PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

Meeting Minutes

January 5, 2011

 

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING

 

Melissa Ashline-Heil, City of Cohoes

Frank Bonefide, NYS Department of Transportation

Paul Cassillo, City of Schenectady

Rob Cherry, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1

Peter Comenzo, Town of Rotterdam

Frank Commisso, Albany Port District Commission

Sarah Crowell, City of Rensselaer

Steve Feeney, Schenectady County

Rocky Ferraro, Capital District Regional Planning Commission

Michael Franchini, Albany County (Chairman)

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Andrew Kreshik, City of Troy

Joseph LaCivita, Town of Colonie

Patrick McCarroll, representing Michael Loftus, NYS Thruway Authority

Barb McHugh, Town of Clifton Park

Michael Morelli, Town of Bethlehem

Rosemary Nichols, City of Watervliet

John Poorman, Capital District Transportation Committee (Secretary)

Paul Reuss, Village of Menands

Joe Rich. Federal Highway Administration

Deidre Rudolph, City of Albany

Joe Teliska, representing Wayne Bonesteel, Rensselaer County

Kristina Younger, Capital District Transportation Authority (Vice-Chair)

 

STAFF AND OTHERS

 

Dave Ardman, Barton & Loguidice

Anne Benware, Capital District Transportation Committee

Jennifer Ceponis, Capital District Transportation Committee

Shelly Johnston, Creighton Manning Assoc.

David Jukins, Capital District Transportation Committee

Sandra Misiewicz, Capital District Transportation Committee

Leah Mosall, Capital District Transportation Committee

Larry Mulvaney, NYS Department of Transportation

Chris O’Neill, Capital District Transportation Committee

Glenn Posca, Capital District Transportation Committee

Deb Stacey, Capital District Transportation Committee

 

 

VISITORS ISSUES

 

Chairman Franchini opened the meeting at approximately 9:40 am.  There were no visitors issues.

 

 

ACTION ITEMS

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

Election of Officers

 

On behalf of the Chair, John Poorman entertained nominations for the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee for the 2011 calendar year.  Mike Franchini was nominated as Chair and Kristina Younger as Vice-Chair, Mike and Kristina accepted the nominations. There were no other nominations. Members unanimously elected Mike and Kristina to Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively.

 

Approval of the November 3, 2010 Meeting Minutes

 

Members approved the November 3rd meeting notes as written.

 

UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM

 

April 1- September 30 2010 Progress Report

 

The Progress Report was distributed to Planning Committee members for their review.  Dave Jukins briefly highlighted some of the activities that CDTC staff is involved in and fielded a few questions regarding the NYSMPO related activities.  The progress report was approved as written.

 

2010-12 UPWP Addendum Outline

 

Dave Jukins reviewed the 2010-12 UPWP Addendum Outline, highlighting the proposed changes to the 2010-12 UPWP.  New or significantly modified tasks include the Every Day Counts Initiative, the Census Data Task, GIS Support, the 2011-12 Linkage Program and Human Service Agency Planning.  Action on the 2010-12 UPWP Addendum is planned for February.

 

I-787 Integrated Corridor Study

 

The City of Albany in partnership with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is asking the Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) to consider adding to the 2010-12 UPWP a $200,000 planning study to study I-787 between Exit 2 and Exit 4A. This effort is intended to answer questions regarding: (1) the short term and long term infrastructure needs for the facility; (2) the opportunities for alternative designs to reduce long term infrastructure costs and/or improve transportation community compatibility; and, in the context of long term needs, (3) near-term access improvements to support the City’s downtown and waterfront economic development initiatives. Several questions were asked regarding the composition of the study advisory committee and the boundaries of the study.  Funding source issues (SPR vs. STP) were also raised.  Action was tabled until the February Planning Committee meeting’s consideration of the UPWP Addendum.

 

2011-12 Linkage Planning Proposals

 

Sandy Misiewicz reported that five proposals were received under the 2011-12 Linkage Solicitation.  The city of Albany applied for $75,000 to conduct a study of the Albany Bike Share/Signage Strategy.  East Greenbush applied for $25,000 to develop design guidelines for the 9 & 20 corridor.  The Town of Malta applied for $60,000 for Implementation of the Malta Downtown Master Plan.  The City of Schenectady applied for $50,000 for Implementation of the Schenectady Gateway Plaza Plan.  The town of Schodack applied for $37,500 to further develop the Town Center Plan and Zoning.  All applicants will match or overmatch these federal amounts.  The 2011-12 budget is $200,000 in federal funds with 100,000 in CDTC staff assistance.  The five proposed studies total $247,500 in federal monies.  A Linkage Project Proposal Evaluation Committee will meet later in January to evaluate the proposals and to recommend a subset for funding.  The proposed list will be reviewed by the Planning Committee in February.

 

2010-15 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

 

Options for Funding the TMC Operating Costs

 

During the 2010-15 TIP Update, CDTC continued its commitment to fund operating costs for the Transportation Management Center (TMC). In 2007, CDTC was informed that the project would no longer qualify for CMAQ funds due to the three year restriction on funding operations.  Because the project is consistent with the intent of CMAQ funding, it was determined that a transfer of CMAQ funds to STP-Flex could be used for this project.  Consequently, in the 2010-15 TIP, the funding for this project shows as STP-Flex on the condition that the transfer from CMAQ takes place.  But, since the STIP is the document used to actually authorize the use of funds, and the budget estimates cannot be adjusted by CDTC to show a transfer as taking place before it actually happens, the funding for this project shows as CMAQ in the STIP.  According to the NYSDOT Main Office Program Management Bureau no transfer is likely to take place until the end of the federal fiscal year, and will not occur unless there is a reason statewide to do so. This presents a problem in that the funding is needed immediately.  Several options for funding the TMC were put on the table.  These were:

 

·        Wait for a transfer to CMAQ (null alternative)

·        Free STP-Flex Funds from the Glenridge Road Reconstruction (SA109 & S120) by assigning additional Safety funds to Glenridge Road.

·        Fund with STP-Flex using Advance Construction:

·        Fund with STP-Flex

 

After some discussion and reaction by NYSDOT regarding the feasibility of the options, members voted to adopt the Glenridge Road option and to adjust the 2010-2015 TIP Listings accordingly.

 

 

Discussion Items

 

NEW VISIONS MAINTENANCE UPDATE

 

CDTC staff is preparing updates for each topic area addressed by the New Visions 2030 Plan.  The updated summaries, identifying what the 2030 Plan said, what has happened since that was adopted in 2007 and what the plans are for the 2040 New Visions Plan will be distributed to Planning Committee members prior to the February Planning Committee meeting.  This will lead to release of a draft 2035 New Visions Plan by the Policy Board in June, 2011.

 

AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY FOR AMSTERDAM INTERSECTION PROJECT

 

This item was raised at the last Policy Board meeting; the Policy Board agreed to delegate action to the Planning Committee because of the tight time table for the project.  Subsequent to the December Policy Board meeting, the ICG for Air Quality determined that the project is exempt and consequently does not trigger a revision to the Air Quality Conformity statement.

 

STATUS OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES

 

NYSDOT

 

NYSDOT is waiting for the new administration to settle in.  Most ARRA projects are complete.  During 2011, oversight of local projects will occur within the design unit.

 

CDRPC

 

The American Community Survey (Census) 5 year data was just released.  The ACS replaced the long form that used to be conducted during the decennial Census. CDRPC will create Census summaries and will compare these to the 2010 Census data that will be released within the next few weeks.  A public meeting is scheduled for January 13th at HVCC to present initial findings of the Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan.

 

CDTA

 

CDTA plans to roll out Bus Plus (Route 5 BRT) in April 2011.  Fourteen of the 18 BRT stations will be constructed by April.  Two new park and ride lots opened—one at Rotterdam Square Mall and the other at the Aldi at the Crosstown Woodlawn Plaza.  There are now two accessible taxis in the road in the Capital Region funded by New Freedom; the program will grow to 10 taxis over the next few years.

 

Albany County

 

The design report for Washington Avenue Extension/Fuller Road was recently submitted to NYSDOT.  The next phase will require detailed engineering with construction expected to start in November 2011.

 

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.  The next Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for February 2, 2011, Ground Hog Day.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

John P. Poorman

Secretary