HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.10.19 UAPB MinutesMINUTES APPROVED
MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board
Wednesday, July 10, 2019 - 4:30 PM
City of Coralville - Council Chambers
1512 7th Street, Coralville, IA 52241
MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Meghann Foster
Iowa City: Rockne Cole, Kellie Freuhling, Pauline
Taylor, Susan Mims
Johnson County: Lisa Green-Douglass, Pat Heiden
North Liberty: None
Tiffin: Steve Berner
University Heights: Louise From
University of Iowa: Erin Shane
ICCSD: Lori Roetlin
STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Frank Waisath, Nate Bauer, Ian
Klopfenstein
OTHERS PRESENT: Cathy Cutler (Iowa DOT), Newman Abuissa (Iowa DOT)
1. CALL TO ORDER
Berner called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM.
a. Recognize alternates
Kellie Freuhling was recognized as an alternate for Bruce Teague of Iowa City.
b. Consider approval of meeting minutes
Motion to approve was made by Cole. From seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
c. Set next Board meeting date, time, and location (September 18th, tentatively hosted by
Johnson County)
The next meeting was tentatively set for Wednesday, September 18th, hosted by Johnson
County.
2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA
Ralston indicated that Doug Elliott, the director of the East Central Iowa Council of
Governments (ECICOG), retired after over two decades with the organization.
3. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
a. Public Hearing and consideration of resolutions of adoption and certification for the FY20-
23 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program
i. Staff presentation of the FY20-23 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program
Neumann explained that the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the
local programming document for federal and state transportation as well as transit
projects. The draft TIP project list had been previously approved by the Board at
their May 29th meeting, including the transit apportionment of section 5307 funding.
The apportionment estimates for each transit agency were adjusted for FY20 using
previous percentages and the DOT also recommended an additional 10%
increase.
Neumann further indicated that the Surface Transportation Block Grants (STBG)
and Transportation Alternatives Projects (TAP) had also previously received Board
approval. These projects include two STBG projects - Coralville’s 5th Street Project
($1.6 million in funding) and Tiffin’s North Park Road Project ($1.2 million in
funding), both are programmed for FY23. Iowa City’s Dodge Street Improvement
Project also received just over $3.7 million in STBG funding but is programmed in
FY24 and thus will be introduced for approval next year as a part of the FY21-24
TIP. The TIP also includes three new TAP projects - Coralville’s Iowa River Trail
Replacement Project ($548,000 in funding) programmed in FY21, Iowa City’s
Highway 6 Trail Project ($438,000 in funding) programmed in FY21, and
Coralville’s Clear Creek Trail Connection Project ($212,000 in funding)
programmed in FY22. North Liberty also received funding for their North Liberty
Trail Project ($648,000 in funding) but the project is not scheduled until FY24 and
will also be included in next year’s TIP.
Neumann called attention to changes that have been made to the draft TIP since
its approval in May. The Iowa DOT removed the IWV Road project as it is now
under contract. Iowa City Transit requested that two replacement buses, bus #657
and #659, be added to the TIP allowing Transit to replace those buses with new
electric buses. All projects under contract with the DOT have been removed from
the draft TIP. All STBG and TAP projects not completed in FY19 have been carried
over to FY20 with 4% added to the total cost of the project for inflation. All DOT
projects planned within the urbanized area are also included in the TIP.
Neumann reminded the Board that they had previously opted out of the Federal-
Aid Swap and that all local projects will be completed in accordance with Federal
guidelines. In addition to the project list, the TIP includes project status reports for
local and DOT projects, identification of regionally-significant projects currently
programmed, the MPOJC Public Input Process (previously approved by the Board
in 2017), the MPOJC project selection procedure and scoring criteria for STBG
and TAP projects, a fiscal constraint review of the TIP projects, fiscal analysis of
transportation projects per FTA requirements, and statements regarding
performance planning measures for highway safety, pavement, bridge, freight, and
transit asset management measures.
A public hearing notice was published 30 days before the meeting and all agencies
on the public input list were contacted. Posters were also placed in all fixed-route
buses. One comment was received via email regarding the Bongo application and
its perceived effects on ridership. The comments were forwarded to Iowa City
Transit.
Neumann indicated that staff is requesting approval of the final TIP. Once
approved, staff will submit the final TIP to the Iowa DOT, FHWA, and FTA by July
15th, 2019.
ii. Public Hearing
None.
iii. Consider a resolution adopting the FY20-23 Transportation Improvement Program
for the Iowa City Urbanized Area and authorizing the MPO Chairperson to sign
associated documents contained therein
From moved for approval. Heiden seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
iv. Consider a resolution certifying compliance with federal requirements for
conducting the urban transportation planning process in the Iowa City Urbanized
Area
Mims moved to approve. Heiden seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
b. Update from DOT District 6 staff on I-380 & I-80 corridor projects
Cathy Cutler, field services coordinator, and Newman Abuissa, resident construction
engineer, introduced themselves to the Board. Cutler indicated that a list of activities
surrounding the I-380/I-80 Interchange Project for the next four years was included in the
packet. The project also received a $50 million Federal INFRA Grant, shaving off a year
of construction.
Cutler indicated that the focus of construction this year is completing the eastbound I -80
to northbound I-380 turning channel by constructing all piers necessary to hold the
elevated highway. All cloverleaf ramps will be replaced by elevated directional ramps. This
will allow motorists and trucks to maintain speed and merge more easily compared to the
current system of cloverleaf ramps. Portions of both highways will be expanded to six and
eight lanes with auxiliary lanes as well.
Abuissa indicated that I-80 will be elevated 6-7 feet on the east side around Clear Creek
and will be corresponding lower on the west side of the interchange, balancing the through
route. Cutler shared that there is a dedicated website for the project
(https://iowadot.gov/i80-i380/) which will share impacts to travel and possible detours. The
years with the worst delays due to construction will be 2021 and 2022.
Green-Douglass inquired whether the project would mitigate current issues regarding
weaving movements. Abuissa responded by explaining that the new directional ramps will
eliminate all weaving movements currently required by the cloverleaf system.
Berner asked about the prospects for trail closures that would affect connectivity to Tiffin.
Cutler indicated that trails must be closed while active construction occurs due to safety
considerations. As it stands, construction on the Clear Creek Trail has been postponed by
the City of Coralville until the completion of the interchange. Berner indicated that Tiffin is
considering building along Highway 6 to allow for an alternative route until construction of
both the interchange and the final portion of the trail within Coralville are complete.
Cole asked about whether there is any exploration performed by the DOT of the impacts
on carbon emissions when widening highways and what the anticipated safety impact of
having higher speeds within the interchange. Cutler explained that as the DOT receives
Federal Highway Funds, they are required to comply with NEPA process - including an
evaluation of air quality factors. As adding more lanes increases traffic, there will be an
inherent increase in carbon emissions. Cutler indicated that there is a DOT department
located in Ames that is specifically concerned with environmental impacts. Regarding the
question about safety impacts, Cutler indicated that the only portions of the interchange
with increased speeds would be for channels of turning movement through the directional
ramps - not mainline speeds themselves. These increased speeds would allow for safer,
smoother merging at a speed closer to that of traffic on the roadway.
Ralston inquired about how specifically the INFRA Grant would shorten the project
timeline. Cutler indicated that the timeline would be compressed towards the end of the
project and that the project could shave off a year, weather permitting.
Cutler indicated that Corridor Rides is managed by ECICOG and that the Iowa DOT is
putting project funds into supporting the Express Bus during construction. Current
ridership is at about 250 rides per day, with anticipated seasonal Saturday service for
holiday shopping at Coral Ridge Mall. Corridor Rides also provides an employee van pool
and rideshare matching.
The Iowa DOT is also currently performing a study of I-380 from Forevergreen Road to
Highway 30 regarding environmental linkages. This study will examine traffic control
measures, such as six-laning and hard shoulder paving, to avoid expansion to eight lanes
on I-380. This study also explores possible interchange types for the Penn St/I-380 and
Wright Brothers Boulevard/I-380 interchanges to make those more accommodating.
There is another forthcoming project pertaining to the widening of I-80 from east of Iowa
City through West Branch to six lanes. Right-of-way acquisition will occur this year and
the project is programmed for State FY21-24. Another project will continue the widening
through the Cedar County/Scott County area. The Highway 6/Riverside Drive overlay is
set to be complete by the end of the week. Governor Street resurfacing has been
completed and the DOT hopes to finish the bridge reconstruction over Ralston Creek
before the University of Iowa fall semester begins.
c. Update from Johnson County Citizen representative to the East Central Iowa Council of
Governments (ECICOG)
None.
4. OTHER BUSINESS
None.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Green-Douglass. Cole seconded. The motion was approved
unanimously.
Meeting adjourned by Berner at 4:57 PM.