CAPITAL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

PLANNING COMMITTEE

Meeting Minutes

October 5, 2005

MEMBERS ATTENDING

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

Judy Breselor, representing Fred Howard, Rensselaer County

Frank Commisso, Albany Port District Commission

Steve Feeney, Schenectady County

Rocky Ferraro, Capital District Regional Planning Commission

Mike Franchini, Albany County (Chairman)

Bob Hansen, representing Dave Rettig, NYSDOT Region 1

Steve Iachetta, Albany County Airport Authority

Tom Kearney, FHWA

George Leveille, Town of Bethlehem

Barbara McHugh, Town of Clifton Park

Phil Pearson, Town of Colonie

Marybeth Pettit, City of Rensselaer

John Poorman, Capital District Transportation Committee (Secretary)

Jill Ross-Schmelz, NYS Thruway Authority

Dede Rudolph, City of Albany

Bernard Sisson, City of Schenectady

John Stangle, Village of Menands

Erin Thomas, City of Cohoes

Mike Valentine, Saratoga County

Kristina Younger, Capital District Transportation Authority

STAFF AND OTHERS

Frank Bonafide, NYSDOT Region 1

Jon Dawes, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation

Dave Jukins, Capital District Transportation Committee

Jack Kelley, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation

Sandra Misiewicz, Capital District Transportation Committee

Jon Montey, SEDC/ CT Male Associates

Mark Nadolny, Creighton Manning Engineering

Glenn Posca, Capital District Transportation Committee

Jason Purvis, Capital District Transportation Committee

Steve Szanto, Creighton Manning Engineering

John Tozzi, Creighton Manning Engineering

Monique Wahba, City of Albany

VISITORS ISSUES

Chairman Franchini opened the meeting at approximately 9:35 am. He welcomed members and guests who introduced themselves.

Action Items

ADMINISTRATION

Approval of the September 7, 2005 Meeting Minutes

Kristina Younger offered a correction to the discussion of CDTA status – discussions with Montgomery County should be shown as ongoing. Bob Hansen noted that the phrase “outside New York City” should be deleted from the discussion of the bridge and road work that would be funded by the upcoming Bond. Mike Franchini noted that the reference to the web sites in the Bond discussion should be correctly listed in the following paragraph on SAFETEA-LU. The minutes of the September 7, 2005 meeting were then approved as corrected.

NEW YORK TRANSPORTATION BOND

John Poorman led members through a summary of the details of the upcoming Bond referendum. The Bond will support a portion of the five-year statewide transportation program, and a similar portion of the CDTC TIP. All highway and bridge projects funded by the Bond in the Capital District are already shown on the TIP.

Members also reviewed a previously-distributed draft resolution regarding the Bond, and recommended adoption of the resolution by the Policy Board at its October 20 meeting. Bob Hansen and Jill Ross abstained on the vote.

2005-10 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENTS

Commercial Access Improvements, Malta

John Tozzi of Creighton Manning and Jack Kelley of the Saratoga County Economic Development Corporation provided a brief overview of the transportation considerations in the Luther Technology Park GEIS in Malta. Congressman Sweeney secured a Congressional “High Priority Project” earmarked for commercial access improvements (essentially intersection or link improvements between US 9, NY 67 and the campus and/or improvements to Cold Spring Rd.)

The requested TIP action is to place the scoping, preliminary engineering, right-of-way and design phases of the earmarked project onto the TIP. An approximate $5.1 M balance in the earmark will be considered for programming at a later date after project limits and scopes are defined. Members approved the request, which due to its nature will require Policy Board concurrence on October 20.

S177, Erie Boulevard Reconstruction

Bernie Sisson informed members that another “High Priority Project” in SAFETEA-LU is a $2 M entry for the Erie Boulevard project. The requested TIP amendment would add these funds to the existing budget and allow the possibility for earlier design than currently shown. Mr. Poorman noted that it is possible that the extra budget may allow the city to consider extending the project limits north to Union Street. If this is desired and feasible, a separate TIP action would be required at a latter date.

Members then approved the amendment.

Discussion Items

NEW VISIONS 2030

Mr. Poorman referred to the previously-distributed summary of the New Visions status. At this point in the process, the best course of action appears to be to generate a summary document to generate public discussion. The document will use the alternative growth scenarios and “big idea, big ticket” initiatives to reaffirm current policies and focus new attention on planning for the region’s future.

STATUS OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES

CDTC Staff

Mr. Poorman reported on the availability of the national “Colloquy” products. A link to the Volpe web site is included on CDTC’s web page. He also reported on the wide range of Linkage studies underway.

CDRPC

Rocky Ferraro reported favorably about the working relationship between CDTC and CDRPC. A meeting is set with CEG for October 18 to initiate the broader follow-up study to the Working Group A document on alternative growth scenarios. He noted the Census Bureau has estimated a net in-migration to the region for the third year in a row; 1,100 in 2003. CDRPC is also working on two special studies with CDTA.

CDTA

Kristina Younger reported that the Upstate Chapter of the ITE has honored CDTA for the Troy queue jumper project. CDTA has also received an APTA advertising award for the campaign related to CDTA’s Simpler Fare system. Additionally, work on fleet replacement and TDM discussions with OGS are continuing.

NYSDOT

Bob Hansen reported that NYSDOT is in an interim organizational structure; further changes are not expected in the near future. He also reported that the I-787 ramp emergency has led to a focus on evaluating bridge needs. Coordination of the TMC with statewide corridor operations is under discussion. Release of the statewide master plan is expected shortly. Also, the region is looking at grade crossings on the high speed corridor and considering interim actions. A PAC meeting on the Exit 3 project is set for October 17. Further, the region will be advancing the Exit 5 bridge project on I-87 separate from the Exit 6 project; the Exit 6 project design concept should be chosen soon. Finally, cash flow may require difficult choices for scheduling the approximate $110 M in local projects in the TIP; the region will try to avoid undesirable letting delays.

NYSTA

Jill Ross-Schmelz reported that the Thruway Authority board is expected to act on its seven-year capital program soon. The program shows few changes from what is on the TIP.

Albany County Airport Authority

Steve Iachetta reported steady passenger growth at the airport. Cargo has experienced a small dip. Project A343 has been completed, at $600 K below budget. Planning is underway for a doubling of the cargo terminal; there is interest in high tech manufacturing shipment. The $20 M runway 19 project is 60% completed. Parking work on surface and garage expansion is underway.

Albany Port District Commission

Frank Commisso reported that cargo growth continues. The port’s biggest problem is warehousing. The port is purchasing an adjacent 25 acres.

Linkage Studies

Phil Pearson commented on the successful completion of the Route 7 Linkage Study.

TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Bids and Lettings

Bob Hansen distributed a summary of August/September lettings and scheduled October/November bids. Post-Katrina unit costs are beginning to demonstrate higher unit prices.

OTHER

The next Planning Committee meeting was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on November 2, 2005, if the agenda is sufficient to warrant a meeting.

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

John P. Poorman

Secretary