Technical Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, December 17, 2014 2:00 PM
Attendees Agency
Brian Abare Village of South Glens Falls DPW
Stu Baker Town of Queensbury Community Development
Ed Bartholomew EDC of Warren County
Frank Bonafide NYSDOT Region 1
Rob Cherry NYSDOT Region 1
Tracy Conlon Trustee, Village of Fort Edward
Chris DeBolt Washington County Planning Department
Christina Doughney CHA
Ben Fischer FHWA
Kevin
Hajos Warren County DPW
Robert Hansen CME
Steve Haskins Washington County DPW
Karen Hulihan NYSDOT Region 1
Preston Jenkins Supervisor, Town of Moreau
Wayne LaMothe Warren County Planning Department
Fred Mastroianni GPI
Joe Orlow Mayor, Village of South Glens Falls
Chris Round The Chazen Companies
Owen Shevlin NYSDOT Region 1
Scott Sopczyk Greater Glens Falls Transit
Scott Tracy Washington County DPW
Mike Valentine Saratoga County Planning Department
Ian Weibel FHWA
A/GFTC Staff
Aaron Frankenfeld
Kate Mance
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Visitor Issues
3. UPWP
A. Completed / Ongoing Studies
1) Exit 17 Land Use study ‐ Aaron reported that the study was adopted by the Policy
Committee at its October meeting, and that the Town of Moreau had been encouraged
to
do the same.
2) On‐call assistance projects
a. Jackson Heights ES (Aaron) ‐ per our Public Involvement Policy, the TAC is to
consider technical reports for approval technical reports following a public
comment period. No public comments were received; the school’s Principal has
Adirondack / Glens Falls Transportation Council
11 South Street, Suite 203
Glens Falls, NY 12801
p: (518) 223 – 0086 f: (518) 223 – 0584
info@agftc.org
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since taken this study to the GF Board of Public Safety for consideration and
implementation where the recommendations were favorably received. A motion
was made to approve the report as final.
Moved by: Stu Baker Seconded by: Kevin Hajos Motion carried.
b. River Street Streetscaping Concept (Kate) ‐ A concept
plan was presented by
Chazen in November, including a more detailed analysis for a one mile section
from Judd Bridge west as well as more general set of recommendations for the
remainder of the roadway. Based upon committee review, Chazen is revising the
concepts in advance of public outreach and a
Town Board meeting in mid‐
January.
3) EV Charging Station Network Identification (Kate) ‐ Draft report was completed in
September; goal was to provide information to municipalities that were interested in
installing electric vehicle charging stations. Staff is looking for input on how to best
present this information (interactive map, website,
report). Report will be distributed
along with en EV fact sheet expected from the New York State Association of MPOs
additional municipal input will be sought at that time. Mike Valentine asked if private
charging data could be acquired to inform potential usage. Kate offered that that data
would be difficult
to obtain. Wayne LaMothe asked if local EV registration is available;
Kate replied that it is.
4) Regional crash data review (Kate) ‐ primary analysis for Warren County is complete.
Staff analysis capabilities are much greater than during previous efforts thanks to
enhanced methodologies and data processing. Much like the EV
network report, staff is
looking for input on how to make the most of this information and will be reaching out
to County DPW for input before expanding the effort to include Saratoga and
Washington Counties.
B. 2015‐16 Work Program Development
1) Funding levels and programming instructions, and
2)
Project requests ‐ Aaron reviewed a summary handout (attached) that included
information on approximately level planning funding for the upcoming program year,
state and federal emphasis areas potential formatting changes to the UPWP as
suggested by NYSDOT’s UPWP Handbook, and program requests received from
municipalities, including several bicycle and pedestrian improvement concepts
on
Queensbury and Moreau. In addition, Ed Bartholomew noted in incoming request from
the City of Glens Falls regarding the Murray Street connection to Pruyn’s Island. Satff
will prepare a draft UPWPW based on this information for committee consideration at
the 1/21 meeting.
C. On‐call contracts ‐ Aaron reported that
of the eight proposals received and evaluated by
members of this committee, a clear top three of CME, RSG and CHA had emerged. All responding
firms have been notified of the results.
D. Pavement scoring ‐ As Aaron was reporting on the status of the annual pavement scoring project,
Bob Hansen of CME delivered the report.
4. Transit
A. GGFT Update ‐ Scott reported that, based upon the delivery and testing of new larger trolley, an
option to purchase another has been exercised and both vehicles 2 larger trolleys will be in service
in 2015. A new overhead door was installed at the GGFT garage. Overall system ridership in 2014
was up about 25, noteworthy given a condensed summer tourist season.
5. TIP
A. Bridge Preservation Analysis ‐ Aaron ‐ GPI has been retained to conduct this task; initial
database development efforts were presented to
the Counties and NYSDOT at a meeting on
12/3 using Warren County’s work as a template; comments from the Counties are due back
to GPI by the end of the month.
B. Transportation Alternatives Program ‐ The Crandall Park / YMCA / Fire Road / Kensington
School proposal was among the four
projects within Region 1 that were awarded TAP funding
(480,000) ; Region One once again outperformed initial allocation estimates.
C. Amendments and Modifications ‐ Aaron referred to the handout summarizing the requested
amendment from NYSDOT. Frank Bonafide reviewed the history of the project and the two
statewide competitive solicitation awards that
it had received. The project needs to be on
the TIP prior to an anticipated March ‐ April letting. Aaron stated that there was no impact
upon previously programmed funds, and the request should be treated as an addition of a
new project from regional setaside, allowing for TAC approval. A
motion was made to
approve the requested amendment.
Moved by: Wayne LaMothe Seconded by: Stu Baker Motion carried.
D. Project updates from sponsors
1) Warren County ‐ Kevin Hajos reported the following:
Valley Road was on track for a March letting, consistent with the regional
commitment list.
Blair Road
was moving towards an April letting, also consistent with the
regional commitment list.
Palisades Road bridge is stalled; necessary repairs now exceed what can be
executed through element‐specific work.
Make the Connection projects are anticipated to be completed by May
2015.
West Brook sidewalk requires a
Phase 1 review; County will accomplish this
with its own resources and not seek reimbursement.
Federal agreements for bridge preservation projects have been requested
but not received from NYSDOT.
Pavement preservation projects will be designed in‐house and constructed
in August.
2) Washington County ‐ Scott Tracy reported the following:
CR 16 opened on 11/25; demolition of the old structure will be completed
this week.
CR 113 ‐ pre‐design meeting was held with GPI.
An agreement was in place to allow Saratoga County to lead the painting
project for the Fenimore Bridge between Moreau and Hudson Falls.
3) Saratoga County ‐ Preston Jenkins reported that the Town of Moreau had also
approved the Exit 17 report.
4) City of Glens Falls ‐ Ed Bartholomew reported the Broad Street was nearly
complete (awaiting final installation of traffic signals), and that the draft design
report for Hudson Avenue had been approved.
5) Town of Queensbury ‐ Stu Baker reported that DOT had issued final inspection of
the Aviation Road roundabout in October.
6) NYSDOT ‐ Frank Bonafide reported on the following:
Harsh Winter program paving of NYS 9L has been complete; remaining
section of 9L in Lake George likely to be incorporated into
Gateway project
372 between Greenwich and Cambridge has been resurfaced
NYS Route 28 over 13th Lake Brook is under construction
Route 9 over Trout Brook in Chester is in design
Chris DeBolt asked if the Region had received any input on a state budget
surplus. Frank replied
that no specific instruction had been given, but internal
project lists were being prepared in anticipation. Ed Bartholomew suggested that
A/GFTC staff take the lead on surveying its members regarding funding priorities.
Aaron suggested that the starting point for a request for funding assistance be
based upon unfunded or at‐risk
TIP projects. The committee concurred with this
effort.
6. 2015 Meeting Calendar ‐ Aaron called attention to the draft 2015 meeting calendar, asking for any revisions
by 1/21.
5E . Bridge Funding Discussion ‐ Aaron reported that within the last two weeks he had been made
aware of an overprogramming issue
with regards to STP Off System Bridge, the fund source
that is used to fund work on locally owned bridges that do not carry or cross a federal aid
eligible facility. That source is under a lot of stress based on the eligibility limitations for off
system bridges that accompanied MAP
21. Projects that were believed to be STP‐Flex eligible
are no longer eligible. Local project sponsors have had agreements delayed by the Region in
advance of additional discussions on how to deal with the shortage of funds. Discussion
ensued. CR 113 in Washington County is an expensive project; the
Region’s first inclination
was to allow that project to move forward. Warren County reiterated the importance of their
projects. While it is not expected that we zero‐out overprogramming, some progress needs
to be made. Allowing local project sponsors to start design on projects is feasible, but that
would start the
clock on the ten year rule requiring ROW acquisition or construction to
commence within 10 years of project initiation. It was agreed that A/GFTC staff would
convene additional discussion between local project sponsors and DOT in advance of the
next TAC meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:45.