CAPITAL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Meeting Minutes

June 5, 2008

MEMBERS ATTENDING

STAFF AND OTHERS

OPENING REMARKS

Chairman McDonald opened the Capital District Transportation Committee meeting at approximately 3:05 p.m. and welcomed those in attendance to the CDTC offices. Members and attendees then introduced themselves.

ADMINISTRATION

December 6, 2007 Meeting Minutes

Members approved the March 6, 2008 meeting minutes as written.

Administrative & Financial Standing Subcommittee Report

John Poorman noted that CDTC recently underwent its annual financial audit and the auditors are preparing the numbers are currently being worked on for the final reportdraft report. No issues have been identified.

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR

Chairman McDonald indicated that CDTC provides an opportunity for visitors to address items on the agenda. No one registered to address the board members today.

PRESENTATION BY ALBANY COUNTY ON THE FULLER ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Mr. Poorman noted that CDTC received the draft Federal Certification Review report which is very favorable of CDTC. CDTC implements what an MPO is supposed to according to federal law, in particular the integration of state/local issues and the integration of land use/transportation. This will be seen in action with today’s presentations on Fuller Road, 511 and the Harriman Campus.

Albany County Executive Mike Breslin began the presentation highlighting how different the Fuller Road project is. The project, which runs from Central Avenue to Western Avenue, is a county road which desperately needs to be rebuilt. Commissioner Mike Franchini then made some comments regarding the history of the project including the fact that there are actually two projects: the corridor project which is 100% county funded and the Fuller/Washington intersection project which involved both federal and county funds currently.

Pat Keneally from Greenman Pedersen Inc. then presented the specifics of the corridor project followed by Jeff Pangburn from Creighton Manning Engineering who presented the specifics of the intersection project. Albany County continues to work closely with Albany NanoTech on the project and the County is trying to find funding beyond County resources. Details regarding the design alternatives can be found on the Albany County website.

PRESENTATION BY NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON THE 511 PROGRAM

Todd Westhuis and Mary Harding from NYSDOT provided the members with a copy of the presentation and additional written material regarding New York State’s 511 program. 511 is the number for getting travel information by phone. For New York, 511 will be the brand for travel information not only by phone but also by web sites and e-notifications. New York’s 511 system is the only true region based system being deployed in the nation this year. Information that will be available through the system includes incident and other locations causing traffic problems, and links to transit trip planners and park and ride information. An initial roll-out of the system will be made in NYC in Oct/Nov 2008 in time for the 2008 ITS World Congress. The rest of the state will go on-line in 2009.

HARRIMAN CAMPUS RESOLUTION

Sandy Misiewicz, CDTC Staff, gave a brief presentation on the Harriman Campus – - University at Albany Transportation Linkage Study. The presentation noted the history of the study, highlighted a few of the key recommendations and noted some of the implementation activities currently being undertaken. Ms. Misiewicz then noted that a resolution to adopt the Linkage Study recommendations as part of New Visions 2030 was approved by CDTC’s Planning Committee in May 2008, following a formal endorsement of the study by the City of Albany. The Planning Committee recommended that CDTC’s Policy Board take action on the resolution at its June 2008 meeting.

Following the presentation, Chairman McDonald noted that resolution #08-2 was provided to the members in their packets. The resolution adopts the Harriman Campus Linkage Study as part of New Visions 2030. Members approved the resolution #08-2.

STATUS OF PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES

Capital District Regional Planning Commission

Mike Stammel noted that CDRPC’s website has been updated and members should check it out for more information on CDRPC activities.

New York State Department of Transportation

Brain Rowback reported that NYSDOT is dealing with budget gaps which may impact services and the Program update. NYSDOT is beginning to outline what can be achieved through the STIP/TIP but tough fiscal times are ahead. Mr. Rowback also noted that the Department will be closing out the comment period on the scoping document for the Exit 3 project.

Albany County Airport Authority

Steve Iachetta noted that enplanements are currently flat. The Board will be completing the last of five grants for Airport improvements.

Port of Albany

Terry Hurley reported the Port has not experienced an economic slowdown and is in fact very busy with wind turbines and steel for the Rensselaer County Besicorp project. The Port is also moving forward with dock and wharf improvements.

CDTC Staff

CDTC will be getting moving on the regional operations committee for integrated and coordinated operations on Capital Region roadways. Dennis O’Malley has been authorized to look at the Buffalo model for this committee.

ADJOURNMENT

The next meeting was tentatively scheduled for 3:00 pm, Thursday September 4, 2008 at the CDTC offices.

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:25 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Brian O. Rowback John P. Poorman

Secretary