HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.08.22 TTAC MinutesMINUTES APPROVED
MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022 – 10:30 AM
CITY OF IOWA CITY – EMMA HARVAT HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Kelly Hayworth, Vicky
Robrock, Scott Larson
Iowa City: Jason Havel, Scott Sovers, Ron Knoche,
Darian Nagle-Gamm
Johnson County: Tom Brase
North Liberty: Ryan Rusnak
Tiffin: Doug Boldt
University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey
Iowa DOT: Mark Harley (alternate)
STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Hannah Neel
1. CALL TO ORDER
Ralston called the meeting to order at 10:30 AM.
a. Recognize alternates
Mark Harley was recognized as an alternate for Catherine Cutler (Iowa DOT).
b. Consider approval of meeting minutes
Boldt moved for approval, McClatchey seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Ralston introduced a new hire for MPOJC, Tunazzina Alam.
3. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD
REGARDING APPROVAL OF DRAFT FY2023-2026 MPOJC TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)
Neel explained that the annual Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a local
document for programming federal and state surface transportation and transit funds,
complied annually and submitted to the Iowa DOT. Neel noted that Iowa City Transit has
requested this amendment to increase apportioned federal funding, decrease apportioned
local spending amounts, and add a new designated funding source for the proposed Iowa
City Transit maintenance and bus storage facility.
Neel noted that there is currently $16 million in federal funding and $9.92 million in local
funding for a total of $25.9 million in funding currently proposed in the TIP. Neel then
proposed the amendment to the TIP with a requested $19.8 million in federal funding and
$7.2 million in local funding. She then explained that there will also be a $750,000 increase
in congressionally designated federal funding from the new Transit Infrastructure Grant,
for a total of $27.75 million in funding for the project. This $750,000 is to be utilized for
preliminary design of the new transit maintenance and storage facility.
Brase moved for approval of the amendment to the TIP, Nagle-Gamm seconded. The
motion carried unanimously.
4. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY
BOARD REGARDING SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT (STBG),
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (TAP), AND CARBON REDUCTION
PROGRAM (CRP) SCORING CRITERIA FOR FUNDS ALLOCATED BY MPOJC
Bothell opened by stating that the MPOJC Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG)
funding application will be available in February of 2023, but the Transportation
Alternatives Program (TAP) funding may be delayed due to the passage of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Bothell asked the Committee to review the previously adopted scoring criteria before the
upcoming applications are available (last reviewed and approved in November 2020). She
then continued to summarize the criteria and their use in the MPO’s Long Range
Transportation plan.
Bothell then discussed the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) and how the MPO has been
allocated approximately $340 thousand in funding, per year, for the next five years. She
then gave examples of uses for this funding such as traffic control devices or electric
vehicle charging infrastructure. Bothell noted that the Iowa DOT must create a ‘Carbon
Reduction Strategy’ to allow funds to be allocated and that the Committee will be updated
once more information is provided by the DOT. She also noted that there is currently no
scoring criteria for CRP, but it is anticipated the program will be similar to the TAP criteria
and that the same scoring criteria could therefore be used.
Bothell asked the Committee to make a recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy
Board regarding the STBG, TAP, and CRP scoring criteria. She reminded the Committee
that the scoring criteria is one tool to be used to assess and compare potential grant
funded projects. The Policy Board is not required to award funding based solely on project
scores.
Ralston then noted that those in attendance should begin to think more broadly about the
increase in funding and how they could best implement that funding in their communities.
Ralston finally noted that this would also be discussed with the Board at their November
16th meeting and that it will then be re-visited in January.
Knoche moved for approval of the scoring criteria, Larson seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
5. DISCUSSION REGARDING POTENTIAL FEDERAL FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
CHANGES FOR MPOJC URBANIZED AREA ROADWAYS
Bothell explained that the use of Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funds is only
permitted on roadways that are classified as a collector street or higher in the Federal
Functional Classification (FCC) System. She then asked each community to review the
current classification map and submit any updates to roadway classifications before
November 30, 2022.
Bothell stated that roads that do not provide a high level of transportation connectivity or
new roadways that are not included in a community’s Capital Improvement Program will
not be approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT). She finally noted
that about 33% of our roadways in the urbanized area are currently classified on the FCC
system and that there is opportunity to add approximately 11 additional miles.
6. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY
BOARD REGARDING PERFORMANCE MEASURE TARGET SETTING FOR THE MPO
AS REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Ralston noted that these targets were last approved in 2018 and that four-year targets
need to be reconsidered and reported to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) by
April 1, 2023. He explained that there are two options for each target; to support the State’s
4-year targets, or to set different, quantifiable targets for the metropolitan area. He said
that by adopting these targets, the MPO is required to show how we are satisfying these
targets in the Transportation Improvement Program and the Long Range Transportation
Plan. Ralston recommended the Committee adopt the state’s targets, due to time
constraints and the lack of clarity in future reporting requirements or penalties to MPOs in
funding distribution related to not meeting targets.
Brase moved to adopt the State’s targets and Hayworth seconded. The motion carried
unanimously.
7. UPDATE ON THE METRO TRAILS COUNT PROGRAM
Ralston opened by explaining that in the past, the trail counters have been used to collect
data for periods of about a week. He stated the counters are now left out for an extended
period (approximately 3 months) to correct for differences in trail use due to outside factors
like weather, road closures, or other events.
8. OTHER BUSINESS
Rusnak noted that Jones Boulevard between Penn Street and Dubuque Street is near
completion and progress on their new City Hall building is forthcoming.
Nagle-Gamm noted that there has been a transition from the Passport parking application
to the Park Mobile application in Downtown Iowa City. She also noted that parking meters
are being updated to reflect the application change and to accommodate a change in the
availability of 3G connection. She also said that they are continuing to evaluate the transit
system to determine what their next steps are.
Havel noted that the 2nd Avenue bridge has recently opened, along with the roundabout
at 1st Avenue and Scott Boulevard. He said that they have also received federal planning
money for the Burlington Street bridge replacement project which they hope to get started
in 2023.
Sovers noted that American Legion Road is near completion and, that it should be fully
opened by the end of November. He also said that the Highway 6 Trail is under
construction – work is being done on storm sewer and intersection connection
improvements.
Larson added that the North Liberty Road/ Forevergreen Road roundabout opened at the
end of September, but the east leg is not yet open. He also mentioned that they have
opened Jones Boulevard and a roundabout at Jones Boulevard/ Spring Rose Circle. The
Clear Creek Trail connection project is also moving along but they expect most of the work
to be pushed to the spring. Finally, Westcor Drive is now fully paved and will be open to
the public soon.
Harley from the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) gave an update on the
Interstate 80/380 Interchange saying it is going according to schedule. He also noted that
in Coralville the 1st Avenue interchange work has started. Finally, he noted that the Herbert
Hoover Interchange construction is also still on schedule.
McClatchey stated that CAMBUS is finalizing a design for a new parking ramp near the
hospital and that they hope to break ground on it this spring. He noted that they are still
struggling with transit staffing but that they are hoping to add more service soon. He also
said that he has seen that bus pricing has increased drastically along with wait times for
new buses and that more intensive maintenance of existing bus fleets is going to be
necessary.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Knoche moved to adjourn the meeting, Havel seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Ralston adjourned the meeting at 11:10 am.