PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

 

Meeting Minutes

May 2, 2007

 

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING

 

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

Judy Breselor, City of Troy

Steve Feeney, Schenectady County

Rocky Ferraro, Capital District Regional Planning Commission

Michael Franchini, Albany County (Chairman)

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Barb McHugh, Town of Clifton Park

John Poorman, Capital District Transportation Committee (Secretary)

Dave Rettig, NYSDOT Region 1

Dede Rudolph, City of Albany

Phil Serafino, representing Bill Rinaldi, New York State Thruway Authority

Denise Sheehan, Town of Colonie

Mike Valentine, Saratoga County Planning

Kristina Younger, Capital District Transportation Authority

 

STAFF AND OTHERS

 

Anne Benware, Capital District Transportation Committee

Frank Bonafide, NYSDOT Region 1

Patrick Campbell, Capital District Transportation Authority

Peter Comenzo, Town of Rotterdam

Todd Fabozzi, Capital District Regional Planning Commission

Dave Jukins, Capital District Transportation Committee

Teresa LaSalle, Capital District Transportation Committee

Sandra Misiewicz, Capital District Transportation Committee

Michael Morris, FHWA

Sreekumar Nampoothiri, Capital District Transportation Committee

Philip Parella, Jr., Capital District Transportation Authority

Jason Purvis, Capital District Transportation Committee

Paul Reuss, Village of Menands

Deb Stacey, Capital District Transportation Committee

John Stangle, Town of Colonie

Steve Watts, Town of Halfmoon

 

VISITORS ISSUES

 

Chairman Franchini opened the meeting at approximately 9:40 am.  There were no visitor’s issues.

 

PRESENTATION BY JOHN POORMAN ON NEW VISIONS 2030

 

John Poorman presented a brief summary of the New Vision 2030 effort, outlining SAFETEA-LU requirements, the success of the New Visions elements as outlined in the 2010, 2021 and 2025 plans, and the process that is being used to develop a more detailed New Visions 2030 Plan. The 2030 plan will not be a 250 page document, but will maintain the original material and cross-reference the new work that has been performed under the five working groups, the Quality Region Task Force, the Bike/Ped Task Force and other efforts.  The goal is to be SAFETEA-LU compliant by July 1st, 2007 and to have an adopted final New Visions 2030 Plan by December 31st, 2007.

 

Action Items

 

Approval of the April 4, 2005 Meeting Minutes

 

The minutes of the April 4, 2004 meeting were approved. 

 

SAFETEA-LU COMPLIANCE/SAFETEA-LU ELEMENTS OF NEW VISIONS 2030

 

Draft Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan

 

Deb Stacey reviewed the previously-distributed summary of the proposed Draft Coordinated Plan.  Monies programmed under the JARC, Section 5310 and New Freedom programs cannot be allocated or spent in the Capital District unless a “coordinated plan” is in place and adopted by CDTC.  The plan recommends that the current JARC activities continue, that the coordination element of the evaluation of Section 5310 applications be weighted more heavily and that mobility management projects be given special consideration under the New Freedom solicitation.

 

Denise Sheehan questioned the coordination aspect of the section 5310 evaluation process.  Agencies that currently coordinate service will be given priority over those that do not, but those that currently do not coordinate will not be precluded from receiving funds in the first year that the new rules take effect.  The members approved the plan.

 

Draft Safety Planning in the Capital District

 

Sandy Misiewicz reviewed the previously-distributed summary of the draft Safety Plan.  SAFETEA-LU introduced a new safety planning factor for MPOs to incorporate into their planning and programming activities.  The Plan looked at Safety requirements, NY State’s Approach and CDTC’s approach to integrating safety in its planning and programming policies.  A new safety principle was created for inclusion in the New Visions 2030 Plan.

 

A few Planning Committee members questioned the meaning of “reasonable range of tolerance” as it pertained to the new principle.  After discussion, it was recommended that the principle be re-worded to read, “…reasonable range of risk…”.  The members approved this document and principle with the correction noted.

 

Draft Security Section of New Visions

 

Jason Purvis reviewed the previously-distributed summary of the draft Security section of New Visions.  SAFETEA-LU requires that security of the transportation system be a stand alone planning factor.  To meet these requirements, CDTC will work with and support NYS, CDTA and other agencies responsible for security by providing a forum for discussion, provide funding strategies and assist with transportation modeling.  The draft Security section was approved by the members.

 

Draft Working Group A Report

 

Consideration of different growth scenarios is required by SAFETEA-LU.  The New Visions 2030 Working Group A examined four growth scenarios for the Capital District. The Working Group A report, which was completed in 2005 was amended with the transportation analysis of the CEG Economic Modeling/ Benchmarking Study that was conducted in 2006.  The members approved the Working Group A document with the caveat that a bullet regarding fuel availability and one regarding land use and transportation be added to the summary document.

 

Draft Environmental Mitigation and Consultation Requirements of SAFETEA-LU

 

SAFETEA-LU requires a discussion of the types of potential environmental mitigation activities that may have the greatest potential to restore and maintain the environmental functions affected by the long-range regional transportation plan.  To meet these requirements, CDTC staff will review the TIP projects to determine if any have the potential to impact the environment. Staff has also created a new mailing list that will be used to solicit input on potential environmental mitigation activities.  It is recommended that CDTC reach out to NYSDEC and request their participation at the CDTC table.  Discussion regarding the environmental aspect of the TIP project evaluation process ensued; members approved the plan with a recommendation to modify the environmental element of the project justification package.

 

Draft Metropolitan Congestion Management Process

 

The Congestion Management Process is an update to CDTC’s Congestion Management System that has been in place and operational since 1995.  The CMP includes new performance measures, new data sources and introduces three new congestion management principles.  Mike Valentine suggested that principle #3 should be added or cross-referenced to the Working group E work.  Kristina Younger requested that an “h” be added to principle #10, noting that roundabout design should consider transit stop issues.  The members approved the CMP with the corrections noted.

 

Draft Self-Certification

 

Self-Certification of CDTC’s Planning process is required annually, and must be adopted prior to the adoption of the TIP.  Federal certification occurs every four years.  Rocky Ferraro recommended that the relationship between CDTC and CDRPC be described (as excellent) under the “roles and responsibilities” section on page 1.  Members approved the Self-certification with Mr. Ferraro’s note added.

 

Other

 

Members suggested that the material distributed be packaged with page numbers and with DRAFT clearly marked on each document.

 

 

2005-10 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM REVISIONS

 

SA133 (1754.55) South Broadway/Ballston Ave. Improvements

 

The City of Saratoga Springs is requesting this amendment because there is a design phase which wasn’t noted in the existing TIP Listing.  Dave Rettig indicated that NYSDOT is reviewing all of the TIP projects and will be recommending changes for some projects because of over-programming issues.  No projects will be deleted, but the phasing might be pushed to the outer years of the TIP.  Project SA133 is one such project.  John Poorman indicated that the members should vote on the amendment and will have a chance to look at the changes that NYSDOT is proposing at the next (May 23rd) Planning Committee meeting.  The members approved the amendment with Dave Rettig abstaining.

 

T17 (1820.48) Replacement Transit Vehicles

 

CDTA is requesting this amendment because Section 5309 monies were not fully earmarked by congress last year and FTA has the left over monies that will be awarded by solicitation.  The solicitation will be for projects that can be obligated by September 30, 2007.  However, these monies ($5M) must show in the TIP as a discretionary source before CDTA can apply for the monies.  CDTA is also requesting that the current listing read “transit bus purchase” rather than “transit bus replacement”.  The members approved the amendment.

 

2007-12 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE

 

Issues to be Resolved

 

The discussion of the 2007-12 TIP Update was tabled until the mid-may Planning Committee meeting because NYSDOT has not completed their analysis of the TIP given the over-programming issues.  The members requested NYSDOT to distribute proposed changes prior to the mid-May meeting.  

 

 

NEW VISIONS 2030 ELEMENTS

 

Draft Updated Bicycle and Pedestrian Game Plan and Toolbox

 

Jason Purvis reported that this Plan was reviewed by the Planning committee last month and that a summary was prepared and a few other minor changes were made to the document. The Bicycle and Pedestrian task force has been active since 1995 and is interested in continuing to be involved in decisions and actions.  Dave Rettig voiced his concern that the regional greenway concept was getting greater support as a “Big Ticket” item than the other initiatives outlined in Working group C’s report.  Kristina Younger countered with the fact that the Greenway is one of the only affordable Big Ticket items.  John Poorman suggested that Dave Rettig’s concerns could be accommodated by rewording the paragraph, putting the second sentence first, and noting that the task force is very interested in pursuing the Regional Greenway Concept.  Mike Valentine requested a rewording of the sixth short term bullet to reflect that not all localities have planning departments and/or municipal plans.  The members adopted the Plan with the corrections noted.

 

Draft Updated Environmental Justice Report

 

The Updated Environmental Justice (EJ) report is an update to the existing plan which was required under an Executive order issued by President Clinton.  The update primarily focused on identifying any significant EJ issues relating to the 2007-2012 TIP Projects. Currently, of the 246 projects on the proposed TIP, 48% are located within EJ areas.  Apart from the initial disruption caused by construction work, the TIP projects do not negatively impact these EJ areas.  Overall the projects enhance safety, accessibility and the quality of life in EJ areas.  Members approved the Update to the EJ Report.

 

 

Discussion Items

 

OTHER

 

It was pre-determined that this meeting would end at noon and that the remaining New Visions Elements and TIP issues would be discussed at the May 23rd Planning Committee meeting. At that meeting, the schedule of the Policy Board will also be discussed.

 

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

John P. Poorman

Secretary