Policy Committee Meeting Minutes ‐ draft
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Attendees Agency
A/GFTC Committee Members and Participants
Mitch Suprenant, Chair Supervisor, Town of Fort Edward
John Strough, Vice‐Chair Supervisor, Town of Queensbury
Ed Bartholomew President and CEO, EDC of Warren County
Frank Bonafide RPPM, NYSDOT Region 1
Rob Cherry NYSDOT Region 1
Cassie Fedler Supervisor, Town of Cambridge
Kevin Geraghty Chairman, Warren County Board of Supervisors
Bob Henke Chairman, Washington County Board of Supervisors
Dana Hogan Supervisor, Town of Kingsbury
Wayne LaMothe Director, Warren County Planning Department
Scott Sopczyk Greater Glens Falls Transit
John Strough Supervisor, Town of Queensbury
Frank Thomas Supervisor, Town of Stony Creek
Greg Wichser NYSDOT Region 1
Mo Wright Chairman, Saratoga County Board of Supervisors
A/GFTC Staff
Aaron Frankenfeld
Kate Mance
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Visitors Issues
3. Administrative Items
A. NYSAMPO Update ‐ Aaron ‐ updates on federal legislation: final rule on metropolitan
planning has been released:
two new planning factors have been established
o improving resiliency and reliability and reduce or mitigate stormwater
impacts of surface transportation;
o enhance travel and tourism
performance‐based planning shall be implemented
performance targets will be established by the MPOs to track progress
target selection will be coordinated with the State and public transportation
operators
no change in designation threshold (50,000)
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
www.agftc.org
Staff is reviewing proposed rulemaking for System Performance, Freight, and
Congestion Management and Air Quality. NYSAMPO will compile our comments as
warranted.
In short, performance planning is going to change the way we operate with regards
to data collection, planning and programming. Staff additions may be warranted to
manage data and create necessary output.
4. Greater Glens Falls Transit Update ‐ Scott Sopczyk noted the following:
Completed capital projects included four vehicle powertrain rebuilds, replacement
of one trolley bus, and conversion of the facility heating system from oil to natural
gas
2016 FTA grant has been awarded; planned expenditures include a replacement
operations vehicle and preventative maintenance
2017 FTA program to include purchase of three replacement trolleys, replacement
of one hybrid battery module, facility updates, and preventative maintenance
2015 ridership was a record high (376,000 passengers, 10.2% increase over previous
year), and 2016 ridership to date is up 2.9% from 2015
GGFT is working with CDTA to develop a real‐time passenger information system
GGFT was found by FTA during its triennial review to be in full compliance with
applicable federal review areas
5. Annual Work Program (UPWP)
A. Dix Avenue Corridor Study Update ‐ Kate summarized the following:
Update is an opportunity to revisit previous growth forecasts and capital
recommendations
The Chazen Companies were awarded the project
Growth projections have not been realized based on current traffic counts
Proposed mitigations are significantly smaller in volume and in scale from the 2000
report
Recommended improvements include signal timing changes at Dix / Quaker, and
intersection modifications at the Route 4, Queensbury Avenue, a
nd Highland
Avenue intersections
A motion was made to accept the Dix Avenue Corridor Study Update as final.
Moved by: John Strough Seconded by: Bob Henke Motion carried.
B. White Creek Watershed Analysis ‐ ‐ Aaron noted the following:
Following a public workshop held in Salem on May 23, Fitzgerald Environmental
Associates has completed a draft report for the White Creek Watershed
Infrastructure Flood Vulnerability and Mitigation Assessment.
The creek, like many in the northeast, has been heavily manipulated by residential
and agricultural uses
The volume of water channeled in White Creek during flood events may have been
underrepresented based upon USGS regional classification
10 of the 17 bridges over White Creek are limited to passing a ten year flood or less;
There are many conceptual improvements that can help lessen the impacts of small
and moderate floods in the upstream section, including berm removals, restoration
of prior floodplains, embankment stabilization, and buffer restoration
Village alternatives include berm removal, channel widening and deepening,
removal of the Archibald Street bridge and abutments, and property acquisition for
the purpose of flood plain restoration
Town, County and property owners need to continue discussions regarding
community priorities and feasible alternatives
Study notes that better coordination is needed among watershed partners in order
to advance mutual goals (ex ‐ creating aquatic habitat without exacerbating flooding
conditions)
The study is on our website and has been emailed to our Technical Advisory
Committee ; Policy Committee will be asked to approve it following the conclusion
of the public comment period
C. Rural Mobility RFP ‐ Aaron ‐ an RFP for the examination of rural transportation mobility
needs and an identification of options has been released; project is intended to guide
potential investments in rural transportation by quantifying actual needs and identifying
potential solutions, while building off of the AGC’s HUD Sustainable Communities work; due
date is 6/24
D. Traffic Count RFP ‐Aaron ‐ staff is researching various traffic count RFPs from other MPOs
and looking to coordinate efforts with other municipalities with an eye towards conducting
our own complementary program starting in 2017. Avoiding duplication of effort and
ensuring that our counts are useful to our local municipalities are key considerations.
E. Other ongoing activities ‐ Aaron ‐ Queensbury School access project underway; project
added to the UPWP by this committee in March; intent is to optimize access and safety for
traffic operations between Aviation Road and Queensbury Schools; Barton and Loguidice
was selected , data collection has been completed.
6. Transportation Improvement Program
A. Capital Project Updates and Review (major developments and/or planned activities for
2016)
1) Warren County ‐ no update provided
2) Washington County ‐ Aaron conveyed update provided by Steve Haskins, including:
CR 10 ‐ call scheduled with VTrans to discuss cultural resource coordination.
CR 113 ‐ SHPO notice of adverse effect received; may impact construction
schedule
Bridge painting projects (176005) kick off meeting held.
Contractor closeout underway on Fenimore Bridge painting project.
3) Saratoga County ‐ nothing new to report.
4) City of Glens Falls ‐ Ed Bartholomew reported that the Fire Road kickoff meeting
would be held soon; CME is the consultant.
5) Town of Queensbury ‐ John Strough noted the Aviation Road project that Aaron
mentioned earlier. Developer agreements have been negotiated for traffic and access
improvements associated with new hotel projects at Exit 18. Another hotel project at
Exit 19 has yielded a developer agreement to construct an access to the mall property.
EDCWC Exit 20 study is getting underway. Looking to continue discussions with NYSDOT
regarding Route 9L improvements.
6) NYSDOT ‐ Frank Bonafide reported the following:
The Critical Bridges over Water (CBOW) program includes five bridges in the
A/GFTC area. Route 4 over the Feeder Canal will remain open during
construction, but Route 196 over the Feeder Canal will be closed between July
and September. A public information session on those projects is scheduled.
Bridge painting projects include Route 418 over the Schroon River, Lock 6 over
the Champlain Canal, and Route 149 over the Champlain Canal.
Route 9 over Trout Brook is underway; new structure will carry widened
shoulders.
Work on the Route 9 Gateway Project continues; contractor on track for
completion this year.
Paving project on Route 40 to be done this week.
Route 32 paving (Kingsbury) is complete.
Future paving projects (2017 and beyond) include sections of Route 22 in
Hebron, Route 9N in Bolton and Lake George, Route 8 near Wevertown, Route
9L in Queensbury and Route 418 in Warrensburg.
B. 2016‐2021 TIP Update ‐ Summary of Content ‐ Aaron
draft TIP was approved by the Technical Advisory Committee for public comment in
May
minor changes have been implemented since that approval and are reflected in the
project tables
public comment period was completed yesterday
total program over five years is $117.998
some leniency from the programming instruction and considerable funding source
flexibility was extended in order for us to compile a semblance of a meaningful
program ‐ thanks in large part to Region 1
program features much more off‐system bridge money than we could expect on
account of trading National Highway Performance Program funds
still struggling with highway funding; no site specific local highway projects are
programmed; all moved into pavement preservation setasides
MTC is now lumped into one solicitation rather than annual or biannual, in order to
encourage larger projects
transit capital program is sufficient to allow GGFT to continue to sustain existing
services
C. Self‐Certification ‐ Aaron ‐ included in TIP, this document provides an update as to the
status of core MPO products and asserts that A/GFTC is conducti
ng its regional
transportation planning and programming processes in accordance with federal procedures
D. Approval of TIP and Self‐Certification ‐ A motion was made to approve the 2016‐2021
Transportation Improvement Program and 2016 Self Certification.
Moved by: Bob Henke Seconded by: Ed Bartholomew Motion carried.
Frank Bonafide credited A/GFTC and its Technical Advisory Committee for working
cooperatively within challenging funding constraints.
E. Ongoing and upcoming solicitations / funding opportunities
1) Pavement Preservation Program ‐ Aaron ‐ local projects being solicited by A/GFTC;
deadline has been extended until 6/10.
2) FTA 5310 ‐ Kate reported that an abbreviated project solicitation for previously
unspent FTA 5310 funds is being conducted by NYSDOT.
3) Transportation Alternatives Program ‐ Frank ‐ NYSDOT is discussing upcoming
solicitation, expected later in the year.
4) Repurposed earmarks ‐ Frank ‐ last federal omnibus bill allows for the repurposing
of previously unspent earmarks within 50 miles of the original project location.
A/GFTC area eligibility appears limited. NYSDOT Regions are awaiting instructions.
5) Bridge NY / Pave NY ‐ Frank ‐ Pave NY ‐ $100M to be distributed to municipalities
using the CHIPS formula; Bridge NY ‐ 60% of $100M to go to upstate local bridges;
details forthcoming.
Bob Henke asked if facilities that could support snowmobile usage were eligible for the
TAP program. Aaron will check the existing guidelines.
7. Other Items ‐ Wayne LaMothe reported that the Department of State has awarded funding to study
the potential economic development impacts of extending a rail service connection between the
Saratoga and North Creek Railway south to Rensselaer station. The IBI Group has been selected to
conduct the study; an advisory committee will include CDTA and Saratoga County Planning. The
contract amount is $109,000 and 4‐6 month completion time is anticipated.
8. Next meeting and adjourn
(Next Technical Advisory Committee is July 27, 2016; next Policy Committee meeting is 03/2017).
A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 10:58 AM.
Moved by: Cassie Fedler Seconded by: Bob Henke Meeting adjourned.