CAPITAL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

Meeting Minutes

November 2, 2005

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING

 

Dave Bailey, City of Troy

Geoff Bornemann, City of Saratoga Springs (Vice-Chairman)

Judy Breselor, representing Fred Howard, Rensselaer County

Peter Comenzo, Town of Rotterdam

Kevin Corcoran, Town of Glenville

Steve Feeney, Schenectady County

Rocky Ferraro, Capital District Regional Planning Commission

Mike Franchini, Albany County (Chairman)

Tom Kearney, FHWA

George Leveille, Town of Bethlehem

Heather Mallozzi, Town of Malta

Phil Pearson, Town of Colonie

Marybeth Pettit, City of Rensselaer

John Poorman, Capital District Transportation Committee (Secretary)

Dave Rettig, NYSDOT Region 1

Jill Ross, NYS Thruway Authority

Erin Thomas, City of Cohoes

Mike Valentine, Saratoga County

Kristina Younger, Capital District Transportation Authority

 

STAFF AND OTHERS

 

Ray Callanan, Town of Ballston

George Jaquemart, Buckhurst, Fish and Jaquemart

Shelley Lang, Capital District Transportation Committee

Fred Mastroianni, representing the Village of Colonie

Sandra Misiewicz, Capital District Transportation Committee

Sree Nampoothiri, Capital District Transportation Committee

Chris O’Neill, Capital District Transportation Committee

Jason Purvis, Capital District Transportation Committee

Deb Stacey, Capital District Transportation Committee

 

 

 

 

VISITORS ISSUES

 

Chairman Franchini opened the meeting at approximately 9:33 am.  He welcomed members and guests who introduced themselves.

 

 


PRESENTATION ON THE ROUTE 67 LINKAGE STUDY

 

George Jaquemart of Buckhurst, Fish and Jaquemert presented the results of the Route 67 Linkage Study in Ballston and Malta.  The study identified feasible means for addressing traffic flow, access and safety issues without adding travel lanes on NY 67 from Malta west to NY 50.  Recommendations include access management, a parallel service road and roundabouts.  Discussion ensued about implementation of the plan and means for working with developers.  Mary Beth Pettit raised the need for a guidebook dealing with incentives for access management.

 

 

Action Items

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

Approval of the October 5, 2005 Meeting Minutes

 

John Poorman offered a correction to the minutes; Bob Hansen and Jill Ross should be shown as abstaining on the vote on the Transportation Bond.  The minutes of the October 5, 2005 meeting were then approved as corrected.

 

2006-07 COMMUNITY AND TRANSPORTATION LINKAGE PLANNING PROGRAM

 

Sandy Misiewicz summarized the previously-distributed outline for the 2006-07 Linkage program.  The scale of the program is the same as for 2005-06.  Program strategies are a slight refinement of previous ones, clarifying “multi-modal” by identifying transit, bicycle and pedestrian strategies separately.  New for 2006-07 is a proposed $50,000 set-aside for multi-municipality proposals.

 

Discussion ensued about the set-aside and the submission deadline.  After discussion, members agreed to retain the $50,000 set-aside as shown in the draft outline and to shift the submission deadline to January 6.  With the revised deadline, staff will be able to share a list of submissions at the January Planning Committee meeting and seek agreement on programming the Linkage funds in February.  The draft 2006-07 (or 2006-08) UPWP for public and federal review will show the Linkage funds as a block.  Members authorized the distribution of a solicitation letter for the 2006-07 Linkage program.  Members also agreed to seek an earlier solicitation next year (perhaps September) for better alignment with local budgeting processes.

 

Discussion Items

 

 

STATUS OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES

 

CDTC Staff

 

Mr. Poorman reported on the availability of the national “Colloquy” products.  Members agreed to a presentation at the December Planning Committee meeting.  He also reported on the schedule for the UPWP development, plans to initiate the Finance Task Force and the need to get a regional operations committee going.  Staff is working on a public summary document for New Visions 2030 discussions and is preparing a scope for a trail users survey.

 

CDRPC 

 

Rocky Ferraro reported on 2010 Census preparatory work with the state data center; a six-month demo will focus on address coding. He reported that new NYSDOT-funded Global Insight population forecasts target regional population at 841,000 compared to CDRPC’s forecast of 867,000.  The difference is within the range of the alternative scenarios and reflects migration assumptions.

 

 

CDTA

 

Kristina Younger reported that the labor contract has gone to federal mediation.  CDTA has awarded contracts for Northway Express Service (Upstate Transit) and for five MCI coach replacements for Upstate service.  A public workshop was held in Saratoga Springs with a draft plan expected by the end of the year.  Overall system ridership is up 10% over 2004, partly from the fare simplification, partly from higher gasoline prices.  CDTA has also begun work toward a staged fleet procurement of 200 buses from a single supplier over five years.

 

NYSDOT

 

Dave Rettig reported that the key issue is the upcoming bond referendum.

 

NYSTA

 

Jill Ross reported that the Thruway Authority board did approve a 2006 program with few changes from what is on the TIP.

 

FHWA

 

Tom Kearney reported that a STIP extension has been requested.  There is still no new STIP in place.  There is some concern about eligibility of some projects (HBRR), but that FHWA is ready to act soon.

 

 

TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

 

Bids and Lettings

 

Mr. Rettig reported that a big fourth quarter of lettings is planned.  There were no lettings in October; November/December bids include S172 (Crosstown), RG15 (Pavement Markings); and A196 (Rt 7/I-890/Curry Rd.).  There continues to be concern with the increased costs in recent bids.

 

 

OTHER

 

The next Planning Committee meeting was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on December 7, 2005.  There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:15 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

John P. Poorman

Secretary