HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.26.21 UAPB MinutesMINUTES
MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD
MAY 26, 2021 – 4:30 P.M.
ZOOM MEETING PLATFORM APPROVED
MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Meghann Foster, Laurie Goodrich
Iowa City: Pauline Taylor, John Thomas, Laura Bergus,
Janice Weiner
Johnson County: Rod Sullivan, Royceann Porter
North Liberty: Terry Donahue, Chris Hoffman
University Heights: Louise From
University of Iowa: Erin Shane
ICCSD: Ruthina Malone
Iowa DOT: Cathy Cutler
STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Brad Neumann, Frank Waisath, Hannah
DeBruin
OTHERS PRESENT: Barbara Beaumont
1. CALL TO ORDER
Donahue called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM. 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
Ralston clarified that there are no alternates, but the phone number in Zoom is Louise
From.
b. Consider approval of meeting minutes
Motion to approve made by Sullivan; Taylor seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
c. Set next Board meeting date, time and location
Tentatively scheduled for July 7th, expected to be held over Zoom.
2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
3. ADMINISTRATION
a. Consider approval of ‘American Rescue and Recovery Act’ funding allocations for local
transit agencies
Neumann explained that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a $30.5
billion total in federal funding allocations to continue to support public transportation
systems through the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding 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 FTA previously provided the Iowa City Urbanized
Area with $8,331,763 in funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
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Security (CARES) Act in 2020 and $1,532,506 in Coronavirus Response and Relief
Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) funding earlier in 2021. Like with the
previous funding, the funding will be provided at 100% federal share and will not require
a local match. The American Rescue Plan primarily directs recipients to prioritize payroll
and operational needs. After discussion with the three transit managers, it was
recommended to apportion the American Rescue Plan funding using the same multiplier
as the CARES Act and CRRSAA funding. So far, over $17 million has been apportioned
to the communities for transit since 2020 and will be used over next few years to get
service back to normal. Staff asked for a recommendation to approve the apportionment.
Neumann noted that once approved, MPOJC will provide the apportioned amounts to
the FTA and apply for the funding on behalf of the transit agencies and noted the
Transportation Technical Advisory Committee recommended approval of the
apportionment at their May 18th meeting.
Weiner moved to approve the apportionment; Sullivan seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
4. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
a. Consider a resolution approving the MPOJC FY2022 Transportation Planning Work
Program
Ralston explained that the MPOJC FY2022 Transportation Planning Work Program
(TPWP) includes all locally-requested projects that were received by the MPOJC from
member-entities as well as general projects and procedures as required by the Iowa
DOT, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and FTA. While required by the federal
government, the TPWP also serves to organize data collection and project workflow for
MPOJC staff. Staff sought modifications to be made before the program is sent to the
DOT, FHWA, and FTA for final approval. Ralston added that MPOJC will continue to
take requests for additional projects as they come up throughout the year and complete
them as time permits. The projects listed only represent about one quarter of all projects
completed by the MPOJC in a year, so new projects are free to be requested as needed.
Ralston stated the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee unanimously approved
the FY2022 TPWP at their May 18th meeting.
Donahue clarified that the resolutions on page 11 and page 21 were the same. Ralston
concurred. Taylor added that the list of projects is incredibly long and will greatly benefit
the community.
Hoffman moved to approve the program; Goodrich seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
b. Consider approval of the Draft FY2022-2025 MPOJC Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP) projects
Neumann explained that the annual TIP document is used for all federally funded
projects in both road and transit as well as all state and local projects in the urbanized
area. Any projects that were scheduled for FY2021 but are not contracted with the Iowa
DOT will carry over to FY2022 and another 4% will be added to the project cost. The
Board previously awarded $7.8 million in Surface Transportation Block Grant funds for
four projects programmed for FY2025-2026. The projects programmed in FY2025 were
the Taft Avenue reconstruction project in Iowa City ($3,500,000), Highway 6 and Deer
Creek Road improvements project in Coralville ($864,560), and Sunset Street pavement
repair and pedestrian improvements project in University Heights ($115,440). There was
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not enough funding to complete all projects in FY2025, so the Ranshaw Way
reconstruction project in North Liberty ($2,900,000) was programmed in FY2026 and will
be included in next year’s TIP. The Board awarded Transportation Alternatives Program
funding to the Highway 6 Trail extension project in Iowa City ($520,000) that will also be
included in next year’s TIP.
Neumann stated that the transit portion of the TIP includes operating funding and all
capital projects that were approved earlier this year, primarily for bus and equipment
replacement. In these TIPs, buses usually receive about 85% of federal funding. Iowa
City Transit will be replacing all their buses with electric buses, which was a first for the
Iowa DOT. Staff requested approval of the draft FY2022-2025 MPOJC TIP project list.
The Transportation Technical Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval
of the FY2022-2025 TIP project list at their May 18th meeting. The draft TIP will be
submitted to the Iowa DOT for review by June 15, 2021. MPOJC will begin the public
approval process for the TIP in July.
Bergus moved to approve the TIP draft; Hoffman seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
c. Consider approval of the MPOJC Long Range Transportation Plan capital infrastructure
project prioritization
Bothell explained that staff has been working on the Long-Range Transportation Plan
(LRTP) since the last meeting in terms of gathering public input, developing federal
funding estimates for 2022-2050, scoring proposed capital transportation infrastructure
projects, and finalizing the base Travel Demand Model. A second virtual workshop was
recently hosted by the MPOJC for the Bike and Pedestrian chapters of the LRTP. As
staff is nearing completion of the Travel Demand Model, communities have been
contacted to give input on where growth is expected.
The Federal Highway Administration requires that projects in the LRTP do not exceed
forecasted state and federal funds for the duration of the plan. As such, the MPOJC
must ensure that the time bands are “fiscally constrained.” Staff evaluated and scored
115 projects submitted by MPO entities and developed a preliminary list of projects. The
scoring criteria (used to prioritize projects) serves as one tool to help prioritize projects
because there has always been more transportation needs than available forecasted
funding. That said, this year the MPOJC fiscally constrained all but two road and bridge
projects and five bike and pedestrian projects.
These projects are both in the LRTP and the model, allowing communities to help
understand growth in the future. Staff is seeking approval of the fiscally constrained list
of capital infrastructure projects. The transportation Technical Advisory Committee
unanimously approved the list at their May 18th meeting.
Ralston added that this draft approval is primarily to help staff work on the LRTP this
year, but there will still be a formal public input process in early 2022.
Thomas moved to approve the list; Sullivan seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
d. Update on Federal Functional Class designations for urbanized area roadways
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Bothell presented the Federal Functional Classification (FFC) system map recently
updated and approved. Earlier this year, the Board unanimously approved the FFC
changes submitted by local entities to include 7.12 miles of roadways to the map. These
were approved by the Iowa DOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in
April.
Only 35% of total road mileage in the Iowa City Urbanized Area can be listed on the FFC
system. With the approved amendments, the total road mileage listed on the FFC
system is 33% with 167.04 miles classified. Roads must be classified on this system in
order to receive federal funding. These changes are now posted on the Iowa DOT’s
Highway Networks page.
Shane asked for clarification of the 35% figure. Bothell responded that only 35% of the
roadways in the urbanized area can be classified under the FFC to constrain the
potential for federal funding.
Ralston added that this classification is to guarantee that there is planning being done
for the long term with regards to these federal funds and they are not being applied to
any roadway without reason.
5. OTHER BUSINESS
None
6. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Taylor; Sullivan seconded. Meeting adjourned by
Donahue at 4:53 PM.