PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Meeting Minutes
STAFF
Michael Wieszchowski, Laberge
Group
VISITORS ISSUES
ROTTERDAM EXIT 26VAN
SCHAICK ISLAND LINKAGE PRESENTATION
Tom Johnson from Creighton Manning Engineering (is 50 feet wide, with few
pedestrian and bicycle amenities. three
alternative development scenarios were developed: low, medium, and high density.
Three public workshops were held to discuss the study goals and alternative
development plans. Alternative 3, the high density scenario, was chosen as the
preferred plan. Several benefits to this
type of land use plan were identified, including increased transit ridership
which reduces driving and traffic congestion, greater availability of services close
to home, healthier lifestyle with more walking, and air quality benefits
associated with fewer vehicle trips.
Action Items
ADMINISTRATION
Approval
of the
The meeting notes from the August 6th meeting
were approved as written.
2009-10 LINKAGE PROGRAM
SOLICITATION
Jason Purvis reviewed the material that CDTC staff
prepared for the 2009-10 Linkage Program.
The draft solicitation distributed to members identifies several
proposed changes to the program. The
first change recommends that funding minimums and maximums be specified, given
that there is little consultant interest in spending the time to prepare a
response to studies that cost less than $30,000. The new guidelines also propose that staff
review the study scopes to confirm that the budget is in-line with the
scope. Members approved these changes
and also noted that funding for this program might be cut based on proposed cuts
in CDTC’s PL funds. Members requested
that the solicitation specify that CDTC has the right to pull funding in this
event.
2007-12 TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
SAFETEA-LU
Transportation Enhancement Program
Twenty eligible Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP)
proposals were received. An evaluation
team with representatives from NYSDOH, NYSDOS, CDRPC and CDTC was formed to
evaluate the projects using the criteria approved at the May 2008 Planning
Committee meeting.
Based on overall ratings, the evaluation committee
packaged three options for Planning Committee consideration. Option 1 prioritizes the list based on cost
effectiveness and overall rank. Option 2
prioritizes the list strictly by overall rank.
Option 3 places the proposals in eligibility categories.
The three evaluation options put on the table were also
discussed in detail. Members made the
motion to approve Option 2 using the straight rank of projects and forwarding
this list to the Main Office. The motion was approved, with NYSDOT abstaining.
Members also made a formal motion to further explore the dual evaluation process
that NYSDOT Region 1 and CDTC appear to be using. This motion was approved.
Amendments
to the TIP
Several amendments to the 2007-12 TIP were noted in the
materials distributed to members. The
first amendment, S140 Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike trail was erroneously removed
from the TIP during the last update because CDTC was told that it had been
complete; in actuality, the city of Schenectady is planning on moving this
project forward now. Projects A440 and A432 have cost changes over the minimum
required for Planning committee action. Members approved this changeall three
amendments.
A list of TIP projects (items E through L in the agenda
under TIP) are listed because NYSDOT is proposing schedule changes as “offsets”
for rollovers for projects with funds in the committed period that will be
obligated in the first period instead).
Members approved the projects listed as offsets—A345, SA123, R198, R240,
R242, A435, R255 (items E-L, minus K on the agenda; Item K was withdrawn by
NYSDOT). A general discussion regarding
offsets and the need to balance the TIP by year and funding source followed.
CDTC will aim to process all offsets in the draft TIP in March 2009 rather than
process them one at a time. Over 125 projects
have been identified by NYSDOT for offsets..
Discussion Items
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM
2009-14
Program Update
County level TIP Meetings--Meetings have been held with
county representatives, CDTC staff and NYSDOT staff in each county to provide
project sponsors an opportunity to discuss project specifics and implementation
timelines. Meeting notes that summarize
the status of each project on the current 2007-12 TIP were distributed to
Committee members in the mailout material.
Similar meetings will be held with CDTA, the Thruway Authority and the
Canal Corporation.
Order of Magnitude Analysis--An order of Magnitude
Analysis needs to be performed, but first CDTC needs to know if there is any
programming capacity. A portion of the
eight county Region 1 allocations need to be distributed by formula to the CDTC
Planning area. NYSDOT is working on new
formulas that will likely be by lane mile based rather than VMT and population
based. This could result in a net
reduction to CDTC. CDTC cannot proceed
with its update to the 2007-12
Revised Schedule—Funding Levels are needed by the
November
Spot
Improvement Program
Jason Purvis reviewed the table that was previously
distributed that identifies the 13 projects that were submitted under the Round
5 Spot Improvement program. The sum of the costs of the 13 proposed projects
($798,892 federal) exceeds the funding availability. There are some questions regarding
eligibility. An evaluation committee
will be formed to first address eligibility and second to revaluate and rank
the projects. A ranked list will be
prepared for Planning Committee review.
Bids and
Lettings
The City of
STATUS OF PLANNING
CDTA
Ridership is up 22 percent. The Authority is facing a $10M deficit. The authority will likely raise fares from
$1.00 to $1.50 in April 2009 and to $2.00 in April 2010. CDTA has a hiring freeze, is reducing vehicle
hours by 4.5% and will for the first time, use capital reserve funds to help
cover operating expenses.
OTHER
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned
at
Respectfully submitted,