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Home My WebLink About3.21.23 TTAC MinutesMINUTES APPROVED MPOJC TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2023 - 10:30 AM CITY OF IOWA CITY – EMMA HARVAT HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Vicky Robrock, Scott Larson Iowa City: Jason Havel, Scott Sovers, Ron Knoche, Darian Nagle-Gamm, Mark Rummel North Liberty: Ryan Rusnak Tiffin: Doug Boldt University Heights: Louise From University of Iowa: Brian McClatchey STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Sarah Walz, Hannah Neel, Tunazzina Alam 1. CALL TO ORDER Ralston called the meeting to order at 10:30 AM. a. Recognize alternates There were no alternates. b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Knoche moved for approval, McClatchey seconded. The 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 LOCALLY DETERMINED PROJECTS FOR THE FY2024 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING WORK PROGRAM Ralston explained that each year the MPO compiles a list of Transportation Planning Work Program projects for the upcoming fiscal year, as is required by the Federal Highway Administration and the Iowa Department of Transportation. Included with the memo was a list of the requested projects received to date from Committee members and staff. 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 taken to the Policy Board for approval. Ralston asked the Committee to review the list and for a recommendation to the Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding the locally determined projects for the FY2024 Transportation Planning Work Program. Larson moved for approval; Knoche seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 4. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING FEDERAL FUNCTIONAL CLASS DESIGNATIONS FOR URBANIZED AREA ROADWAYS Bothell explained that the MPO received 29.30 miles of proposed amendments to the Iowa City Urbanized Area Federal Functional Classification (FFC) system from member entities last fall. The FFC system is a hierarchy of five roadway classifications and federal funding can only be used on those roadways classified as collector or higher. Bothell then noted that only up to 35% of the total road mileage in the Iowa City Urbanized Area can be listed on the FFC system. The 29.30 miles of proposed amendments were forwarded to the Iowa Department of Transportation, who pre-approved 13.94 miles of roadways. Bothell then requested a recommendation from the Urbanized Area Policy Board regarding the 13.94 miles of ‘pre-approved’ roadways. If the proposed amendments are approved, the road mileage listed on the FFC system would be 34% of the total road mileage in the Iowa City Urbanized Area. Knoche moved for approval, and Boldt seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 5. CONSIDER A RECOMMENDATION TO THE URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD REGARDING MPOJC SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT (STBG) FUNDING ALLOCATIONS Bothell explained that the Iowa Department of Transportation funding target for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) projects is $9.3 million for programming in FY2027- 2028. Bothell then noted that five entities submitted five STBG applications requesting $16,064,710. 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 and would require an amendment if awarded funding. All projects are on roadways that are functionally classified as collector or higher. Bothell added that project scores can be amended, by motion, before the Urbanized Area Policy Board meeting on March 29th, 2023. Project scores are meant to be one tool for consideration in 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. Havel proposed a scenario that would allocate funding: Scenario 1: 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 After some discussion, a second scenario was proposed by McClatchey: Scenario 2: Iowa City – Burlington Street/ Highway 1 Bridge Improvements Project: $6,500,000 The University of Iowa – Hawkins Drive Reconstruction Project: $1,200,000 University Heights – Sunset Street and Melrose Avenue Project: $100,000 North Liberty – South Dubuque Street Reconstruction (Phase 2) Project: $950,000 Coralville – Dubuque Street NE and Forevergreen Road Roundabout Project: $550,000 Total: $9,300,000 Boldt proposed a third scenario allocating funding to all projects: Scenario 3: Iowa City – Burlington Street/ Highway 1 Bridge Improvements Project: $6,600,000 The University of Iowa – Hawkins Drive Reconstruction Project: $1,000,000 University Heights – Sunset Street and Melrose Avenue Project: $200,000 North Liberty – South Dubuque Street Reconstruction (Phase 2) Project: $950,000 Coralville – Dubuque Street NE and Forevergreen Road Roundabout Project: $550,000 Total: $9,300,000 Knoche moved for approval of Scenario 1, and Rusnak seconded. The motion passed with a vote of 10 – 1 with McClatchey voting against the motion. 6. UPDATE REGARDING THE MPOJC FY2024 TRANSIT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS Neel explained that Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit, and the University of Iowa CAMBUS are programming projects for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds in FY2024 and that to be eligible for federal funding, these projects must be included in the Program of Projects. Neel stated that these projects will also be included in the FY2024 Iowa Department of Transportation Consolidated Transit Funding Applications and the FY2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Neel further noted that all three transit agencies will be holding public hearings and have their Program of Projects approved as part of their Consolidated funding applications process, due June 1, 2023. 7. UPDATE ON THE I-380 EXPRESS BUS SYSTEM FROM EAST CENTRAL IOWA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS 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 per day and 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 each 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 after June 2024. 8. UPDATE ON LOCAL TRAIL COUNTS IN THE URBANIZED AREA Walz explained that the MPO collects bicycle and pedestrian counts along the regional trail network each year. It was noted that the acquisition of two additional counters has allowed for a transition to season-long counts. Walz shared results from the counts collected this past summer and fall. The reconstructed trail connection between Rocky Shore Drive, in Iowa City, and 1st Avenue in Coralville was averaging nearly 700 trips per day in June 2022. Walz also stated that this summer the counters will be placed along the Clear Creek Trail between Coralville and Tiffin to capture counts before and after the new trail connection under the I-80/I-380 interchange is completed. 9. OTHER BUSINESS None. 10. ADJOURNMENT Knoche moved to adjourn, Larson seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Ralston adjourned the meeting at 11:45 AM.