PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

 

Meeting Minutes

January 9, 2008

 

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING

 

Melissa Ashline-Heil, City of Cohoes

Brandley Birge, City of Saratoga Springs

Peter Comenzo, Town of Rotterdam

Todd Fabozzi representing Rocky Ferraro, Capital District
  Regional Planning Commission

Steve Feeney, Schenectady County

Michael Franchini, Albany County (Chairman)

Steve Iachetta, Albany International Airport

Kathy Matern, Town of Niskayuna

Marybeth Pettit, City of Rensselaer

John Poorman, Capital District Transportation Committee (Secretary)

Dave Rettig, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1

Bill Roehr, City of Troy

Dede Rudolph, City of Albany

Phil Serafino, representing Bill Rinaldi, New York State Thruway Authority

Bernard Sisson, City of Schenectady

Mike Valentine, Saratoga County

Steve Watts, Town of Halfmoon

Kristina Younger, Capital District Transportation Authority

 

STAFF AND OTHERS

 

Kyle Buying, NYSDOT Region 1

Anne Benware, Capital District Transportation Committee

Frank Bonafide, NYSDOT Region 1

Rob Cherry, NYSDOT Region 1

Eric Deyoe, Town of Bethlehem

Shelly Johnston, Creighton Manning

Rob Leslie, Town of Bethlehem

Kristofer Miller, NYSDOT Region 1

Sandy Misiewicz, Capital District Transportation Committee

Heather Petticrew, NYSDOT Region 1

Glenn Posca, Capital District Transportation Committee

Jason Purvis, Capital District Transportation Committee

Paul Reuss, Village of Menands

Deborah Stacey, Capital District Transportation Committee

Greg Wichser, NYSDOT Region 1

Maggie Zandt, Greenman Pederson

 

 

VISITORS ISSUES

 

Chairman Franchini opened the meeting at approximately 9:35 am.  There were no visitor’s issues.

Action Items

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

Election of Officers

 

Mike Franchini was nominated for the chairperson position; Mike accepted the nomination.  Kristina Younger was nominated (and accepted) for the vice chair position that was left vacant when Geoff Bornemann retired from the City of Saratoga Springs.  The secretary’s position is traditionally held by the Staff Director of CDTC (John Poorman).  Members approved the nominations; Mike, Kristina and John will serve the chairman, vice-chairperson and secretarial positions for the 2008 calendar year.

 

Approval of the December  5, 2007 Meeting Minutes

 

The meeting notes from the December 5th meeting were approved as written.

 

Approval of the Semi-annual Progress Report

 

The semi-annual progress report covering the period from April 1, 2007 to September 30, 2007 was approved as written.

 

 

LINKAGE PROGRAM

 

CDTC staff contacted project sponsors as directed by the Planning Committee at the November 2007 meeting. Staff has received written confirmation from the top ranked sponsors that they are willing to increase their local share for their proposed linkage projects, which increases the consultant budgets to realistic amounts.  Given the 2008-09 Linkage program budget, the top five study sponsors will receive funding—Schaghticoke, Schenectady, Mechanicville, Altamont and Albany.  Members approved the list for inclusion in the new UPWP.

 

 

TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

 

Programming Competitive Set-Asides

 

During the 2007-12 TIP update, CDTC set-aside funds in four competitive regional set-asides—RG102—Alternative Fuel Retrofit, RG103—Bicycle/Pedestrian Set-aside, RG104—Intersections, Queue Jumpers and Roundabouts, and RG105—Safety Set-aside for Non-State Roads.  Committee members suggested at an earlier meeting that solicitation for the set-asides occur simultaneously with the possible exception of diesel retrofits, so that project sponsors will be able to pick and choose which set-aside pot (if any) they would like to develop a proposal for.  The merit of converting the local ITS set-aside (RG39) to a project solicitation was discussed.  Members agreedIt was determined that projects eligible for local ITS monies should probably come from a solicitation, rather than a first come first served basis.  Members agreed that the entire set-aside dollars for all but the retrofit set-aside would be available for programming via competitive solicitation.

 

Maximum use of the web to disseminate the information was requested.

 

Options for Competitive Safety Set-Asides

 

Lengthy discussions regarding the safety set-aside and options for solicitation, evaluation and programming ensued.  Basically, three options were put on the table.  The options were described in the mailout material, and briefly are: 1) program/solicit for the CDTC Planning area only 2) program/solicit for the Region 1 (eight counties) area or 3) program/solicit using a procedure similar to the enhancement program.  The discussions quickly boiled the decision down to the first two options.  Some members voiced concern about the need and approach of option 2, stating that option 2 subverts the MPO process.  Mr. Rettig stressed that he believed the eight count approach would be simpler and fairer. is not justified. Process was also discussed.  CDTC staff has been developing rigorous evaluation criteria for the safety set-aside.  It was determined that CDTC staff should continue to develop evaluation criteria that are sensitive to CDTC’s policies, and have a meeting with the “larger” (8 county) group to determine if CDTC’s process could be adopted by the larger region.  The feasibility of using CDTC’s evaluation criteria and solicitation process will be reported back to the Planning Committee at the February meeting.  Mike Franchini requested that NYSDOT provide more detailed information on Option 2, specifically with regard to the composition of the “regional group”.  Members will be asked to vote on an option at the February meeting.

 

Diesel Retrofit Project Solicitation and Proposed Evaluation

 

The Alternate Fuel Retrofit draft solicitation was included in member’s packets.  CDTC staff recommended a $500,000 solicitation for diesel retrofits (1/4 of the $2.0M set-aside) so that future solicitations can account for changing technologies and needs.  CDTA expressed concern that RG102 is for non-CDTA fleets; and requested that their eligibility be considered if the solicitation does not generate $500,000 in proposed projects.  Members approved the draft Diesel Retrofit Project Solicitation and Evaluation material.

 

Tentative Proposed Schedule for Competitive Set-Asides

 

Committee members approved the proposed schedule for the remaining three set-asides (RG102—Alternative Fuel Retrofit, RG103—Bicycle/Pedestrian set-aside, and RG104—Intersections, Queue Jumpers and Roundabouts), as well as RG 39 (Local ITS Signals). 

 

 

Discussion Items

 

DRAFT 2008-10 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM

 

John Poorman distributed a table depicting the UPWP tasks by fund source for the first year of the UPWP.  The table reflects an increase in funding for Linkage and several other contractual efforts.  Staff will provide an updated financial table for year two as year one fleshes out.  Dave Rettig indicated that Brian Rowback has a few ideas for tasks for the UPWP, such as GIS as a planning tool.  Brian’s UPWP ideas will be discussed at a meeting in the near future.

 

 

STATUS OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES

 

CDTC

 

The A&F Committee conducted their year end review of staffing and salaries.  Dave Jukins has been promoted to Deputy Director.

 

CDRPC

 

The Fiscal Impact Study is complete; CDRPC is currently publicizing this document.  CDRPC staff met with the Times Union and will be doing a piece on growth issues.  Employment projections should be wrapped up shortly.

 

CDTA

 

Congresswoman Gillibrand has found funding for a $250,0001/4 Million feasibility study for a CDTA garage in Saratoga County.  CDTA is looking for land in Saratoga County. An open house for the BRT is scheduled for January 15th.  The station plan is 95% through the environmental review stage.  CDTA is in the midst of a budget review.  It appears that deficits will be realized under both growth and no growth scenarios.  CDTA will conduct a study of the NX service, schedule and fare structure in 2008.

 

NYSDOT

 

NYSDOT distributed a summary of recent Bids and Lettings.  A trend is emerging showings bidsBids coming in at a price lower than the estimate.  NYSDOT has been appointed to the Governor’s Smart growth Cabinet.  NYSDOT received a letter from Clifton Park regarding the proposed Balltown Road improvement project; a meeting is being scheduled at the request of Clifton Park.  The town of NiskayunaNiskayuan and CDTC staff will be invited to participate.

 

NYSTA

 

The Exit 23/24 improvement project has been pushed back to 2009.

 

 

Halfmoon

 

The new town hall is now complete and occupied.  There is a Linkage meeting scheduled at the new Town hall this evening.

 

 

OTHER

 

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m.  The February Planning Committee meeting will be held on February 6th.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

John P. Poorman

Secretary