PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Meeting Minutes
Geoff Bornemann, City of
Frank Commisso, Albany Port District Commission
Steve Feeney,
Mike Franchini,
Fred Howard, Rensselaer County
Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority
Barbara McHugh, Town of
Bruce Hidley, City of Watervliet
Phil Pearson, Town of
Marybeth Pettit, City of Rensselaer
John Poorman, Capital
District Transportation Committee (Secretary)
Jack Reilly, Capital District
Transportation Authority
Dave Rettig, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1
Jill Ross Schmelz, NYS Thruway Authotity
Dede Rudolph, City of Albany
Bernie Sisson, City of Schenectady
Steve Watts, Town of Halfmoon
STAFF AND OTHERS
Lee Ecker, Clough Harbour
Associates
Brian Hannafin,
Bob Hansen, NYS Department of
Transportation Region 1
Mary Marsh, Capital District
Transportation Authority
Fred Mastroianni, Village of
Colonie
Sandra Misiewicz, Capital
District Transportation Committee
Clarence Mosher, Town of
Glenville
Jason Newman, Capital
District Transportation Committee
Glenn Posca, Capital District
Transportation Committee
Paul Tazbir, Town of North Greenbush
VISITORS ISSUES
Chairman Franchini opened the meeting at approximately
Action Items
ADMINISTRATION
Approval
of the
The minutes of the
2005-10 TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
Status of
Major Projects
Members resumed discussion of project A240, the Exit 3/4
project. Discussion had been tabled at
the previous meeting.
After further discussion, members agreed to preserve the
NHS funding commitment to the project at the level shown in the 2003-08 TIP,
showing the proposed project cost increase from Region 1’s data as “Demo”. The action is viewed as retaining CDTC’s
regional commitment to the important project while also conveying a message
that the project development process needs to be cognizant of funding
limitations; certain more extensive design options would require supplemental
funding from a separate source. On-system
letting ceiling issues are involved in the use of NHS funds on this project,
based on current annual Region 1 limits.
Similar issues were raised and discussed regarding
project S120/SA109,
Discussion continued regarding the remainder of the
projects on the list of major existing TIP projects. After discussion, members concurred with the
list of proposed changes.
Changes to
Other Projects on the Current TIP
Members next reviewed the list of existing projects
moving into the five years, which also showed projects with entries only in the
“post” column. Members agreed to the
proposed changes.
The next set of project changes reviewed was the list
showing replenishing of existing regional projects. Mr. Poorman noted that this is the list of
“RG” projects; some are one-time regional projects, others are set-asides for
specific uses. Region 1’s recent
information revised the requested seven-year budget for RG37A, the HELP system,
to $8.5 M. Members discussed the
background for the cost increase and acknowledged the reduction in the CMAQ
balance the change would imply. After
further discussion, members agreed to the list of changes/ replenishments as
amended by the RG37A change.
Members reviewed the list of proposed changes to
Interstate Maintenance projects. Jill
Schmelz clarified that the list does not include the Thruway Authority’s
recently-supplied changes. Members
approved the requested changes on the current list.
The list of proposed changes to HBRR projects was
reviewed. Several clarifications were
requested on the accuracy of the information;
Discussion continued, with attention focused on the
“major changes” proposed for existing TIP projects. Project A289 (Lincoln Ave Grade Separation)
and its link to the deferred High Speed Rail program for eligibility to CMAQ
funding was discussed. Members concurred
with the proposed changes, with the exception of the change to A289, which was
deferred.
The next set of changes reviewed was the “minor changes”
(group 2) list proposed for existing TIP projects. Members agreed to the proposed changes.
Similarly, members agreed to the long list of proposed
“minor changes” (group 1).
Finally, members reviewed the list of changes to
existing TIP “demonstration” projects.
There was discussion regarding the difference between funds already
earmarked to a project and “hoped for” future discretionary funding. Members agreed to modify the TIP treatment of
project listings to distinguish between the two types of “demo” funds. The next TIP will show actual earmarks in the
funding entry for the project and in the summary tables. The hoped-for or needed supplemental funds
will be described in the project’s description but not in project funding
entries or summary tables. With this
clarification, members concurred with the list of changes to existing TIP
demonstration projects.
Review of
Candidate Projects
Review of the candidate projects was deferred to the
next meeting. Funding balances for new
programming were clarified; regarding NHS, an agreement to program to the full seven-year
reasonable share of expected Region 1 NHS allocations (that is, no deduction
for Glens Falls. etc.) leaves an approximate balance of $13.5 M in NHS
funds. A similar balance remains for
CMAQ funding. Review of candidate
projects’ updated screening issues and evaluations will take place at the next
meeting.
OTHER
The next
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned
at
Respectfully submitted,