PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Meeting Minutes
David Bailey, City of
Joel Cochran, representing Larry Benton,
Judy Breselor, representing Fred Howard,
Frank Commisso,
Kevin Corcoran, Town of
Todd Fabozzi, representing Rocky Ferraro, Capital
District
Regional Planning Commission
Steve Feeney,
Mike Franchini,
Bruce Hidley, City of
Steve Iachetta,
Barbara McHugh, Town of
Phil Pearson, Town of
Marybeth Pettit, City of
John Poorman, Capital
District Transportation Committee (Secretary)
Dave Rettig, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1
Jill Ross-Schmelz, representing
Don Bell, NYS Thruway Authority
Dede Rudolph, City of
Bernie Sisson, City of
John Stangle,
Steve Watts, Town of
Kristina Younger,
representing
STAFF AND OTHERS
Frank Bonafide, NYS
Department of Transportation Region 1
Bob Hansen, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1
Mary Marsh, Capital District
Transportation Authority
Sandra Misiewicz, Capital
District Transportation Committee
Fred Mastroianni,
Jason Newman, FHWA/CDTC
Tom Speziale,
Ann Sutkin, NYSDOT Region 1
Paul Tazbir, Town of
Joan Walters,
VISITORS ISSUES
Chairman Franchini opened the meeting at approximately
Action Items
ADMINISTRATION
Approval
of the
Bruce Hidley noted that he was present at the meeting
but not listed in the minutes; the spelling of Lee Ecker was also
corrected. The minutes of the
UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM
2005-06
Linkage Program
Sandy Misiewicz reviewed the previously-distributed
summary of Linkage program requests. The
2005-06 program focuses on several evaluation criteria, with emphasis on the
degree to which each submission addresses six particular program
strategies. Proposed studies were rated
from A to C by a review committee composed of CDTC and CDRPC staff. The summary material lists four proposals in
a Group 1 with the highest relative ranking (A); three in a Group 2 with a high
relative ranking (B+); and seven in a Group 3 with a slightly lower relative
ranking (B through C).
Members discussed the rankings and reviewed the four
programming options identified in the summary material. It was agreed to use the $15,000 (federal)
released from the Arbor Hill Gateway study to augment the approximate $200,000
reserved for the program. After further
discussion, members agreed to follow Option 3 from the summary material. This funds all submissions in Group 1 and
Group 2 (Malta Route 9, Harriman Campus, Stillwater Route 4; Saratoga Springs
Downtown; Guilderland Hamlet;
Draft
2005-06 UPWP
He noted that the financial requirements of the program
cannot be sustained past 2005-06 (particularly the scale of Linkage activities)
without an increase in the planning budget in the TEA-21 Reauthorization. Reauthorization discussions have resumed in
Congress.
2003-08 TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENT
This project is a proposed addition to the current TIP
to permit a continuation of an existing project that provides an operational
subsidy for the container barge service to
Frank Commisso provided further detail on current
operations. Mr. Rettig reported that the
CMAQ funds to be used for the project are statewide CMAQ funds to be added to
the Capital District CMAQ allocation.
There will be no impact on other projects or on the TIP development
effort.
Members approved the requested amendment. Kristina Younger abstained from the
vote. Because of the nature of the
amendment, the amendment will be included for action on the
2005-10 TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
Review of
Actions to Date and Additional Information
Mr. Poorman directed members’ attention to the
previously-distributed updated table of fund availability and project costs,
and a list of thirteen changes to project details received from Region 1 since
the January 26 meeting. Members reviewed
the list, which included several additions and subtractions of project costs on
the NHS system. After discussion, Dave
Rettig requested that the fund source switches listed as items 10 and 12 not be
included in the action. With those
exceptions, members agreed to the changes listed in the summary list.
Review of
Candidate Projects’ Screening and Eligibility Issues
Mr. Poorman reviewed the previously-distributed summary
of resolution of outstanding screening and eligibility issues. Some questions relate to the
Members also discussed the
NHS eligibility of the Broadway project in
Members concurred that the County Routes 65 and 74
Reconfiguration submission from
NHS
Programming: The first set of candidates’ merit evaluations reviewed was the
list of NHS-eligible pavement projects.
As a result of the budgeting agreement at the last meeting and further
cost and fund source adjustments, the resulting seven-year NHS budget appears
sufficient to fund all three NHS pavement projects on the table. Mr. Poorman distributed an updated version of
the previously-distributed summary of candidate projects. He noted that the cost of the
There was some discussion of the fact that two of the
three are NHS-eligible but are, in part or in whole, off the NHS network. Mr. Rettig noted a concern with the precedent
established, given the needs on the NHS system and the potential for diluting
the NHS program. After further
discussion, members agreed to include all three projects in the draft 2005-10
TIP.
CMAQ
Programming: The second set of candidates considered was the list of
CMAQ-eligible projects. The challenges
in this exercise were recognized, in that projects on the table were all CMAQ
eligible but of widely varying types and air quality impacts. Some of the project types, such as the Fuller
/ Washington intersection reconstruction / roundabout project and the
Helderberg-Hudson bike-hike trail, go beyond the range of project types funded
with CMAQ funds by CDTC in the past.
Mr. Poorman reviewed the programming options in the
previously-distributed summary material to initiate programming
discussions. Option 1 relies on drawing
from existing funds in RG1 (Park and Ride Lots) and RG39 (ITS Signals) to fund
the CDTA-proposed NY 5 park and ride lot and transit signal priority (TSP)
projects. Additionally, Option 1 would
limit programming of CMAQ to new candidates to the Saratoga Van Pool project
and three high-ranking bike/pedestrian network projects. A large balance would remain to add to regional
set-asides for projects to be identified during the year.
Option 2 was described as financially feasible, but
going beyond the range of purposes typically supported by CDTC with CMAQ
funds. It would additionally fund the
Fuller/Western intersection, the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail, and two queue
jumper projects on
A lengthy discussion ensued regarding programming
choices. The merit of the
Mr. Rettig repeated his previous requests for consideration
of programming capacity in set-asides to address the products of both NYSDOT’s
current “maintenance and operations first” strategy and the upcoming CDTC UPWP
effort to identify CMAQ-eligible operations projects. He also expressed concern with the low
emissions reduction benefits from the bike/ped candidates with regard to the
use of CMAQ funds.
Further discussion ensued regarding equitable treatment
of projects on the table that resulted from CDTC’s solicitation versus
candidates not yet articulated. A proposal
was put forth to agree to Option 2 with the addition of the
HBRR
Candidates
A list of proposed new HBRR projects from Region 1 was
distributed for review.
Next Steps
Mr. Poorman noted that the full draft TIP reflecting all
the agreements to date will be provided for
Discussion Items
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM
Bids and
Lettings
OTHER
The next
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned
at
Respectfully submitted,