CAPITAL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Meeting Minutes
MEMBERS ATTENDING
David Bailey, City of
Geoff Bornemann, City
of
Judy Breselor,
representing Fred Howard,
Mike Franchini,
Dave Jukins, Capital
District Transportation Committee
(Acting Secretary)
Rocky Ferraro, Capital
District Regional Planning Commission
Steve Iachetta,
George Leveille, Town
of
Phil Pearson, Town of
Marybeth Pettit, City
of
Dave Rettig, New York
State Department of Transportation, Region 1
Jill Ross-Schmelz,
Bernard Sisson, City of
John Stangle,
Michael Valentine,
Kristina Younger,
Capital District Transportation Authority
STAFF AND OTHERS
Joe Cimino, Clough
Harbour & Associates
Tom Kearney,
Shelley Lang, Capital
District Transportation Committee
Sandra Misiewicz,
Capital District Transportation Committee
Bill Roch, City of
Deborah Stacey, Capital
District Transportation Committee
VISITORS ISSUES
Chairman Franchini
opened the meeting at
Action Items
ADMINISTRATION
Approval of the
The minutes of the
2005-06 UPWP Budget Revision
Dave Jukins directed
members' attention to the budget table included in the meeting package. The revised budgets attendant
to the Provision of Services tasks reflect the project balances after
the 2004-05 closeout. Members authorized
the changes.
Semi-Annual Progress Report
Dave Jukins directed members attention to the progress report. Mr. Jukins highlighted several items,
including BRT progress, New Visions work, linkage studies, and continued
successful data collection program using graduate student interns from the
SUNYA Geogrpahy/Planning program. Mike Valentine noted that the
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Section 5310 Applications
Deborah Stacey
presented CDTC's review of the application for
Section
5310 funds to be used for the purchase of vehicles operated by non-profit
agencies. There are four applicants
requesting eight vehicles totaling $450,300 in matched funds. Special consideration was given to agencies
that demonstrated high coordination effort.
Responding to a question from Rocky Ferraro, Ms. Stacey noted that seven
of the eight applicants received funding for 15 vehicles last year. Members concurred with the staff merit
evaluation as presented for transmittal to NYSDOT.
TIP Project Scope Clarification
Dave Jukins noted that
there were several minor corrections and clarifications to the approved 2005-10
TIP. Referring to the previously
distributed material (and handouts) Mr. Jukins noted the following:
§
TIP Project RG100, Transit Pilot Service Set-Aside, is
included in the TIP but was not included in the 'Listing of New Projects' in
the narrative.
§
TIP Project R223, Troy Pedestrian Bicycle Trail, was
obligated in November, 2004 but was not reflected in the TIP listings.
§
Descriptions of projects A242 and A243 (Slingerlands
Bypass) were incorrectly stated and were modified to reflect the correct scope.
Regional Emissions Impacts of the 2005-10 TIP
Dave Jukins noted that
Table 8, Air Quality Impacts of the TIP and New Visions, was revised to reflect
analysis for a non-exempt
Members approved the
clarifications to the TIP narrative and project listings, and the changes to
the air quality conformity determination as presented. Because the type and scale of changes is
small, the Planning Committee is authorized to approved
these changes without separate Policy Board action.
STIP
On a related matter,
Ms. Younger asked about the status of the Statewide Transportation Improvement
Program. Mr. Rettig noted that the STIP
was released to the public but Mr. Kearney noted that it was not yet posted on
NYSDOT's website. The delay in posting
the STIP on the web will likely delay federal approval of the STIP. Kristina Younger commented that a delay in federal
approval would affect CDTA's ability to access
federal funds.
Discussion Items
Mr. Rettig reported on
the status of the Rebuild and Renew New York Bond Act. He indicated that revenues from the bond will
not be a windfall for special projects; rather, most of the money will be going
toward state-of-good-repair type projects.
Mr Rettig reported that the money is to be split between the MTA that runds
SAFETEA-LU FOR CDTC
Referring to the
previously distributed memorandum prepared by
NEW VISIONS 2030 STATUS
Sandra Misiewicz
reported that the work of the five working groups is nearing completion. Work on evaluating the transportation
implications of alternative growth options, big ticket responses to expressway
needs, and budget issues continues. The
newly formed financing task force will be meeting shortly.
STATUS OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES
CDRPC
Rocky Ferraro reported on
New Visions Working Group A progress. The Group is working in the fiscal
implications of alternative growth scenarios and demographic changes. CDRPC expects to partner with CEG, SUNYA, and
CDTC using a $50,000 grant from NIMO to evaluate the fiscal impact of
alternative growth scenarios.
CDTA
Kristina Younger
reported that CDTA has seen modest ridership gains
since the simplified fare structure was put in place. The sense at the moment is that many are not
new riders but existing riders who use the service more frequently.
In response to a
question about the impact of fuel prices, Ms. Younger indicated that gas prices
spiked an interest in transit but that it has yet to translate into an increase
in ridership.
Kristina noted that
orders for bus shelters from the 2005 Shelter Program will be arriving in the
coming weeks. Progress on the Transit
Development Plan continues, moving the
Kristina noted that because
the
NYSTA
Jill Ross-Schmelz spoke about the Thruway's multi-year capital
program in the post-toll increase environment.
No significant changes are expected for the Capital District program.
Steve Iachetta noted a modest three percent growth in emplanements, smaller than other large upstate
airports. Construction of the terminal
expansion and runway extension are going well.
Mr. Iachetta announced that the Airport was
one of two airports awarded a $4.3 million grant under the Voluntary Airport
Low Emmission (VALE) Vehicles program to support
acquisition of electric ground support vehicles and CNG shuttle buses, and
installation of electric and CNG charging stations. Members reacted positively to this
announcement.
NYSDOT
Dave Rettig noted that
the I-90 work is wrapping up for this construction season; CSX bridge work will
begin next year. Mr. Rettig indicated
that Exit 12 work is also going well, despite a small dispute over right-of-way
with the horse farm owner. Dave mentioned
that a design choice for Exit 6 is expected by the end of the month; he noted
that Region 1 will be working with CDTC staff (
BIDS & LETTINGS
Dave Rettig distributed
a list of bids and lettings. There were
no lettings in July and August. Upcoming
bids included the Route 2 bridge over Poestenkill (R106) and the Route 7/Schenectady Crosstown repaving (S172).
OTHER
Kristina Younger
announced that CDTC's Linkage Program was recognized by the upstate section of
the American Planning Association (APA), winning the Association's Outstanding Planning Award for a Program. Winning this award automatically qualifies
CDTC for a national APA award.
The next Planning
Committee meeting is scheduled for
Respectfully submitted,
David Jukins
Acting Secretary