PLANNING
COMMITTEE MEETING
Meeting Minutes
January 14, 2009
MEMBERS ATTENDING
Melissa Ashline-Heil, City of
Cohoes
Bradley Birge, City of Saratoga Springs
Wayne Bonesteel, representing Fred Howard, Rensselaer County
Frank Commisso, Albany Port Commission
Kevin Corcoran, Town of Glenville
Steve Feeney, Schenectady County
Rocky Ferraro, Capital District Regional
Planning Commission
Michael Franchini, Albany County (Chairman)
Robert Hansen, NYS Department
of Transportation Region 1
Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority
David Jukins, Capital
District Transportation Committee
Joe LaCivita, Town of Colonie
Barbara McHugh, Town of Clifton Park
Rosemary Nichols, City of Watervliet
Andrea Poley, City of Troy
Joe Rich, Federal Highway Administration
Dede Rudolph, City of Albany
Phil Serafino, representing Bill Rinaldi,
NYS Thruway Authority
Bernie Sisson, City of Schenectady
Michael Valentine, Saratoga County
Steve Watts, Town of Halfmoon
Kristina Younger, Capital District
Transportation Authority (Vice-Chair)
STAFF AND OTHERS
Anne Benware, Capital District
Transportation Committee
Frank Bonafide, NYS Department of
Transportation Region 1
Jennifer Ceponis, Capital District
Transportation Committee
Jim Digioia, NYS Office of
General Services
Shelly Johnston, Creighton
Manning
Michael McGlynn, Interested Citizen, City of Watervliet
Sandra Misiewicz, Capital District
Transportation Committee
Michael Morelli, City of Albany
Larry Mulvaney, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1
Chris O’Neill, Capital District Transportation Committee
Philip Parella, Capital District Transportation Authority
Jason Purvis, Capital District
Transportation Committee
Paul Reuss, Village of Menands
Don Rhodes, Village of Colonie
Ron Shaffer, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1
Elaine Troy, NYSDOH Healthy Heart Program
Karen Williams, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1
Maggie Zandt, Greenman-Pederson
Chairman
Franchini opened the meeting at approximately 9:35 am and explained that the
agenda has been reorganized reflecting the need to discuss the potential
federal Stimulus package, projects and funds prior to being able to address the
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) update.
VISITORS ISSUES
Mike
McGlynn addressed the Committee regarding the job access/reverse commute (JARC) program. He asked if the Committee considered
additional funding in the TIP for recently unemployed people to have
transportation to get to work/classroom boards located in the region, job
training and one stop work centers. Kristina Younger, CDTA, responded that CDTA
is the sole recipient of JARC funds as noted in the TIP and that they do provide
funding for jobs access. However, there
is no direct federal funding for free transit passes; the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) does not consider provision of free transit passes as
eligible for federal funds. Kristina
pointed out that if a person is working with a department of social services, a
case worker can assist them in obtaining funds for transit as appropriate.
Jim
Digioia addressed the Committee regarding the recent emergency on I-90 in East Greenbush when the NYS Police had to
shut down the Interstate due to a shooting.
Mr. Digioia noted that the response by NYSDOT to this event was poor and
the detours were not adequate resulting in long delays for drivers. He asked that a plan be developed between
NYSDOT and the NYS Police to try to avoid a similar situation in the future
when incidents occur. Bob Hansen responded that the NYS
Police were, for obvious reasons, fully in charge of that incident, not NYSDOT.
Mr. Hansen offered to provide a report back to the Planning Committee next
month on what happened from NYSDOT’s perspective and to see what coordination
issues need to be addressed.
Action Items
ADMINISTRATION
Approval
of the December 3, 2008 Meeting Minutes
There was a request to modify Page 4 of the minutes of the
December 3rd meeting to read “NYSDOT will contact the Hudson River
Black River Regulating District (HRBRRD)”.
The prior minutes incorrectly stated that NYSDOT had already contacted
the HRBRRD.
The minutes were approved as modified.
UNIFIED
PLANNING WORK PROGRAM (UPWP)
2009/10
Addendum to 2008/10 UPWP
Dave jukins reminded the
committee that this being an odd year of our two-year upwp a brief draft addendum will be produced and distributed
for review prior to the february
meeting. If the Planning Committee
approves the addendum it will
then be sent to the Policy Board for consideration at their March meeting. Using
this approach, the current program is valid but some adjustments need to be
made including the addition of this year’s round of Linkage Planning
Studies.
Sandy
Misiewicz reviewed
the evaluation process for the 2009/2010 Community and Transportation Linkage
Planning Program applications. CDTC reserved $200,000 in its 2008/2010
UPWP to program new studies for the 2009/2010 federal fiscal year with $50,000
of that being reserved for inter-municipal efforts. Applications were due
on November 21, 2008
and seven were received. Per the approved evaluation guidelines, CDTC
staff first confirmed the scope of work and budget for each proposed study to
ensure the budget was appropriate for the proposed work. Once confirmed, an
evaluation team was formed consisting of staff from CDTC, CDRPC and NYSDOT to
review the proposals. The evaluation team recommended four studies for
funding: the Albany County/Town of Colonie/Town of Guilderland Railroad Avenue study, the City of Albany Education District Enhancement Study, the Town of Colonie/City of Watervliet/Village of Menands Route 32 Redevelopment Plan and the
Town of Sand Lake
Hamlet Linkage Study. These four studies requested $187,500 in federal funds.
The balance of the available funds was recommended for programming into the
Linkage Study Technical Support Task in the UPWP. The Planning Committee
approved the recommended set of projects and the programming of the fund
balance into the Technical Support Task.
2007-12
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) AMENDMENTS
A. A198 (1306.50), NY 7 Bridge
over I-87
The proposed amendment
will cover additional preliminary engineering (PE) costs for additional
required work on this project. No Offset
is being provided at this time. The funding change requested is $275,000 with
the source being Interstate Maintenance or IM.
Members approved the amendment.
B. A372 (1754.04), Watervliet
Shaker Road, from Karner
Road to Albany
Shaker Road: Corridor
Improvements, Phase 2 Limits
The
TIP should read: Sand Creek Road to Albany
Shaker Road. No action was necessary as this was an
editorial correction
C. A453, Watervliet
Shaker Road, from Karner
Road to Albany
Shaker Road: Corridor
Improvements, Phase 3 Limits
The
TIP should read: New Karner Road to Sand
Creek Road.
No
action was necessary as this was an editorial correction.
D. 1528.79, Patroon Island Bridge
Repairs, Policy Board: (1c)
Addition of
project over $0.250M Funding Change: $3.000M
Bob
Hansen explained the request for additional funding needed
to undertake an innovative maintenance project to extend the life of the bridge
before a complete bridge rehabilitation (estimated at $150M) will be
required. The process to be used in the
project has undergone a two-year testing period and NYSDOT is now ready to
implement it. The cost of this approach is $3.0M and the fund source is
Interstate Maintenance (IM).
Members approved the amendment.
E. 1808.11, Urban Freeway
Maintenance, Policy Board: (1c) Addition of project over $0.250M Funding
Change: $1.200M
Bob Hansen
explained that this is a proposal for a pilot project in which a private
contractor would be responsible for all maintenance, other than routine
maintenance, for selected linear sections of interstate highways within the
region. This is a new approach for
NYSDOT and will free up the DOT county residency staffs to work on
greater-than-routine maintenance needs of other state roads in the region. This
approach will result in fewer interstate lane closures for maintenance
projects. If the pilot project is found
to be ineffective, it will be discontinued.
Members approved the amendment.
F. SA104 (1753.63), Batchellerville Bridge
Replacement, Policy Board: (2b) Cost increase over $3.0M Funding Change:
$20.350M, 47%
Bob Hansen
informed the committee that the project was let but the $60M bid was not
awarded as it results in a $20.35M funding gap.
NYSDOT Region 1 noted that they do not have additional HBRR money to
apply to the project without deferring other bridge projects in the region. The bridge could be a candidate for federal
stimulus funds. The Committee opted to
come back to this amendment following the discussion on the Federal
Stimulus.
Dave Jukins
introduced an amendment that will need to be discussed at a future meeting of
the Planning Committee. The City of Cohoes would
like to request additional federal funds for engineering on the Black Bridge (Mohawk Hudson Bike Trail Bridge), a
capped project. The additional funds
($66,000) would be used to offset the previously unaccounted for higher costs
associated with progressing a federal aid project. Dave Jukins
explained there are several options for addressing this issue. The City could request a change in the
current TIP, the funding could be added to the new TIP (however, this would
result in a delay of the project), or alternatively, the project could be added
as a Stimulus project but would need to meet the 180 day time clock
requirement, which would be difficult.
Discussion
Items
ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROJECT PLANNING
& PROGRAMMING
Dave Jukins noted that preparing project lists and
developing a rationale for subsequent CDTC actions related to the federal
stimulus program is the priority at the present time.
Bob Hansen reported on the project list NYSDOT Region 1 was
asked to prepare by the Main Office for submittal to the Governor’s
office. The initial state list focused
on existing TIP/STIP commitments that could meet proposed Stimulus project
delivery criteria, leaving out local projects.
This was not intentional and Mr. Hansen indicated that the state list should
be supplemented with local projects including projects from CDTA, the Airport,
and the Thruway. NYSDOT’s final
priorities will be based on recommendations from the MPO process.
Mr. Hansen reviewed the proposed program criteria with the members and
emphasized that the federal stimulus projects are likely to be awarded on a
“use it or lose it” basis. Bob also
reported that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) assumes $1.4 B will be
set aside for New
York State for the period to 9/30/09 and that 50% of these will be obligated for
construction by the 90 day timeframe with the remaining %50 within 180 days. As
of now it looks like the FTA and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) would
have separate pots of funds. Under the $1.4 B scenario from FHWA, the guidance
is to assume that the 8 county area of Region 1 would receive one year’s worth
of TIP programming, which is $100 M.
Right now the stimulus legislation is still being negotiated such that
we assume the deadline is for obligation but it may be changed to bid award or
the start of construction.
Joe Rich noted that the CDTC Policy Board cannot approve any stimulus
projects for placement on the TIP until the federal stimulus legislation is
passed. It was also noted that it is
likely that the federal share will be 100% on these projects. Also of note was
that federal procedures will not be waived and all must be followed. If a project still needs permits, NEPA
completion, ROW or other items that typically need time to be processed, it is
unlikely it can be a deliverable project within the required timeframes.
After a lengthy discussion, it was proposed that the first cut of the
federal stimulus funds should go to existing priorities on the TIP/STIP that
can meet the program criteria, both local and state projects. If projects on the list could not use
stimulus funds because they failed to meet the program guidelines, then new
initiatives might be considered. As a result,
a solicitation for new projects will not be undertaken at this time.
Issues regarding how many lettings can be processed, what the letting
schedule is, staff resource availability for processing, contractor
availability and resources such asphalt, steel, etc. were also raised.
Bob Hansen indicated that NYSDOT wants CDTC’s Planning
Committee to review the state’s project listing and to approve the local
project list. Dave Jukins emphasized that it is important that a comprehensive list be
shared with the committee before a special meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2009.
This list should include state, local and other project types. After the 1/21/09 meeting the public review process can be
immediately initiated for TIP action at the Policy Board meeting scheduled for March 5, 2009. The nature of the Stimulus Program is that time
is of the essence. All discussions so
far have emphasized the “use it or lose it” principle. Some members voiced concern about the limited
solicitation. Dave explained that
because of the tight deadlines imposed on CDTC it wasn’t possible to undertake
a conventional TIP solicitation program.
The discussion returned to the proposed amendment for the Batchellerville Bridge. Bob
Hansen outlined several options for consideration: 1)
don’t approve the funding increase; 2) table the project for inclusion in the
stimulus list/use anticipated stimulus funds; or 3) approve the amendment which
will use up all available regional HBRR (Highway Bridge Rehab/Replacement)
funds and submit other bridge projects for stimulus. Bob reminded the committee that if action is
not taken by March, the contractor who has put in a bid deposit as mentioned
earlier in the meeting will withdraw it and DOT will have to re-bid the job.
Mike Valentine was
concerned about the TIP status of the Batchellerville Bridge
project if stimulus funding is unsuccessful. Dave Jukins indicated that
language can be worked into the amendment that protects the status of any
current TIP project, including the Batchellerville Bridge.
After a lengthy
discussion, there was a motion, which was seconded, to table the proposed
amendment for now and revisit this issue when more is known about the potential
stimulus funding. The motion was
approved.
STATUS
OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES
NYSDOT
Bob Hansen informed the group that the statewide
Transportation Enhancement Advisory Committee (TEAC) met and a funding decision
should be forthcoming within the next few weeks. Bob had previously submitted
the seven applications approved by CDTC to the Commissioner.
It was also noted that the NYS Comptroller has held up Safe Routes to
School projects from Region 1 and Region 11 for review of the selection process
used. In addition, Shenendohowa school
district wants to take out their $100,000 match and rescope their project. Bob stated that they were told this is not
allowed. If they can’t follow through on
the original committed match they will not be able to do their project.
Bob also wanted to remind local project sponsors that their local
government must sign local agreements before FHWA will allow funds to be
obligated.
CDTA
Kristina Younger
reported that the CDTA Board has approved fare increases with minor
modifications to those for the STAR service and the Nx Northway Express
service.
The next meeting of the Planning Committee will be held
next Wednesday, January
21, 2009 at 9:30
am at the CDTC offices to discuss the stimulus and to work
on the TIP update.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned
at 12:08 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
John P. Poorman
Secretary