PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

Meeting Minutes

January 4, 2012

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING

 

Melissa Ashline-Heil, City of Cohoes

Bradley Birge, City of Saratoga Springs

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 Troy

Patrick McCarroll, representing Michael Loftus, NYS Thruway
  Authority

Barbara McHugh, Town of Clifton Park

Mike Morelli, Town of Bethlehem

Rosemary Nichols, City of Watervliet

Paul Reuss, Village of Menands

Joe Rich, Federal Highway Administration

Tom Richardson, City of Mechanicville

Dede Rudolph, City of Albany

Joseph Teliska, representing Wayne Bonesteel, Rensselaer County

Michael Tengeler, representing Joseph LaCivita, Town of Colonie

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

Acting Secretary