Friday, May 17, 2002, CDTC Office, Colonie, NY

Attendance:

Chungchin Chen (CDRPC)

Michael Franchini (Albany County)

Catherine Lawson (UAlbany)

Bill Sheffield (Target)

Ted Thompson (NYSDOT - Region 1)

Teresa La Salle (CDTC)

Jason Purvis (CDTC)

Record of Previous Meeting - The minutes of the February 2002 meeting were approved.

Albany County Commercial Transportation Access Study (Final Report) – J. Purvis provided members with the executive summary. There were three focus areas of the study. M. Franchini will contact Andy Labruzzo of Albany County to find out if the final report is available in electronic format. The final report will be presented at the June 5^th CDTC Planning Committee meeting. This study is one of CDTC's linkage projects. T. Thompson noted that possible alternatives at the at grade crossing on the CP Rail Colonie Main Line near State Route 2 in Watervliet are being considered. He also noted that preliminary plans to create a Living History Park in the port area would impact freight traffic on Broadway and Interstate 787. It was also noted that plans to create a marina north of Interstate 90 in the canal basin as part of the North Albany plan would pose conflicts with at grade crossings.

NYSDOT/Thruway Shared Projects – Region 1 has a one-year trial agreement with Adirondack Beverage to allow tandems at Exit 26 of the Thruway, provided certain modifications are made. M Franchini questioned whether or not federal legislation is needed for that portion of the highway. T. Thompson explained that that particular portion of the highway is state owned and therefore federal legislation is not required for the project.

NYSDOT has submitted changes to the Thruway regarding the turning movements of tractor-trailers on Washington Avenue Extension and is waiting for feedback.

Reebie Training – On March 25^th Wilbur-Smith presented a training workshop on Reebie Freight data at the CDTC office. J. Purvis, T. La Salle, and T. Thompson were in attendance. The data is most useful at a state level, not the MPO level.

C. Lawson noted that the Oregon DOT has a pilot study to develop an intra-metropolitan origin-destination analytical tool. This level of analysis would be much more practical at the MPO level.

Freight Statistics/Survey from Oregon (Final Document) – J. Purvis reported that the final document is available in PDF format from the Oregon DOT website or you can contact Jason or C. Lawson. C. Lawson noted that the Oregon DOT will be making the data set available. C. Lawson will be analyzing the data further with an innovative analysis method.

NASTO Freight Services and Investment Study (Executive Summary) – J. Purvis noted that this document is available from NSYDOT Main Office. The report by Cambridge Systematics attempted to identify existing freight conditions.

Future meeting topics – J. Purvis noted that he has been in communication with Guilford Rail and is working on getting the Rail Car Demo for the August meeting of the task force. Jason noted that the car requires a special power source. M. Franchini noted that the Albany County Hockey Facility on Albany Shaker Road has the appropriate power source and would most likely be able to accommodate. J. Purvis noted that the demo may need to be on a day other than the regularly scheduled Fridays. Members agreed that another day of the week would be feasible. Members noted that the event be expanded beyond the members who regularly attend.

J. Purvis noted that the construction of the Kmart warehouse/distribution center in the Town of Florida has been put on hold, due to the company's recent bankruptcy problems.

Track Facts and Tips – J. Purvis provided a handout from Guilford Rail noting railroad crossings/tracks safety tips.

Port of Albany – J. Purvis reported that the Port is moving ahead with PIDN. The container yard should be up and ready within the next few weeks. The barge portion is not ready yet.

SUNY Albany – C. Lawson is currently involved in several research projects, including the New York/New World Economy project and a pilot study on the I-87 corridor.

C. Lawson noted that the SUNY Albany Department of Geography and Planning would be moving to the old Administration building on the campus. The new location includes a new planning studio.

C. Lawson also noted a data agreement between SUNY Albany and Washington State DOT. A study is currently tracking freight movements on I-5 using loop detectors for time-delay performance measures.

C. Lawson is also working with homeland security issues and electronic assurance of truck cargo.

CDRPC – C. Chen noted that the Airport Study Update is complete. The final document will be presented on June 1^st. It should be available to the public by mid-June.

Target – B. Sheffield noted that Target is expanding their local distribution center to 300,000 square feet. With this expansion the total square footage of the facility will be 1.6 million. The distribution center is also expanding its' work force and hours of operation. Target will be opening a new distribution center in Harrisburg, PA next year. The Wilton distribution center will focus on NY and New England. Three new stores are planned to open in July. Two stores will open in Massachusetts and one will open in New Jersey. In October of 2002 there are eleven new stores planned to open in the Northeast, including one on Route 9 in Clifton Park, adjacent to the Home Depot, two in the Syracuse area, and one in Ithaca. New distribution centers are also being planned for Kalamazoo, Michigan and Phoenix.

Albany County – M. Franchini noted that the Albany Shaker Road project is moving along. The first phase should be completed this year, and the second phase should be completed next year, pending CDTC Planning Committee approval.

NYSDOT – T. Thompson noted that the Capital program includes a 1.5 million-dollar project to increase clearance between Albany and the Canadian border.

He also noted that future freight use on the CP Rail track between Saratoga and Hadley would be problematic. There is discussion regarding the use of this track for scenic rail and possibly ski trains from NYC to Gore Mountain.

T. Thompson is currently working on a rail-crossing inventory of private crossings.

2000 Truck Volume Map – T. La Salle noted that the Thruway has provided CDTC with truck volume data. The data will be summarized and entered into CDTC's GIS.