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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.15.20 TTAC MinutesMINUTES APPROVED MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 – 10:30 AM CITY OF IOWA CITY – ZOOM MEETING PLATFORM MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Dan Holderness, Vicky Robrock Iowa City: Jason Havel, Ron Knoche, Darian Nagle- Gamm, Mark Rummel, Scott Sovers Johnson County: Tom Brase North Liberty: Ryan Rusnak Tiffin: Doug Boldt University Heights: Louise From University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey RTBC: None Iowa DOT: Catherine Cutler ECICOG: Brock Grenis Other: Aaron Grenquist, Anthony Klaumann STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Brad Neumann, Sarah Walz, Frank Waisath 1. CALL TO ORDER; RECOGNIZE ALTERNATES; CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES Neumann called the meeting to order at 10:30 AM. The meeting was held online through the Zoom meeting platform in accordance with Iowa Code Section 21.8 due to complications preventing in-person meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neumann indicated that votes would be cast verbally, per the voting system for in-person meetings. There were no alternates. Holderness moved to approve the minutes from the May meeting. McClatchey 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 AN AMENDMENT TO THE ADOPTED FY2021-2024 MPOJC TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) - MODIFYING PROGRAMMING OF INTERSTATE 80/380 INTERCHANGE CONSTRUCTION FUNDS The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the programming document for all surface transportation projects that receive state or federal funds. This includes street and highway, transit, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian projects in the Iowa City urbanized area. Neumann detailed the Iowa DOT’s request to increase the project funding amount for the I-80/I-380 interchange project. This change is due to the Iowa DOT delaying a project letting from summer (FFY2020) to winter (FFY2021). The current project funding amount for the I-80/I-380 interchange project is: (FFY2021: $137,755,000 Total), (FFY2021: $110,204,000 Federal Aid). The new project funding amount is (FFY2021: $207,565,000 Total), (FFY2021: $176,430,250 Federal Aid). The MPOJC is required to consider this amendment due to the project being located within the urbanized area. Holderness moved to approve. Nagle-Gamm seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 4. DISCUSSION REGARDING SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK A GRANT (STBG) AND TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (TAP) SCORING CRITERIA FOR FUNDS ALLOCATED BY MPOJC Bothell reported that grant applications for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) funding will be available early next year. Prior to that staff wanted the committee to review the scoring criteria. Bothell explained that the current criteria had been revised and approved in November 2018. Nagle-Gamm proposed using the term ‘sustainability’ as opposed to ‘environment’, which would add further clarification. Staff agreed that this is something we could consider and would review the suggestion. Staff will bring a final draft to the TTAC in November for approval and recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board. 5. DISCUSSION REGARDING POTENTIAL FEDERAL FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION CHANGE FOR MPOJC URBANIZED AREA ROADWAYS Bothell explained that the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) funding can only be spent on roadways that are classified as collector or higher on the Federal Functional Classification (FFC) system. This system classes roadways into five hierarchical categories, while also identifying which roads are Federal Aid Routes. The classes, from highest to lowest, are interstates, principal arterials, minor arterials, collectors, and local streets. Those with higher classifications provide better mobility and less access to individual properties. Those with lower classifications provide less mobility and more access to individual properties. Staff requested the committee review the current FFC map, and identify roadways the committee would either like added or those that can be revised by mid-October. Roadways that either do not exhibit a high-level of connectivity based on the FFC system, or new roadways that have not been programmed into a community’s Capital Improvement Program will not be approved by the Iowa DOT. Furthermore, only 35% of the total road mileage within the urban area can be included in the FFC. (13.52 miles currently available) Ralston further expressed the need to receive recommendations by mid-October, as the pre- approval process is intensive. 6. UPDATE AND INITIAL DISCUSSION ON THE MPOJC LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN REVISION PROCESS Bothell described the MPO’s Long Range Transportation Planning revision process, which is the combination of several years of planning that engages residents, municipal staff, and elected officials to create a framework of the future transportation network. The Plan utilizes the previous plan’s vision, performance measures, and guiding principles with some minor corrections to ensure cooperation, comprehension, and continuity. a) Vision “To ensure the strategic use of public investments and policies for the creation of a safe, efficient, and equitable transportation network that enhances economic opportunity and growth while preserving our environment and quality of life.” b) Guiding Principles The Guiding principles include: Economic Opportunity, Environment, Quality of Life, System Preservation, Choice, Safety, Efficiency, Health and Equity. Staff will be asking the committee to approve the guiding principles at the November meeting. These principles serve as a foundation for the goals that will be elaborated on in the Long-Range Transportation Plan. c) Performance Measures Bothell indicated that there are new requirements for long-range plans to contain performance measures, which has been enforced by the FAST Act (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation). These changes will be reflected in the Long-Range Transportation Plan. d) Travel Demand Model Video Bothell further explained that the Long-Range Transportation Plan will also contain an update of the MPOJC Travel Demand Model. This model works to show how vehicular traffic patterns shift in response to land-use changes. MPO staff will be asking MPOJC entities for assistance in creating a picture of growth for the urbanized area that will extend to 2050. Bothell then presented a short video that condensed the details and reasoning behind Travel Demand Models and how they are used to prioritize areas of need in communities. Nagle-Gamm inquired as to what modes of transportation are being analyzed in the Traffic Demand Model, and Bothell clarified that vehicular demand was the only mode of transportation that will be analyzed for the Long-Range Transportation Plan. 7. DISCUSSION REGARDING DATA COLLECTION AND EXTRAPOLATION FOR LOCAL TRAFFIC STUDIES TO BE COMPLETED BY MPOJC Bothell explained that despite the traffic pattern changes that have been impacted due to Covid- 19, recent data suggests that traffic is beginning to normalize. In Iowa, the DOT reported the most significant decrease in traffic to be in mid-April, however since July traffic has increased to reflect 2019 levels. Due to this normalization, Bothell explained the MPO is hoping to start peak hour and ADT counts this fall in order to complete the studies listed in the MPO’s Work Program. Bothell described the plan to collect August-December traffic count data, which will then be compared to a 5-year average of data in order to verify that traffic patterns are returning to their previous levels. If the data is shown to be reliable, staff would then apply the percent change in data to continue drafting studies. Staff is asking for committee guidance/input prior to continuing. Ralston reminded the committee that traffic studies had been halted due to Covid-19, and pointed out that deadlines were approaching. Ralston also indicated that though staff is eager to continue with traffic counts, city engineer input is necessary. 8. UPDATE ON THE FINAL CRANDIC PASSENGER RAIL STUDY Neumann explained that Phase III of the CRANDIC Passenger Rail Study has been completed. This phase focused on ridership, financial strategies, benefits to the community, and conceptual station design. It was presented to stakeholders on July 17, 2020. There were several highlights of the study, including the ridership forecast, which predicted 1.4 million passengers per year , increasing to 1.79 million passengers per year by 2027. For reference, the Eastern Iowa Airport served 1.3 million passengers in 2019, and Iowa City Transit served 1.4 million passengers in the same year. Neumann described the financial needs, including $55 million in capital costs, which includes building a new maintenance facility, and $4.8 million in annual operating and maintenance costs. There remains $2.7 million in local funding required annually after revenue from ticket sales is accounted for. Neumann detailed the stakeholder meeting, where CRANDIC stated that they were not interested in developing a trail on their track right-of-way at this time. They also indicated interest in financial support of the passenger rail project. McClatchey asked if the financial forecast included parking lots and/or stations. Neumann replied that those aspects were not included in the projections outlined. The local governments would be responsible for those costs. Ralston explained that the ridership numbers are grant-ready should the community choose to move forward with the project. Rummel asked who would be responsible for management of the rail once it is completed. Neumann responded that those details would have to be discussed with the local communities. 9. OTHER BUSINESS Nagle-Gamm provided an update on the transit study with Coralville, Cambus, and Iowa City to collect data on ridership, preferences for riders, and then created various plans based on this feedback. Due to Covid-19 plans were temporarily stalled, though now there are plans for a draft of the transportation redesign to be presented to the public. There will be some changes proposed to Iowa City for final review. Nagle-Gamm also shared that despite setbacks, electric bikes will be available for the BikeShare Program beginning in Spring 2021. Robrock explained that Coralville Transit will implement new routes as recommended in the Transit Study, which will begin on Monday, October 19th. These routes will transition from a loop- type to a bidirectional system. From revealed the University Heights Marriott hotel is slated to open November 29th, 2020. 10. ADJOURNMENT McClatchey moved to adjourn. Knoche seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 11:32 AM.