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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.17.23 TTAC MinutesMINUTES APPROVED MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 - 10:30 AM CITY OF IOWA CITY – EMMA HARVAT HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Kelly Hayworth, Vicky Robrock, Scott Larson Iowa City: Justin Harland, Scott Sovers, Ron Knoche, Christina Jones, Mark Rummel Johnson County: Tom Brase, Ed Bartels North Liberty: Ryan Rusnak Tiffin: Doug Boldt University Heights: Josiah Bilskemper University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey RTBC: Bob Oppliger STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Hannah Neel, Sarah Walz 1. CALL TO ORDER Ralston called the meeting to order at 10:30 AM. a. Recognize alternates Ed Bartels was recognized as an alternate for Greg Parker (Johnson County). Josiah Bilskemper was recognized as an alternate for Louise From (University Heights). Christina Jones was recognized as an alternate for Darian Nagle-Gamm (Iowa City). Justin Harland was recognized as an alternate for Jason Havel (Iowa City). b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Oppliger moved for approval, Knoche seconded. Motion carried unanimously. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA None. 3. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5307 TRANSIT OPERATING FORMULA FUNDING APPORTIONMENT FOR FY2022 Neel stated that the Iowa DOT has confirmed that MPOJC has $4,565,146 available in funds for FY2022 FTA Section 5307 operating assistance and that this amount also includes Small Transit Intensive Communities (STIC) funding. Neel explained that these funds are apportioned by MPOJC to Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit, and University of Iowa CAMBUS through the MPO’s formula, calculated using 25% operating/maintenance costs, 25% locally determined income (LDI), 25% revenue miles, and 25% fare revenue. Neel clarified that as with past years, changes to transit service and ridership levels due to COVID-19 created issues in calculating the FY2022 apportionments. She then noted that after discussions with all three transit managers, staff is recommending a reuse of FY2019 data, as it was the last full year of typical data collected pre-COVID-19. She noted that due to the increase in apportioned funding that each transit agency will see an increase in funding for FY2022. She then stated the proposed FY2022 apportionments for each transit agency which are as follows: $722,663 (Coralville Transit), $2,799,804 (Iowa City Transit), $1,042,679 (CAMBUS). Finally, Neel asked for a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding the apportionment of these funds. Brase moved for approval of the recommendation, Hayworth seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 4. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ADOPTED FY23-26 MPOJC TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) – AMENDING FUNDING AMOUNTS FOR THE I-80 6-LANE WIDENING PROJECT Neel explained that the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the programming document for surface transportation projects that receive state and federal funds, including street and highway, transit, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian projects. Neel also noted that MPOJC submits the TIP annually to the Iowa Department of Transportation to document the status of local transportation projects using state and federal funds. Neel stated that the Iowa DOT has requested an amendment to the previously adopted MPOJC FY2023-2026 TIP to increase the federal funding amount and total cost for the I- 80 6-lane widening project. The current project funding amount is $6,140,100 in federal funding and totals $7,224,000. The proposed federal funding amount is $13,983,300 for a new project total of $15,537,000. Neel explained that this increased amount is to account for updated grading costs. Neel then asked for a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board for the approval of the proposed amendment to the FY2023-2026 TIP. Knoche moved for approval of the recommendation, Larson seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 5. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE ADOPTED FY23-26 MPOJC TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) – INCLUDING NEW FUNDING FOR BUS REPLACEMENTS FOR CORALVILLE TRANSIT AND UNIVERSITY OF IOWA CAMBUS Neel explained that Coralville Transit and University of Iowa CAMBUS have requested an amendment to the adopted MPOJC FY2023-2026 TIP to include a new project, funding source and funding amount for the capital replacement of a light duty bus for each of the Coralville Transit and University of Iowa CAMBUS fleets. Neel then noted the project and funding amounts for both Coralville Transit and University of Iowa CAMBUS. The project total for Coralville Transit is $149,937 with $77,200 in federal funding, $27,316 in local funding, and $45,421 in shortfall assistance. The project total for University of Iowa CAMBUS is $146,965 with $92,528 in federal funding, $22,044 in local funding, and $32,393 in shortfall assistance. Neel explained that the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) is offering this shortfall funding assistance due to the recent dramatic price increases for vehicle replacements. Neel noted that for extra funding to be provided by the DOT, these projects must be programmed in the FY2023-2026 TIP. Neel then asked for a recommendation to the MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board for the approval of the proposed amendment to the FY2023-2026 TIP. McClatchey moved for approval of the recommendation, Brase seconded. Motion carried unanimously. 6. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING SETTING OF SAFTEY TARGETS AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR THE MPO AS REQURIED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION Ralston explained that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires that MPOs set targets for five safety measures as part of the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and report them to the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) by February 27th of each year. Ralston noted that there are two options for these measures – to support the State’s targets or to set our own quantifiable targets for each measure. Ralston recommended continuing the adoption of the State’s targets. He also noted that if it is believed that creating local targets would benefit the area, there will be an opportunity to do so every year. Larson moved for approval of the recommendation supporting the State’s targets; Rusnak seconded. Motion carried unanimously. 7. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT, TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM, AND CARBON REDUCTION PROGRAM GRANT FUNDING PROCESS Bothell stated that the MPO typically conducts the grant funding process biennially and that 2023 is the next grant cycle year. Bothell noted that this biennial process allows for two years of funding to be allocated at once, meaning projects can receive larger funding awards. Bothell explained that MPOJC is anticipating that approximately $9.3 million in Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding will be available for programming in FY2027- 2028 and that approximately $300,000 in Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) funding will be available for programming in FY2023. She also stated that Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding (approximately $900,000) will be delayed due to pending program changes related to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), noting that MPOJC cannot currently solicit for TAP applications or apportion TAP funding. Bothell further noted that the MPO is still planning to solicit STBG applications this year but recommends that CRP applications be delayed, allowing them to align with TAP applications. The options under consideration for the application timeline for CRP and TAP funds are to submit CRP and TAP applications in the winter of 2024 and then again in the winter of 2025; or to solicit for applications only in the winter of 2025, keeping with the standard biennial solicitation. Ralston then noted that another option would be to allocate CRP funds along with the STBG funds this year if desired. Knoche moved to solicit for both CRP and TAP applications in 2025, keeping with the standard biennial solicitation. Hayworth seconded. Motion carried unanimously. 8. UPDATE ON THE MPOJC FY24 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING WORK PROGRAM AND FY24-27 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SCHEDULES Ralston explained that the Transportation Planning Work Program is a document developed each year that is designed to identify projects that the MPO will be addressing in the following fiscal year. Ralston noted that this document is developed in a coordinated effort by the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC), the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Urbanized Area Policy Board (UAPB). He also noted that the Annual Work Program document includes all state and federally required planning processes and documentation, ongoing and routine projects, and special projects requested by member entities. Ralston stated that the MPO will begin soliciting for FY24 Work Program projects in February. He explained that the Work Program draft must be submitted to federal partners by March 31st and that it will then be sent to the UAPB for final approval in May. Ralston then moved on to an update of the FY24-27 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). He began by explaining that the TIP is the programming document for federally funded transportation improvements within the Iowa City Urbanized Area and that it must include projects for all modes of transportation including streets, highways, transit, and bicycle and pedestrian projects. Ralston noted that in 2021, the UAPB apportioned $7.38 million in STBG funds and $520,000 in TAP funds. He explained that the UAPB will be allocating $9.3 million this year to be programmed in FY27-28. Finally, he stated that in July the UAPB will be considering the final FY24-27 TIP for adoption. 9. OTHER BUSINESS Bartels of Johnson County noted that construction of the Herbert Hoover Highway Roundabout at West Branch City Limits would begin this year. Oppliger of the Regional Trails and Bicycling Committee (RTBC) shared that they will be conducting bike education and that it will be offered in Spanish and hopefully in Arabic. He also explained their new bicycling program and how individuals can be paired with an experienced biker to teach them how to utilize bikes as transportation, especially to work. Sovers of Iowa City gave a few updates on the American Legion Road Project. He noted that there were some delays due to utility relocation and that most of the remaining construction was at Taft Avenue and American Legion Road. He also mentioned the Benton Street rehabilitation project and that the contractor will be starting work this spring. He also noted that they will be starting a project to replace the Gilbert Street bridge early this spring and that they plan to have it completed by early October. Rochester Avenue is also still under construction and the project will continue this year. Knoche of Iowa City updated the committee on the Public Works Master Plan and the updates that will be made regarding transit operations and facilities. McClatchey noted that although they are still dealing with staffing issues, almost all transit services are restored. He also mentioned that they now have individuals on staff who can administer Commercial Driver’s License testing, which he stated will improve the way they train and hire staff. He noted that there will be a lot of construction activity on West Campus, especially around parking facilities in the future. Larson of Coralville provided updates on the Interstate 80/380 project and stated that they are ahead of schedule and hope to have the roadway paved by June or July and that the final piece of the Clear Creek Trail could be installed by July or August. He also noted that they are hosting a preconstruction meeting for the 1st Avenue/I-80 diverging diamond interchange project. Bilskemper of University Heights noted that they finished paving connections from the sidewalk to the edge of the curb for all the bus stops on Melrose Avenue to ease boarding the bus. He also gave updates on the Melrose Avenue complete streets project stating that the current goal is for planning to occur in 2023, land acquisition and utility relocation in 2024, and then construction in 2025. 10. ADJOURNMENT McClatchey moved to adjourn, Brase seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Ralston adjourned the meeting at 11:14 am.