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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.18.18 UAPB Minutes1 MINUTES MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board APPROVED Wednesday, July 18th, 2018 – 4:30 PM Johnson County Health and Human Services Building, Second Floor Conference Room 855 S. Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Meghann Foster Iowa City: Pauline Taylor, Rockne Cole, John Thomas, Eleanor Dilkes, Susan Mims Johnson County: Mike Carberry, Lisa Green-Douglass North Liberty: Terry Donahue, Chris Hoffman Tiffin: None University Heights: Dotti Maher University of Iowa: Jim Sayre ICCSD: Lori Roetlin STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Emily Bothell OTHERS PRESENT: Greg Parker - Johnson County Engineer, Newman Abuissa - Iowa DOT 1. CALL TO ORDER Donahue called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. a. Recognize alternates Eleanor Dilkes served as an alternate for Kingsley Botchway (Iowa City) and Dotti Maher served as an alternate for Louise From (University Heights). b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Motion to approve was made by Carberry; Sayre seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. c. Set date of next meeting The next meeting was tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, September 19th, hosted by North Liberty. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA* Green-Douglass asked whether the cost of Phase III of the Passenger Rail Study included the costs from the Rails-to-Trails study. Ralston explained that the Rails-to-Trails study is an auxiliary study with a separate scope and fee from the passenger rail study. Ralston also noted that he had sent an email to the administrative offices of each entity asking for funding for the both the passenger rail and trails studies combined. Green-Douglass expressed concerns with conducting the two studies simultaneously without considering right-of-way next to the rail and the potential for it to cancel out the effects of the original study. Ralston clarified the difference between the two studies, explaining that the trail study came out of discussions between the University, the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and the City of Iowa City without involvement of the MPO originally. Ralston explained that the trail study was an alternative to the rail study in case MPOJC entities decided not to add passenger rail 2 in the near future. The trail study focuses on the feasibility of removing rail and adding a bike trail, including determining ownership and other legal needs. Green-Douglass then asked how the amounts each entity would pay was determined. Ralston explained that just with the prior studies, the Iowa DOT would pay for one-third of the costs, CRANDIC would pay for another third, with MPOJC entities making up the rest of the funding for the rail study. The trail study is funded at the local level, with funding asked of the University, Iowa City, Coralville, Johnson County, and North Liberty. Tiffin and University Heights, two communities with the least to gain from the studies, have not been asked to help fund either study. 3. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. Public Hearing and consideration of resolutions of adoption and certification for the FY2019-2022 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program. i. Staff presentation of the FY2019-2022 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program Neumann informed the group that this was the annual Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for FY2019-2022. At the last meeting, the Board approved the draft TIP list for surface transportation and transit projects. All projects funded in FY18 but not completed or under contract in that time have been moved to FY19 with 4% added to the total costs for inflation. The University Heights’ Melrose Avenue project has also been included under FY22, along with North Liberty’s Highway 965 project as awarded by the Board last spring. All Iowa DOT projects within the TIP service area are also included through the request of the DOT. All projects under contract with the DOT have been removed. Changes to the FAST Act last year delayed TAP funding awards until this coming winter. Neumann also reminded the Board that they opted out of the federal-aid- swap so all projects follow federal guidelines as in the past. Neuman reported that a public notice for the TIP was posted thirty days in advance of the meeting and agencies identified in the public input process were informed. With no comments submitted, staff is requesting approval of the final FY2019-2022 TIP. Hoffman asked how set in stone the projects in the TIP were due to potential timing issues. Neumann replied that the projects are programmed in certain target years. While they can be completed later, it is hard to coordinate them sooner because an entity typically must move an existing project in the TIP to a later year. Hoffman then asked how the projects were timed. Neumann replied that the MPO funds new projects every two years. The projects are scored and ranked and presented to the Board for approval. The Board can adopt the projects as scored or they can move the projects around if they choose. After the Board approves the funding amounts, the MPO programs the funding amount into the two-year slot in the TIP but cannot program more than what is targeted each year by the Iowa DOT. Advanced construction is possible with approval from the Iowa DOT, but is rare. However, Coralville was able to do this with the 1st Avenue project after being awarded two rounds of funding in two consecutive years. Ralston added that the grant process was competitive, with only about half of requested projects being awarded funding in a given cycle. Additionally, to facilitate project completion, the MPO has historically awarded about 60% of project expenses rather than the 80% allowable, with agreements from the city administration to fund the rest of the project. Ralston also echoed Neumann’s point about advanced funding being rare, with only two occurrences in the past decade, and both with 3 funding awards in two consecutive funding cycles. Hoffman expressed concern about Highway 965 being funded so far out and having more phases to complete. ii. Public Hearing for the FY 2019-22 Transportation Improvement Program Donahue opened the floor to public comment. With no comment, Donahue closed the public hearing. iii. Consider a resolution adopting the FY2019-2022 Transportation Improvement Program for the Iowa City Urbanized Area and authorizing the MPO Chairperson to sign associated documents contained therein. Carberry moved to approve; Mims seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. iv. Consider a resolution certifying compliance with federal requirements for conducting the urban transportation planning process in the Iowa City Urbanized Area Hoffman moved to approve; seconded by Green-Douglass. The motion was approved unanimously. b. Consider Performance Measure Target Setting for the MPO as Required by the Federal Highway Administration The Federal Highway administration now requires that performance measure targets be approved each year. Ralston reminded the Board of the additional performance measure requirements, and introduced pavement and bridge targets as well as system performance and freight targets as outlined in the memo. This includes Highways 218, 6, and 1 as part of the National Highway System. For each measure the Board has two options, either to approve the state targets and discuss how the Board is supporting those as outlined in the TIP and the Long-Range Transportation Plan, or the Board can set its own quantifiable targets. MPOs only need to set four-year targets as outlined in the second column in the document. Currently MPO targets aren’t scrutinized by the federal government, but the DOT’s are, and this is subject to change. As with the safety targets, there are no current penalties for not meeting the targets or aligning the projects in the TIP but this is subject to change as targets are typically set with incentives or penalties. Due to the uncertainty in reporting requirements, time constraints and potential penalties, staff recommends adoption of the DOT targets. Should the Board approve the state’s targets, the Board can revisit the targets on an annual basis and if an incentive is found to setting the Board’s own targets, the Board can do so at that time. The Transportation Technical Advisory Committee agreed that the requirements were unclear and that they would recommend adopting the state’s targets. Cole asked if there were any other systems in place to evaluate programs. Ralston replied that the MPO has targets for safety and congestion in its criteria for project approval in the Long-Range Transportation Plan. Donahue asked if the MPO was requesting any action. Ralston replied that the MPO was simply looking for a consensus. Membership verbally agreed to follow the state targets. c. Update from Johnson County staff on significant transportation projects Parker provided a handout listing projects approved by the Board of Supervisors, known as the five-year construction program. The documents show the year each project is programmed, Iowa DOT identifiers, cost estimates, average annual daily traffic for the roadway segment, and the length of the project. Project 18a, the Mehaffey Bridge Trail is 4 under delay due to unforeseen soil circumstances regarding retaining walls; however, the project is still expected to finish before winter. Project 18b, the Ely Road segment between Highway 382 and North 140th Street, is expected to finish on time. 18c, Highway 965 Phase 2, is experiencing delays due to the additional requirements of the Iowa DOT to pave beyond the railroad tracks about 60 feet to meet federal requirements. Parker noted that the Swan Lake project is scheduled to be completed within the next 30 days and the County has multiple smaller bridge projects going on, including a reinforced concrete box project on Manor Road north of Highway 965 which is expected to be completed in the next 45 days. Straw Bridge Road is a fall letting. Bids were accepted for the Rapid Creek Road project and the County is working with the contractor to get that underway. Oak Crest Hill Road, a project that has been on the list for several years, construction was completed in time for RAGBRAI. IWV Road (18J) is under construction with plans to start paving in September. Highway 923 in front of the Johnson County Fairgrounds is in the design stages with work set to begin next summer. Ralston added that the County can apply for and does receive MPO funds for projects within the growth boundary, with the County receiving funds for the Mehaffey Ridge Road project. Carberry commented that there have been lots of complaints about Curtis Bridge Road because those living south of Shueyville need to use it to go north through Shueyville for access the rest of the county. The supervisors have been working with Shueyville, who is responsible for the road, to have the County pave the road and then turn it over to the City. Green-Douglass noted that twice in her two years on the Board, the County has moved up bridge projects due to poor conditions, including on Highway 965. Parker replied that the County tries to keep bridges maintained as efficiently as possible. Carberry added that Johnson County is fortunate to have a growing tax base as many Iowa counties are shrinking and cannot replace roads due to lack of funds. Parker noted that the County has 959.5 miles of roads and 230 bridges to maintain. d. Update from DOT District 6 Staff on I-380 & I-80 corridor projects Abuissa reported that the Forevergreen Road interchange is under construction with ramp grading to finish this year and paving to occur next year. Iowa DOT is also working on Highway 965 and the interchange with Interstate 80, adding turn lanes and adding capacity with plans to finish by the end of the year. The paving of shoulders on Highway 6 between Tiffin and Coralville is complete and the section of Highway 6 between Clear Creek and the Iowa City corporate limits is almost complete. The Iowa DOT is also working cooperatively with Iowa City to improve Governor Street between Burlington Street and Dodge Street with work beginning on the north section this week. The final project in Iowa City is on Highway 6 to Riverside Drive with curb repair, patching, and repaving. The Myrtle Avenue and Riverside Drive intersection is also underway as the contractor is adding turn lanes and traffic signals, with plans to complete by the end of this construction season. The I-80/I-380 interchange is underway with utility work and brush removal occurring now. Construction work will begin in 2019, including the relocation of Kansas Avenue in Tiffin. Paving of Forevergreen ramps will also be let later this month. A more detailed schedule of the project through 2024 can be found on the Iowa DOT website. The Iowa DOT is trying to accelerate the project by applying for an infrastructure grant from the federal government. The Iowa DOT is expecting about $50 million for project acceleration. The Iowa DOT is also working with the City of Coralville on potential changes to the 1st Avenue and I-80 interchange so that construction can begin once the funds become available. I-380 between I-80 and just north of Forevergreen Road will be expanded to 6 lanes, with an environmental study underway for expansion of I-380 to six lanes to Highway 30 in Cedar Rapids. Additionally, the Iowa DOT is looking at I-80 as a major thoroughfare between Iowa City and the Mississippi River and will expand I-80 between 5 Highway 1 and West Branch from four lanes to six lanes beginning in 2021. Carberry asked if the DOT planned to expand I-80 across the state to three lanes. Abuissa replied that Iowa City to the Mississippi River is the only stretch currently planned, though the state is studying a potential statewide expansion right now. Sayre commented about the back-up of traffic on the I-380 Interchange with Penn Street. Abuissa replied that the Iowa DOT is looking at the whole stretch between I-80 and Highway 30, including the bridges. Sayre then asked about the status of the bus service between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Abuissa deferred to Neumann, who reported that the service will be set by October with routes running every 30 minutes during peak times. The route fare was set at $3.50 per ride. Hoffman asked about the timing of the final I-380 study. Abuissa replied that the study is scheduled to be completed within the next year. Thomas asked about the funding for the I-80/I-380 interchange. Abuissa replied that the cost is about $370 million, coming from state and federal sources, plus a $50 million federal grant. The I-380/Forevergreen Road interchange is a $25 million project. Carberry remarked on the expense of the bridge and the fast-moving traffic. Abuissa noted that there are over 8,000 trucks and 49,000 vehicles daily at this location with projections expected to increase in the next decade. 4. Other Business Ralston informed the Board that Iowa City Council member Kingsley Botchway had resigned from the Iowa City City Council and would no longer serve on the MPOJC Board. Ralston thanked Botchway for his service. 5. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 5:36 PM.