HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.13.22 UAPB MinutesMINUTES APPROVED
MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD
July 13, 2022 – 4:30 P.M.
City of Coralville – Council Chambers 1512 7TH St. Coralville, IA
MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Keith Jones, Meghann Foster
Iowa City: John Thomas, Pauline Taylor, Janice Weiner,
Laura Bergus
Johnson County: Rod Sullivan
North Liberty: Eric Sittig, Brian Wayson
University Heights: Tim Schroeder
University of Iowa: Erin Shane
STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, and Hannah Neel
OTHERS PRESENT: Cathy Cutler (Iowa DOT)
1. CALL TO ORDER
Thomas called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. The meeting was held at the Coralville City
Council Chambers.
a. Recognize alternates
Keith Jones was recognized as an alternate for Laurie Goodrich of Coralville. Eric Sittig
was recognized as an alternate for Chris Hoffman of North Liberty. Tim Schroeder was
the alternate for Louise From of University Heights.
b. Consider approval of meeting minutes
Motion to approve May 25, 2022 meeting minutes was made by Sullivan, seconded by
Weiner. The motion carried unanimously.
c. Set next Board meeting date, time and location
Ralston proposed September 21, 2022 as the next Board meeting date with the location
to be determined.
2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
3. ADMINISTRATION
a. Public Hearing and consideration of a resolution adopting a revised MPOJC Public
Participation Plan
Ralston shared that the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC)
Public Participation Plan formalizes the public input process for MPOs in their planning
process. Each major work item is included in the public participation plan to indicate how
MPOJC will get public participation. The last public participation plan was adopted in 2017.
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The document is consistent with federal guidelines and will formalize the planning policies
used by MPOJC and encourage public participation and communication with member
communities. The adopted plan will be in future Transportation Improvement Plans (TIPs).
To date there has been no public comment on the plan. Based on feedback from the
previous Urbanized Area Policy Board meeting in May, a number of revisions were made.
The Coralville and Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commissions and Iowa City Climate
Action Committee were added to the plan’s public outreach for organizations. Additionally,
both the Press Citizen and Gazette will have notices for public hearings as resources allow.
Social media is also identified in the plan as a way to communicate with the public.
Thomas opened the public hearing for the adoption of the revised MPOJC Public
Participation Plan. After no comments, Thomas closed the public hearing.
Motion to adopt the revised MPOJC Public Participation Plan was made by Sullivan,
seconded by Taylor. The motion carried unanimously.
4. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
a. Public Hearing and consideration of an amendment to the FY 22-25 MPOJC
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – amending the program year and federal
funding amount for the I-80/1st Avenue Interchange Project in Coralville
Ralston stated that the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC)
submits the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) annually to the Iowa Department
of Transportation (Iowa DOT). The Iowa DOT has requested an amendment to move the
Coralville 1st Ave/Interstate-80 interchange project from FY23 with a total cost of
$22,685,000 to FY22 with a total cost of $32,225,360. The amendment also reflects $25
million dollars in federal aid. The amendment is necessary, in part, due to the project
receiving a DOT Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant
award of $20,525,359.
Thomas opened the public hearing for the amendment to the FY 22-25 MPOJC
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), amending the program year and federal
funding amount for the 1-80/1st Avenue Interchange Project in Coralville. After no comments,
Thomas closed the public hearing.
Motion to approve the amendment to the FY22-25 MPOJC Transportation Improvement
Plan was made by Bergus, Wayson seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
b. Public Hearing and consideration of resolutions of adoption and certification for the FY 23-
26 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program
Ralston explained that the annual Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the
Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County’s (MPOJC) programming
document for federal and state surface transportation projects. The TIP has been updated
to reflect the recent programming of projects through federal FY2026.
Ralston presented the new projects in the TIP which include projects added in FY26 – 1)
North Liberty reconstruction project for $2.9 million, 2) Iowa City’s Highway 6 Trail project
for $520,000, and 3) Iowa DOT Pavement Data Collection Program for $60,000. The TIP
also includes 5307 transit operating funds approved by the Board in January. The 5307
transit operating funds are allocated to the University of Iowa Cambus, Iowa City Transit,
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and Coralville Transit. The program of projects, approved by the Board in April, is included
as well.
Thomas opened the public hearing for the adoption of the FY23-26 MPOJC Transportation
Improvement Program. After no comments, Thomas closed the public hearing.
Motion to approve the adoption of the FY23-26 MPOJC Transportation Improvement
Program for the Iowa City Urbanized Area and authorizing the MPO Chairperson to sign
associated documents was made by Sullivan, Taylor seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
Motion to approve the resolution certifying compliance with federal requirements for
conducting the urban transportation planning process in the Iowa City Urbanized Area was
made by Sullivan, Taylor seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
c. Consider approval of staff authorization to execute actions on behalf of MPOJC for the
Federal Transit Administration
Ralston explained that in May of 2018, the Policy Board approved Cooperative Agreements
on behalf of Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit, and University of Iowa Cambus that
clarifies MPOJC’s standing as the designated recipient for Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) 5307 operating funds. The agreements identify mutual responsibilities to be
completed by MPO staff and each transit agency. Also required as part of the agreements
is the designation of a specific MPOJC Associate Planner as the authorized staff person to
execute the Section 5307 operating grants process. With recent staff changes, Associate
Planner Hannah Neel will be named as the new authorized designee. Ralston asked the
Policy Board to consider approval of the change in designated staff to execute actions on
behalf of MPOJC for the Federal Transit Administration.
Motion to approve staff authorization to execute actions on behalf of the MPOJC for the
Federal Transit Administration was made by Weiner, seconded by Wayson. The motion
carried unanimously.
d. Discussion regarding CRANDIC passenger rail and potential next steps
Ralston shared that since the May meeting, there were tasks outlined for the Metropolitan
Planning Organization to complete regarding CRANDIC passenger rail. Ralston met with
City Managers to discuss desires and the Surface Transportation Board was contacted to
discuss mechanisms to provide the passenger rail or bus system in the CRANDIC corridor.
Ralston also communicated with CRANDIC to gauge if they would entertain bus rapid
transit in the corridor and they agreed.
Foster inquired about potential redundancy with the Intersate-380 express. Ralston clarified
that there would not be any redundancy at this point because the passenger rail studies
have focused on the route between Iowa City and North Liberty – not Iowa City to Cedar
Rapids.
Ralston indicated that staff would continue discussion with City Managers.
e. Update from DOT District 6 staff on significant projects in the metro area
Cathy Cutler, Transportation Planner for Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT)
District 6, presented updates on significant projects in the MPOJC metro area.
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The Herbert Hoover Highway/Intersate-80 Interchange project is underway. Currently,
crews are working on the new roundabouts and bridge. The work will continue through
November 30, 2022.
To the east, Intersate-80 is being widened from a mile east of Highway 1 to the westbound
interchange. Crews are beginning to remove the pavement as traffic continues through the
westbound side. After completion in the fall, traffic will be put onto the new eastbound lane.
The Wapsi bridge has been closed because of this project and will reopen next summer.
The Interstate-80/380 project has entered the final construction staging, which will last from
this spring until August of 2024. In North Liberty the Interstate-380 widening continues, with
the northbound lane open for both directions. The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa
DOT) is also working on various ramp bridges on Interstate-80. In Tiffin the Iowa DOT is
working on the new east facing ramps at the Ireland Avenue interchange. Construction will
continue on the new Jasper Avenue bridge by Interstate-80 with anticipated completion in
2024.
The Interstate-80/First Avenue interchange project is expected to start in the spring of 2023.
5. OTHER BUSINESS
None.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Foster; Sittig seconded. Meeting adjourned by Thomas at
4:57 p.m.