CAPITAL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

 

Meeting Minutes

September 4, 2008

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING

 

John Cunningham. Town of Bethlehem

Mark Evers, Town of North Greenbush

Michael Franchini, representing Mike Breslin, Albany County

Charles Houghtaling, Albany County

Terry Hurley, Albany Port District Commission

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

Mayor John T. McDonald III, City of Cohoes, Chairman

Ray Melleady, Capital District Transportation Authority

Thomas Richardson, representing Mayor Anthony Sylvester, City of
 
Mechanicville

William Roehr, representing Mayor Harry Tuntunjian, City of Troy

Brian Rowback, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1

Phil Serafino, representing William Rinaldi, NYS Thruway
  Authority

Bernie Sisson, representing Mayor Brian Stratton, City of

  Schenectady

Mike Stammel, Capital District Regional Planning Commission

Linda von der Heide, representing Kathleen Jimino, Rensselaer
  County

Tom Werner, Saratoga County

 

STAFF AND OTHERS

 

Frank Bonafide, NYS Department of Transportation Region One

Joe Conners, Interested Citizen

Bob Hansen, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1

Dave Jukins, Capital District Transportation Committee

Irwin Kessman, Systra Consulting

Dennis O’Malley, Capital District Transportation Committee

Chris O’Neill, Capital District Transportation Committee

John Poorman, Capital District Transportation Committee

Mike Schauer, Federal Highway Administration

Deb Stacey, Capital District Transportation Committee

Don Wilson, Interested Citizen

Todd Westheis, NYS Department of Transportation Main Office

 

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 5, 2008 Meeting Minutes

 

Members approved the June 5, 2008 meeting minutes as written.

 

Administrative & Financial Standing Subcommittee

 

The Administrative and Financial Standing Subcommittee is scheduled to meet in early October.  The draft audit report will be reviewed at that time.

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR

 

Don Wilson addressed the Board as a concerned citizen.  Mr. Wilson is concerned about transportation, pollution and the environment.  Mr. Wilson has read in recent articles that CDTA ridership is up.  He thinks it can increase even more if employers adopt policies to encourage their employees to reduce single occupant vehicle use.  Mr. Wilson believes that the Greyhound bus terminal should be relocated to the Rensselaer Rail Station.

 

PRESENTATION ON THE REGIONAL OPERATIONS INITIATIVE

 

Dennis O’Malley from Transportation Concepts and John Poorman presented a PowerPoint on the Regional Operations Initiative.  This initiative would involve regional coordination of operations and will be a system that will respond when necessary, as opposed to a static on-line system.  CDTC’s New Visions Plan identifies 31 adopted Planning and Investment Principles, many of which cannot go forward without integration of operations between jurisdictions and modes. This initiative is presently in the planning stage and has no funding behind it.  Monies from CDTC’s Planning funds and from ITS (at a scale of about $1M/year) could be programmed if CDTC’s Planning Committee and Policy Board want to move this forward. The PowerPoint is on CDTC’s website. 

 

 

2007-12 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENTS

 

SA104 Batchellerville Bridge

 

NYSDOT prepared a proposed amendment to the 2007-12 TIP which would add $5.0M in HBRR funds to project SA104 as in anticipation of a high bid (due to the increased cost of steel).  NYSDOT has deferred work on a few state bridges to cover the anticipated increase in cost of SA104.  This project will be let in November of this year.      

 

Members approved the amendment to add $5.0M to project SA104 in the 2007-12 Transportation Improvement Program.

 

 

STATUS OF PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES

 

Capital District Transportation Authority

 

Ray Melleady reported that CDTA has been experiencing significant increases in ridership on both the fixed route and STAR systems.  Although CDTA has witnessed a 19% increase in ridership to date, budget shortfalls will force CDTA to make difficult decisions regarding fare adjustments and service cuts.

 

Capital District Regional Planning Commission

 

Mike Stammel reported that employment projections are being finalized for each of the 900 plus Traffic Analysis Zones in the region.  CDRPC staff is continuing work on other projects that have been reported on at this table at past meetings.

 

New York State Department of Transportation

 

Brian Rowback reported that the NY 5 project is moving along.  Pedestrian treatments and bus turnouts are being added in anticipation of the rollout of BRT in the corridor.  NYSDOT is also facing severe budget shortfalls which could impact the size of their snow removal workforce this winter.

 

Albany County Airport Authority

 

Steve Iachetta noted that the ACAA is working with NYSDOT on the Northway Exit 6 project and the ACAA is excited about the roundabout that will be constructed at Old Wolf Road and Watervliet Shaker Road.

 

Port of Albany

 

Terry Hurley reported that the Port has been extremely busy.  Dock and wharf repairs are needed; bids are out for this repair work. 

 

CDTC Staff

 

The New Visions summary document has just been printed and was distributed to the board members.  The solicitation for the next round of Linkage projects will be circulated sometime in October.  The conversion of the Commuter Register to the GIS based ridematching system (hosted by GreenRide) is nearly complete.  A press event will be held to rollout the new product.  The Capital district Clean Communities coalition is co-hosting a Hybrid-Electric truck and Bus seminar in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday September 24th.  The seminar is free and those interested should register for the event.

 

Town of Clifton Park

 

The Town of Clifton Park recently created a Highway Safety Committee.  This committee will get involved with the products of the Linkage program.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 pm, Thursday December 4, 2008 at the CDTC offices. 

 

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:30 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

 

Brian O. Rowback

Secretary