HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.21.23 TTAC Agenda Packet
MPOJC Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
Tuesday March 21, 2023 – 10:30 a.m.
Emma Harvat Hall
Iowa City City Hall
AGENDA
1. Call to order; recognize alternates; consider approval of meeting minutes
2. Public discussion of any item not on the agenda*
3. Consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding
Locally Determined Projects for the FY2024 Transportation Planning Work Program
4. Consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding
Federal Functional Class designations for urbanized area roadways
5. Consider a recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding MPOJC
Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding allocations
6. Update regarding the MPOJC FY2024 Transit Program of Projects
7. Update on the I-380 Express bus system from East Central Iowa Council of Governments
staff
8. Update on local trail counts in the urbanized area
9. Other Business
10. Adjournment
*Public input is permitted on any agenda item. Please indicate to the Chair if you wish to comment on an agenda
item.
To request any disability-related accommodations or language interpretation, please contact MPOJC staff at 319-
356-5230 or kent-ralston@iowa-city.org 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Date: March 14, 2023
To: Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
From: Kent Ralston; Executive Director
Re: Agenda Item #3: Consider a recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board
regarding Locally Determined Projects for the MPOJC FY2024 Transportation Planning
Work Program
Each spring we compile a list of Transportation Planning Work Program projects for the upcoming
fiscal year. While this exercise is required by the Federal Highway Administration and Iowa
Department of Transportation, we also utilize it to schedule and plan ahead for the data collection
and research necessary to complete requested projects. The attachment lists the requested work
program projects we have received to-date from committee members and other staff.
We are aware that additional projects and data collection needs will come up during the
year. While we are usually able to fit smaller unscheduled projects into our work – more significant
projects proposed during the year may not be able to be completed. If major projects are proposed
that would disrupt the Work Program, we typically discuss them with the Urbanized Area Policy
Board before committing significant staff time to them.
Please review the list of attached projects and let us know of any additions or clarifications. We
will augment this list with regularly-occurring projects and state and federally-required
transportation planning work, and bring the full Work Program to you at your next meeting for
consideration.
Please consider a recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding the locally
determined projects for the FY24 Transportation Planning Work Program.
I will be available at your March 21st meeting to answer any questions you have.
Requested FY24 Work Program Projects
# Project Request Entity
1 Assist with two-way conversion of Jefferson and Market Streets Havel Iowa City
2 Assist with two-way conversion of Dodge and Governor Streets Havel Iowa City
3 Perform traffic signal timing review and adjustment as needed Havel Iowa City
4 Assist with Melrose / Byington / Grand Avenue circulation study Havel Iowa City
5 Complete signal warrants and intersection analyses as needed Havel Iowa City
6 Continue Bike Master Plan implementation Ralston Iowa City
7 Assist with GIS mapping and maintenance of zoning map Ralston Iowa City
8 Assist with grant writing for Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) funding Ralston MPOJC
9 Perform onboard transit survey Robrock Coralville
10 Perform study to determine the number of transfers for Coralville Transit Robrock Coralville
11 Review of development proposals as needed Larson Coralville
12 Perform traffic studies as requested Larson Coralville
13 Evaluate school-related traffic concerns as needed Larson Coralville
14 Assist with evaluating pavement management systems and data Larson Coralville
15 Perform traffic signal timing review and adjustment as needed Larson Coralville
16 Review of development proposals as needed Rusnak North Liberty
17 Perform traffic studies as requested Rusnak North Liberty
18 Collect traffic data in the 300-600 blocks of S. Iowa Street Rasmussen Solon
19 Collect traffic data for S. Dubuque Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets Rasmussen Solon
20 Conduct traffic signal level-of-service evaluation at Main Street / Hwy 1 Rasmussen Solon
21 Conduct traffic signal level-of-service evaluation at Hwy 1 / 5th Street Rasmussen Solon
22 Complete future arterial street plan and mapping Rasmussen Solon
23 Review of development proposals as needed Boldt Tiffin
24 Complete a traffic evaluation on Ireland Avenue south of railroad tracks Boldt Tiffin
25 Complete S. Park Road / Village Drive intersection analysis Boldt Tiffin
26 Review of Hwy 6 from two-lanes to three-lanes from Main Street to Roundabout Boldt Tiffin
27 Traffic counts, intersection analysis, and signal timing review at Melrose / Golfview From University Heights
28 Review of development proposals as needed From University Heights
29 Perform traffic studies as requested From University Heights
30 Evaluate school-related traffic concerns as needed From University Heights
31 Assist with CRANDIC corridor studies Cutler DOT
32 Assist with 380 Express bus service continuation Cutler DOT
33 Assist with study of I-380 widening from Penn Street interchange to northern MPO
boundary – Including Penn Street interchange design
Cutler DOT
Date: March 14, 2023
To: Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
From: Emily Bothell; Sr. Associate Transportation Planner
Re: Agenda Item #4: Consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy
Board regarding Federal Functional Class designations for urbanized area roadways
Last fall we received 29.30 miles of amendments to the Iowa City Urbanized Area Federal
Functional Classification (FFC) system from Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty, and Tiffin.
MPOJC staff forwarded the requested amendments to the Iowa Department of Transportation
(Iowa DOT) and received ‘pre-approval’ for 13.94 miles of roadway (Table 1).
The functional classification system is a hierarchy of five roadway classes and identifies which
roads are Federal-Aid Routes. Federal funding can only be spent on roadways functionally
classified as collector, or higher, in the classification system. Only 35% of the total road mileage
in the Iowa City Urbanized Area can be listed on the FFC System. If approved by this Committee
and the Urbanized Area Policy Board (UAPB), the total road mileage listed on the FFC system in
the Iowa City Urbanized Area would equal 176.43 miles or 34%.
Please be prepared to make a recommendation to the Policy Board regarding the 13.94 miles of
‘pre-approved’ roadways.
I will be available at your March 21st meeting to answer any questions you may have.
Table 1: Federal Functional Classification Amendment Request 2023
NO. ENTITY STREET / ROUTE DESCRIPTION
Federal Functional Classification Change
Iowa DOT Comments
Miles Existing
Classification
Proposed
Classification
Approved/
Denied
1 Iowa City/
Johnson County
Taft Avenue - Herbert Hoover Highway SE to Lower
West Branch Road SE 0.50 LOCAL U-COL Approved -
2 Iowa City Melrose Avenue/ IWV Road SW - Hurt Road SW to
Slothower Road 0.44 U-COL U-MA Approved -
3 Coralville Forevergreen Road - North Liberty Road to a point
approximately .32 miles to the east 0.32 LOCAL LOCAL Denied
Need current AADT. Forevergreen Road
should connect to existing U-MA to keep FFC
continuity.
4 Coralville/
Johnson County
1st Avenue/ North Liberty Road - Holiday Road to
South Dubuque Street 3.10 U-COL U-MA Approved -
5 Coralville E. 9th Street/ Quarry Road/ E. 7th St Loop - 1st
Avenue to Quarry Road to E 7th Street to 1st Avenue 0.50 LOCAL U-COL Approved -
6 Coralville 25th Avenue - Hwy 6 to James Street 0.10 LOCAL U-COL Approved -
7 Coralville Heartland Drive - Jones Boulevard to Coral Ridge
Avenue 1.00 U-MA U-COL Approved -
8 Coralville Oakdale Boulevard/ Jones Boulevard - Heartland
Drive to Coral Ridge Avenue 1.30 LOCAL U-MA Approved -
9 Coralville/ Tiffin Hwy 6 - Coral Ridge Avenue to Tiffin's westerly City
limits 4.10 U-MA U-PA Approved -
10 North Liberty Jones Boulevard - W Penn Street to northern City
limits 1.00 LOCAL LOCAL Denied
Need current AADT. The proposed
development adjacent to Jones Boulevard is
not complete and the existing traffic does not
support the change.
11 North Liberty N Dubuque Street - W Penn Street to Highway 965 0.50 U-MA U-COL Approved -
12 North Liberty 240th Street/ Scales Bend Rd NE - I-380 to northern
City limits 2.40 LOCAL U-COL Approved -
13 North Liberty 230th Street/ Pheasant Lane - Western City limits to
eastern City limits 0.80 LOCAL LOCAL Denied
Would not meet spacing requirements with
upgrade of 240th Street. There are too many
residential access points. AADT does not
support the change.
14 North Liberty Alexander Way - W Penn Street to 240th Street 0.50 LOCAL LOCAL Denied AADT does not support the change. Adjacent
parcels are not fully developed.
15 North Liberty Fairview Lane/ Golfview Drive - S Jones Blvd to S
Front Street 1.14 LOCAL LOCAL Denied Too many residential accesses to support the
classification.
16 North Liberty W Penn Street - N Front Street to western City limits 2.00 U-MA U-MA Denied
The adjacent land uses do not support the
classification change. Adjacent uses are
commercial and residential as compared to
regionally significant uses. Additionally, Penn
Street does not connect as a through route
with arterials from the outside - only collectors
to the NW.
17 North Liberty Highway 965 - Northern City limits to southern City
limits 3.50 U-MA U-MA Denied
The adjacent land uses do not support the
classification change. Adjacent uses are
commercial and residential as compared to
regionally significant uses. Highway 965 does
not connect as a through route with arterials
from the outside - only collectors to the NW.
18 North Liberty North Liberty Road - Front Street to southern City
limits 2.00 U-COL U-COL Denied AADT does not support the change. Does not
meet FHWA standards for U-PA.
19 North Liberty Kansas Avenue - W Penn Street to Forevergreen
Road 2.10 U-COL U-COL Denied
AADT does not support the change. Adjacent
parcels are not fully developed, and land uses
are inconsistent.
20 North Liberty Jones Boulevard - W Penn Street to Forevergreen
Road 2.00 U-COL U-COL Denied Does not meet FHWA spacing requirements.
Total Approved Mileage: 13.94 miles
Total “New” Mileage: 4.80 miles
% of Miles Classified with approved amendments: 176.43 miles (34%)
U-PA = Urban Principal Arterial
U-MA = Urban Minor Arterial
U-COL = Urban Collector
Date: March 14, 2023
To: Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
From: Emily Bothell; Senior Associate Transportation Planner
Re: Agenda Item #5: Consider a Recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board
regarding MPOJC Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Funding Allocations
The Iowa Department of Transportation provided MPOJC with the funding target of $9.3 million
in Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program funding to be distributed in the Iowa City
Urbanized Area for programming in FY2027-2028. Five entities have submitted a total of five
applications requesting $16,064,710.
Attached you will find the STBG project scoring criteria and a summary table that lists each
applicant, project description, project cost, local match, and staff scores. Due to the size of the
applications, they are not included in the packet but are available for review here:
https://www.mpojc.org/what-we-do/transportation-planning-division/mpojc-funding
This Committee may, by motion, amend any of the project scores at the March 21st meeting.
Project scores are meant to be one tool for consideration in your deliberations and funding
recommendations need not be based solely on scores. STBG funding cannot be apportioned
strictly according to the population of the MPOJC municipalities.
Please be prepared to consider a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board
regarding the apportionment of STBG funding at your March 21st meeting.
Please contact me at 319-356-5250 or at ebothell@iowa-city.org with questions or comments.
Summary of Applications for MPOJC
FY27-FY28 Surface Transportation Block Grant Funds
Funds requested: $16,064,710
Applicant Project Description 1a 1b 2a 2b 3 4 5a 5b 6a 6b 6c 7a 7b 7c 8a 8b 9a 9b 10 Total Project Cost
Local Match
Pledge
Previous
STBG
Funds
STBG Funds
Requested
1 Iowa City Burlington Street/ Highway 1
Bridge Improvements Project Yes Yes 5 3 3 0 5 5 0 0 3 3 3 7 7 0 0 0 5 0 9 58 30,000,000$ 18,900,000$ -$ 9,300,000$
2
The
University of
Iowa
Hawkins Drive Reconstruction
from Finkbine Commuter Drive to
Lot 43 East Access
Yes No 5 1 2 1 0 5 0 0 3 3 0 7 0 0 0 0 5 0 9 41 5,775,500$ 3,686,500$ -$ 2,089,000$
3 University
Heights
Sunset Street and Melrose
Avenue Preventative
Maintenance and Pedestrian
Improvements
Yes Yes 5 1 0 0 5 5 7 7 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 36 470,000$ 145,000$ -$ 325,000$
4 North Liberty South Dubuque Street
Reconstruction (Phase 2)Yes Yes 5 1 2 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 26 4,480,000$ 2,240,000$ -$ 2,240,000$
5 Coralville Dubuque Street NE and
Forevergreen Road Roundabout Yes No 5 2 1 2 0 5 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 22 2,645,000$ 534,290$ -$ 2,110,710$
Total 16,064,710$
Shortfall (6,764,710)$
Approximate Funds Available: $9,300,000
Projects FFC LRTP Scoring Criteria Funding
Surface Transportation Block Grant , Transportation Alternatives Program , and
Carbon Reduction Program Scoring Criteria
MPOJC Policy Board Approved November 16, 2022
1: Economic Opportunity – Supports metro area growth, innovation, job creation, and productivity
A. Project improves/provides direct access to planned growth area, existing jobs, or retail +5
B. Project involves more than one MPO jurisdiction +1 each (Points Possible: 7)
Total Points Possible: 12 (13%)
Score:
2: Environment1 – Preserves and protects our natural resources, including land, water and air quality
A. Project promotes air quality improvements via congestion reduction through one or more of the following:
Geometric improvements (physical improvements that improve motorist operations), ITS/signalization
improvements, Reduction of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), Improvement to turning movements +1 each (Points
Possible: 4)
B. Project preserves the natural environment through Stormwater Management practices such as: Incorporating
permeable pavements, bioretention, soil restoration, etc. +1 each (Points Possible: 3)
Total Points Possible: 7 (8%)
Score:
3: Quality of Life – Enhances livability and creates vibrant and appealing places that serve residents throughout their lives
A. Project directly enhances safe route(s) to school, or improves transportation choices for locations specifically
serving multi-family developments or elderly populations +5
Total Points Possible: 5 (5%)
Score:
4: System Preservation – Maintained in good and reliable condition
A. Maintenance or improvement to existing facility/infrastructure +5
Total Points Possible: 5 (5%)
Score:
5: Efficiency – Builds a well-connected transportation network and coordinating land use patterns to reduce travel demand,
miles travelled, and fossil fuel consumption
A. Project in a corridor with existing congestion (defined as having LOS E or F during peak hours according to the
adopted MPO Travel Demand Model) +7
B. Project in a corridor with forecasted future congestion (defined as having LOS E or F during peak hours according
to adopted MPO Travel Demand Model, LOS map is attached) +7
Total Points Possible: 14 (15%)
Score:
6: Choice – Offers multi-modal transportation options that are affordable and accessible
A. Project is on existing bus route (bus route map is attached) +3
B. Separated trail or wide sidewalk (8’ or wider) +3
C. Project reduces modal conflict (pedestrian hybrid beacons, grade separation, dedicated bicycle lanes or
sharrows, bus pull-off, etc.) +3
Total Points Possible: 9 (10%)
Score:
7: Safety – Designed and maintained to enhance the safety and security of all users
A. History involving two or more documented bicycle or pedestrian collisions in the last five years (collision maps are
attached) +7
B. Top 25 highest MPO accident locations or top 10 highest accident mid-blocks in last three years (accident tables
are attached) +7
OR
C. Sight distance or related safety issue documented by an expert (planner/engineer) +7
Total Points Possible for A&B: 14 (15%)
OR
Total Points Possible for C: 7
Score:
8: Health – Invites and enhances healthy and active lifestyles
A. Project extends regional trail network (map is attached) +3
B. Project addresses critical gap in the regional trail network +5
Total Points Possible: 8 (9%)
Score:
9: Equity2 – Provides access and opportunity for all people and neighborhoods
A. Project improves transportation network in lower-income neighborhoods +5
B. Focus of the project is to correct ADA non-compliance +3
Total Points Possible: 8 (9%)
Score:
10: Local Commitment – Gauges local commitment to the project including local and/or state funds pledged
A. Local match 20.1% - 30% +1
B. Local match 30.1% - 40% +3
C. Local match 40.1% - 50% +5
D. Local match 50.1% - 60% +7
E. Local match 60.1% - or more +9
Total Points Possible: 9 (10%)
Score:
Total Score:
1Not used to score Transportation Alternatives Program or Carbon Reduction Program projects
2Lower-income neighborhoods are defined as being at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) by block group.
Source: American Community Survey (2019)
Date: March 14, 2023
To: Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
From: Hannah Neel, Associate Transportation Planner
Re: Agenda Item #6: Update regarding the MPOJC FY2024 Transit Program of Projects
Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit, and University of Iowa Cambus are programming projects
for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds in FY2024. These tables will be provided to you
at your March 21st meeting. The projects will be included in the FY2024 Iowa Department of
Transportation’s Consolidated Transit Funding applications MPOJC completes for each transit
system and in the FY2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Not every project
listed in the Program of Projects will be funded; however, to be eligible for federal funding,
projects must be included in the Program of Projects.
This information is being distributed to you for your review and will be included in the draft
FY2024-2027 MPOJC TIP which will also be presented to you at your May meeting. All three
transit agencies will hold public hearings and have their Program of Projects approved as part of
their Consolidated Funding Applications process by June 1.
Please contact me at hannah-neel@iowa-city.org or at 319-356-5235 if you have any questions
or comments.
Date: March 14, 2023
To: Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
From: Sarah Walz; Associate Transportation Planner
Re: Agenda Item #8: Update on local trail counts in the urbanized area
Each year, the MPO collects bicycle and pedestrian counts along the regional trail network.
Data is collected using an infrared device that does not differentiate between bicycles and
pedestrians.
Last year, we acquired two additional trail counters, which allowed us to transition from short
term (2-week counts) to season-long (2- to 3-month) counts. During the spring and early
summer, counters were kept in place at several locations along the Iowa River Corridor (IRC)
Trail. We coordinated with Johnson County who used their recently acquired counters to
capture additional data along sections of the Iowa River Corridor Trail outside urban boundaries.
All Iowa River Corridor Trail counts are presented on the following pages.
In mid-summer into the fall we installed counters along portions of the Clear Creek Trail. Due to
a programming error, these counts were not recorded. We have, however, corrected the
programming issue and are now conducting winter counts along the Clear Creek Trail.
In anticipation of the new Clear Creek Trail connection between Coralville and Tiffin (to be
completed this summer) staff plans to station trail counters along the Clear Creek Trail for the
entire bicycling season (see the map on the following page). This will allow us to capture counts
before and after the new trail connection is opened.
In October, we will resume counting in other areas. Please let us know if you have trail
segments that you wish to have counted before May or after September.
2
2023 Proposed locations for May-September
Clear Creek Trail:
1. West of Tiffin on County Trail (Johnson County)
2. Tiffin west of underpass
3. Coralville near Deer Creek Road
4. Coralville at Tom Harkin Trail Head at Camp Cardinal
5. Coralville at IAIS Railroad underpass, south of 2nd Street/Hwy 6
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