PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

 

Meeting Minutes

January 12, 2005

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING

 

David Bailey, City of Troy

Geoff Bornemann, City of Saratoga Springs (Vice-Chairman)

Dan Brown, City of Cohoes

Frank Commisso, Albany Port District Commission

Steve Feeney, Schenectady County

Rocky Ferraro, Capital District Regional Planning Commission

Mike Franchini, Albany County (Chairman)

Bruce Hidley, City of Watervliet

Fred Howard, Rensselaer County

Phil Pearson, Town of Colonie

John Poorman, Capital District Transportation Committee (Secretary)

Dave Rettig, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1

Dede Rudolph, City of Albany

Bernie Sisson, City of Schenectady

John Stangle, Village of Menands

Mike Valentine, Saratoga County

Steve Watts, Town of Halfmoon

Kristina Younger, representing Jack Reilly, Capital District Transportation Authority

 

STAFF AND OTHERS

 

Don Adams, Stantec

Mark Anduze, NYS Thruway Authority

Brian Hannafin, Bethlehem IDA

Bob Hansen, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1

Mary Marsh, Capital District Transportation Authority

Fred Mastroianni, Village of Colonie

Sandra Misiewicz, Capital District Transportation Committee

Jason Newman, Capital District Transportation Committee

Glenn Posca, Capital District Transportation Committee

Jason Purvis, Capital District Transportation Committee

Deb Stacey, Capital District Transportation Committee

Ann Sutkin, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1

Paul Tazbir, Town of North Greenbush

Joan Walters, Federal Highway Administration

 

 

VISITORS ISSUES

 

Chairman Franchini opened the meeting at approximately 9:35 am.  There were no visitors requesting to speak.

 

HUDSON RIVER GREENWAY LINKAGE STUDY

 

Lisa Nagle of Elan Planning presented a summary of the products of the Hudson River Greenway Trail Study in Rensselaer County.  The study is a cooperative effort between CDTC and the Greenway, and has focused on a section between the Livingston Avenue Bridge and the Troy-Menands Bridge.  The study has included property owners along the corridor and has identified a preferred corridor, which if constructed would be a critical element of a continuous trail on both sides of the Hudson.  A piece of the trail is being built already as part of remediation efforts.  Paul Tazbir indicated that residents in North Greenbush are quite supportive of the effort.

 

Action Items

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

Approval of the December 1, 2004 Meeting Minutes

 

The minutes of the December 1, 2004 meeting were approved as written.

 

Election of Officers

 

John Poorman reminded members that the practice is to elect officers at the first meeting of the year.  Current officers are Mike Franchini as Chair, Geoff Bornemann as Vice-Chair, with Mr. Poorman serving as Secretary per tradition.  The current slate was renominated; there being no other nominations, members re-elected the current officers and expressed thanks for a job well done over the past year.

 

UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM

 

Semi-Annual Progress Report

 

Mr. Poorman distributed a copy of the CDTC Progress Report for April 2004 – September 2004.  Members accepted the report for transmittal to state and federal agencies.

 

2005-06 UPWP Outlined

 

Mr. Poorman highlighted items in the previously-distributed outline, including new Linkage studies, the New Visions 2030 effort, Federal Reauthorization and NYSDOT Transformation.  Members discussed the safety initiative and operations planning as key elements of the upcoming UPWP.  No action was taken; a complete draft is anticipated for the February meeting.

 

PROPOSED FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION CHANGE

 

Deb Stacey reviewed the previously-distributed summary of a proposed addition to the functional classification system, namely changing the classification of a section of Broadway between US 9&20 and Third Ave. from “local” to “urban collector.”  Members agreed to the change, and discussed the potential for other changes in coming months.

 

 

2005-10 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE

 

Status of Major Projects

 

Mr. Poorman distributed a sheet describing changes to the previously-distributed TIP material.  Key changes include a recalculation of the NHS funding availability to reflect a higher federal share on NHS projects on the Interstate system and the proposed shift by NYSDOT of two projects from IM to NHS funding.  These two actions reduce NHS availability from the $74 M in the mailout to about $45 M (assuming that Exit 3 is shifted to “Demo” funds).  Mr. Rettig also indicated that commitments to NHS projects in Glens Falls may reduce the Capital District funding availability by another $10 to $15 M.

 

Discussion ensued over the CDTC commitment to the Exit 3 project and options for a TIP listing with NHS, Demo or a combination of the funding sources.  The issue was eventually tabled.

 

Members then reviewed the remainder of the “major projects”, noting issues include resolving the phasing of Slingerlands Bypass, reviewing the urgency/feasibility of Watervliet Shaker Rd. part three, and discussing the fund source for the Glenridge Rd. project.  Mr. Rettig indicated that the “Demo” fund proposal for Glenridge was partly due to the “State of Good Repair” directive and partly due to expected on-system letting limitations.  These issues will be revisited at the next meeting.

 

Other Changes to Existing Projects

 

Not having resolved the changes to the major projects, the discussion of other changes was tabled.

 

Review of Candidate Projects

 

The agenda item was also tabled.

 

OTHER

 

The discussion item agenda was tabled.  A special Planning Committee meeting was set for 8:30 a.m., January 26, 2005 to seek to complete the discussion of the status of major projects and to agree to other changes to existing TIP projects.

 

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

John P. Poorman

Secretary