“As
stated in the certification Report, CDTC’s planning
process is exemplary. CDTC is commended
on the cooperative planning process not only embraced by the central staff but
by the committee members of the CDTC metropolitan planning organization. CDTC
has several noteworthy practices, which are highlighted in the Report.” FHWA/FTA 2001 Certification letter,
ased on our 2004 certification review, we again find that the CDTC transportation planning process complies with the requirements of Section 134 of Title 23, Section 8 of the Federal Transit Act, Sections 174 and 176(c) and (d) of the Clean Air Act, as well as the other sections of law mentioned in ' 450.334 (a). We again congratulate the MPO for the cooperative nature of its process, the innovative approaches to fostering land use and transportation coordination, and the excellent technical capabilities of the central staff and of the member agencies.
CDTC “Best Practice” Activities
As part of our certification reviews, we often highlight an MPO’s noteworthy activities in order to improve the MPO process nationwide. It is unusual that an MPO would have as many as three such activities highlighted – we are highlighting ten for CDTC, which illustrates the truly exemplary character of their process. We believe that the following areas are noteworthy practices from which other MPOS can benefit:
· The New Visions plan development (page 19)
· The Community and Transportation Linkage program and other CDTC transportation/land use coordinating efforts (page 29)
· The Albany Airport GEIS mitigation activity (page 30)
· CDTC’s public involvement practices (page 33)
· Transportation Improvement Program development process (page 39)
· Reassessing the reasons why people travel (page 51)
· Risk Assessment approach to capital investment (page 54)
· Commuter Ca$h program (page 59)
· Lead role in coordinating Clean Communities effort (page 74)
· CDTC’s Title VI/EJ efforts (page 75)
The CDTC process demonstrates the value of gaining trust among the members. We specifically commend Mr. John Poorman, CDTC Central Staff Director, for his leadership.
The area faces significant changes because
of the potential development of the Luther Forest Technology Campus, the level
of transportation funding in both the Federal and the State sources, the
development of I-87 as a Trade Corridor, and the implementation of NYSDOT’s Transformation within the CDTC venue. We fully expect that the CDTC will continue fulfilling its crucial role in shaping the area’s
transportation system of the 21st Century for the economic benefit of the
region and the quality of life of the entire Capital Region.
Recommendations
We offer a number of
recommendations on elements of the CDTC planning process in a partnering effort
to further improve the process. The
respective sections of this report discuss these recommendations in further detail.
Organization and Structure
of the CDTC
· CDTC should update its Prospectus as soon
as future NYSDOT interaction with the MPO is better known and the new Federal
legislation is available.
UPWP & Staffing
Transportation
Improvement Program
· CDTC should evaluate what impact the continued use of federal funding on routine infrastructure projects will have on the build out of the RTP.
· CDTC should revisit the issue of how to evaluate TIP amendments that switch 100% non-federal projects to federally funded projects.
Public Participation
· The CDTC mailing list should be periodically revisited and refreshed as needed.
· CDTC should consider revamping its website to a more visual format. In doing this, two options on the website’s opening screen should be considered – the visually oriented presentation and a text only version
We wish to express our appreciation to CDTC staff for hosting the onsite review.