PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Meeting
Minutes
July
2, 2014
MEMBERS ATTENDING
Bill Anslow, representing Darrell Duncan, Albany County
Bradley Birge, City of Saratoga Springs
Frank Bonafide, NYS Department of Transportation-Region
1
Melissa Cherubino, City of Cohoes
Ross
Farrell, Capital District Transportation Authority
Rocky
Ferraro, Capital District Regional Planning Commission
Michael
Franchini, Capital District Transportation Committee, Secretary
Nadine Fuda, Town of Schodack
Stephen Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority, Chair
Andrew Kreshik, City of Troy
Robert Leslie, Town of Bethlehem
Barb McHugh, Town of Clifton Park
Randy Milano, City of Albany
Charles Moore, City of Rensselaer
Paul Reuss, Village of Menands
Tom Richardson, City of Mechanicville
Jeremy Smith, City of Watervliet
Joseph
Teliska, representing Wayne Bonesteel, Rensselaer County
Michael Tengeler, representing Joe LaCivita, Town of
Colonie
Michael Valentine, Saratoga County
Tony Vasil, Port of Albany
STAFF AND
OTHERS
Tom Baird, Barton & Loguidice
Anne Benware, Capital District Transportation Committee
Robert Cherry, NYS Department of Transportation-Region 1
Brian Cross, NYS Department of Transportation Region-1
Lauren Ellmers, Town of Glenville
Robert Hansen, Creighton Manning
Karen Hulihan, NYS Department of Transportation Region-1
Martin Hull, IBI Group
Christine Kingery, Spectra
Mark Landgraf, NYS Department of Transportation
Jack Madden, NYS Department of Transportation
Christina Minkler, CHA
Sandy Misiewicz, Capital District Transportation
Committee
Chris O’Neill, Capital District Transportation Committee
Jeffrey Oswald, NYS Department of Transportation
Glenn Posca, Capital District Transportation Committee
Owen Shevlin, NYS Department of Transportation Region-1
Charles Tutunjian, Creighton Manning
Robert
Wetmore, Capital District Transportation Committee
VISITORS’
ISSUES
Steve Iachetta opened the meeting at
approximately 9:35 AM. There were no
visitors’ issues.
ADMINISTRATION
Previous
Meeting Minutes – May 7, 2014
Members approved the May 7, 2014 minutes.
Presentation—NYSDOT’s
Schenectady County Track Rationalization and Grade Crossing Elimination Project
Jack Madden from the NYSDOT Freight &
Passenger Rail Bureau gave this presentation.
A handout was distributed (attached).
He explained that NYSDOT is asking CDTC for a letter of support for the
Concept Plan. The Plan will reconstruct
existing track and provide new track and improved service in the study
area. The Plan would lead to the
retirement of the Canadian Pacific Railroad line between the Schenectady Amtrak
Station in Schenectady and Maple Avenue in Glenville by providing a preferred
route for this service. The Plan would also lead to the retirement of the Pan
Am Railways Rotterdam Branch in Glenville.
Mike Franchini commented that this Plan will have many beneficial impacts
on our members.
ACTION
ITEMS
2013-18
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
R175 (1754.51): ITS Upgrades at Two
Locations on Broadway
Glenn
Posca explained that the City of Rensselaer is no longer interested in
advancing this project as documented in the letter included in the mail out. Staff is requesting approval to delete this
project from the TIP. Members approved
the deletion of this project from the TIP.
1760.06: NY 67 Bridge over B&M
Railroad, Mechanicville
Frank
Bonafide said that he would like to withdraw this amendment at this time since
we are not ready with the bridge solicitation.
Mike Franchini said that a bridge project solicitation will occur later
this year. A list of priority projects
will be developed by November. No action
was taken.
1085.33: Safety Improvements on Hamburg
Street (NY 146), Rotterdam.
Frank
Bonafide said that New York State received HSIP funding as in the previous
allocation. This project was awarded
$5.0 million of HSIP funding through the FFY 2015-2017 Highway Safety
Improvement Program by the Main Office; funding for this project does not count
against the regional MPO allocation. The
Region is proposing supplementing the HSIP funding with $3.25 million of NHPP
funding, with an offset from RG117, State Pavement Set-Aside. Members approved the amendment.
Installation of Automatic Flashing Lights
and Gates at Several Rail Crossings
Glenn
Posca distributed a handout that documented changes in this amendment request
since the mail out (see attached). Frank
Bonafide explained that Rail Safety is a non-competitive fund administered in
the Main Office. Members approved the
amendment.
Mike
Valentine raised a topic from a previous meeting and asked if CDTC should set a
formal policy on offsets for TIP amendments.
Mike Franchini explained that we don’t have a concrete policy on
offsets; we rely on NYSDOT since they often have more information about funds
available. Frank Bonafide explained that
the program must consider constraints on the TIP as well as constraints on the
STIP. If there is no requirement on the
STIP side, we have room in the TIP while still being consistent with federal
requirements. At the STIP level we don’t
usually find out until we ask for authorization whether an offset is needed. Cash
flow from bidding, high or low, is not discussed at the Planning Committee
table, but NYSDOT must take it into account.
Right now, we are seeing savings in project costs. Offsets are only an issue when the STIP is in
need of balance. Frank said he would
prefer not to keep a month to month ledger with the Planning Committee, and
that the existing process is responsible and fair.
2014-15 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM
Progress Report for the Period October 1,
2013 – March 31, 2014
Mike
Franchini explained that two Progress Reports are required per year. The Progress Report provides a summary of key
accomplishments. He highlighted some of
the accomplishments, including evaluation of project applications for eight
set-asides; three Linkage projects; two TEP projects; security planning; and
others. Members approved the Progress
Report.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM (TAP)
Mike Franchini distributed a list of
project applications received by NYSDOT.
Frank Bonafide said that they are reviewing the applications; some are
not eligible. Region 1 will work with
CDTC, A/GFTC and the rural counties to review the applications. They hope to have the review done by
mid-August; submissions are due to the Main Office on September 10.
FHWA/NYSDOT ADA TRAINING
Anne
Benware said that CDTC staff attended this training, and that it was really
well done. Communities need to do self-evaluations. Many
municipalities will need to do transition plans for their pedestrian
facilities. Not knowing does not protect you from the requirements of the
law. With a ten to twenty year plan, working toward compliance, you are
consistent with the law. But without a plan, you may be forced into
immediate compliance. Rob Cherry said that not having a plan does not alleviate
potential litigation measures. Indiana has a template that Rob will make
available.
Rocky
Ferraro expressed concern that trail connections connecting neighborhoods that
have a treatment such as crushed stones instead of pavements would not be
compliant. He is concerned that this will discourage future pedestrian
connections.
LOCAL BRIDGE WORKING GROUP REPORT
Rob
Wetmore said that the RFQ for the bridge evaluation project has been released,
with a due date of June 26. CDTC is
looking to compress the schedule for completion of the project.
CARSHARE AND BIKESHARE UPDATES
Mike
Franchini reported that Capital CarShare, incorporated as a nonprofit, has been
established and will be launching in Albany this year. They have
purchased two vehicles, and will purchase two more next week. Future
expansion could include Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs.
Mike
Franchini said that four demonstration/trial weeks of Bike Share are scheduled
for the summer as shown in the agenda (July 10, Schenectady Bike Share Week;
July 20, Troy Bike Share Week; July 30, Saratoga Springs Bike Share Week;
August 9, Albany Bike Share Week). Rocky Ferraro asked about bike
helmets. Brad Birge said that Bikeatoga is supplying helmets in Saratoga
Springs.
BIKE TO WORK DAY (MAY 16TH)
WINNERS
Mike
Franchini reviewed the winners for Bike to Work Day, as reported in the mail
out enclosure. The longest ride was 60
miles round trip.
STATUS OF CMAQ PROJECTS (see enclosed)
Glenn
Posca reported that three new projects were let. Mike Franchini distributed a handout that
identified three projects that may be in risk of not being let by the
deadline. These were A464, Helderberg
Hudson Rail Trail: Phase 1 (Voorheesville to the Port of Albany); S187, Mohawk/Hudson
Bike Trail Crossing at NY 5S; and S188, Erie Boulevard/Jay Street/Nott
Street/Front Street Roundabout. Bill
Anslow reported that project A464 just got through a major hurdle with Parks
and Recreation and design approval is expected soon. Tom Baird reported that for S188, an obstacle
was successfully negotiated with the Mohican tribe and the project will meet
its schedule.
NYSDOT PROJECT DELIVERY SCHEDULE
Frank
Bonafide distributed a handout (attached) that provided a status of project
delivery. He said Karen and her staff
have been working hard and they appreciate the cooperation received.
Glenn
Posca said schedule information about projects added to the TIP from the
set-asides is included in the package.
There is a list of five things that can be done before October 1 prior
to design obligation. In response to a
question, Mike Franchini said there may be flexibility to move projects to
2016. Karen Hulihan said that if a
project is designed in house Region 1 will need a design report that meets
federal requirements.
STATUS OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES
CDTC
Mike
Franchini reported that CDTC has received three proposals for the Saratoga
Regional Traffic Study. Four proposals
have been received for the I-787 Livable Corridor Study. An RFP has been issued for Regional Freight
and Goods Movement Study. An RFP has
been issued for the New Visions marketing consultant. CDTC will co-host an
Intersection Workshop on July 31 to better generate safety proposals.
CDRPC
Rocky
Ferraro said that CDRPC is working on ACS journey to work data and has created
TAZ level origin destination tables for the four counties plus the ten
surrounding counties, summarized at the municipality to municipality level. Tables include the number of persons, as well
as mode of transportation. A new GIS
atlas is being created. A major update
of the website is underway. CDRPC is looking at CSO communities land banking
component.
CDTA
Ross Farrell CDTA is conducting five
public meetings for the River Corridor BRT; three have been conducted already,
with downtown Troy and North Albany still to go. In August CDTA will propose a
preferred alternative and ask for Planning Committee and CDTC Board approval.
Albany County Airport
Authority
Steve Iachetta reported that $5 million in
major runway rehabilitation is progressing.
Passengers are steady. Low fare
Jet Blue service is anticipated hopefully for January/February.
Albany
Port District Commission
Tony Vasil reported that 185 people took part in
Port Industry Day on May 1. The Port is
having a good year, with a 60% increase in ocean going vessels and barges; and
a 30% increase in tonnage.
Freight
Advisory Committee
Mike Franchini reported that the next meeting of the
Freight Advisory Committee will include a tour of the Port.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at approximately
11:30 AM. The next Planning Committee
meeting is scheduled for August 6, 2014.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael V. Franchini
Secretary