HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.19.18 UAPB Minutes1
MINUTES
MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board APPROVED
Wednesday, September 19th, 2018 - 4:34 PM
City of North Liberty - Council Chambers
1 Quail Creek Circle, North Liberty, Iowa
MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Meghann Foster
Iowa City: John Thomas, Pauline Taylor, Susan Mims, Kellie
Fruehling
Johnson County: Lisa Green-Douglass, Mike Carberry
North Liberty: Terry Donahue, Chris Hoffman
Tiffin: Steve Berner
University Heights: Louise From
University of Iowa: none
ICCSD: Lori Roetlin
STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Emily Bothell, Sarah Walz, Frank
Waisath, Alex Behnke
OTHERS PRESENT: Randy Laubscher (ECICOG Representative), Michael Pentecost (North
Liberty Streets Superintendent)
1. CALL TO ORDER
Berner called the meeting to order at 4:34 PM
a. Recognize alternates
Kellie Fruehling served as an alternate for Rockne Cole (Iowa City).
b. Consider approval of meeting minutes
Motion to approve was made by Donahue; Thomas seconded. The motion was
unanimously approved.
c. Set date of next meeting
The next meeting was set for Wednesday, November 14th, hosted by Coralville.
2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA
Ralston recognized Frank Waisath as the new Assistant Transportation Planner. Frank is
an alumnus from the School of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Iowa.
Frank was also formerly an intern with the MPO.
3. TRANPORTATION PLANNING
a. Public Hearing and consideration of an amendment to the FY18-21 MPOJC
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) - adding transit vehicles replacement
Neumann presented an amendment to the FY18 TIP, not to be confused with the FY19
TIP that was approved in July of 2018. The FY18 TIP is on the federal fiscal year, therefore
it ran through the end of September. The Iowa DOT requested the amendment to allow
three buses to be eligible for a grant that the Iowa DOT is putting together through the
Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The FTA is using FY17 funding, therefore the
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amendment must be implemented in the FY18 TIP. The MPOJC Transportation Technical
Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval.
Berner opened the public hearing. No members of the public were present for this
discussion.
Motion to approve was made by Carberrry; seconded by Hoffman. The motion was
approved unanimously.
b. Discussion regarding Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Transportation
Alternative Program (TAP) scoring criteria for funds allocated by MPOJC
Ralston explained that MPO grant applications for the Surface Transportation Block Grant
(STBG) funds and Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) funds will be made available
late in January or early February of 2019. The MPO would like the Board to review the
scoring criteria that will go into the application prior to initiating that process.
The scoring criteria were last revised with the 2017 applications. In 2017, the scoring
criteria were only used for the STBG funds because the new federal transportation
legislation prohibited the MPO from moving forward with the TAP funds. However, this
year the scoring criteria will be used for both funding pools. The MPO also used the scoring
criteria to score and rank projects in the Long-Range Transportation Plan for projects that
showed up in the fiscally constrained list. For entities to apply for funds through the MPO,
projects must show up in the adopted Long-Range Transportation Plan. Because of that,
the MPO chose to align the scoring criteria with the Long-Range Transportation Plan’s
Guiding Principles, which is also encouraged by the Federal Highway Administration.
At their September 12th meeting, the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
(TTAC) recommended a few minor tweaks to the scoring criteria. For criteria 1A, Economic
Opportunity, the TTAC recommended increasing points due to communities growing at a
rapid rate. For Quality of Life (criteria 3A), the TTAC recommended increasing points as
there is an emphasis on quality of life and the recently adopted Long-Range
Transportation Plan. For criteria 5B, Efficiency, the TTAC recommended providing the
same number of points for projects in corridors with future congestion as well as those
with existing congestion. Currently, the scoring criteria awards more points for alleviating
future congestion over existing congestion. For criteria 7C, Safety, the TTAC
recommended increasing points for projects with a documented safety issue. Currently,
more points are awarded for a project that either has a top 25 midblock collision rate or a
top ten collision rate as shown in the MPO’s Traffic Collision Analysis report. The TTAC
indicated that if a location has a documented safety history, it should be awarded more
points. For criteria 9B, Equity, the TTAC recommended decreasing points for projects that
already include work to correct ADA issues. Currently, the scoring criteria achieves five
points where projects alleviate ADA issues. The TTAC believed five points was high since
all projects must comply with ADA regulations. For criteria 10, Local Commitment, the
TTAC recommended increasing points for projects with 40% or more local match.
MPO staff supports all the changes recommended by the TTAC. If the Board chooses to
move forward with these modifications, however, MPO staff does not recommend
changing the actual criteria, because all criteria are in line with the Long-Range
Transportation Plan. The Board was asked to discuss the scoring criteria for use in the
pending 2019 STBG and TAP applications. Upon request, the MPO will adjust scores and
bring the adjusted scores to the November meeting for approval.
Hoffman questioned if it made sense to increase points for the selected criteria then
determine percentage values for comparison.
Ralston responded that the MPO could easily convert the scores to percentages.
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Hoffman noted that all the TTAC recommendations were to increase values. Hoffman
questioned who made those recommendations.
Ralston responded that the City of Coralville representative suggested the bulk of the
changes. After the scoring criteria have been adjusted there will likely be little to no impact
on many project final scores.
Mims added that the adjustments should be made and then convert to percentages.
Hoffman questioned if the MPO had received feedback from all the entities.
Ralston explained that all the entities are represented on TTAC, but most of the
recommendations came from Coralville. The recommendations were unanimously
approved. Ralston also added that the MPO will take this discussion back to TTAC and
then bring it back to the Board in November.
Berner asked if the MPO could apply the recommendations to previous projects that have
been awarded funding so entities can compare the old scores to the new scores.
Ralston responded that the MPO can select three or four projects and run the numbers
for a comparison. The MPO will look at the projects that were approved previously and
show how the rankings would be changed using the new criteria. Ralston added that for
the November meeting members should be ready to discuss the scoring criteria changes.
The MPO will have about $6 million in STBG funds and $1-1.5 million TAP funds to be
awarded.
Foster asked if Ralston could discuss the equity criteria regarding low income areas and
transportation for individuals with disabilities as the TTAC recommended decreasing the
points for this criterion.
Ralston stated that the TTAC recommended reducing the scoring specifically for part 9B
of the Equity criteria. 9A states that the idea of equity is that it provides access and
opportunity to all people in all neighborhoods. 9B states that the project improves the
transportation network and lower-income neighborhoods. Currently, under criteria 9B, if
the focus of the project is to correct ADA non-compliance, five points are awarded. The
Coralville City Engineer argued that all projects must be ADA compliant. Over the years,
this topic has caused a lot of confusion and discussion. The TTAC discussed scrapping
the criteria all together, however, TAP funds cannot be spent on roadways and is the
rationale for keeping the criteria.
Foster asked if this change would just affect a subcategory of the equity criteria or the
entirety of the criteria for equity.
Ralston answered by explaining that it would impact the total percentage for the Equity
criteria. Conversely if this presents an issue the MPO can also flip the scores, for 9A and
9B, making the focus worth three points and where funding is going into a lower
socioeconomic area worth five points. Ralston added that the MPO will work on the
potential scoring changes and bring the recommendations back to the Board in November.
c. Discussion regarding potential Federal Functional Classification changes for MPOJC
Urbanized Area roadways
Bothell explained that the MPO has been in the process of working with the Iowa DOT
and the Federal Highway Administration to update the federal functional classification map
for the Iowa City Urbanized Area. The functional classification system is a hierarchy of five
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roadway classes and identifies which roads are federal aid routes. The five classes from
highest to lowest are; interstates, principal arterials, minor arterials, collectors, and local
streets. The functional classification system significance to the MPO is that federal
funding, such as STBG, can only be spent on roadways that are functionally classified as
collector or higher. At the September 12th TTAC meeting staff asked members to review
the current map and identify any roadways that they would like added to the current
system. Potential roadways must demonstrate a high level of connectivity within the
current system and future roadways must be in a community’s CIP for the DOT to approve
them. Only 35% of the total road mileage within the urban area can be included in the
federal functional classification system. Currently the urbanized area is approximately 12
miles under the 35% limit. Once the MPO receives roadways identified by MPO
jurisdictions, the MPO will take the potential roadways to the DOT to get pre-approved.
Once the MPO gets pre-approval from the DOT, the MPO will take the recommendation
to TTAC and then to the Board for final approval.
Mims questioned what would happen if the MPO had more than 12 miles recommended
and went over the 35% limit.
Bothell replied that if the MPO gets more than 12 miles added, the TTAC would have a
discussion that would determine which roadways are priorities followed by a discussion
with the Board.
Ralston added that the MPO could also reduce existing mileage to keep the
recommendations below 35%.
d. Update on the CRANDIC passenger rail and rails-to-trails studies
Neumann provided an update for Phase III of the Passenger Rail Study and the Rails-to-
Trails Study. The scope, cost, and local financing have been determined for both studies
with the consultant, HDR. Phase III of the Passenger Rail Study will focus on ridership,
revenue forecasts, financial strategies, benefits to the communities, and conceptual
station designs. The study will take approximately 120 days, concluding in late December.
HDR set up a conference call with stakeholders in early October.
Phase III of the Rails-to-Trails Study will focus on developing a cost to removing the
existing infrastructure as well as constructing a six-mile trail between downtown Iowa City
and the University of Iowa’s Research Park in Coralville and North Liberty. This study will
take approximately 90 days, concluding in late November. The MPO also hosted a
conference call with stakeholders in September.
Green-Douglass asked if the extent of Phase III was only to the Oakdale campus.
Neumann explained that the extent of the Rails-to-Trails study is between Iowa City and
Oakdale Campus, whereas the Passenger Rail Study is between Gilbert Street in Iowa
City and Penn Street in North Liberty.
Ralston added that the Rails-to-Trails Study stops at the Oakdale Campus because North
Liberty already has a trail that is parallel to the CRANDIC railroad tracks in that corridor.
e. Update from the MPOJC citizen representative to the East Central Iowa Council of
Governments
Laubscher explained that the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) is
broken into four different categories; loan for business development, transportation, solid
waste and environmental services, and community development and housing.
Laubscher provided updates from the previous six months for each of these categories.
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For business development; two loans have been provided, one loan to the Amana
Colonies Golf Club for their new event center, and the second loan to Jet Engineer ing in
Cedar Rapids. For transportation; Laubscher discussed the Corridor Rides program. The
vanpool marketing has been going well. KCRG spotlights, mobile billboards, and website
updates have made it much easier for people to participate in vanpools. The Express Bus
line opened October 1st. Windsor Lines was awarded the bid. For solid waste and
environmental services; the Iowa County landfill has been reestablishing their
environmental management systems and a USDA grant to provide training to all landfill
sites for proper disposal of waste. The watershed planning includes four watersheds,
Clear Creek Watershed, Indian Creek Watershed, Middle Cedar Watershed, and Lower
Cedar Watershed. A coordinator was hired for the Indian Creek Watershed. For
community development and housing; about $1.5 million have been provided to Central
City, Lisbon, and Hiawatha for housing development. In the partnership with the Housing
Trust Fund of Johnson County, ECICOG has applied for approximately a $280,000 loan
from the Bank of Des Moines. ECICOG is administering a small rehabilitation program for
the city of Coralville, which includes two houses.
f. Update from North Liberty staff on significant community projects
Pentecost presented eight transportation projects currently being completed. The Front
Street project is nearly complete. That project was the revitalization of the street as well
as the sidewalks. The Ranshaw Way Phase 3 project is about 74% complete. This project
includes trail system lighting, five lanes through the entire area, and curb and gutters. This
project is expecting a November-December completion date. Coral Ridge Avenue is
estimated to be over 50% complete. Forevergreen Road interchange is expected to be
open by the Fall of 2019. The Forevergreen Road street project is expected to be
completed by Spring of 2019. The Kansas Avenue project is approximately 51% complete.
This project includes curb and gutters between St. Andrews Drive and Forevergreen
Road. This project is estimated to be completed in November or December of 2018. The
trail network projects included work on Scales Bend Road, Penn Street, and Alexander
Way. This project has been completed. The adaptive traffic control system is a
signalization process that the Iowa DOT has funded for the 14 signals in North Liberty.
This system is a smart system that can handle changes in traffic flows that North Liberty
is anticipating as part of the Interstate 80/380 interchange construction. Future projects
include; Main Street improvements, Penn Street and Front Street corridor improvements
including a roundabout on Penn Street and the completion of Forevergreen Road and
Jones Boulevard.
Green-Douglass asked if the adaptive traffic control system is adaptable with the software
that emergency vehicles use. Pentecost answered that the DOT required the system to
be adaptable with software emergency vehicles use, however, it is not currently being
used.
Roetlin asked when the roundabout located on Penn Street would be completed.
Pentecost responded that the Penn Street roundabout is projected to be completed before
the new school opens in that area.
Green-Douglass asked if the roundabout would look like the roundabout located near
Liberty High. Pentecost answered that the final plans are still being worked on, but it
should have a similar look.
Hoffman asked if the homes in the future roundabout location were going to be taken down
soon. Pentecost said residents have moved out and the homes will be removed within a
few weeks.
Green-Douglass asked how old the homes are. Pentecost believed the homes were built
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in the 1970’s.
Ralston asked if there were plans for a roundabout at North Bend and the South Slope
driveway. Pentecost responded saying yes and that the project will be taking place at the
same time as the Penn Street project.
Carberry asked if there were current plans are for the extension of Forevergreen Road to
the east. Hoffman answered that it is developer driven and is not in the City of North
Liberty’s five-year plan.
4. OTHER BUSINESS
Ralston mentioned that there was a letter in the MPO packet from the Iowa City mayor to
the Iowa DOT director regarding I-380. The City of Iowa City requested the letter go into
the MPO packet.
5. ADJOURNMENT
From motioned to adjourn; seconded by Green-Douglass. The motion was unanimously
approved.
The meeting adjourned at 5:22PM.