Capital District                                                                                                December 2, 2004

Transportation Committee

 

RECORD OF MEETING

WORKING GROUP B

 

 

DATE/TIME/PLACE: December 2, 2004, 10:00 AM; CDTC Offices

 

ATTENDANCE: Brian Menyuk (NYSDOT); Sreekumar Nampoothiri (CDTC); Chris O'Neill (CDTC), Henry Peyrebrune; Jill Ross-Schmelz (NYSTA), Deb Stacey (CDTC); Ann Sutkin (NYSDOT), Tom Werner (NYSDOT).

 

DISCUSSION SUMMARY:

 

Sections I.A., I.B., II.A., II.B. and II.C. of the Working Group B report were distributed to Working Group members prior to the meeting. A lively discussion followed:

 

ITS:

¨     ITS does not lend itself easily to a 30 year look.  The numbers in the report really represent a short term plan, for 5 to 10 years.  To get at a realistic estimate, it was suggested that the numbers in the draft be multiplied by a factor of six to represent a 30 year plan or that the total cost of the ITS components programmed in the TIP should be multiplied by six.

¨     One future ITS need not described in the report deals with relocating the TMC.  This cost needs to be built in.

¨     Another ITS expansion need could be expanding the TRANSMIT program to arterials, and expanding the coverage of the HELP vans north to Saratoga Springs.

¨     Electronic interface with the counties for 911 calls needs to be established.  This should be added into the budget.

¨     ITS should not be touted as the remedy for congestion.  The report needs to specify that while ITS helps manage congestion, it should not be implied that ITS technology is the total remedy.

 

ITS Priority Network:

¨     It was suggested that Working Group B’s recommendations for expanding the ITS priority network be modified to include all arterials that have signal spacing densities of greater than two per mile. Brian Menyuk will provide the data necessary to identify the roads that should be included in the priority network.

 

System Costs:

¨     It was suggested that the Working Group B report explicitly address inflation as it relates to cost estimates in the report.

¨     Thruway costs provided do not incorporate the general cost of maintaining the system.  Jill Schmelz will attempt to provide generic cost estimates.

¨     It was suggested that the cost estimates be put in context with comparable figures from the TIP and the previous New Visions Plan.

 

 

MIST Data:

¨     Working Group members expressed concern that the findings of the MIST analysis do not “jump out” to the reader.  Group members recommended that the Planning Time Index be explained in layman’s terms (perhaps with the George and Jane scenario from the 2021 plan) and asked for an expanded discussion on implications.

 

Other:

¨     Working Group members expressed concern that the report wording was too technical for the average reader and asked staff to revise the text where feasible.  CDTC staff mentioned that an executive summary will be drafted, and this 3-4 page summary will “pull the report together” and bring forth salient findings of the work.  Toward that end, Working Group members will be asked to identify five to ten conclusions that they gleaned out of the report. 

 

ACTION ITEMS: 

 

·       Brian Menyuk will provide signal density data to CDTC staff.

·       Jill Schmelz will provide generic costs associated with maintaining a state of good repair for the Thruway system.

·       CDTC staff will provide a complete, integrated draft report to Working Group members for their review.

·       Working group B Members will provide a list of five to ten conclusions that they drew from the report.