Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.28.16 UAPB Minutes1 MINUTES APPROVED MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board Wednesday, September 28th, 2016 – 4:30 PM City of Coralville – Council Chambers MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Jill Dodds, Tom Gill Iowa City: Marian Karr, Terry Dickens, Geoff Fruin, John Thomas Johnson County: Janelle Rettig, Mike Carberry North Liberty: Amy Nielsen, Terry Donahue Tiffin: Steve Berner University Heights: Wally Heitman University of Iowa: Dave Ricketts STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Darian Nagle-Gamm, Emily Bothell OTHERS PRESENT: Aaron Moniza 1. CALL TO ORDER Berner called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM a. Recognize alternates Geoff Fruin for Rockne Cole (Iowa City) and Marian Karr for Pauline Taylor (Iowa City). b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Motion to approve was made by Dickens; Donahue seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. c. Set date of next meeting The next meeting was set for Wednesday, November 16th, the location is to be determined. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA* None 3. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. Public hearing and consideration of an amendment to the FY17-20 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program Neumann explained that the City of Coralville requested this amendment to the FY17-20 TIP. Coralville would like to repurpose $145,364 in earmarked funds from the Clear Creek Trail Phase V Project to the Deer Creek/I-380 Phase 6 & 7 trail projects, currently in the TIP. The TTAC unanimously recommended approval of the amendment. i. Public Hearing There was no public comment. 2 ii. Consider an amendment to the FY17-20 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program regarding repurposed funding for Coralville Clear Creek Trail Phases 6 & 7 Motion to approve the amendment was made by Rettig; Gill seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. b. Consideration of Federal Functional Classification changes for MPOJC urbanized area roadways Bothell informed the Board that the MPO has been working with the Iowa DOT to update the Federal Functional Classification map for the Iowa City Urbanized Area to identify 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. Approximately 15.51 miles, of the 28 miles of roadways submitted for consideration, were ‘pre-approved’ by the Iowa DOT. Bothell recommended the Board amend the Federal Functional Classification system map to incorporate the ‘pre-approved’ roadways. Nielsen motioned to approve; Thomas seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. c. Discussion of 5307 transit funding apportionment formula Neumann explained that the University of Iowa Cambus requested an amendment to the current formula to apportion Federal Transit Administration section 5307 funding. Funds are dispersed based on population and population density. Ricketts discussed the apportionment formula for Cambus with the Board and explained its background. Since 1989, a separate fair box revenue category was created for use in the formula. Because Cambus does not have a fair box, they do not participate in this section of the funding and Cambus purchases bus passes from both Iowa City and Coralville. Cambus discounts these passes and resells them at a lower price. With the addition of the Small Transit Intensive Cities (STIC) category in 2007, Cambus helped the area achieve five out of the six STIC criteria according to Ricketts. Ricketts suggested reconsideration of the formula. After reviewing possible formula changes, each entity represented on the Board stated that they were content with the formula and did not want to proceed with bringing this issue to a vote at the next meeting. d. Discussion regarding scoring criteria for Surface transportation Black Grant (STBG) Program and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds allocated to MPOJC Ralston informed the Board that grant applications for FY2021-FY2022 MPOJC Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding will be available this winter. Staff wanted to provide an opportunity for the Board to review the current STBG and TA Set-Aside scoring criteria. Ralston explained that this year’s review of the scoring criteria is different than most in that the Board recently approved the use of new scoring criteria to prioritize capital transportation projects for inclusion in the Long Range Transportation Plan to be adopted this upcoming May. The scoring criterion connects the guiding principles that are shaping the plan and the scoring process encouraged by the Iowa DOT and Federal Highway Administration. 3 The approved scoring criteria used to rank the LRTP projects were largely based on the existing STBG and TAP scoring criteria, while there are several key differences. The Long Range Transportation Plan scoring criteria awarded more points for projects to maintain or improve existing facilities, but in the STBG and TAP funding criteria, new road/trail alignment projects were awarded more points. The adopted Long Range Plan scoring criteria awards points for projects in low income neighborhoods, but does not award points for reductions in vehicle delay in intersections as does the current STBG scoring. Staff recommended using the Long Range Transportation Plan scoring criteria as a basis to revise the scoring criteria for the STBG and TA Set-Aside funding since the two will have many connections. Ralston also affirmed that the scoring criterion is merely a tool to help guide the scoring process. A majority of the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) agreed with staff’s recommendation to use the LRTP scoring criteria as the basis for the STBG and TA Set-Aside scoring criteria at their September 20th meeting, although several entities voiced concern/opposition. Ralston finally added that the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee requested a comparison of how several pervious MPO funded projects ranked using the existing STBG and TA Set-Aside scoring criteria versus how they would rank using the recently approved LRTP scoring criteria. Ralston asked for direction on how the Board would like Staff to proceed with the preparation of STBG and TA Set-Aside scoring criteria. Rettig noted she was not in favor of the proposed criteria to provide more points to existing corridors and thought it was a move in the wrong direction. A majority of The Board then agreed to move forward with using the LRTP scoring as a basis for the new STBG and TA Set-Aside criteria. Ralston indicated this item would be discussed at the next Board meeting. e. Update and discussion on Draft Long Range Transportation Plan chapters Nagle-Gamm mentioned that staff has been busy finalizing the framework for the Plan, updating the travel demand model, updating the arterial streets map, and drafting content for the plan. Nagle-Gamm explained that staff introduced a new framework for the plan which is a departure from previous plans. The framework was drafted from best practices from across the country and directives from the DOT/Federal Highway Administration. The Plan will be based on guiding principles, will include performance measures, and will be a more “user-friendly” document for policy makers, staff, and the public. Nagle-Gamm stated that four draft chapters were included for review: System Preservation, Choice, Financial Planning, and Passenger Transportation and asked for any comments on the materials. Thomas indicated that the format and layout were easy to follow and that the document could be easily understood by the public. Nagle-Gamm explained that additional draft chapters would be made available as they are completed this fall and the document in its entirety would be available this winter. f. Update on CRANDIC passenger rail study Neumann updated the group on the current conditions for the CRANDIC rail study. After completing Phase I, stakeholders proceeded with Phase II focusing on service from North Liberty to Iowa City. The rail would no longer be freight-based, but passenger- based. Future steps include ridership and revenue forecast studies, benefit-cost 4 analysis, financial plan, and implementation schedule. The Board was supportive of the passenger rail project and stated that each member entity should review the Phase II study and discuss with their respective Board or Council to determine how best to proceed. Neumann indicated that MPO staff would continue to work with Iowa DOT and CRANDIC as well. 4. OTHER BUSINESS a. Update from Johnson County citizen representative to East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) Aaron Moniza updated the Board on ECICOG activities. Moniza reported on the rebranding of some transit and waste management programs. Moniza also reported on New Freedom program applications for mobility coordinators in Linn and Johnson Counties. Moniza announced that Iowa DOT and ECICOG will launch the CorridorRides program on October 20 at the NewBo Market in Cedar Rapids. b. Update on recent activities Rettig asked Staff to provide information on the New Freedom/JARC grant application for a mobility coordinator position for Johnson County. Neumann informed the Board that the application has been submitted and described the proposed position. Carberry asked about the proposed capital grant for vans that would be used in a late night or weekend program. Neumann indicated that a grant was not submitted for the vans. The hope was that the mobility coordinator could develop a program for the proposed vans at a later time. 5. ADJOURNMENT Rettig motioned to adjourn the meeting; Dickens seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 5:57.