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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.20.18 TTAC Minutes APPROVED MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018 -10:30 AM EMMA HARVAT HALL, IOWA CITY, CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Scott Larson, Dan Holderness, Vicki Robrock Iowa City: Mark Rummel, Darian Nagle-Gamm, Jason Havel, Ron Knoche, Scott Sovers Johnson County: Tom Brase, Greg Parker North Liberty: Dean Wheatley Tiffin: Doug Boldt University Heights: Louise From University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey Iowa DOT: Hugh Holak ECICOG: Brock Grenis RTBC: Bob Oppliger FHWA: None STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Emily Bothell, Sarah Walz OTHERS PRESENT: None 1. CALL TO ORDER; RECOGNIZE ALTERNATES; CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES There were three alternates at the meeting; Scott Larson for Kelly Hayworth (Coralville), Hugh Holak for Catherine Cutler (DOT), Scott Sovers for Simon Andrew (Iowa City) Knoche motioned to approve the meeting minutes; Holderness 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 LOCALLY DETERMINED PROJECTS FOR THE MPOJC FY2019 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROGRAM Ralston informed the group that, as required by the FHW A and DOT, the MPOJC compiles a list of work program projects for the upcoming fiscal year. Entities were asked to review the list of projects and consider a recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board. Holderness motioned to approve the recommendation; Wheatley seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2 4. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BO ARD REGARDING THE MPOJC FY2019 TRANSIT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS Neumann informed the group that the Program of Projects (POP) includes all programmed and anticipated FTA funding projects. The POP is published by the Board and is subject to a public hearing. The POP is also included in each transit agency’s Consolidated Funding Application to the Iowa DOT and in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) where project funding is identified. Staff requested a recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board. Brase motioned to approve the amendment; Larson seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 5. UPDATE ON FEDERAL-AID-SWAP DISCUSSION AND TIMELINE Ralston informed the group that House File 203 was signed into law during the last legislative session and permits the Iowa DOT commission to allow for a Federal-Aid-Swap. The swap allows road and bridge projects, that would normally be funded with federal transportation dollars, to be swapped for state funding. The current swap policy is structured so that the Urbanized Area Policy Board decides whether the entire metro area participates in the swap; not individual communities. Wheatley asked how the use of Davis-Bacon wages compares to current prevailing wages. Ralston answered that his understanding is that in many instances prevailing wages are near or higher than Davis-Bacon requirements. Currently, individual municipalities cannot require Davis-Bacon wages. Ralston further noted that only Surface Transportation Block Grant funding is currently subject to the swap, not Transportation Alternatives Program funding. 6. UPDATE FROM DOT STAFF ON SIGNIFICANT TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN THE METRO AREA Holak informed the group that the Forevergreen Road interchange substructure on the bridge over I-380 is complete. Overnight closures are expected in order to place girders. The bridge deck is expected to be poured in May of 2018. A summer closure on Forevergreen Road will occur. Due to additional construction on Kansas Avenue, no detours exist and Forevergreen will remain closed through the fall. Tree clearing for the I-80 and I-380 interchange is underway. Fiber optic relocation is set to begin and will take 2-3 months to complete. Ralston noted that the DOT has been studying the widening of I-380 north of Penn Street in North Liberty to Highway 30 in Cedar Rapids. The study is in the early stages and stops south of Highway 30 to avoid the I-380 and Highway 30 interchange. Wheatley asked about the missing section of Highway 30 between Cedar Rapids and Tama. Holak explained the segment from Highway 21 to the west towards Tama is underway and being handled by the DOT District 1. 7. UPDATE ON 2018 MPOJC TRANSPORTATION PLANNING DIVISION ANNUAL REPORT 3 Ralston explained that the report outlines MPOJC work product. Due to short staffing, the metro area bike plan is being delayed. The North Corridor Study between Coralville and Iowa City is also nearing completion. Ralston noted that all remaining projects should be complete this fiscal year. 8. OTHER BUSINESS From informed the group that investors have expressed interest in putting a restaurant on the top of the new Marriott Hotel in University Heights. The addition would require a change to the existing zoning. Parker informed the group that work on the Mehaffey Bridge Trail is underway. Brase noted that the county has received a new ADA paratransit bus. Wheatley informed the group that North Liberty will be building a new elementary school to the west of the South Slope Communications Building. A roundabout will be constructed near the school. Sovers informed the group that the two-construction season pedestrian mall improvements project is out to bid. The Dubuque street corridor is to be worked on this year and the College Street corridor next year. Bob Oppliger noted that May is National Bike Month and the applications for a $100 grant are due April 2. Havel explained that the Gateway Project is ongoing and the closure of Park Road is scheduled for May 1st. An overlay project of Highway 6 starting in Coralville to Sturgis Corner Drive in Iowa City and on Governor Street from Burlington Street to Dodge Street is scheduled to begin. Myrtle Avenue and Riverside Drive is scheduled to be signalized with the addition of left turn lanes on Myrtle. Holderness noted that the First Avenue improvement project from 6th Street to 9th Street has started and is scheduled to be done by November. The Arena Project is scheduled to start April 1st. Larson informed the group that Coral Ridge Avenue construction from Oakdale Boulevard to Forevergreen Road has started and traffic control is in place. Coral Ridge Avenue will be closed from the north side of Oakdale Boulevard to the south side of Forevergreen Road until November. The Clear Creek Trail phases 6 and 7 are underway. Rummel noted that the bike share program, new bus shelters, and charging station projects are all ongoing. Nagle-Gamm informed the group that Iowa City has received 8 new buses that will be operational soon. Brock Grenis noted the RFP for the Iowa City to Cedar Rapids bus service has not been released, but is coming soon. Holak noted that for the I-80/I-380 Interchange Project there will be a local joint office between the DOT and HDR who is doing the general engineering consulting. The office will be on James Street in Coralville. 4 9. ADJOURNMENT Wheatley motioned to adjourn; Nagle-Gamm seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:30 AM.