PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Meeting Minutes
STAFF
Chuck Rapazzo,
VISITORS ISSUES
Action Items
ADMINISTRATION
Approval
of the
The meeting notes from the October 1st meeting were approved with one minor
correction. The discussion on page 4
under “Safe Routes to School” indicated that “10% of the safe routes to school
projects must be infrastructure projects”.
The wording should have read …”non-infrastructure projects”. Members
approved the minutes noting this change.
2007-12 TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENTS
Spot
Improvement Program
CDTC staff presented a ranked evaluation of the Spot
Improvement Project proposals. The
evaluation team put forth two evaluation options because the evaluation team had
some concerns about several projects.
Option 1’s ranked evaluation considers the review criteria and addresses
the concerns that the committee had regarding the eligibility/feasibility of
the projects proposed by the
Members reviewed the concerns that the evaluation committee
identified for four of the projects and determined that the
Two projects next on the list were virtually tied in
rank—the city of
CDTA received an earmark ($245,000) to undertake a
feasibility study for the construction of a CDTA bus garage in
Project
A479 Western Gateway Speed Table
Project A479 on the TIP is a City of
Discussion
Items
REPORT ON NYSDOT’S SYMPOSIUM
Chris O’Neill attended the “Beyond the Gas Tax—Funding
Future Transportation Needs” Symposium. Chris
reported that this symposium clearly outlined the looming funding crisis due to
the inadequacy of the gas tax to fund much need transportation infrastructure
projects. Several speakers at the symposium mentioned the option of charging a
mileage fee which could be collected as part of the vehicle registration
process. Other speakers mentioned the
attractiveness of congestion pricing and toll structures that increase tolls
during peak periods.
CDTA PRESENTATION ON TDM
PROGRAM
Mila Vega from CDTA provided a brief overview of the
Transportation Demand Management Initiatives (TDM) that have been undertaken by
CDTA and CDTC staff over the past several years. These include pilot transit subsidy programs,
occasional use parking, homeownership initiatives and marketing to make transit
more attractive. CDTA and CDTC staffs
have recently worked on converting the Commuter Register website to a GIS
based, instant matching site, powered by GreenRide. The new site, called iPool2, is very robust
and offers many features that have not been offered in the past, including and
employer module. CDTA and CDTC staff will continue their TDM efforts over the
next year, which might include a pilot vanpool program if CDTA is awarded
funding through NYSERDA.
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM UPDATE
2009-14
Program Update
NYSDOT Region 1 has proposed using the statewide formulas
at the Regional level to provide funding estimates for the CDTC, AGFTC and
rural areas. Allocations based on this
approach are summarized in the table that was included in members’ mailout
material.
John Poorman reviewed the table enclosed in the mailout.
Monies were taken off the top of the NHS funding allocation for projects of
statewide significance (there are no projects of statewide significance in the
CDTC region). The various columns in the table represent different ways of
calculating CDTC’s portion of the 8
No matter how project costs are accounted for in the
committed period, under “new” fiscal constraint requirements if a project rolls
into the new period “offsets” need to be found once the obligation ceiling is
reached. Mr. Poorman indicated that this
makes it difficult to keep the program whole.
It will be difficult to try to fund new projects while at the same time
deleting existing projects because of the fiscal constraint approach described
above. Project schedules, cost
increases, etc. need to be scrutinized to sort out what monies will be actually
become available to entertain new projects, if any.
In light of this discussion, a December 2008 Planning
Committee meeting was scheduled for December 3rd.
Kristina Younger pointed out the NYSDOT guidance for the
TIP did not include any information on transit funding. Chuck Rappazzo pointed
out that they will find out within the next week or so if there will be funding
available.
Bids and
Lettings
There have been no lettings since
D & H Railroad in the Town of
Bob Hansen reported that the Governor sent a letter to
NYSDOT stating that any projects with 100% state funding or less than 75%
federal funding cannot be bid/let without prior approval from the NYS Division
of Budget.
Rail
Projects Listing
CDTC staff reviewed the listing of Proposed 2008 Rail
Projects, as shown in the table distributed at the meeting. Dave Jukins asked members to review the
listing and provide feedback to CDTC staff Comments will be summarized and forwarded
to Rob Cherry at NYSDOT Region 1 Planning.
As shown in the table, there is more demand for projects than funding
available. Planning Committee action is not required. The Schenectady Intermodal Station is one
important regional project on the list; CDTA submitted a proposal jointly with
the Metroplex Authority to fill a funding gap.
John Poorman suggested that CDTC as a group should
convey any concerns regarding incompatibility of listed projects with local or
regional plans, including New Visions. Steve
Feeney pointed out that the
STATUS OF PLANNING
CDRPC
Todd Fabozzi reported that interviews with local
planning board chair people and professional planning staffs have been
completed. The Sustainable Development Guides report will highlight projects
from around the region that have aspects of smart growth. An initial list is being compiled. Todd requested
that members forward information on projects that they would like to see
highlighted in the “Sustainable Development Guides” report.
CDTA
Kristina Younger reported that the CDTA Board is
currently looking at ways to reduce the deficit projected for the next fiscal
year. The Board will be going to the
public regarding fare increases, which have not been raised since 1995. The base fare of $1 is proposed to be
increased to $1.50 with corresponding increases in all other fare
products. This would also include
increases for parking fees at the Rensselaer Rail Station and an across the
board 50% increase in Northway Express fares.
Public hearings on this issue will be held December 1st in
CDTA is simultaneously faced with the need to trim
existing services, with the goal of reducing 35,000 vehicle hours of service to
trim costs.
NYSDOT
Bob Hansen reported that there will be a need for over
$10 million for the Marchiselli program between now and March 2010. Without it
there could be a shortfall in the program.
The roundabout project proposed for
Steve Iachetta announced the roll out of Southwest
Airlines “50 Ways to Leave Your Weather” advertising campaign. He stated that the number of passengers using
the Airport has been quite steady. A
pilot project between NYSERDA, CDTA and the Airport will commence shortly. The AIA and CDTA will both receive hydrogen
vehicles to test; the fueling infrastructure will be housed on Airport grounds.
OTHER
NYSDOT and CDTC’s Transportation Enhancement Program
evaluations were submitted separately to the statewide review committee for
their consideration. In comparing the
rankings from DOT and the CDTC, there is quite a bit of variation. The two lists
should not have much divergence as both evaluations were based on sets of
criteria are basically the same.
The December Policy Board meeting is scheduled for
Thursday December 4th at
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned
at
Respectfully submitted,
John P. Poorman
Secretary