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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.22.19 TTAC Minutes Final MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2019 -10:30 AM EMMA HARVAT HALL, IOWA CITY, CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Dan Holderness, Vicky Robrock, Kelly Hayworth Iowa City: Mark Rummel, Darian Nagle-Gamm, Jason Havel, Ron Knoche Johnson County: Greg Parker, Tom Brase North Liberty: None Tiffin: Doug Boldt University Heights: None University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey RTBC: None Iowa DOT: None ECICOG: None STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Emily Bothell, Frank Waisath, Nate Bauer OTHERS PRESENT: None 1. CALL TO ORDER; RECOGNIZE ALTERNATES; CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES Nagle-Gamm moved 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 FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5307 TRANSIT OPERATING FORMULA FUNDING APPORTIONMENT FOR FY2019 AND TRANSIT STATISTICS FOR FY2018 Neumann informed the group that the Iowa DOT has indicated that the MPO has $2,587,000 available in FY2019 FTA Section 5307 Operating Assistance Funding. These funds are apportioned by the MPO among the three local transit systems. The formula for funding is based on four factors. Last year, the formula was adjusted to match the FTA and Iowa DOT formulas for locally determined income. 2 Neumann asked for a recommendation to apportion the FY2019 FTA Section 5307 operating funds. Boldt moved to approve the recommendation. Nagle-Gamm seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 4. UPDATE ON SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT AND TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM GRANT FUNDING PROCESS Ralston informed the group that the MPO conducts their STBG and TAP funding process every 2 years. Due to new federal legislation in 2017, the Iowa DOT was not prepared to allow the MPO to conduct the typical TAP funding process at that time. Because of this, there are 2 years of STBG funding available and 4 years of TAP funding available. Ralston noted that both applications will be available February 1, 2019 and are due back to the MPO by February 22, 2019. Staff will have recommendations at the March 26th meeting based on scoring criteria. Staff anticipates that about $6.7 million of STBG funding will be available for FY2023 and FY2024 and approximately $1.5 million in TAP funds for FY2021-FY2024. Ralston also informed the group that all projects must be on a federal aid route and be identified in the MPOJC Long-Range Transportation Plan. In the past, when funds were allocated to projects not identified in the Plan, the Plan was amended. Because the FAST Act was approved after the adoption of the MPO’s Long-Range Transportation Plan, it may not be compliant with new regulations. Thus, if amendments are made to the plan, it is subject to the new standards outlined in the FAST Act. MPO staff is requesting all proposed projects exist in the Long-Range Transportation Plan as time may not allow for an amendment and update. 5. UPDATE ON THE MPOJC FY20 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING WORK PROGRAM & FY20-23 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SCHEDULES Neumann informed the group that the work program is completed on an annual basis and identifies major projects to be addressed in the upcoming fiscal year. The work program includes all required state and federally required planning processes and documentation, ongoing and routine projects, and special projects requested by member entities. The MPO will begin soliciting for FY20 projects in February. The draft work program will be submitted to the Iowa DOT by April 1, 2019. Neumann also noted that programming of projects in the TIP will begin in February and formalizes specific projects that receive federal funding. It also identifies which year the projects will receive funding. The Board will consider projects for the TIP in March and will adopt the final TIP in July. 6. DISCUSSION REGARDING PARTICIPATION IN THE ‘FEDERAL-AID-SWAP’ WHEREBY STATE FUNDING COULD REPLACE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LOCAL ROAD/BRIDGE PROJECTS Ralston informed the group that last year the Board opted out of the federal aid swap due to concern over Davis-Bacon wages, worker safety, and a lack of information on how the aid swap would streamline road/bridge projects. Unless the Board votes to opt out, the Iowa DOT will assume that the MPO would like to participate in the federal aid swap. Ralston reminded the group that this MPO was the only one in the state that did not participate. Due to the federal fiscal year starting in October, the Iowa DOT was not able to provide statistics regarding cost-savings resulting from the swap. They did however 3 state that the project development timeline for most projects was reduced by about 6 months. McClatchey questioned if it would be possible to contact other MPOs in the state to see if there have been noticeable differences for those who participated. Knoche questioned the concern of the Board regarding worker safety. Ralston informed the group that several union representatives attended the Board meeting last year and expressed concern that without Davis-Bacon wages, there would be an influx of out of state labor that may be less efficient and safe. Holderness commented that prevailing wages are similar to Davis-Bacon wages. Knoche questioned whether the Iowa DOT would change their policy and require that all MPOs participated in the swap. Ralston answered that there has not been discussion regarding a policy change at this point. 7. UPDATE ON FEDERAL FUNCTIONAL CLASS DESIGNATION FOR URBANIZED AREA ROADWAYS Bothell informed the group that staff has been working with Iowa DOT to update the federal functional classification map of the Iowa City urbanized area roadways. MPO funding is only available for roads classified as collector or higher. Only 35% of the total road mileage in the urbanized area can be listed on the federal functional classification map. Following the November 20 TTAC meeting, 8.7 miles of roadways were submitted to the Iowa DOT for ‘pre-approval’ and approximately 3.2 miles were ‘pre-approved’. Many of the roadways were denied because the Iowa DOT did not feel that they were functioning at the requested classification. Holderness moved to approve the recommendation. Knoche seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 8. UPDATE ON CRANDIC PASSENGER RAIL AND RAILS-TO-TRAILS STUDIES Neumann explained that the FTA did not agree with the methodology that HDR is using in the passenger rail study to model ridership, which has caused a delay. This discussion is ongoing and currently there is no deadline for study completion. HDR completed the rails- to-trails study draft and staff is currently reviewing. The study investigates the railroad abandonment process, characteristics of a rails to trails project, connectivity to existing and future trails, potential liability issues, and a cost estimate to remove exiting infrastructure and replace it with a trail. Costs varied from $3.5 to $5.5 million dollars for the 6-mile segment depending on the trail surface. Staff is finalizing comments on the draft and will distribute it to the group when HDR has made changes. Nagle-Gamm asked if HDR investigated dual use by rail and pedestrians. Neumann answered that HDR informed staff that the existing right-of-way is not large enough for both. 9. OTHER BUSINESS McClatchey informed the group that the Cambus maintenance facility renovation is scheduled to start around March 1. 4 Knoche stated that Iowa City’s public works facility construction is underway and should be complete in November 2019. Havel stated that some RFP proposals are due. Notable projects in Iowa City include the 1s Avenue and Scott Boulevard roundabout project, design and reconstruction of Rochester Avenue, and construction on Melrose Avenue and IWV Road SW. Boldt noted that the roundabout project at Park Road and Highway 6 will be out for bid in February. Poles and mast arms for the traffic signal at Highway 6 and Ireland Avenue are ready to be placed as soon as weather permits. Nagle-Gamm informed the group that the consultant selection process for the transit study is underway. 9. ADJOURNMENT Knoche moved to adjourn. McClatchey seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:26 AM.