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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.29.23 UAPB MinutesMINUTES APPROVED MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2023 – 4:30 P.M. JOHNSON COUNTY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING – 2ND FLOOR CONF. ROOM 855 S. DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY, IA MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Laurie Goodrich Iowa City: Laura Bergus, John Thomas, Megan Alter Johnson County: Rod Sullivan, Jon Green North Liberty: Brian Wayson, Chris Hoffman University Heights: Louise From University of Iowa: Erin Shane ICCSD: Molly Abraham STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Hannah Neel, Sarah Walz, Tunazzina Alam OTHERS PRESENT: Brock Grenis 1. CALL TO ORDER Thomas called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. The meeting was held at the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building in Iowa City, Iowa. a. Recognize alternates None. b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Sullivan moved to approve; Hoffman seconded. The motion carried unanimously. c. Set the next Board meeting date, time, and location Tentatively scheduled for May 31, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. in Coralville, Iowa. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA None. 3. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. Consider approval of Locally Determined Projects for MPOJC FY 2024 Transportation Planning Work Program Ralston explained the MPOJC compiles a list of projects to be completed for the following fiscal year and this list represents roughly 1/4 or 1/3 of the projects that will actually be undertaken. Ralston noted the awareness of additional projects and data collection needs throughout the year and stated that these can usually be accommodated. If these additional projects would disrupt the Work Program due to their size, they will then be brought to the Policy Board for approval. Ralston asked the Board to review the listed projects and consider approval. The Technical Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval of the locally determined project lit at their March 21, 2023 meeting. MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board Minutes _________________ Page 2 Sullivan moved for approval; Bergus seconded. The motion carried unanimously. b. Consider approval of a Resolution regarding Federal Functional Classification designation for urbanized area roadways Bothell explained that in advance of the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding allocation, MPOJC contacts member entities regarding the potential amendments to the Federal Functional Classification (FFC) system. The classification system is a hierarchy of five roadway classes that identify which roads are federal aid routes. Only 35% of the total Iowa City urbanized area roadways can be on the map and federal funding can only be spent on these roadways. Last fall MPOJC began working with local communities and received approximately 29 miles of requested amendments. The MPO forwarded the requests to the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) and they pre-approved 13.94 miles of the requests. The Technical Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval of the 13.94 miles of roadways that were pre-approved by the Iowa DOT. Bothell asked the Policy Board to consider approval of the Committee’s recommendation and authorize the Board chair to sign the attached resolution. Green moved for approval; Alter seconded. The motion carried unanimously. c. Consider approval of MPOJC Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding allocations Bothell stated that $9.3 million in Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program funding is available for distribution in the Iowa City Urbanized area for programming in fiscal years ‘27 and ‘28. The MPO received five applications from five entities, requesting approximately $16 million in total. Attached to the memo were the STBG project scoring criteria and a summary table that listed each applicant, project description, project cost, local match, staff scores, and the Technical Advisory Committee’s recommendation. Bothell added that project scores are meant to be one tool for consideration in deliberations and funding recommendations need not be based solely on scores. Bothell reminded the Board that every project that receives funding must be in the MPOJC’s Long Range Transportation Plan and on the Federal Functional Classification (FFC) system. Additionally, funding cannot be apportioned strictly according to the population of the MPOJC communities. Bothell presented the projects in order from highest to lowest using the scoring criteria and staff scores. Bothell added that two of the applications – The University of Iowa’s Hawkins Drive Reconstruction project and Coralville’s Dubuque Street NE and Forevergreen Road Roundabout project are not currently in the MPOJC Long Range Transportation Plan. But these projects could be added to the Long-Range Plan with an amendment. Bothell noted that all projects are on roadways that are functionally classified as collector or higher. The first project was Iowa City’s Burlington Street and Highway 1 Bridge Improvements Project. The total cost for the project is $30,000,000 and Iowa City requested 9,300,000 in STBG funding. MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board Minutes _________________ Page 3 The second project was The University of Iowa’s Hawkins Drive Reconstruction from Finkbine Commuter Drive to Lot 43 East Access. The total project cost is $5,775,500 and the University of Iowa requested $2,089,000 in STBG funding. Shane explained the project is needed after the construction of the Children’s Hospital; the corridor is failing in certain areas. The University thought that the regional use of the road warranted consideration of funding. However, the Technical Advisory Committee did not recommend funding due to the University having other sources of funding available to them. Ralston added that the University is also a partner on the Burlington Street Bridge Project. Ralston explained that in the past, the University has been a joint applicant but never a sole applicant for STBG projects. The Federal Highway Administration provided new guidance indicating the University could apply for STBG funding. Historically the State of Iowa was not allowed to apply for funding. Shane stated that the project will happen in the future, but it will be delayed without the STBG funding. The third project is in University Heights. This project is for Sunset Street and Melrose Avenue Preventative Maintenance and Pedestrian Improvements. The total project cost is $470,000 and they requested $325,000 in STBG funding. The fourth project was in North Liberty. It is the South Dubuque Street Reconstruction Phase 2. The total project cost is $4,480,000 and North Liberty requested $2,240,000. The final project was Coralville’s Dubuque Street NE and Forevergreen Road Roundabout project. The total project cost is $2,645,000 and Coralville requested $2,110,710. Green added that this was a joint project with Johnson County. Bothell asked the Board to consider the Technical Advisory Committee’s funding recommendation as follows (contingent on an amendment to the MPOJC Long Range Transportation Plan to include Coralville’s project): Iowa City – Burlington Street / Highway 1 Bridge Improvements Project: $7,300,000 The University of Iowa – Hawkins Drive Reconstruction Project: $0 University Heights – Sunset Street and Melrose Avenue Project: $225,000 North Liberty – South Dubuque Street Reconstruction (Phase 2) Project: $1,100,000 Coralville – Dubuque Street NE and Forevergreen Road Roundabout Project: $675,000 Total: $9,300,000 From moved to approve; Sullivan seconded. The motion passed 12-1 with Shane voting against it. d. Update regarding the FY 2024 Transit Program of Projects Neel explained that Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit, and Cambus are programming projects that receive Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) funds in FY24. The projects will be included in the FY24 consolidated transit funding application although not every project will receive funding, but to be eligible the projects must be included in the application. The Program of Projects will also be included in the draft 2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program, which will be presented at the May meeting. All agencies will hold public hearings on their projects and the consolidated funding application is due June 1, 2023. MPOJC Urbanized Area Policy Board Minutes _________________ Page 4 e. Verbal update on the I-380 Express bus system from East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) staff Grenis, from ECICOG, provided an update on the I-380 express bus system. The project began in October 2018 and is funded by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) through June 2024. The bus contract is with Windstar Lines, which provides 44 hours of bus service a day. The I-380 express bus averages over 350 riders per day. After June 2024, funding assistance will be necessary to continue the service. The service currently costs $1.3 million per year to operate, with approximately $235,000 in passenger revenue. A combination of federal, state, passenger fares, and local assistance would likely be necessary to fund the service past 2024. f. Verbal update on the CRANDIC Bus Rapid Transit Study from MPO Director Ralston explained that the Request for Proposals (RFP) had closed. Assuming the proposals are reasonable, the MPOJC will have a team that includes Iowa City Transit, Coralville Transit, and the University of Iowa to review the proposals and interview candidates. The goal is to hire a consultant in the next 30-45 days. Ralston stated that the MPO is hoping to have the study complete by the fall. 5. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn was made by Bergus; Hoffman seconded. The meeting was adjourned by Thomas at 5:37 PM.