HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.18.21 TTAC MinutesMINUTES APPROVED
MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021 - 10:30 AM
CITY OF IOWA CITY - ZOOM MEETING PLATFORM
MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Ellen Habel, Vicky Robrock, Scott Larson
Iowa City: Jason Havel, Ron Knoche, Darian Nagle-
Gamm, Mark Rummel, Scott Sovers
Johnson County: Tom Brase, Greg Parker
North Liberty: Ryan Rusnak
University Heights: Louise From
University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey
RTBC: Robert Oppliger
Iowa DOT: Catherine Cutler
STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Brad Neumann, Sarah Walz, Frank
Waisath, Greta Larget, Hannah DeBruin
OTHERS PRESENT: Zaid Alsamawi, Brian Willham
1. CALL TO ORDER
Neumann called the meeting to order at 10:32 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.
a. Recognize alternates
Ellen Habel was recognized as an alternate for Kelly Hayworth of Coralville.
b. Consider approval of meeting minutes
Oppliger moved for approval, Larson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
3. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD
REGARDING APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT MPOJC FY2022 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
WORK PROGRAM
Ralston presented the FY22 Transportation Planning Work Program including all locally
requested projects the MPO received from member entities, as well as projects required by
the Iowa DOT, Federal Highway Administration, and Federal Transit Administration. Ralston
stated that there were no updates since the Committee’s last review in March. Ralston
requested review and modifications before forwarding to the Urbanized Area Policy Board for
final approval next week. Ralston also stated the MPO would continue to accept projects next
year and complete as time permits. Ralston opened the floor to questions and approval.
Ralston continued to say that it’s a solid list of about thirty projects, but the MPO knows that
it’s only about a third of the work they do in a given year, and they will try to complete other
projects/requests as they can.
From moved for approval, Habel seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
4. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD
REGARDING APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT FY2022-2025 MPOJC TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) PROJECTS
Neumann presented the draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects which
includes programming for federal and state surface transportation and transit projects for
FY2022-2025. Neumann explained that all FY2021 projects rollover to FY2022 if not under
contract with Iowa DOT, and these projects will be automatically dropped from the FY2022
list if they are let in FY2021. Neumann stated that the MPO added 4% to the total project cost
for all STBG/TAP projects funded by MPOJC.
Neumann explained that at the March Urbanized Area Policy Board meeting, $7.38 million in
Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funds were awarded to four projects
programmed in FY2025-2026. The projects include Iowa City’s Taft Avenue reconstruction
project funded at $3,500,000, Coralville’s Hwy 6 and Deer Creek Road improvement project
funded at $864,560, University Height’s Sunset Street pavement repair and pedestrian
improvement project funded at $115,440 and North Liberty’s Ranshaw Way reconstruction
project funded at $2,900,000. North Liberty’s project will be programmed in FY2026 and will
be included in next year’s TIP.
Neumann explained that at the same meeting the Urbanized Area Policy Board also awarded
$520,000 in Transportation Alternatives Program funding to Iowa City’s Highway 6 Trail
extension project to be programmed in FY2026, again to be included in next year’s TIP.
Neumann added that the transit section of the TIP includes operating funding and transit
capital projects, such as bus replacement and facilities. The Board approved the operating
funding in January.
Neumann opened the floor to questions or a motion to approve the recommendation to the
Urbanized Area Policy Board.
Larson moved for approval. Knoche seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
5. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD
REGARDING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR LOCAL
TRANSIT AGENCIES
Neumann explained that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced a $30.5
billion total federal funding allocation through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to
support the nation’s public transportation systems as they continue to respond to the COVID-
19 public health emergency. The funding was signed into law on March 11, 2021 and includes
$7,496,845 for the Iowa City Urbanized Area to be apportioned to Iowa City Transit, Coralville
Transit, and University of Iowa Cambus. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
(CARES) Act in 2020 and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act
(CRRSAA) earlier in 2021 provided a total of $8,331,763 in funding for the Iowa City Urbanized
Area.
Neumann explained that after discussions with the three transit managers, the same formula
and multiplier used for the 2020 CARES Act and 2021 CRRSAA funding distribution was
recommended. The urbanized area agencies have been awarded over $17 million in stimulus
funding since 2020. Once the apportionment is approved, the FTA will be informed of the
amounts and the MPO will begin preparing the necessary grant applications. Neumann
opened the floor to the transit managers and a recommendation.
Nagle-Gamm commented that Iowa City is thrilled with the third round of emergency funding
to backfill the loss of revenue. Nagle-Gamm stated that Iowa City services are back to about
50% of pre-pandemic ridership numbers. Iowa City Transit is excited to maintain their current
level of service and invest in the enhancements identified through the Iowa City Area Transit
Study that the community wants to see.
McClatchey echoed Nagle-Gamm’s support and stated that Cambus ridership has not yet
returned to 50% of pre-pandemic levels. McClatchey also discussed the loss of revenue
Cambus has experienced through lower parking revenues and fewer student fees from lower
enrollment. The previous federal funding helped Cambus to retain student employees and
provide incentive pay to maintain transit service, and more funds would help the agency more
fully recover from revenue losses.
Robrock concurred that additional funding would be useful to Coralville transit and stated that
their ridership was also at about 50% of pre-pandemic levels.
Nagle-Gamm moved for approval, McClatchey seconded. The motion passed
unanimously.
6. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD
REGARDING MPOJC LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN CAPITAL
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT PRIORITIZATION
Bothell presented updates on the Long-Range Transportation Plan, related Travel Demand
Model and capital infrastructure project prioritization.
Bothell stated that MPOJC is in the process of updating their Travel Demand Model, which
the MPO does every time it updates the Long-Range Transportation Plan. Bothell explained
that the model is used to help understand how traffic patterns could change in response to
land-use changes and provide forecasted volumes through the plan horizon year of 2050.
Bothell added that she will be reaching out to each of the communities later in the week for
assistance developing a picture of growth for the urbanized area involving changes in
population, housing, and employment in specific regions within each community and their
growth boundaries.
Bothell also presented the Capital Infrastructure Project Prioritization list, with each project
sorted into a fiscally constrained time band so as not to exceed the MPO’s forecasted state
and federal funds for the duration of the plan. Bothell explained that staff evaluated 115
projects submitted by MPO entities using the TTAC and Policy Board approved scoring
criteria, and the list of scored projects was sorted by type and anticipated year of construction.
The scoring criteria helps the MPO prioritize projects within the Long-Range Plan’s anticipated
funding time bands because there are usually more transportation infrastructure needs than
available forecasted funding. Bothell stated that the MPO was able to constrain all but two
road and bridge projects and five bike and pedestrian projects. Bothell thanked Iowa City and
Coralville for working with the MPO through that process.
Bothell reminded the Committee that all submitted projects are eligible to receive federal
funding in the future, then opened the floor for questions or a motion to approve the
recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board.
Larson moved for approval, Oppliger seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Bothell added that the virtual public meeting for the LRTP Bike and Pedestrian Chapter will
take place on Wednesday, May 19th, and encouraged the TTAC members to attend using the
information on the MPOJC website.
7. UPDATE ON FEDERAL FUNCTIONAL CLASS DESIGNATIONS FOR URBANIZED AREA
ROADWAYS
Bothell explained that the Urbanized Area Policy Board unanimously approved amendments
to the Federal Functional Classification system map in January to include 7.12 miles of
roadways in a request to the Iowa Department of Transportation and Federal Highway
Administration for final approval. The amendments were approved in April, and the total road
mileage listed on the FFC system in the Iowa City urbanized area now equals 167.04 miles, or
33% of total roadway mileage, just under the 35% threshold. Bothell added that updates can
now be seen on the Iowa DOT’s Iowa Highway Networks webpage.
8. OTHER BUSINESS
Oppliger announced that it is National Bike Month and Bike-to-Work week, and there are a
variety of events happening to celebrate, including a safety training event at Terry Trueblood
park on Sunday, May 23rd. Oppliger also explained that Iowa City is expanding bike-to-work
month into bike-to-work summer, and will have more events through the summer.
From added that University Heights is hosting a bike breakfast on Wednesday, May 19th and
encouraged attendance. From also announced that Courtyard Marriot is opening on June 3rd
and will host a grand opening.
Nagle-Gamm gave an update on Iowa City’s implementation of the Iowa City Area Transit
Study Plan developed in 2020. City Council will formally consider approval on June 1st at a
virtual public hearing, which TTAC members are encouraged to attend. Nagle-Gamm also
announced that fare and transfer policy changes that better align with Coralville’s transit
service are coming soon to make cross-metro commutes simpler for residents. Discounted
fares for youth and free rides for those 60+ are among the coming changes. Some of these
changes start immediately after the Fourth of July holiday, and t he major Iowa City transit
changes will be implemented August 2nd.
Larson stated that the Iowa River Corridor Trail segment under construction between Crandic
Park and Clear Creek in Coralville is nearly finished. Concrete and lighting is done, and
shoulders and safety railings are being installed with the anticipated opening date being July
1st at the latest.
Knoche added that Iowa City’s American Legion Road Project has begun between Scott
Boulevard and Taft Avenue. The project will take place over two years with road closures at
various stages throughout construction. Knoche also noted that bids opened today (May 18th)
for their Melrose Avenue improvement project.
Ralston stated that he is watching CDC guidelines on returning to in-person meetings, and he
anticipates this group will be meeting in person again in September or November.
McClatchey explained that transit agencies are also monitoring safety guidelines for Covid-19,
and TSA will require masks on public transit through at least September 13th.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Knoche moved to adjourn, Parker seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Neumann
adjourned the meeting at 11:02 am.