Capital District                                                                                                       June 18, 2004

Transportation Committee                                                                                                           

 

RECORD OF MEETING

WORKING GROUP B

 

 

DATE/TIME/PLACE: June 3, 2004, 10:00 AM; CDTC Offices

 

ATTENDANCE: Pat Bennison (NYSDOT), Bob Hansen (NYSDOT R-1), Brian Menyuk (NYSDOT); Sreekumar Nampoothiri (CDTC); Chris O'Neill (CDTC), Henry Peyrebrune; Jill Schmeltz (NYSTA), Deb Stacey (CDTC); Ann Sutkin (NYSDOT R-1), Tom Werner (NYSDOT R-1); Kristina Younger (CDTA).

 

DISCUSSION SUMMARY:

 

·       CDTA, NYSDOT and NYSTA completed the spreadsheet that was distributed for the purpose of summarizing in-house ITS operations.  Common troubling subjects identified by all agencies centered on staffing and inter agency/municipality communication.  Each agency had a very difficult time estimating staff resource requirements and none of the figures in the spreadsheets reflected staffing.  In addition, NYSDOT and NYSTA viewed the assignment as “how to maintain the status quo” rather than looking toward the future with a crystal ball.  The Working Group requested that NYSDOT add ramp metering, signal coordination, 511 and the department’s Winter Travel Advisory program to their list. 

 

One issue identified with regard to signal coordination relates to the current status of most city signals.  These signals are mostly antiquated, have few pavement detectors and thus could not be used for BRT or signal coordination unless a major investment in upgrading is made.

 

·       The discussion moved to the second item on the agenda—infrastructure.  NYSDOT reported that they were revisiting the bridge estimates that were reviewed at the May meeting.  NYSDOT reported that they could estimate costs to “band-aid” a majority of the bridges, or estimate costs to replace all that technically are at the end of their life-cycle.  Cost variations from these two approaches would be significant.  NYSDOT figures do not include the cost of re-configuring the Exit 24 interchange.

 

The NYSTA reported that they have historically “band-aided” their system and are currently working on cost estimates to identify a scenario of realistic investment.  NYSDOT is currently experimenting with pre-cast slabs and the initial feedback is positive.  If this technology becomes the “norm”, this could have implications for the NYSTA as well as NYSDOT.

 

·       The Working Group briefly reviewed the additional MIST data that was distributed at the meeting.  The accuracy of the average speed data was discussed, given that the MIST data show a very different picture than anecdotal data.  One confounding factor inherent in the MIST data analysis is the fact that most of the detectors are between interchanges, not at interchanges, where the delay typically is more prevalent  CDTC staff will investigate these issues further and report back to the group at the next meeting.

 

ACTION ITEMS: 

 

·       Brian Menyuk will amend the ITS infrastructure matrix.  Brian will also look into the availability of GIS based signal data (for signal coordination analysis).  Copies of the Sear-Brown report on signal coordination will be made available to the Working Group.

·       Bob Hansen will detail the “ifs” that were assumed in NYSDOT’s bridge needs assessment and identify cost estimates for various “what if” scenarios.

·       Sreekumar Nampoothiri will continue to work on summarizing and analyzing the MIST data.  Feasible performance measures will be developed for Working Group discussion. He will ask CDTC’s GIS specialist to prepare a large, simple map of the expressway system for use as a visual aid in the working group discussions.

 

NEXT MEETING: Thursday, July 1, 2004 from 10:00 to 12:00 noon, at CDTC’s office.