Capital District October 4, 2013
Transportation
Committee
REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION COMMITTEE
DRAFT RECORD OF MEETING
DATE/TIME: September 24, 2013, 1:30 pm
ATTENDANCE: Mike
Barry, Center for Disability Services, Darci Carter, OTDA, Ed Wolk, CDTA, Michelle
Abel, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany Wheels & Ways to Work, Tom
Vaughan, NYSDOT, Rocco Ferraro, CDRPC, Margo Mahoski, Catholic Charities Senior
Services Schenectady, Anne Benware, CDTC
1.
Welcome/Introductions and Review
of draft meeting notes from June 2013 RTCC meeting
There were no comments or changes to the notes. It was suggested that future meeting notices
include a request for RSVPs.
2. Update:
NYSDOT Designated Recipient for 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and
Individuals with Disabilities program under MAP 21
A copy of the CDTC Policy Board resolution
signed September 5th, selecting NYSDOT as the Designated Recipient
under the FTA 5310 program was distributed. Tom indicated the next step is for the
Governor to write to FTA formally requesting the designation. Other Metropolitan Planning Organizations
(MPOs) around the state are on track to complete this step as required by MAP
21
3. 5310
draft solicitation discussion
Anne distributed a
2 page handout summarizing: a) previous RTCC comments on a draft 5310
solicitation to be carried out by NYSDOT and b) CDTC staff review of a draft
application NYSDOT had provided to the NYS MPO Transit Working group for
input.
Anne briefly recapped the issue: NYSDOT is currently
developing the 5310 solicitation and updating the Statewide Management Plan and
wants to structure the 5310 project solicitation to meet regional needs and to
be consistent with MPOs Coordinated plans.
Tom noted that once things are set NYSDOT plans on conducting a series
of webinars in November potentially targeted to three different groups (state
agencies, planning agencies/coordination committees, and operators). It was
pointed out that under MAP 21 federal transportation legislation the reconfigured
5310 program requires that within a region, 55% of the regional allocation must
be spent on capital projects that are considered “traditional” 5310 projects (i.e.
capital, public transportation projects planned, designed, and carried out
to meet the special needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities when
public transportation is insufficient, inappropriate, or unavailable) and
up to 45% can be spent on any other eligible purpose, including capital and
operating expenses, and New-Freedom-type projects (i.e. public
transportation projects: that exceed the
ADA minimum requirements, improve access to fixed route service and decrease
reliance by individuals with disabilities on ADA complementary paratransit
service, or provide alternatives to public transportation that assist seniors
and individuals with disabilities with transportation).
The group was asked: for the
potential “up to” 45% for non-traditional 5310 projects, how do we envision
prioritizing those? Tom also restated the concern that if entities propose
operating type projects, those requests could eat up the limited funding very
quickly. Tom noted that eligible participants under the required minimum 55% “traditional”
type projects are the traditional non-profits.
There are several issues that the
RTCC was asked to provide input on. Since
there was low attendance at the RTCC meeting it was decided that the entire
RTCC should be polled on these issues with responses due by October 18th:
a)
Number of years for next 5310 solicitation: It was noted that there was no grant
solicitation in 2013. Discussion centered on whether 1 or 2 years’ worth of
funding (FFY 2013 and 2014) should be used to solicit for projects in the
upcoming solicitation planned for November or December 2013. Human service agencies, especially the
smaller entities, could have difficulty providing match for two years’ worth of
requested vehicles/other projects; larger agencies with bigger budgets could
probably handle a 2 year solicitation.
Tom pointed out that because
NYSDOT is the Designated Recipient for the majority of MPOs/regions around the
state, if other MPOs prefer a two year solicitation and the Capital Region
prefers a one year solicitation, it would be very difficult for NYSDOT to
conduct a one year solicitation just for our region. Anne noted that this was an issue that the
statewide NYSMPO association Transit Working Group should discuss and will
follow up with that group asap.
Tom clarified that for a two year
solicitation, two years of funds would be available; for a 1 year solicitation,
only 2013 funds would be available. One
idea to address this issue might be to conduct a two year solicitation but to
stagger the awarding of funds over two years.
The
group present at the meeting indicated preference for a solicitation for one
year’s worth of funds. To assist in this discussion Tom
offered to find out the timing of the next solicitation (i.e. November or
December 2013) and when a subsequent solicitation could happen as this somewhat
depends on the state’s grants gateway system. Tom is concerned that we need to
catch up; the last solicitation was back in the summer of 2012 and agencies
need to replace/add vehicles.
b)
Maximum percentage for
non-traditional 5310 projects:
It was noted that at a minimum, 55% of funds must be spent on capital for
“traditional” 5310 projects which in our region have typically been comprised
of vehicles for human service agencies.
It was also noted that the local match for capital projects is 20% while
for operating projects the match is 50%.
There was a suggestion that we likely won’t get many “non-traditional”
non-capital projects due to the higher match requirements related to operating
projects or project elements. The
thinking expressed was that because of this we could limit the upcoming
solicitation to “traditional” 5310 projects for the full 100% of the regional
allocation. Others pointed out that as a
region in the recent past we have used New Freedom program funds to support some
successful projects that now fall under the category of “non-traditional” 5310 eligible
projects under that program. These
recent projects have been beneficial to the region, resulting in coordination
among various agencies.
Tom suggested we could say that 85%
of regional allocation of 5310 funds is to be spent on vehicles which would
exceed the required 55% minimum which must be spent on ‘traditional” 5310
projects. It was noted that with the
upcoming federal Managed Care law, there may be a whole new set of small
entities seeking funds for vehicles to service medical trips.
The group acknowledged that the
challenge for the upcoming solicitation is determining a way to prioritize
selection of any proposed “non-traditional” 5310 projects which can include
both capital and operating components. It
was noted one way to approach this would be to require “non-traditional” type
project proposals to include a high level of inter-agency coordination.
The
group present at the meeting would like to see the next 5310 solicitation include
an option allowing entities to propose “non-traditional” 5310 projects. The 5310 application should include
demonstration of a commitment to coordination.
4.
Coordinated Public Transit-Human
Services Transportation Plan update effort and New Visions 2040 Task Forces and
schedule
Anne distributed
two handouts related to the Coordinated Plan update and the upcoming New
Visions 2040 Plan update process and schedule.
The Capital Region Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services
Transportation Plan (Coordinated Plan) was first adopted in 2007 and updated in
2011. The coordinated plan is required
to be updated every four years. CDTC
will be updating its long range regional transportation plan (New Visions 2040)
by December 2015. The time frame for the
coordinated plan update is intended to coincide with that for the long range
regional transportation plan. The
Regional Transportation Coordination Committee will assist CDTC staff in
developing the draft Coordinated Plan.
The group briefly reviewed the RTCC Draft
Outline document that was an update of the handout previously distributed and
discussed. Two issues were raised:
a) now that the JARC (Job Access Reverse
Commute (old 5316)) program was
eliminated in MAP 21 (JARC type projects are now eligible under the 5307
program – Urbanized Area Formula Program, of which CDTA is the Designated
Recipient) the question was asked whether the Coordinated Plan needs to include
analysis, assessment of service gaps, etc. related to low income individuals. Why not limit the collection of census and
other data and the assessment and identification of gaps, barriers and
strategies to the region’s seniors and disabled individuals?
b) the proposed timing of the Coordinated
Plan update to coincide with the New Visions 2040 update schedule which won’t
be complete until 2015. With respect to
timing, FTA may adopt regulations requiring projects funded under the 5310
program to be listed in the
Coordinated Plan. This would be a change
from the previous requirement in which projects were to be derived from
strategies found in the plan, not specifically listed themselves. This change would require that the Plan be
updated sooner.
Anne will develop a draft
Coordinated Plan Update work plan and schedule to address FTA’s requirements
and these two issues and distribute to the group. The draft schedule will include proposed
meeting dates for the subgroup of the RTCC interested in assisting with
development of the draft plan. Draft plan components will be reviewed and
approved by the full RTCC at quarterly meetings prior to any submittals to
CDTC’s Planning Committee.
5.
RTCC Activities
Ed reported that
the eight Accessible Taxis for the region are in service and have been
providing a mix of wheelchair accessible rides and general purpose rides.
Additional marketing is being undertaken for the two accessible taxis providing
service in Saratoga.
Ed also reported
that CDTA has been working with Catholic Charities/Wheels and Ways to Work on
the required FTA paperwork to assist with start up of their JARC grant. The project is on track to start October 1,
2013.
The Center for
Disability Services New Freedom funded driver training curriculum and center is
getting off the ground paperwork wise.
The required paperwork should be in place next month.
6.
News
Around the Table – none
7.
Adjournment and Next Meeting – Anne will propose meeting
dates for the next two meetings via email coordinated with meetings related to
the New Visions update subcommittee schedule as appropriate.