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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.