CAPITAL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

 

Meeting Minutes

July 12, 2007

 

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING

 

Judy Breselor, representing Harry J. Tutunjian, Mayor of Troy

Mary Brizzell, Town of Colonie

Bill Bruce, representing Gerald Jennings, Mayor of Albany

Michael Franchini, representing Michael Breslin, Albany County

Charles Houghtaling, Albany County

Steve Iachetta, representing John O’Donnell, Albany Airport Authority

Mayor John McDonald, City of Cohoes, Chairman

Ellen McNulty-Ryan, Village of Green Island

Raymond Melleady, Capital District Transportation Authority

David Rettig, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1, representing Commissioner Astrid Glynn

Tom Richardson, representing Anthony Sylvester, Mayor of Mechanicville

William Rinaldi, New York State Thruway Authority

Bernard Sisson, representing Brian Stratton, Mayor of Schenectady

Linda von der Heide, representing Kathleen Jimino, Rensselaer 
County

Mindy Wormuth, Town of Halfmoon

Mike Stammel, Capital District Regional Planning Commission

 

STAFF AND OTHERS

 

Frank Bonafide, NYS Department of Transportation

Rocky Ferraro, Capital District Regional Planning Commission

John P. Poorman, Capital District Transportation Committee (acting secretary)

Phil Serafino, NYS Thruway Authority

Cliff Thomas, NYS Department of Transportation

 

 

OPENING REMARKS

 

Chairman McDonald opened the Capital District Transportation Committee meeting at approximately 3:05 p.m. and welcomed those in attendance to the CDTC offices. Members and attendees then introduced themselves.

 

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

June 7, 2007 Meeting Minutes

 

The minutes of the June 7, 2007 CDTC meeting were approved as written.

 

Administrative & Financial Standing Subcommittee Report

 

John Poorman explained that there has not been a subcommittee meeting since the last Policy Board meeting in June.  However, one will be scheduled prior to the next Policy Board meeting scheduled for September 6, 2007. 

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR

 

Chairman McDonald indicated that CDTC provides an opportunity for visitors to address items on the agenda. There was no request to speak to the Committee.

 

 

UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM ADDITION

 

John Poorman explained that as a result of discussions centering around NYSDOT’s proposed Central Avenue rehabilitation project, and the collective desire to work toward access management improvements along that corridor as a follow up to the Route 5 Corridor Land Use and Transportation Study which recommended corridor-wide/sub-corridor access management plans, the Planning Committee recommended that Corridor Management Initiative (CMI) funds be used for a Route 5 Corridor-Wide Access Management Plan. The plan will: utilize 2 years of CMI funds or $230,000; include consultant work; focus on corridor segments along Route 5 outside of recent rehabilitation or reconstruction projects; and will be guided by a steering committee comprised of the standing BRT study committee.   

 

 

2007–12 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)

 

Mr. Poorman directed the Board’s attention to the “Planning Committee Report on the 2007-12 TIP Discussions” included in the mail out.  He explained that the Planning Committee took action to recommend Policy Board adoption of the draft TIP with several recommendations and understandings as listed in the Committee Report, including that NYSDOT will work to accommodate Route 5 study and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) elements into the new NY 5 project where possible within the curb to curb section. Furthermore, if there is a follow up project proposed to achieve additional objectives detailed in the previous planning work for Route 5 that the proposed project candidate would be considered in the TIP project selection process without prejudice.  That is to say that the costs and benefits of the rehabilitation project along with a follow up project if one were proposed would be combined into one project for the purpose of evaluation.

 

The proposed action maintains within the first three years of the TIP the two National Highway System (NHS) projects and three bridge projects referred for Planning Committee review, and adds to the TIP the three new federal-aid projects requested by NYSDOT for use of advance construction funds (NY 5, NY 2 in Grafton, and one bridge project).

 

After a brief discussion, members adopted the 2007-12 TIP for incorporation by NYSDOT into the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

 

 

STATUS OF PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES

 

CDTA:  Ray Melleady reported briefly on CDTA activities over the past month with highlights including that the new hybrid buses have been put into service quite successfully along various routes.  Also, the new Saratoga Springs service expansion was announced and has commenced. 

 

CDRPC:  Rocky Ferraro reported for CDRPC and stated that employment projections by traffic analysis zone (TAZ) are being developed by staff and should be available soon.  These are used in traffic modeling and other work.

 

The fiscal impact study being conducted as part of the New Visions 2030 plan on the four regional alternative development scenarios is moving forward.  The portion of the study dealing with the dollars and cents associated with the four scenarios has been drafted and sent to CEG (Center for Economic Growth) for review and comment.  Once the draft is finalized there will be a more formal rollout of the study during the fall of 2007.

 

Mr. Ferraro also reported that the Census 2010 Local Update of Census Addresses or LUCA program will be getting under way at the end of August.  This is important in that municipal officials will be asked to confirm Census Bureau housing unit address information in their communities.  If a municipality does not participate they will not be able to challenge the Bureau’s numbers generated at a later date.  CDRPC is working with the four counties to provide resources to assist municipalities in participating in the LUCA program.

 

NYS Thruway Authority:  Bill Rinaldi reported that paving projects between Exits 24 and 26 are proceeding using night paving. 

 

NYSDOT:  Dave Rettig reported that Region 1 is hosting a one day land use/transportation planning conference on October 3, 2007; they are currently sending out “Save the Date” notices to the 160 municipalities in Region 1.  The conference will be a good opportunity to highlight the planning that is going on in the Capital District to a broad municipal audience. 

 

Also, Region 1 got approval for several State Planning Research (SPR) studies.  The first involves the I-87/Route 9 integrated corridor study which will focus on identifying ways to use Route 9 to alleviate incidents on the Northway.  Items to be examined include the ability of Route 9 signals/intersections to handle the longer queues that would occur as traffic is directed to Route 9 after an incident has occurred on the Northway with the objective of managing the system more efficiently.

 

The second SPR study is the Washington Ave/Western Ave Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Conceptual Design Study.  Mr. Rettig reported that CDTA applied for and will receive the SPR funding.      

 

John Poorman noted that both of these items need to be added to the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). 

 

Albany International Airport:  Steve Iachetta reported that the Airport is participating in what he termed “E-ZPass for air travelers” or the CLEAR Registered Traveler program.  Air travelers participating in the program, run by the Homeland Security Department, pay an annual fee to be pre-screened for security; they are then provided with a biometric card, which allows them to pass through security faster, avoiding the regular airport security lines.  Albany International Airport is one of seven or so around the country initially registering people for the program, which will begin August 2nd. In addition, the Airport is engaged in $15M in projects at present, including relocation of the old Watervliet Town Hall out of one of the runway clear zones.

 

CDTC:  John Poorman reported on CDTC planning activities including follow up tasks on distributing draft New Visions 2030 plan materials out for public review.  To facilitate that effort, the Quality Region Task Force (QRTF) will meet on July 18th to be the sounding board on materials staff is putting together for broader public distribution in addition to materials currently on CDTC’s website. 

 

Chairman McDonald asked the group if there were any other activities members wished to report.  Bill Bruce noted that the utility work began on the City of Albany’s Central Avenue rehabilitation project (City line east to Everett Road) and is expected to be completed later this Fall.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The next meeting of the Policy Board will be on September 6, 2007 at the CDTC offices.  There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

John Poorman

Acting Secretary