PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Meeting Minutes
January 4, 2012
MEMBERS
ATTENDING
Melissa Ashline-Heil, City of
Bradley Birge, City of
Frank Bonafide, NYS Department of Transportation Region
1
Stephen Caruso, representing Paul Cassillo, City of
Schenectady
Robert Cherry, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1
Ross Farrell, representing Kristina Younger, Capital
District
Transportation
Authority
Rocky Ferraro, Capital District Regional Planning
Commission
Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority
David Jukins. Capital District Transportation Committee
Andrew Kreshik, City of
Patrick McCarroll, representing Michael Loftus, NYS
Thruway
Authority
Barbara McHugh, Town of
Mike Morelli, Town of
Paul Reuss, Village of Menands
Joe Rich, Federal Highway Administration
Tom Richardson, City of Mechanicville
Dede Rudolph, City of
Joseph Teliska, representing
Wayne Bonesteel,
Michael Tengeler, representing
Joseph LaCivita, Town of
Steve Watts, Town of Halfmoon
STAFF AND
OTHERS
Richard Benko, Town of East
Greenbush
Ann Benware, Capital District Transportation Committee
Katie Bronson, City of Albany
Fred Erickson, Town of Sand Lake
Peter Faith, Greenman Pederson
Chris Franklin, Capital District Transportation
Committee
Bob Hansen, Creighton Manning
Matt Mastin, Town of East
Greenbush
Fred Mastroianni, Greenman
Pederson
Sandra Misiewicz, Capital District Transportation
Committee
Chris O’Neill, Capital District Transportation Committee
Jeff Pangburn, Creighton Manning
Sam Piper, Capital District Transportation Committee
Glenn Posca, Capital District Transportation Committee
Jason Purvis, Capital District Transportation Committee
Deb Stacey, Capital District Transportation Committee
Mike Wieszchowski, Laberge Group
VISITORS ISSUES
Dave Jukins opened the meeting at approximately 9:35
am. There were no visitor’s issues.
PRESENTATATIONS
CAPITAL
DISTRICT CLEAN COMMUNITIES PRESENTATION
Dave Jukins explained that the
Capital District Clean Communities coalition has been hosted by CDTC for ten
years and has come a long way under Deb Stacey’s leadership. Deb Stacey gave a presentation of the Capital
District Clean Communities coalition. Clean
Cities is a U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Program. It is designed to “advance
the national, economic and energy security of the United States by supporting
local decisions to reduce use of petroleum fuels in vehicles”. The Capital District Clean Communities (CDCC)
coalition planning area includes the four CDTC counties as well as Fulton,
Montgomery, Schoharie, Otsego, Warren, Washington, Greene, and Columbia
Counties, an area with a total population of almost 1.3 million people. The coalition is the only New York State
coalition and one of the few, nationally, to be housed at the region’s
MPO. There are 87 active stakeholders
representing 65 individual local governments, businesses and agencies.
Through the the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), USDOE provided $2.6M of
federally funded projects to New York State, which leveraged an additional
$5.9M. In the CDCC area, thirty CNG
(compressed natural gas) vehicles were purchased, nineteen propane buses were
purchased for school districts, and twenty-two hybrid electric vehicles were
purchased. There are currently forty-one
alternative fuel refueling stations in the CDCC area.
Dave Jukins explained that the CDCC
is not a stand alone effort,
rather, it is integrated into New Visions and CDTC goals. It is an example of a
new paradigm being encouraged by our federal partners: outcome based planning.
ACTION ITEMS
ADMINISTRATION
Election
of New Officers
Dave Jukins asked for nominations for the positions of
Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee. After discussion, Kristina Younger of CDTA
was nominated for the position of Chairman, contingent on her accepting the
position, since she was not present.
Members approved Kristina Younger as Chairman. Steve Iachetta of the Albany International
Airport was nominated for the position of Vice-Chairman. Members approved Steve Iachetta as
Vice-Chairman. At this point, Steve
Iachetta took the role of chairing the meeting in Kristina’s absence.
Approval
of the November 1, 2011 Meeting Minutes
Members approved the November 1st minutes as
submitted.
Information
Delivery for Planning Committee & Policy Board Meetings
It was suggested that people on the mailing list could
be asked whether they preferred a paper copy of the mail-out or an electronic
copy. Those requesting electronic copies
only would receive an e-mail announcing the meeting and directing them to
materials on the CDTC website. This
would avoid the problem of some firewalls rejecting the attachments of an
e-mail. It was suggested that a pdf file is best format for posting committee materials on
the website, and that prompt posting of materials on the website would be
necessary to make this plan work. Staff
will send out an e-mail asking each person’s preferences.
UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM
Progress Report
Dave Jukins reviewed CDTC work
efforts described in the progress report, including the Plan update, Linkage
studies, the Park and Ride Study, Clean Cities, the Car Sharing Initiative,
Census analysis, safety planning, NYSAMPO Working Groups, the Washington
Western Transit Corridor Study, and the 2011 Transit Human Services
Coordination Plan. Rosemary Nichols
conveyed a comment from Mayor Manning that the bullet format is very
helpful. Andrew Kreshik commented that he would like to see a better link to
the maps on the TIP. Members approved the Progress Report.
City of Albany Bike Master Plan Implementation Program
Budget Adjustment
A letter requesting a budget
adjustment for this program was handed out.
The request was to decrease total cost for the program from $75,000 to
$60,000 ($45,000 federal funds, $15,000 local funds). Members approved the budget adjustment.
2010-15 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Status of TIP Amendments
David Jukins explained that the
required TIP adjustments are very complicated and he appreciates that they are
difficult for Planning Committee members to keep track of. Lack of
Congressional action has led us to adjust our program due to funding
reductions. The NYSDOT management
program has to be reconciled to the CDTC TIP. A table comparing new budget
estimates with programming in the 2010-15 TIP was reviewed. The numbers are subject to change based on a
new bill expected from Congress within the five year period.
Rosemary Nichols asked how the State
legislation on smart growth would affect the capital program. Frank Bonafide explained that NYSDOT has not
yet fully adopted a policy on smart growth, but projects on the program would not
be inconsistent with the legislation.
Rob Cherry stated that new projects in the future would be considered
with respect to the legislation. Dave Jukins that the New Visions Plan is strongly consistent with
the smart growth legislation, and therefore the TIP is also.
Members approved the interim budget
update as presented in the table dated December 28, 2011 for the purposes of
discussing amendments, with the understanding that they will not replace the
formal estimates on the CDTC website at this time.
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENTS - RECONSIDERATION
OF PREVIOUS AMENDMENT REQUESTS
R279
(1757.99), US 4/Mannix Road Roundabout
SA201
(1756.60), Ballston Avenue, from Union Street to Hamilton Street: Safety
Improvements
These two agenda items were discussed together. Dave Jukins explained that it is possible
that action should be deferred to the February meeting, since more analysis is
needed. Two handouts were distributed
reviewing safety projects in the CDTC TIP.
Several options are being reviewed, including the reprogramming of
safety funds from RG105 (Safety Set-Aside for Non-State Roads) and funding from
the Meads Lane Project if that project proves not feasible. Both the Mannix
Road project and the Ballston Avenue project have very strong safety benefits
which have been recently analyzed by CDTC staff.
Frank Bonafide raised some concerns about the Mannix Road project.
They include: NYSDOT staff believes the final cost may be $0.5 M higher
than the TIP amendment; NYSDOT has estimated that only $250,000 worth of safety
funding is appropriate for the Mannix Road project; a
traffic signal might address the safety concerns; and because the need for the
project is generated by the development, more money should come from the
developer.
Andrew Kreshik stated that we
are showing the budget capacity to fund these projects; the Mannix
Road project has economic development benefits and conforms with
the planning study; and the projects have done due diligence and are ready to
go and should not be penalized.
Mike Morelli requested that NYSDOT further analyze the
cost and safety benefits of the Mannix Road project.
Dave Jukins suggested that Region 1 and CDTC staff meet to discuss the project.
Barbara McHugh asked if the Mannix
Road project amendment was a scope change; Frank Bonafide responded that it was
not. Dave Jukins explained that the
Ballston Avenue project amendment is a scope change.
Frank Bonafide stated that he would like language to
deal with any potential cost overrun beyond the amendment amounts. Richard Benko
stated that the Town of East Greenbush would come up with the extra balance if
the cost was higher than the estimate.
Brad Birge asked if the Committee could act on the
Saratoga project separately. Dave Jukins
said he would prefer to wait until the February meeting when we would have a
better handle on the budget and offset options.
CDTC staff will prepare further analysis of safety benefits and
programming options for the February Planning Committee meeting.
UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM
Enforcement
Training Reminder
Jason Purvis reviewed the upcoming enforcement raining
for bicycle and pedestrian safety. The
training will be exclusively for uniformed officers.
Development
of the 2012-14 UPWP
Dave Jukins reviewed the attachment in the
mail-out. The core program
continues. There will be an emphasis on
collecting data for performance measures to meet expected requirements in the
new federal legislation. Emphasis will
also increase for bus rapid transit planning, support for the CDTA Transit
Development Plan (TDP) update, freight planning, and safety planning.
TCSP
Applications Summary
Sandy Misiewicz reviewed the submissions for this
program for the region. She stated that
this may be the last round for this program.
Map 21
David Jukins briefly explained that the next federal
legislation is like to call for performance driven programs, and may introduce
a two tier system for MPOs, where MPOs over one million in population would be
Tier 1. There may be an option for CDTC
to become a Tier 1 MPO.
USEPA
Urban Waters Program
Anne Benware reviewed this grant program. Trails along waterwas
are eligible. The program is consistent
with Congressman Paul Tonko’s Mighty Waters
initiative.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 12:08 PM. The next Planning Committee meeting is
scheduled for February 1, 2012. The next Policy Board Meeting is scheduled
for March 1, 2012.
Respectfully submitted,
David P Jukins