CAPITAL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

Meeting Minutes

January 11, 2006

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING

 

Dave Bailey, City of Troy

Geoff Bornemann, City of Saratoga Springs (Vice-Chairman)

Peter Comenzo, Town of Rotterdam

Frank Commisso, Albany Port District Commission

Todd Fabozzi, representing Rocky Ferraro, CDRPC

Steve Feeney, Schenectady County

Mike Franchini, Albany County (Chairman)

Stephen Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Tom Kearney, FHWA

Barb McHugh, Town of Clifton Park

Phil Pearson, Town of Colonie

Marybeth Pettit, City of Rensselaer

John Poorman, Capital District Transportation Committee (Secretary)

Dave Rettig, NYSDOT Region 1

Jill Ross, NYS Thruway Authority

Deirdre Rudolph, City of Albany

Bernard Sisson, City of Schenectady

Erin Thomas, City of Cohoes

Steve Watts, Town of Halfmoon

Kristina Younger, Capital District Transportation Authority

 

STAFF AND OTHERS

 

Shelley Lang, Capital District Transportation Committee

Jeff Lipnicky, Town of Bethlehem

Sandra Misiewicz, Capital District Transportation Committee

Philip Parella, Jr., Capital District Transportation Authority

Jason Purvis, Capital District Transportation Committee

 

 

 

 

VISITORS ISSUES

 

Chairman Franchini opened the meeting at approximately 9:35 am.  He welcomed members and guests who introduced themselves.

 

 

Action Items

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

Approval of the December 7, 2005 Meeting Minutes

 

The minutes of the December 7, 2005 meeting were then approved as written.

 

Election of Officers

 

After expressing thanks to current officers, a motion was made and unanimously approved to re-elect Michael Franchini as Chairman and Geoff Bornemann as Vice-Chairman for 2005-06.  Both individuals agreed to accept the positions for another year.  John Poorman will continue to serve as Secretary, per tradition.

 

Semi-Annual Progress Report

 

John Poorman highlighted the semi-annual progress report that was included with the meeting materials, noting that the report provides information on the wide range of efforts of the CDTC staff.  Members approved the report for transmittal to CDTC’s state and federal oversight agencies.

 

 

Discussion Items

 

 

2006-08 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM

 

John Poorman reviewed the previously-distributed draft document for the 2006-08 UPWP.  The intention is to adopt a two-year program to move the UPWP development and TIP development onto alternate two-year cycles.  The draft provides greater detail on the tasks, following the outline approved last month.

 

He noted that recent discussions between CDTC and CDTA indicate that the $200,000 consultant effort listed in the draft to develop a regional coordination plan for human service transportation can be deleted.  Staff effort should be adequate for the task.

 

For the next draft, financial tables for CDTA and CDRPC tasks will be included.  Planning Committee and Policy Board action in February is planned.

 

PROPOSED MODIFIED MEETING SCHEDULE

 

Mr. Poorman reviewed the concept of a revised meeting schedule and indicated that there are modest pros and cons of the revised schedule.  Members discussed the concept and took action to adopt the new schedule, to take effect April 2006.  The new schedule is:

 

   January:     Planning Committee first or second Wednesday AM

   February:    Planning Committee first Wednesday AM

   March:       Policy Board first Thursday PM

   April:       Planning Committee first Wednesday AM

   May:         Planning Committee first Wednesday AM

   June:        Policy Board first Thursday PM

   July:        Planning Committee first or second Wednesday AM

   August:      Planning Committee first Wednesday AM

   September:   Policy Board first Thursday PM

   October:     Planning Committee first Wednesday AM

   November:    Planning Committee first Wednesday AM

   December:    Policy Board first Thursday PM

 

2006-07 LINKAGE PROGRAM SUBMISSIONS

 

Sandy Misiewicz distributed a narrative summary and financial table describing the fifteen Linkage submissions received by the January 6 deadline.  Submissions are from the Albany Housing Authority, town of Ballston, town of Bethlehem, city of Cohoes, town of East Greenbush, town of Guilderland, a joint submission from the town of Guilderland and the town of Princetown, the town of Malta, city of Rensselaer, town of Rotterdam, city of Saratoga Springs, city of Schenectady, village of Scotia, city of Troy and village of Voorheesville.  The total federal share requested is $423,500; the UPWP has reserved $200,000 for consultant work and $100,000 for staff effort.

 

Discussion ensued about the budgets for the proposed projects, relative to their ambitious scopes.  CDTC staff will try to refine the scopes and costs before CDTC action on the program.  A review team of CDTC staff, CDRPC, NYSDOT and CDTA will evaluate the submissions and offer programming choices for the Planning Committee to consider in February.  Due to the tight timeframe, material may be e-mailed to the Planning Committee after the mailout is distributed for the February 1 meeting.

 

Mr. Poorman also noted that the option exists to select the Linkage projects after February if the programming decision appears rushed; the UPWP can be approved with the funds blocked out.

 

STATUS OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES

 

CDTA

 

Kristina Younger introduced Philip Parella, the newest CDTA staff member, who will be working on grants management.  She provided copies of a report on the first six months’ experience with the SimpleFare Program.  Ridership is up 11%, revenue is up 8% and Swiper sales are up 24% over the same period of 2004.  She also reported on progress with the TDP work with the Saratoga Springs plan expected soon.  CDTA is also initiating its multi-year fleet replacement process.

 

NYSDOT

 

Dave Rettig noted that Region 1 is preparing to restart the work on the major I-90 project as early as February with activity on the I-90 over the CSX bridge.  One roundabout at the Exit 12 project is open; other work will continue in the spring.  Final design work continues on the Slingerlands Bypass with a July letting planned.  He reported that the Crosstown Arterial project was awarded in December and that the Glenridge Rd. project design has restarted.  The railroad impact of the Glenridge project, even at the reduced scope, may require a TIP amendment.  Discussion also included the draft statewide master plan and the status of the review of comments on Exit 3 alternatives.

 

New York State Thruway Authority

 

Jill Ross noted that the Thruway is expanding it E-ZPass recognition striping and labeling program to other toll plazas across the system.

 

Albany County Airport Authority

 

Steve Iachetta reported on the importance of progress with the Exit 3 project.  He noted that the runway 19 project is 65% complete and that terminal improvements are ongoing.

 

Albany Port District Commission

 

Frank Commisso reported that the port is actively pursuing additional warehouse space and is in the process of acquiring 22 acres adjacent to the port.

 

 

TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

 

Bids and Lettings

 

Mr. Rettig distributed a copy of the summary of December lettings and upcoming January/February bids.  Members discussed the costs of project A196 (Rt 7/I-890 Curry Rd.) and the pattern of high bids.  Mr. Rettig noted that a large number of bids are scheduled for March.

 

 

OTHER

 

The next Planning Committee meeting was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on February 1, 2006.  There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:15 a.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

John P. Poorman

Secretary