CAPITAL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

 

Meeting Minutes

September 15, 2011

 

MEMBERS ATTENDING

 

Carm Basile, Capital District Transportation Authority,
  Vice-Chair

Paul Cassillo, representing Gary McCarthy, Acting Mayor of
  Schenectady

Steve Feeney, Schenectady County

Michael Franchini, representing Michael Breslin, Albany County

Terry Hurley, Albany Port District Commission

Steve Iachetta, representing John O’Donnell, Albany County

  Airport Authority

Mary Ivey, NYS Department of Transportation Region 1,
  Secretary

Joanna King, representing Mike Stammel, Capital District
  Regional Planning Commission

Andrew Kreshik, representing Mayor Harry Tutunjian, City of

  Troy

Joe LaCivita, representing Supervisor Paula Mahan, Town of
  Colonie

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

Rosemary Nichols, representing, Mayor Michael Manning, City of
  Watervliet

Tom Richardson, representing Mayor Anthony Sylvester, City of

  Mechanicville

Linda von der Heide, representing Kathleen Jimino, Rensselaer

  County

Tom Werner, Saratoga County

 

STAFF AND OTHERS

 

Anne Benware, Capital District Transportation Committee

David Jukins, Capital District Transportation Committee

Sree Nampoothiri, Capital District Transportation Committee

Chris O’Neill, Capital District Transportation Committee

John Poorman, Capital District Transportation Committee

Deb Stacey, Capital District Transportation Committee

Ken Williams, Interested Citizen

 

 

OPENING REMARKS

 

Chairman McDonald opened the Capital District Transportation Committee meeting at 3:15 pm and welcomed those in attendance.  Members and attendees introduced themselves.

 

 

Approval of the June 2, 2011 Meeting Minutes

 

The June 2, 2011 meeting minutes were approved by the members.

 

 

Administrative & Financial Standing Subcommittee Report

 

John Poorman explained that the A&F Subcommittee meeting was postponed.  The next topic for discussion by the A & F Subcommittee will be the CDTC annual audit.    

 

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR

 

Chairman McDonald indicated that CDTC provides an opportunity for visitors to address items on the agenda.  Ken Williams spoke about the importance of public investments in transportation given current national discussion about transportation funding.

 

 

HUD SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES REGIONAL PLANNING GRANT RESOLUTION

 

Resolution Supporting CDTC as a Co-Applicant with CDRPC

 

John Poorman explained that there will be a second round of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program, and CDRPC will be applying again.  The application proposal will be very similar to last year.  CDTC will be a co-applicant and additional consortium members will be participating.  The proposal has been refined and will upgrade the involvement of key cities.  The Planning Committee has recommended approval of this resolution.  Members approved the resolution confirming CDTC’s participation as a co-applicant.

 

 

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION POLICY

 

John Poorman explained that the updated CDTC Public Participation Policy was presented and approved as a draft by the Policy Board at the June meeting to allow review over the summer concurrently with the New Visions Plan update.  No comments were received.  Members approved the Public Participation Policy document.

 

 

2011 COORDINATED PUBLIC TRANSIT HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION PLAN

 

Deb Stacey explained that the draft 2011 Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan was discussed and approved for public review over the summer by the Policy Board at its June meeting.  Based on discussion with staff from CDTA and United Way 2-1-1, CDTC staff recommended an amendment to the draft Plan that specifically mentions outreach to veterans in response to the Veterans Transportation Community Living Initiative.  The 2011 Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan, as amended, was approved by members.

 

 

NEW VISIONS 2035 UPDATE

 

New Visions 2035 Plan Update and Review of Public Comments on the draft document that was distributed for the June 2011 meeting

 

Chris O’Neill reviewed comments of the draft Plan received since the June meeting and staff suggested wording revisions to the Plan based on the comments.  Members accepted the wording changes and approved the Resolution Adopting the New Visions 2035 Plan Update.

 

CDTC’s Input into the Capital Region Economic Development Council

 

Chris O’Neill explained that CDTC staff has been engaged with the recently formed Capital Region Economic Development Council (CREDC).  Chris O’Neill is a member of the Project Planning Activities Workgroup and Rocky Ferraro is a member of the Strategic Planning Workgroup.  Mayor McDonald sent a letter on behalf of CDTC to members of the CREDC explaining the importance of considering the CDTC and CDRPC planning efforts and the CDTC New Visions Plan.  Concerns were raised by members about understanding the process by which funding for projects will be recommended by the CREDC and approved at the state level.  John Poorman stated that regional projects such as the Exit 3 / 4 Airport Connector may be competitive for the main pot of funding, and local projects may be more competitive if they have a regional dimension.    

 

 

SECURITY PLANNING

 

MPO Role in Emergency Planning

 

John Poorman explained that this topic was added to the agenda for discussion in light of recent severe impacts of flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.  Are there ways in which CDTC could be a resource for planning for emergencies?  The CDTC Regional Operations Committee could play a role. 

 

Tom Werner suggested a good starting point would be to review all existing emergency plans in the region and evaluate any potential need for coordination between them, especially coordination of county plans.   

 

Mary Ivey said that NYSDOT will be evaluating plans in light of their experience over the last several weeks, but that generally emergency response by NYSDOT staff and coordination with local and county efforts went remarkably well.  Personnel were present at some locations 24/7.  So many people were deployed and that was an important part of the success.  Post Katrina efforts have had an impact on improving coordination plans, and many effective protocols are in place.

 

 

2010-15 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE REPORT

 

John Poorman explained that discussions are ongoing on the proposed TIP update.  Region 1 has taken the lead in looking at the Capital Program to rationalize and reconcile it to lower funding levels.  The Region and CDTC staff will meet with local sponsors and review state projects and examine schedules and budgets.  NYSDOT Main Office would prefer to reconcile the TIP, but because we currently have an approved STIP, the Main Office can not require MPOs to change the TIP.  Staff will focus on the coming year, and explore how urgent it is to look at later years, especially since we still don’t have a new federal transportation bill.

 

 

FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION BILL REAUTHORIZATION REPORT

 

John Poorman explained that it seems likely that the existing SAFETEA-LU federal transportation bill will be extended by Congress for six months.

 

STATUS OF PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES

 

NYSDOT

 

Mary Ivey reported that the Region’s Capital Program is due October 14.

 

CDTA

 

Carm Basile reported that Bus Plus is an unequivocal success.  Ridership in the first five months is up 12 percent compared with the same five months last year.  The shift is continuing from local service to premium service as riders discover the advantages.  Real time information will be introduced in the coming weeks.

 

Albany city restructuring is scheduled for implementation in mid-November.  It is the largest package of changes in over 30 years.  It will be revenue neutral, and will make service more effective.

 

Funding news continues to be a problem.

 

Albany Airport Authority

 

Steve Iachetta reported that a $3.6 million runway paving job was let.  The Airport was held harmless in the hurricane.  Enplanements are flat, reflecting the economy and the state travel ban.

 

 

Albany Port Authority

 

Terry Hurley reported that Port business is steady and doing well, although the storm delayed ship calls by up to one week. The dock project is nearing completion.

 

 

Rensselaer County

 

Linda von der Hide commended NYSDOT on the work done on Route 2 in response to storm damage.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:22 pm.  The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 pm, Thursday, December 1, 2011.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Mary E. Ivey

Secretary