DRAFT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Meeting
Minutes
August
6, 2014
MEMBERS ATTENDING
Bradley Birge, City of Saratoga Springs
Frank Bonafide, NYS Department of Transportation- Region
1
Ross Farrell, Capital District Transportation Authority
Stephen Feeney, Schenectady County, Vice-Chair
Rocky Ferraro, Capital District Regional Planning
Commission
Michael Franchini, Capital District Transportation
Committee, Secretary
Stephen Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority, Chair
Andrew Kreshik, City of Troy
Kathy Matern, Town of Niskayuna
Barb McHugh, Town of Clifton Park
Randy Milano, City of Albany
Paul Reuss, Village of Menands
Tom Richardson, City of Mechanicville
Jeremy Smith, City of Watervliet
Joseph Teliska, representing Wayne Bonesteel, Rensselaer
County
Tony Tozzi, Town of Malta
Michael Valentine, Saratoga County
Christopher Wallin, City of Schenectady
STAFF AND
OTHERS
Tom Baird, Barton & Loguidice
Katie Bronson, City of Albany
Jennifer Ceponis, Capital District Transportation
Committee
Robert Cherry, NYS Department of Transportation- Region
1
Christopher Desany, Capital District Transportation
Authority
Robert Hansen, Creighton Manning
Karen Hulihan, NYS Department of Transportation- Region
1
Jeffrey Johns, Stantec
David Jukins, Capital District Transportation Committee
Carmella Mantello, Barton & Loguidice
Fred Mastroianni, Greenman-Pedersen, Inc
Nicole Matlick, Town of Niskayuna
Christina Minkler, CHA
Sandy Misiewicz, Capital District Transportation
Committee
Chris O’Neill, Capital District Transportation Committee
Glenn Posca, Capital District Transportation Committee
Evan J. Seyboth, NYS Department of Transportation-
Region 1
Robert Wetmore, Capital District Transportation
Committee
Mike Williams, Capital District Transportation Authority
Edward Wolk, Capital District Transportation Authority
VISITORS’
ISSUES
Steve Iachetta opened the meeting at
approximately 9:33 AM. There were no
visitors’ issues.
ADMINISTRATION
Previous
Meeting Minutes – July 2, 2014
Members approved the July 2, 2014 minutes.
Presentation—City of Albany Corning Preserve Master Plan
Katie Bronson gave a presentation about the
City of Albany Corning Preserve Master Plan.
Project goals include improving five pedestrian/bicyclist connections, recreating
Quay Street as a complete street, and improving mobility within the Corning
Riverfront Park. Steve Iachetta
commented that the State Canal Recreationway started here. Rocky Ferraro
commented that the Canal Corporation will update the Plan by December 2015 and Rocky
will chair that effort.
ACTION
ITEMS
2013-18
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
A240 (PIN 1721.51): I-87 Exit 3 or 4
Airport Connector
RG110 (PIN 1808.05): State Bridge
Preservation Set-Aside
Frank
Bonafide explained that a cost increase is needed for Part 1 of this project
(A240) for extra embankment and geotechnical needs. This amendment will need
Policy Board approval as well, and then will be advertised within one week. Frank Bonafide requested that the project
description for this project in the TIP should be corrected, since it is no
longer called the Exit 3 project. An
offset will be provided by reducing the NHPP portion of the State Bridge Preservation
setaside (RG110). Frank said that these
amendments will be approved with the understanding that funds not utilized in
Exit 4 will be returned to the State Bridge Preservation setaside. Members approved the amendments for A240 and
RG110 as presented.
A527 (1758.91): CR 55 over Vloman Kill:
Bridge Replacement or Repair
A529 (1758.88): Plank Road, Onesquethaw
Creek Road and Rowe Road: Bridge Deck Replacements
Mike
Franchini spoke on behalf of Bill Anslow, who could not attend the
meeting. These two projects (A527 and
A529) were originally thought to be beyond preservation projects, but are now
anticipated to be preservation projects.
The amendments will not change cost or schedule. Project A529 will
replace the wooden deck on each bridge, and project A527 will line a very large
culvert. A comment was made that the PIN
numbers for these projects were incorrectly shown on the agenda, but should be
correctly noted as 1758.91 for A527 and 1758.88 for A529. Members approved the
amendments for A527 and A529 as presented.
R195 (1754.59): South Troy Industrial Park
Road
Andrew
Kreshik
explained that the City of Troy has been trying to progress this project and
the biggest delay has resulted from the discovery of pre-contact archeological
remains. As a result, the schedule needs
to be changed. Members approved the
amendment.
T90: River Corridor BRT
Ross
Farrell said that CDTA is requesting a drawdown from RG109 to provide funding
for the project development phase of the River Corridor BRT. Rob Cherry asked if signal maintenance will
be established. Ross Farrell explained
that the approach will be similar to the Washington Western BRT. Members approved the amendment.
DRAFT RESOLUTION REGARDING RIVER CORRIDOR
BUS RAPID TRANSIT LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE
Ross
Farrell explained that CDTC Policy Board approval of the resolution adoption of
Alternative 2 as the Locally Preferred Alternative for the River Corridor BRT
will be requested. The resolution will
be presented to the Policy Board for their approval at the September 4th
meeting. Members approved the
resolution.
With
regard to the first two TIP amendments (A240 and RG110) Mike Valentine asked
about how the offset would affect bridge preservation. Mike Franchini said that the offset from the
State Bridge Preservation setaside will mean less money for state bridge preservation.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
STATUS OF PROJECTS NEEDING CONSTRUCTION
OBLIGATION BY SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
Mike
Franchini reviewed the list showing status of CMAQ projects. He said that it could not be confirmed
whether SA 217, Crescent Road Bike and Ped Improvements, will be let by October
1, 2014. He explained that action was
not needed at the meeting.
Mike
Franchini distributed a handout (attached) that lists the status of “Projects
Requiring Obligation by October 1, 2014 or all Phases Move to Fifth Year”. In response to a question, Frank Bonafide
explained that a project is obligated once federal authorization is received. For questions about supplemental agreements,
call Ann Sutkin. Mike Valentine
requested a step by step description of the process leading to project
obligation in the minutes. This
description is listed below:
|
|
Federal Aid Highway Process for Local
Projects |
|
1. |
Plan
and Identify the Project |
|
2. |
Obtain
project approval for funding on the TIP/STIP |
|
3. |
Execute
a Project Agreement |
|
4. |
Select
and Hire a Consultant |
|
4A. |
Develop
scope of services with cost and obtain federal authorization and obligation for design phases 1-4 (for larger or more
complicated projects – definitely for EA or EIS projects) or 1-6 and
ROW incidentals before proceeding with any work |
|
5. |
Authorize
Proceeding with Preliminary Design and Right of Way Incidental Phases |
|
6. |
Prepare
Design Approval Document |
|
7. |
Authorization
and obligation of funds for Detailed design if necessary and ROW if required |
|
8. |
ROW
Acquisition Phase |
|
9. |
Prepare
Contract Documents (PS&E) for NYSDOT review and approval |
|
10. |
NYSDOT
obtains Federal Authorization and C/CI Obligation and provides Sponsor
approval to advertise |
|
11. |
Bid
and Award Project |
|
12. |
Construct
and Inspect Project |
|
13. |
Close
Project Agreement |
|
14. |
Operate
and Maintain Facility |
Glenn
Posca requested Planning Committee action to clarify the scope for three
projects on the list (A433, R257, and S204) as consisting of bridge
preservation. Members approved this action
for projects A433, R257, and S204.
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM (TAP)
Dave Jukins explained that sixteen
applications were received in the Region 1 area; seven were found to be
eligible, and of these, four are in the CDTC area. Staff is participating in an evaluation
process: Region 1 will work with CDTC, A/GFTC and the rural counties to review
the applications. They expect to have
the review done by the end of August; submissions are due to the Main Office on
September 10. CDTC staff will send the
staff rankings to the Policy Board for review at the September 4th
meeting. The Policy may vote on the
rankings as a recommendation to NYSDOT; NYSDOT will make the final project
selections. Frank Bonafide said that the
Policy Board vote would be a vote of confidence; a no vote could hurt the
Region collectively. He said the minimum
project is $250,000, which is more than the CDTC urbanized area allocation.
LOCAL BRIDGE WORKING GROUP REPORT
Dave
Jukins said that the Bridge Working Group interviewed the top three of the
consultant submissions. CDM Smith was selected.
He said that final negotiations on price were underway.
CARSHARE AND BIKESHARE UPDATES
Mike
Franchini said that three demonstration/trial weeks of Bike Share completed so
far in Albany, Troy and Schenectady experienced good results, with a lot of
people stopping by, averaging over 100 people.
The fourth week was still to come, in Saratoga Springs the week of
August 9th.
Mike
Franchini reported that Capital CarShare, incorporated as a nonprofit, has been
established and will be launching in Albany this year. Four vehicles have been purchased as of
August 6, with two more to be purchased.
The goal is to have 100 members by October 1st.
NYSDOT PROJECT DELIVERY SCHEDULE
Frank
Bonafide distributed a handout (attached) that provided a status of project
delivery. He cautioned that although all
lights were green, we still haven’t had a letting. Rob Cherry said to keep in mind that some
members need board action and a process to follow. Frank Bonafide said that the Exit 4 project
is currently a big focus.
STATUS OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES
CDTC
Mike
Franchini reported that the CHA/CME team was selected for the I-787 Livable
Corridor Study. Four proposals have been
received for Regional Freight and Goods Movement Study.
CDRPC
Rocky
Ferraro said that the GIS atlas has been updated and is available on the CDRPC
website. Using the ACS journey to work
data, CDRPC has created TAZ level origin destination tables for the four
counties plus the ten surrounding counties, summarized at the municipality to
municipality level. Tables include the
number of persons, as well as mode of transportation. A copy was provided to A/GFTC. CDRPC is working on employment forecasts.
CDTA
Ross Farrell reported that CDTA
would be implementing service changes in August. For example, for Route #100 (Mid City Belt)
peak frequency will be increased from one half hour to every 20 minutes. The Office of General Services has given CDTA
approval for reconstruction of the southern ring road in the Harriman Campus
for the Washington Western BRT dedicated busway. Mike Franchini commented that this will be
the first dedicated busway in the Capital District.
Albany
County Airport Authority
Steve Iachetta reported that passenger
travel is steady while revenue is up at the Airport. $5 million in major runway rehabilitation is
progressing. The next meeting of the
Freight Advisory Committee will be held at the Airport.
Albany
Port District Commission
Tony Vasil reported that 185 people took part in
Port Industry Day on May 1. The Port is
having a good year, with a 60% increase in ocean going vessels and barges; and
a 30% increase in tonnage.
Albany
Port District Commission
Mike Franchini reported that the Freight Advisory
Committee held its last meeting at the Port, which included a tour of the Port
with good attendance.
Local
Planning Activities
Chris Wallin said that the Oak Street Bridge project
in Schenectady is progressing well. He
said that the project must pay the railroad for maintenance of rail traffic
during construction, even though the railroad is a partial owner of the
bridge.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at approximately
11:06 AM. The next Planning Committee
meeting is scheduled for October 1, 2014.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Franchini
Secretary