GENESEE TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL
QUARTERLY BOARD MEETING
Radisson Hotel
Henrietta, NY
December 13, 2007
GTC BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Robert Duffy, City of Rochester
Lois Giess, Rochester City Council
Mary Pat Hancock, Genesee County (GTC Vice Chairperson)
Paul E. Haney, Rochester At-Large
James Hoffman, Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council
Daniel Hogan, Monroe County At-Large
Wayne Zyra, Monroe County
ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
Mark Aesch, RGRTA, representing John G. Doyle, Jr.
Leslie Bamann, Ontario County, representing Theodore Fafinski
James Fabino, Wayne County
E. Joseph Gozelski, Wyoming County, representing A. Douglas Berwanger
Paul Johnson, Monroe County Planning Board, representing Linda A. Faubel
Scott Leathersich, Monroe County At-Large, representing Edward Marianetti
Edward G. Muszynski, Empire State Development Corporation, representing Daniel Gundersen
Kevin OBuckley, NYSDOT Region 4, representing Astrid C. Glynn
Thomas Pericak, NYS Thruway Authority, representing Michael Fleischer
Terrence J. Rice, Monroe County, representing Maggie Brooks
David Woods, Livingston County, representing James Merrick
GTC BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT AND UNREPRESENTED
Edward Barto, Seneca County
George Bower, Orleans County
Philip Brito, Federal Aviation Administration
Pete Grannis, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Brigid Hynes-Cherin, Federal Transit Administration
Jeff Kolb, Federal Highway Administration
Robert Multer, Yates County
James E. Smith, Monroe County Supervisors Association
David L. Watson, Rochester City Planning Commission
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE
Deborah Elliott, GTC Staff
Dan Hallowell, NYSDOT Region 4
Kristen Mark Hughes, Ontario County
Marvin Kleinberg, NYSDOT Region 4
Richard Perrin, GTC Staff
Robert Slaver, Jr., NYSDOT Region 4
James Stack, GTC Staff
John Thomas, City of Rochester
Robert Torzynski, GTC Staff
Kevin Yost, citizen
David Zorn, Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Vice Chairperson Mary Pat Hancock called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
James Stack, GTC staff, called the roll; a quorum was present.
2. Public Forum
No one from the public spoke during the Public Forum.
3. Approval of Minutes
Kevin OBuckley moved for approval of the minutes from the September 13, 2007 GTC Quarterly Board meeting; Terrence Rice seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as submitted.
4. Communications and Announcements
Richard Perrin announced New York Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael Fleischer has designated Douglas J. Tokarczyk as an alternate to the Genesee Transportation Council Board.
5. Reports and Action on Old Business
a. Planning Committee Report David Woods, Chairman
David Woods provided the following report:
The Planning Committee met October 18th and November 15th and recommends that the GTC Board:
Adopt the Genesee Transportation Council Public Participation Plan
Amend the FY 2007-2008 Unified Planning Work Program to reflect the addition of FHWA Statewide Planning and Research funds
Amend Resolution 04-6 by withdrawing the proposed modification to add a National Highway System Intermodal Connector to serve the Port of Rochester
Accept final reports, executive summaries, and technical memoranda as evidence of completion of nine Unified Planning Work Program Tasks
Adopt five amendments to the 2007-2012 Transportation Improvement Program as requested by Monroe County and RGRTA
Additionally, the Planning Committee took the following actions:
Approved a minor amendment to the FY 2007-2008 Unified Planning Work Program by changing the auditable budget for the Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood Parking and Circulation Study as requested by the City of Rochester
Approved minor amendments to seven projects in the 2007-2012 Transportation Improvement Program as requested by Monroe County
Approved scopes of work for Unified Planning Work Program tasks to be conducted by the Town of Penfield, the City of Rochester, and GTC staff
b. GTC Staff Report Richard Perrin, Executive Director
Richard Perrin provided the following report:
GTC staff are working with the UPWP Development Committee (UDC) to develop the FY 2008-2009 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) that will cover April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009. The first step in producing the FY 2008-2009 UPWP was the development of the GTC core budget which provides funds for staff to conduct those activities necessary for meeting the federal requirements of MPOs to ensure continued receipt of FHWA and FTA monies, for planning and implementation. The FY 2008-09 core budget totals $816,599 which is a 0.7 percent increase over FY 2007-2008. GTC staff anticipates having new revenues of nearly $1.7 million and rollover of approximately $500,000 for a total of $2,166,433. This amounts to $1,349,834 being available for member agency proposals and consultant services to GTC staff.
GTC staff conducted a Call for Projects to the 192 municipalities, nine counties, and other eligible entities in the region. Thirty-eight proposals requesting over two million dollars were received.
The UDC met November 15, November 29, and deliberated via e-mail and has developed a preliminary draft FY 2008-2009 UPWP for Planning Committee consideration.
GTC staff have continued to advance activities and projects in the current UPWP. Several of these projects have been completed pending GTC Board approval.
c. Old Business
1. Status report on bridges in the region
Richard Perrin reviewed the information on the status of bridges that was provided in the memorandum at the September 13 Board meeting. At the time, terms such as functionally obsolete and structurally deficient were used inappropriately by the media to characterize the physical and structural characteristics of bridges.
A work plan was outlined that included seven primary tasks to ensure that the process for selecting bridges to receive federal funds is not only cost-effective but also sufficient for addressing critical needs. As stated in the memorandum, the responsibility for ensuring the safety of a bridge is that of the agency that owns, operates, and maintains the bridge. Regarding the seven work tasks, GTC staff has made significant progress but has not completed all of them as originally intended in mid-September. Approximately 50 percent of the work plan is complete. The inventory of bridges with flags and associated actions to address the concerns raised by the flags is complete. The inventory of structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges and their associated physical and operational characteristics is complete. The bridges currently programmed to receive federal funds have been identified. Members of the ad-hoc bridge safety and performance committee have also been selected.
Remaining tasks include convening the committee, presenting the results of the inventory, assessing the current selection process for federal funds and capabilities to administer those funds, working through the TIP Development Committee and Planning Committee to recommend improvements, if any, to the selection process, and reporting back to the GTC Board on the findings.
The intent is not to act as an oversight agency for bridge maintenance and operations but rather to be sure that GTC is an asset towards ensuring the safety of the regions bridges to the maximum extent practical, as the MPO for the region.
The number of bridges receiving flags as part of their bi-annual or annual inspections has increased significantly over the past three years partially due to new inspection standards. More importantly, a decline in the condition of the infrastructure is also occurring. Fifty-one bridges with flags are not programmed in the current TIP. Flags can be removed without improving the structure by, for example, posting weight limits on bridges that are identified as being structurally deficient.
Dan Hogan asked if a yearly construction inflation factor has been determined.
Richard Perrin responded that general transportation construction costs have increased four percent per year over the last 10 years but the rate of increase has been faster that that over the last two years.
6. New Business
a. Adopting the Genesee Transportation Council Public Participation Plan Action on Proposed Resolution 07-33
Vice Chairperson Hancock asked if any Board members had questions on this agenda item. Hearing none, she requested a motion to approve the Resolution.
Wayne Zyra moved to approve Resolution 07-33; Dan Hogan seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
b. Amending the FY 2007-2008 UPWP to reflect the addition of FHWA Statewide Planning and Research (SPR) funds - Action on Proposed Resolution 07-34
Vice Chairperson Hancock asked if any Board members had questions on this agenda item. Hearing none, she requested a motion to approve the Resolution.
Terrence Rice moved to approve Resolution 07-34; Leslie Bamann seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
c. Amending Resolution 04-6 by withdrawing the proposed modification to add a National Highway System Intermodal Connector to serve the Port of Rochester Action on Proposed Resolution 07-49
Vice Chairperson Hancock asked if any Board members had questions on this agenda item. Hearing none, she requested a motion to approve the Resolution.
Lois Giess moved to approve Resolution 07-49; Paul Haney seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
d. Accepting final reports, executive summaries, and technical memoranda as evidence of completion of various UPWP Tasks
Vice Chairperson Mary Pat Hancock suggested that Resolutions 07-35 through 07-43 be considered under one motion. The Board concurred.
(1) Accepting the report, Meridian Centre Boulevard Extension Study, as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 6631 Action on Proposed Resolution 07-35
(2) Accepting the report, Rochester Vehicle Fleet Alternative Fuels System Study, as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 8551 Action on Proposed Resolution 07-36
(3) Accepting the report, Market Research for Regional Transit Service, as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 4730 Action on Proposed Resolution 07-37
(4) Accepting the executive summary, Route Analysis, as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 8535 for FY 2006-2007 Action on Proposed Resolution 07-38
(5) Accepting the report, Strategic Plan for Public Transportation in Yates County, as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 8290 Action on Proposed Resolution 07-39
(6) Accepting the report, Coordinated Public Transit/Human Services Transportation Plan for Genesee-Finger Lakes Region, as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 8150 Action on Proposed Resolution 07-40
(7) Accepting the report, Transportation and Industrial Access, and high priority site reports as evidence of completion of UPWP Tasks 5320 and 5321 Action on Proposed Resolution 07-41
(8) Accepting the technical memoranda, Overview of Accepted On-Street Bicycle Accommodations and Treatments and On-Street Bicycle Facilities Opportunities Assessment, as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 6530 Action on Proposed Resolution 07-42
(9) Accepting the Executive Summary, Pedestrian Facilities Inventory, as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 6531 Action on Proposed Resolution 07-43
Vice Chairperson Hancock asked if any Board members had questions on this agenda item. Hearing none, she requested a motion to approve the Resolutions.
Scott Leathersich moved to approve Resolutions 07-35 through 07-43; Kevin OBuckley seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
e. Adopting amendments to the 2007-2012 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
(1) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by changing the limits of the Lake Road (Seaway Trail), NY Rte. 250 to Monroe-Wayne County Line Road project Action on Council Resolution 07-44
Vice Chairperson Hancock asked if any Board members had questions on this agenda item. Hearing none, she requested a motion to approve the Resolution.
Terrence Rice moved to approve Resolution 07-44; Robert Duffy seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
Vice Chairperson Mary Pat Hancock suggested that Resolutions 07-45 through 07-48 be considered under one motion. The Board concurred.
(2) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by increasing the total cost of the Preventive Maintenance project Action on Council Resolution 07-45
(3) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP adding the Purchase 25 Lift Line Buses (FFY 2008) project Action on Council Resolution 07-46
(4) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by adding the Purchase 18 Lift Line Buses (FFY 2009) project Action on Council Resolution 07-47
(5) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by increasing the total number of vehicles purchased and increasing the total cost of the RTS Bus Replacement project Action on Council Resolution 07-48
Vice Chairperson Hancock asked if any Board members had questions on this agenda item. Hearing none, she requested a motion to approve the Resolutions.
Kevin OBuckley moved to approve Resolutions 07-44 through 07-48; Leslie Bamann seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
7. Any Other New Business
Paul Haney asked about the status of the CSX locomotive project. He expressed concern about supporting a for-profit corporation.
Richard Perrin stated it is his understanding that the project is progressing. He noted that NYSDOT, as the public agency sponsor, is working with CSX to develop the necessary agreements.
Paul Haney asked what assurances there are that the locomotives will stay in the Rochester area. Richard Perrin noted that this was a concern of the TIP Development Committee. During its presentation on the project application, CSX committed to keeping the locomotives in the Rochester area for a minimum of five years, which will be a significant health benefit for the neighborhood. GTC has requested notification from NYSDOT of the assurances that are included in the agreements to ensure that the locomotives operated locally for a minimum of five years.
Scott Leathersich asked if there was some way to monitor compliance to this commitment. Dan Hallowell responded that he recalled GPS units will be installed on the locomotives.
a. 2008 GTC Meeting Calendar
Richard Perrin noted that in addition to the schedule for GTC Board meetings the 2008 calendar included in the package also includes the dates, times, and locations for the Planning Committee and TIP Development Committee meetings. The latter are presented for informational purposes and Board members are welcome to attend.
On behalf of GTC staff, Richard Perrin expressed their appreciation to Lois Giess for her many years of service to the Genesee Transportation Council. The Board joined Richard in thanking City Council President Giess and wished her well in her future endeavors.
8. Next Meeting
The next GTC Board meeting will be held Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Henrietta.
9. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m.