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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.26.19 TTAC Minutes APPROVED MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2019 -10:30 AM EMMA HARVAT HALL, IOWA CITY, CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Dan Holderness, Scott Larson, Vicky Robrock Iowa City: Mark Rummel, Darian Nagle-Gamm, Ron Knoche, Jason Havel, Simon Andrew Johnson County: Greg Parker North Liberty: Dean Wheatley Tiffin: Doug Boldt University Heights: Louise From University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey RTBC: Bob Oppliger Iowa DOT: Cathy Cutler ECICOG: Brock Grenis STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Emily Bothell, Frank Waisath, Sarah Walz OTHERS PRESENT: None 1. CALL TO ORDER; RECOGNIZE ALTERNATES; CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES Scott Larson was an alternate for Kelly Hayworth (Coralville). Holderness moved to approve the meeting minutes. Knoche 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 FY2020 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING WORK PROGRAM Ralston informed the group that each spring MPOJC compiles a list of work program projects for the upcoming fiscal year. The Work Program is required by the Iowa DOT and FHW A. If additional projects and data collection arise that require considerable staff time or change the order of projects, staff will bring the program back to the Committee to discuss changes. Wheatley moved to approve the recommendation. From seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2 4. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING THE MPOJC FY2020 TRANSIT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS Neumann informed the group that the Transit Program of Projects is a document required by the FTA that each of the three transit agencies develops each year. It identifies all the proposed projects using federal funds. The Program of Projects will also be included in each transit agencies’ Consolidated Funding Application with the Iowa DOT. It will also be included with the FY2020-FY2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Oppliger moved to approve the recommendation. From seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 5. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING MPOJC SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT (STBG) AND TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM FUNDING ALLOCATIONS Neumann informed the group that the Iowa DOT originally indicated that $6.7 million in STBG funds and $1.45 million in TAP funds were available to be allocated. New targets from the Iowa DOT decreased STBG funding from $6.7 to $6.6 million. TAP funding was not affected. Four entities submitted five applications for STBG funding totaling just over $18 million. Three entities submitted four applications for TAP funding totaling just over $1.5 million. Two of the TAP projects are not included in the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Currently, the Iowa DOT does not require TAP projects be included in the LRTP, although in past years’ projects were required to be included in the LRTP. In the future, the LRTP may need to be amended to include these types of projects. Iowa City, North Liberty, and Tiffin each submitted one STBG application; Coralville submitted two. The highest scoring project was Iowa City’s Dodge Street improvement project with 48 points. Total cost is $13,250,000 and Iowa City requested $4,867,000 in STBG funding. Coralville’s 5th Street reconstruction project received the second highest score with 40 points. Total cost is $2,856,600 and Coralville requested $2,285,280 in STBG funding. North Liberty’s Highway 965 project received the third highest score with 34 points. The total cost is $9,595,000 and North Liberty requested $7,196,250 in STBG funding. Tiffin’s North Park Road improvement project received the fourth highest score with 32 points. Total cost is $5,279,472 and Tiffin requested $2,500,000 in STBG funding. Coralville’s 1st Avenue and Oakdale Boulevard intersection project received the fifth highest score with 26 points. Total cost is $1,847,475 and Coralville requested $1,275,275 in STBG funding. Iowa City and North Liberty each submitted one TAP application; Coralville submitted two applications. The highest scoring project was Coralville’s Iowa River Trail replacement project between Rocky Shore Drive and Clear Creek with 54 points. The project received $462,717 in TAP funding in 2015 and is currently programed in the FY2020 TIP. Total cost is $889,970 and Coralville requested an additional $151,363 in TAP funding. Iowa City’s Highway 6 Trail project received the second highest score with 43 points. Total cost is $548,000 and Iowa City requested $438,000 in TAP funding. 3 North Liberty’s North Liberty Road Trail received the third highest score with 29 points. Total cost is $1,107,000 and North Liberty requested $664,200 in TAP funding. This project is not currently included in the LRTP. Coralville’s Clear Creek Trail connection project received the fourth highest score with 27 points. Total cost is $482,195 and Coralville requested $332,715 in TAP funding. This project is not currently included in the LRTP. Walz informed the group that the Regional Trails and Bicycle Committee supported fully funding the top three highest scoring projects with the remaining funds going to Coralville’s Clear Creek Trail connection project. The Committee also discussed the importance of projects being included in the LRTP. The RTBC is currently overseeing the Metro Area Bicycle Master Plan update. Neumann reminded the group that the scores may be amended and that the scores are one piece of information that the Urbanized Area Policy Board uses when considering projects. Funds cannot be apportioned by population. Regarding STBG funding, Wheatley made a motion to allocate $3,750,000 to Iowa City’s Dodge Street improvement project, $1,650,000 to Coralville’s 5th Street reconstruction project, and $1,200,000 to Tiffin’s north Park Road improvement project. Andrew seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Regarding TAP projects, Wheatley made a motion to endorse the Regional Trail and Bicycle Committee’s recommendation to fully fund Coralville’s Iowa River Trail replacement project ($151,000), Iowa City’s Highway 6 Trail project ($438,000), and North Liberty’s North Liberty Road Trail project ($648,118), with the remaining funds ($212,519) being allocated to Coralville’s Clear Creek Trail connection project. From seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 6. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD 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 House File 203 was signed into law permitting the Iowa Transportation Commission to allow the Federal Aid Swap. The swap allows road and bridge projects that would normally have been funded with federal funds to be funded with state funds. The goal of the swap is to minimize regulations and streamline local projects. Since the swap did not become effective until October of 2018, the Iowa DOT was not able to provide information regarding time savings and efficiency. The Iowa DOT did state that the project development timeline has been reduced by about six months in most cases. Unless the MPO opts out of the swap, the Iowa DOT will assume that the MPO wishes to participate. Primary concerns of the Urbanized Area Policy Board in 2018 include Davis Bacon wages, lack of safety, and the lack of evidence regarding increased efficiency. Holderness asked if other MPOs have opted out of the swap program. Ralston answered that MPOJC is the only MPO in the state that has opted out at this point. Holderness moved to recommend MPOJC opt in to the Federal Aid Swap. Knoche seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 7. UPDATE ON CRANDIC PASSENGER RAIL AND RAIL-TO-TRAIL STUDIES Neumann informed the group that the Phase III Passenger Rail Study is still on hold. The consultant (HDR), CRANDIC, and the Iowa DOT are working with the Federal Transit Administration to establish an acceptable ridership model and methodology. The Rails-to- 4 Trails study was completed and staff provided comments. The final draft has been distributed to stakeholders. The study examined the abandonment process, connectivity between the corridor and existing trails, potential liability issues, and a cost estimate to remove the existing rail and construct a trail. Estimates range from approximately $3.5 to $5.5 million for a six-mile portion between Iowa City and the Oakdale Campus. Costs vary depending on the trail surface and other characteristics. 8. OTHER BUSINESS Wheatley stated that the Penn Street and Front Street intersection reconstruction will occur this year. The intersection will include a roundabout. Another roundabout near the new elementary school at North Bend Drive will also take place this year. Knoche informed the group that construction on the new public works facility is underway. Oppliger stated that May is national bike month. Several new projects and events will take place this year. Havel stated that the overlay of Governor Street and the Highway 6 / Riverside Drive project are still underway. Clinton Street and Mormon Trek Boulevard four-to-three lane conversion projects will start in the spring. The Highway 1 trail connection has been bid. Larson informed the group that lane closures on 1st Avenue will begin soon. The majority of the 1st Avenue project is expected to be done by the end of May. Coral Ridge Avenue lane closures will begin to transition Coral Ridge Avenue to head-to-head traffic from University Parkway to Forevergreen Road. Clear Creek Trail construction connecting the trail to Creekside Ballpark is also underway. Connections under the interchange to Tiffin will occur in several years and are dependent on I-80/I-380 interchange construction. Cutler stated that the spring kickoff meeting to discuss construction of the I-80 and I-380 interchange will be April 30 at the Coralville Public Library from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm. There is also an Iowa DOT commission meeting on May 14 in Cedar Rapids at the Doubletree. McClatchey stated that the CAMBUS maintenance facility renovations are underway. The Kinnick Stadium construction is scheduled to be completed this summer. Nagle-Gamm informed the group that consultant interviews for the Iowa City Transit Study are underway. Boldt stated that the roundabout construction at Highway 6 and Park Road near Tiffin will start at the end of May. Rummel informed the group that hardware for the Iowa City bus shelter project has arrived and several shelters will be installed this year. A larger order is scheduled for later this year. Grenis informed the group that the I-380 Express currently serves about 300 riders per day. 9. ADJOURNMENT Nagle-Gamm moved to adjourn. Oppliger seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:25 AM.