Range Plan. MPOJC
completed the first phase of the planning process which involved a needs assessment
and facilitating public input and moved on to the second phase, which is writing the plan.
Nagle-Gamm mentioned that MPOJC will soon be developing a picture of growth for the
surrounding communities for use in the traffic model. This model update will also include
a new transit component that is expected to be helpful.
The updated Long Range Plan will also include an updated arterial streets map. A few
updates include an extension on Forevergreen Road from 12th Avenue to Dubuque
Street and the new urban design of North Liberty Road north of Dubuque Street.
MPOJC is working with the DOT to determine what performance measures should be
included in the plan. Nagle-Gamm mentioned developing a baseline target and goals.
Nagle-Gamm provided the Financial Planning and Passenger Transportation chapters
for review.
Holderness suggested that adding a map of all of the projects that have been funded
would add to the effectiveness of the plan.
7. UPDATE ON RECENT ACTIVITIES
Neumann indicated that there was an update of activities list in the packet. There were
no questions or comments regarding the recent activities update.
8. OTHER BUSINESS
Parker updated the group on the status of the Hwy 965 bridge work. Repairs should be
finished by mid-November. Brase provided an update regarding North Liberty’s new
fixed route transit system. SEATS will be providing the service for North Liberty to beg in
in October.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Parker moved to adjourn; Heitman seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at
11:37.