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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.31.21 UAPB MinutesMINUTES APPROVED MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 - 4:30 PM ZOOM MEETING PLATFORM MEMBERS PRESENT: Iowa City: Pauline Taylor, John Thomas, Janice Weiner Johnson County: Rod Sullivan University Heights: Louise From North Liberty: Terry Donahue, Chris Hoffman Coralville: Meghann Foster Tiffin: Steve Berner University of Iowa: Erin Shane ICCSD: J.P. Claussen STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Emily Bothell, Sarah Walz, Frank Waisath OTHERS PRESENT: Catherine Cutler (Iowa DOT), James Hughes, Barbra Beaumont 1. CALL TO ORDER Donahue called the remote meeting (pursuant to Iowa Code Section 21.8) to order at 4:30 PM. a. Recognize alternates JP Clauson was present for Ruthina Malone for the Iowa City Community School District. b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Motion to approve was made by From, Thomas seconded. The motion carried unanimously. c. Set next Board meeting date, time and location The next meeting was tentatively set for Wednesday, May 26th. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA None 3. ADMINISTRATION a. Consider action regarding participation in the ‘Federal-Aid-Swap’ whereby State funding could replace Federal funding for local road/bridge projects Ralston explained that in 2018 House File 203 was signed into law, permitting the Iowa Transportation Commission to allow what is commonly referred to as a Federal Aid Swap, where road and bridge projects that would’ve been funded through the MPO with federal funds can be funded instead with state funds. For the past three years, the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) has recommended opting into the swap. However, after lengthy discussions, this board has decided to opt out of the swap in the same three years out of concern for Davis Bacon wages, worker safety, and lack of data showing benefits of the swap. The Bi-State Regional Commission of the quad cities and MPOJC are the only two MPOs in the state currently opting out of the swap. Similar to previous years, the Iowa DOT will assume participation unless specifically opting out. The DOT has not produced any cost-savings for opting in but have mentioned that the project timeline has been streamlined by approximately six months, which would help produce some savings through staff time saved. Opting in only effects Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds. Opting in does not affect Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) dollars. Ralston noted the TTAC unanimously recommended participating in the swap and opened the floor to questions, noting that Cathy Cutler from the DOT is on the call to help answer questions. Taylor explained that three years ago the Urbanized Area Policy Board (UAPB) decided to opt out because there was a lack of information about the financial benefits of opting in. Taylor expressed concern that a faster pace isn’t necessarily beneficial, as it could lead to waste or safety problems. Thomas questioned the impacts of funding on many issues. A report from the US Government Accountability Office prepared in October 2020 found that impacts of the swap could not be definitively determined. Fifteen states have opted out of the swap, and Iowa uses the swap more than other states, with about 18% of projects including the swap in their contracts. Thomas stated that he would like to understand the impacts on the state prevailing wage. Foster stated that this issue was the first thing she voted on when she joined the MPO Board, and she will continue to choose to opt out because of her concerns about wages and workers. Foster added that the Board has asked about cost-benefits for three years and is curious why this information is hard to determine. Ralston explained that this topic was discussed at the MPO directors meeting last week. Stu Anderson, Director of Systems Planning, said that determining cost-benefits of the swap would be a priority this coming year. Anderson spoke to the UAPB three years ago and explained that it was difficult to quantify the effects of the swap. From stated that she’d voted to opt in the last three years due to her engineer’s assessment that increased time and cost when using federal funding makes it difficult for small cities. Taylor moved to opt out of the swap. Sullivan seconded. From and Berner voted against opting out. Shane abstained. The motion carried with 7 voting to opt-out, 2 voting against opting-out, and 1 abstention. 4. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. Consider approval of the Locally Determined Projects list for the MPOJC FY2022 Transportation Planning Work Program Ralston stated that each spring the MPO compiles a list of transportation planning work program projects for the upcoming fiscal year, as required by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Iowa DOT. More importantly, the work program schedules projects locally. The existing list of projects was attached to the meeting agenda and will be augmented with regular occurring projects and state and federal transportation planning work before the next meeting for final work program approval. Ralston noted the TTAC unanimously recommended approval at their March meeting. Thomas asked if project number four on Mormon Trek Boulevard will include a speed study as well as travel time. Ralston stated that the project is to identify how the four to three lane conversion has affected corridor travel times. Speeds will be collected as part of the study. Motion to approve was made by Weiner, Hoffman seconded. The motion carried unanimously. b. Consider approval of MPOJC Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) funding allocations Neumann explained that the Iowa DOT has provided the MPO with funding targets of $7.38 million for STBG, and $520,000 for TAP funding. All of these will be programed in the FY25- 26 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Four entities requested just under $17 million in STBG funding for six different applications and $500,000 in TAP funding requests in one application. Two applications: Coralville’s Heartland Drive project and part of Iowa City’s Highway 6 Trail project are not in the current LRTP, but have applied for the next LRT P, and will be considered for approval next spring. Each project, its scoring, and funding requested was presented by Neumann and Bothell from highest score to lowest score. At the TTAC meeting, the Iowa City Hwy 6 Trail project was recommended at $520,000, even though Iowa City requested $500,000, in order to utilize TAP funds. The Regional Trails and Bicycling Committee (RTBC) and TTAC recommended funding the Highway 6 Trail project at $520,000. One letter from Megan Alter of the South District Neighborhood Association offered support of the project because it improves safety and increases pedestrian access along Hwy 6, a goal of the neighborhood for many years. Neumann presented the TTAC recommendations for each project. He explained that Iowa City withdrew their Dodge Street project at this meeting to focus on funding the Taft Ave Project. Coralville’s Highway 6 and Deer Creek Road project score was amended in a seven to six vote to award seven additional points to the safety category after Coralville presented additional information about the intersection. Neumann stated that the Board may amend project scores, scores are only one thing to consider when approving funding, and funding cannot be awarded based on community population. Motion to approve the STBG funding recommendations was made by Taylor, Foster seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Motion to approve the TAP funding recommendations was made by Hoffman, Sullivan seconded. The motion carried unanimously. c. Public Hearing and consideration of approval of the MPOJC Passenger Transportation Plan Neumann explained that it has been awhile since the MPOJC has updated a Passenger Transportation Plan (PTP), but it is required by the Iowa DOT to coordinate planning of transit- related funding programs. The PTP addresses needs-based project justification and is required to be updated every five years, so this update is for FY22-27. The MPO worked with four existing local transportation committees, including the Johnson County Livable Communities Transportation Committee, the Johnson County SEATs Advisory Committee, the Citizens Transportation Committee, and the Johnson County Mobility Coordinator Advisory Committee. These committees reviewed past priorities and recent developments and developed a list of needs for service, fleet, and facilities and strategies, goals, and objectives for the next five years. This update was submitted to the PTP committee members for review as well as the Iowa DOT. Many of the priorities and strategies depend on the implementation of the recommendations from the Iowa City Area Transit Study that was recently completed. Late night and weekend service, upgrades to facilities and technology, training and education, and regional service options remain priorities. The federal funding discussed in the PTP comes from Section 5310 ADA funding, apportioned to transit agencies by the Iowa DOT. All three area transit agencies have chosen to continue to use the funding for ADA Paratransit Services. Neumann stated that it has been seven years, not five, since the last update, and opened the floor to questions and a public hearing. No public comments were made at this time. Motion to approve was made by Thomas, Sullivan seconded. The motion carried unanimously. d. Consider approval of local transit agency safety performance targets Neumann explained that Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans are now required of all recipients of federal transit administration funding. This includes Iowa City Transit, Coralville Transit, and Cambus. The three agencies have each developed plans promoting comprehensive procedures for managing safety, including safety performance measures such as fatalities, injuries, safety events, and system reliability based on data trends over recent years. Rules require the MPO to adopt performance measures for safety. The Transportation Technical Advisory Committee recommended the approval of the performance measures. Hoffman moved to approve the performance targets. Weiner seconded. The motion carried unanimously. e. Update regarding the MPOJC FY2022 Transit Program of Projects Neumann explained that each year the three local transit agencies are required by Federal Transit Administration to develop a program of projects, identifying proposed projects funded with federal funds. The Iowa DOT consolidated funding application and FY22-25 transportation improvement program will both include these projects. There is no need for approval from the Board currently, as the agencies develop these projects independently and include them in their consolidated funding application, which requires public hearing at a city council meeting. These projects are only included in the agenda for review because the Board provides Section 5307 funding. f. Update on the MPOJC Long Range Transportation Plan revision process Bothell explained that the MPO has been busy scoring transportation projects submitted by each of the communities, gathering data on performance measures, and gathering public input. The MPO released a survey February 11th for all those that live, work, attend school, or do business in Johnson County. The survey was designed to understand respondents’ travel patterns and determine changes or improvements to implement to make travel across the metro easier. The survey was open for a month and just over 600 responses were recorded for use at future public meetings and in the Long-Range Transportation Plan document. Bothell stated that the MPO has also created a virtual map in lieu of an in-person open house to provide project locations and receive input. The map will also be open for a month, closing April 16th. Bothell presented the virtual map and explained that the link is available to the public on the MPO website with thorough instructions virtual public meetings beginning in April and extending through the fall to provide additional opportunities for feedback. Hoffman commented that the virtual map is a great tool and thanked staff for putting it together. Ralston agreed and added that the map includes projects the UAPB approved for funding. Shane also praised the transition from in-person workshops to virtual using this tool. 5. OTHER BUSINESS a. None 6. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn was made by Taylor; Sullivan seconded. Meeting adjourned by Donahue at 5:14 PM.