PLANNING
COMMITTEE MEETING
Meeting Minutes
Melissa Ashline-Heil, City of
Bradley Birge, City of
Wayne Bonesteel,
Paul Casillo, City of
Peter Comenzo, Town of
Frank
Commisso, Albany Port District Commission
Michael Franchini,
Robert Hansen, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1
Joe LaCivita, Town of
Barb McHugh, Town of
Mike Morelli, Town of
Marybeth Pettit, City of
Paul Reuss,
Tom Richardson, City of
Jim Rivers, representing Bill Roehr, City of
Deidre Rudolph, City of
Michael Valentine,
Steve Watts, Town of
STAFF
Louis Acosta, Capital District Transportation Authority
Jen Ceponis, Capital District Transportation Committee
Virginia Hammer,
Shelly Johnston, Creighton Manning Association
David P. Jukins, Capital District Transportation
Committee
Andrew Kreshik, City of
Sandra Misiewicz, Capital
District Transportation Committee
Sree Nampoothiri, Capital
District Transportation Committee
Christopher O’Neill, Capital
District Transportation Committee
VISITORS ISSUES
Chairman Franchini opened the meeting at approximately
Mr. Franchini thanked Ms. Hammer for her comments.
ACTION ITEMS
ADMINISTRATION
Approval
of the
Update on
Governor’s Budget and on ARRA Programming
Mr. Hansen reported that all of the Capital Region’s
ARRA funded projects have been let; the funds must be obligated by March 31st.
Some savings will be realized, but NYSDOT is waiting for guidance from the
Governor’s office.
The Governor’s budget for transportation is essentially
the same as last year’s (minus the ARRA funds) and is $90 M as an on-state
system letting target for all of Region One.
The CHIPS program will be maintained at last year’s levels, while CDTA’s
budget will be cut by an additional $250,000.
2010-15 TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
Before the programming discussion began,
In addition, John stated that there is a need to
re-evaluate the “big-ticket” projects and other commitments shown in the
post-14 column of the current draft TIP (the “post period”). Some have been there for a long time. The Planning Committee must reconfirm the feasibility,
desirability and priority of these projects before establishing priorities for projects
chosen from the current solicitation.
The post-14 projects with NHS or STP fund commitments are (with the
approximate post-14 NHS or STP construction values):
1.
Exit 3 ($15M)
2.
Selkirk ByPass ($8M)
3.
New
4.
5.
Alternate route 7 ($9M)
6.
7.
Rural
8.
9.
Route 50
Questions such as priority (compared to the newly
proposed projects) need to be addressed.
After some discussion, members approved a motion that directs staff to
provide a narrative evaluation of these “post” projects at the next Planning
Committee meeting.
A short discussion regarding TIP Set-asides
followed. Members approved the motion to
replenish the set-asides.
Round One
Programming
Round One programming is traditionally dedicated to
categories in the New Visions Plan that are under-represented in the TIP. These are Highway Rehabilitation, Highway and
Bridge Maintenance, ITS, Goods Movement and Community Compatibility/Economic Development. Traditionally, all projects are eligible
under Round Two.
The projects shown in the table entitled, “Summary of Candidate
Projects Filtered then Ranked by Merit for Round 1” shows all of the newly
proposed projects. Projects above the
dark line in each funding category pass the Round One Screen and are ranked
according to the B/C ratio.
Members discussed the pros and cons of using $100M as
the programming target vs. $150M as the programming target. Since these are just targets, members decided
that it would be worthwhile to have a “larger” list of projects ready to move
forward (in the post 2015 column), so that when additional funding becomes available,
the region will be well poised to move projects. Members approved the motion to use a $150M
scale, making $75M available for Round One programming--$65 M for Highway Rehabilitation
projects, $5M for Highway and Bridge Maintenance projects, $2M for ITS projects,
$1M for Goods Movement Projects and $2M for Community Compatibility/Economic Development
projects. This would leave $75M for Round
Two (and 3) project selection.
Looking at the list, with the Round 1 programming
targets in mind, members identified the projects (above the line) that fit the
budget in each category:
Highway Rehabilitation-- Members approved the first six projects on the list,
skipped project #17 (because the cost exceeded the remaining budget), and approved
the 8th and 10th projects (#’s 64 and 68) on the ranked
list. NYSDOT clarified that staffing is an issue for the local projects (#1,
28, 61, 59, 64 & 68) on the list, and that the sponsors need to be aware
that they will have to locally administer the project and bond the project, as the
funds are reimbursed. Members approved
the motion to add these projects to the Round One funding list, but to first
confirm with the sponsors that they are aware that they will have to locally
administer the project and pay for the job up front, before being reimbursed.
Highway and Bridge Maintenance—Project #80 ($4.2 M for Pavement Maintenance Set-aside)
fits within the $5M target; members approved this project for Round 1 funding. The bridge maintenance candidate is eligible
for HBRR funding and does not have to compete for STP/NHS/CMAQ competitive
funding.
ITS—None of
the ITS projects above the line on the ranked list fit within the $2M
budget. Members discussed the option of
funding a first year phase of one of the projects, but decided to table action
and leave the $2M for Round 2 funding.
Community Compatibility/Economic Development—Only two projects are above the line in this category,
and both are expected to cost $16.5M.
Members decided to table action and leave the $2M for Round 2 funding.
Goods Movement—Project
#82 under regional set-asides is the only Goods Movement project on the
list. Members approved $0.6M for the
goods Movement Set-aside.
Tom Richardson questioned the status of the
OTHER
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned
at 12:30 p.m. The next Planning
Committee meeting is scheduled for February 3, 2010.
Respectfully submitted,