GENESEE TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL
QUARTERLY BOARD MEETING
Radisson Hotel
Henrietta, NY
June 19, 2008
GTC BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Maggie Brooks, Monroe County (GTC Chairperson)
Mary Pat Hancock, Genesee County (GTC Vice Chairperson)
James Hoffman, Wayne County
Dan 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
E. Joseph Gozelski, Wyoming County, representing A. Douglas Berwanger
Kevin OBuckley, NYSDOT, representing Astrid C. Glynn
Rick Hannon, City of Rochester representing Robert Duffy
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 Kenneth Schoetz
William Sullivan, Rochester City Council, representing Gladys Santiago
Thomas E. Pericak, NYS Thruway Authority, representing Michael Fleischer
Angela Ellis, Livingston County, representing James Merrick
David Zorn, Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council
GTC BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT AND UNREPRESENTED
Philip Brito, Federal Aviation Administration
Linda M. Dobson, Monroe County Supervisors Association
Pete Grannis, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Paul E. Haney, Rochester At-Large
Brigid Hynes-Cherin, Federal Transit Administration
Jeff Kolb, Federal Highway Administration
Chuck Lafler, Seneca County
Robert Multer, Yates County
Henry Smith, Jr., Orleans County
David L. Watson, Rochester City Planning Commission
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE
Christopher Burns, Subway-Erie Canal Revitalization Group
Deborah Elliott, GTC Staff
Dan Hallowell, NYSDOT Region 4
Kristen Mark Hughes, Ontario County
Richard Perrin, GTC Staff
Terrence J. Rice, Monroe County
Rob Slaver, NYSDOT Region 4
James Stack, GTC Staff
John Thomas, City of Rochester
Douglas J. Tokarczyk, NYS Thruway Authority
Robert Torzynski, GTC Staff
Ed Welsh, NYSDOT Region 4
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chairperson Brooks called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
James Stack, GTC staff, called the roll; a quorum was present.
2. Public Forum
Christopher Burns from the Subway Erie Canal Revitalization Group spoke during the Public Forum. He commented on the groups efforts to halt the City of Rochester plans to fill the Broad Street subway tunnel until other alternatives are further studied. He feels the Citys preferred alternative is not consistent with the communitys wishes. He is concerned that filling in the Broad Street Tunnel would eliminate all other options before the current study is complete. He noted that with the increase in gas prices other alternatives should not be eliminated. He encouraged the Council to question the project and would rather the tunnel be reconstructed. He informed the Council of a public meeting to be held on June 28, 2008.
3. Approval of Minutes
Daniel Hogan moved for approval of the minutes from the March 13, 2008 GTC Quarterly Board meeting; Mark Aesch seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as submitted.
4. Communications and Announcements
Richard Perrin announced the following appointments to the GTC Board:
City of Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy has named Richard N. Hannon as his alternate to the Genesee Transportation Council.
Monroe County Legislature President Wayne Zyra has named Robert J. Colby as his alternate to the Genesee Transportation Council.
Livingston County Board of Supervisors Chair James Merrick has named Angela Ellis as his alternate to the Genesee Transportation Council.
5. Reports and Action on Old Business
a. Planning Committee Report Kristen Mark Hughes, Chairman
Kristen Mark Hughes provided the following report:
The Planning Committee met April 10 and May 8 and recommends that the GTC Board:
Amend the FY 2008-2009 UPWP Budget to reflect the contribution of FY 2007-2008 rollover amounts
Amend the FY 2008-2009 UPWP to reflect the reprogramming of FTA Metropolitan Planning Program Funds
Accept reports and the production and distribution of a report as evidence of completion of four Unified Planning Work Program Tasks
Adopt seventeen amendments to the 2007-2012 Transportation Improvement Program as requested by the Town of Greece, Town of Penfield, NYSDOT, and RGRTA
Endorse the Regional Project Priorities List for the NYSDOT Safe Routes to School Program
Additionally, the Planning Committee took the following actions:
Approved the classifications of 2008-2009 Unified Planning Work Program tasks in accordance with the GTC Public Participation Plan
Approved minor amendments to four projects in the 2007-2012 Transportation Improvement Program as requested by Monroe County and NYSDOT
Approved scopes of work for seven Unified Planning Work Program tasks to be conducted by the Village of Geneseo, Town of Greece, the Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, Seneca County, and the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority
b. GTC Staff Report Richard Perrin, Executive Director
Richard Perrin provided the following report, noting that it would be brief given the amount of action items on the meeting agenda:
GTC staff is advancing a Safe Routes to School program to complement New York States efforts.
GTC staff is advancing the Regional Goods Movement Study. The draft scope of work has been thoroughly reviewed by stakeholders.
GTC staff is nearing completion of a Peer Review and will report to the Executive Committee later this year.
c. Old Business
1. TIP Project Delivery Review
Chairperson Brooks suggested moving item 5.c. (1) to the end of the agenda. The Board concurred.
6. Action Items
a. Amending the FY 2008-2009 UPWP budget to reflect the contribution of actual FY 2007-2008 rollover amounts Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-20
Richard Perrin discussed the annual UPWP rollover amendment to reconcile projected balances with actual balances for each project task. He highlighted the proposed changes and noted that GTC staff is proposing to fund on-call regional travel demand modeling assistance with savings from the prior fiscal year. Richard informed the Council that UPWP budget will likely need to be amended again in September because NYSDOT identified $2.9 million in federal planning funds to meet the FHWA rescission for the current federal fiscal year. He noted that staff is working to identify the GTC share of the $2.9 million of planning funds that are being rescinded and the optimum way to meet this reduction.
E. Joseph Gozelski moved to approve Resolution 08-20; Richard Hannon seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
b. Amending the FY 2008-2009 UPWP to reflect the reprogramming of FTA Metropolitan Planning Program (MPP) funds Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-21
Richard Perrin explained the RGRTA budget request to reprogram savings from a recently completed task and use a portion of the FTA funds in Program Reserve to fund an existing task at the amount originally requested. He stated that the UPWP Development Committee viewed the original project proposal favorably but there were not sufficient FTA funds to cover the requested amount at that time.
Dan Hogan moved to approve Resolutions 08-21; Wayne Zyra seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
c. Accepting reports as evidence of completion of various UPWP Tasks
Chairperson Brooks suggested that Resolutions 08-18, 08-19, 08-22, and 08-23 be considered under one motion. The Board concurred.
(1) Accepting the report, Palmyra Route 21 Truck Study, as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 6611 Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-18
(2) Accepting the facility reports for the RTS and Lift Line campuses as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 8421 Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-19
(3) Accepting the production and distribution of the report, Statistical Analyses of Parking by Land Use, as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 5340 Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-22
(4) Accepting the report, Comprehensive Downtown Parking Study, as evidence of completion of UPWP Task 6351 Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-23
E. Joseph Gozelski moved to approve Resolutions 08-18, 08-19, 08-22, and 08-23; Dan Hogan seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
E. Joseph Gozelski asked if there was an assessment of the impacts of trucks on county and local roads conducted as part of the Palmyra Route 21 Truck Study. Richard Perrin responded that the study did not but that its intent was to identify ways to mitigate the impacts of trucks on Route 21 in Palmyra. He noted that NYSDOT is looking at regulatory measures that may reduce the numbers of trucks on county- and locally-owned roads, many of which were not designed or constructed to accommodate large numbers of trucks.
d. Adopting amendments to the 2007-2012 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
Chairperson Brooks suggested that Resolutions 08-24 and 08-25 be considered under one motion. The Board concurred.
(1) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by increasing the total cost of the Janes Road project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-24
(2) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by decreasing the federal share of the Maiden Lane Reconstruction Phase 2 project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-25
Leslie Bamann moved to approve Resolutions 08-24 and 08-25; Scott Leathersich seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
Mark Aesch asked if the change is revenue neutral. Richard Perrin responded yes.
(3) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by adding the Construction/Enhancement of Motts Lane project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-26
Wayne Zyra moved to approve Resolution 08-26; Mary Pat Hancock seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
Mark Aesch asked what source of federal funds is being programmed to the project. Richard Perrin responded that the federal funds for this project are an earmark in the Federal Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations Act.
Chairperson Brooks suggested that Resolutions 08-27 through 08-39 be considered under one motion. The Board concurred.
(4) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by deleting the Rt. 31 Bridge over Melvin Brook Reconstruction project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-27
(5) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by increasing the total cost of the Rt. 245 over Parish Creek Reconstruction project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-28
(6) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by increasing the total cost of the Lake Ontario State Parkway Multi-Use Trail project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-29
(7) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by decreasing the total cost of the I-390 Concrete Pavement Restoration in Geneseo and Avon project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-30
(8) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by adding the I-390 Concrete Pavement Restoration in Geneseo (SR 408 - US 20A) project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-31
(9) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by decreasing the total cost of the I-390 Bridge over Canaseraga Creek Preventive Maintenance project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-32
(10) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by decreasing the total cost of the I-490 & Rt. 204 Preventive Maintenance project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-33
(11) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP decreasing the total cost of the I-390 Ramps at Exits 12, 13, and 14 Preventive Maintenance project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-34
(12) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by adding the Bridge Deck and Joint Repairs on I-390 and I-590 project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-35
(13) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by adding the Bridge Steel and Concrete Repairs on I-390, I-490, & I-590 project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-36
(14) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by increasing the total cost of the Smith Street Bridge project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-37
(15) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by deleting the Quaker Street Bridge over the Erie Canal Rehabilitation project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-38
(16) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by increasing the total cost of the Route 65 (Clover Street) project Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-39
E. Joseph Gozelski moved to approve Resolutions 08-27 through 08-39; Mary Pat Hancock seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
E. Joseph Gozelski asked why bridge projects were being deleted and federal funds were being added to trail projects. Richard Perrin responded that these bridges dont have condition ratings that would make them eligible for federal bridge funds. He added that funds for the trail project are being reallocated from the HELP program, not the bridge projects.
(17) Amending the 2007-2012 TIP by modifying the total cost of the Renaissance Square project to include unobligated STP-Flex funds from prior years Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-40
Wayne Zyra moved to approve Resolution 08-40; Richard Hannon seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
Richard Perrin emphasized that this amendment is not a cost increase to the project but rather incorporates funds from Prior Years into the current TIP and shifts funds between years in the current TIP to better align revenues with the current project schedule. In addition, this will provide flexibility to advance other existing projects in the TIP in the current federal fiscal year.
e. Endorsing the Regional Project Priorities List for the NYSDOT Safe Routes to School Program Action on Proposed Council Resolution 08-41.
Richard Perrin stated that this is a new program being administered by NYSDOT. The program is similar to Transportation Enhancements Program in that the Council is recommending a priority list for statewide selection.
Terry Rice asked if applicants are being notified of their status. Richard Perrin responded that NYSDOT, as the program administrator, would inform applicants of the disposition of their projects according to their schedule.
Dan Hogan moved to approve Resolution 08-41; William Sullivan seconded. The motion passed unopposed.
7. New Business
Mary Pat Hancock informed the Council that there is a bill before the State legislature to allow tandem trails to exit at NYS Thruway interchange 48A in Pembroke and travel a short distance to parking areas to separate the trailers. Many of these vehicles serve businesses in western Genesee County but are currently required to exit in Depew or Batavia, which increases expenses to the trucking firms and their customers as well as emissions. She asked for any assistance that Council members may be able to provide on this matter. Rick Hannon stated that the City of Rochester would provide assistance by discussing the matter with Assemblyman Gantt, as Chairman of the Transportation Committee.
5.c.(1) TIP Project Delivery Review
Richard Perrin gave a presentation on the TIP Project Delivery Review.
Dan Hogan asked how increases in material costs are affecting projects in the TIP. Richard Perrin responded that material costs continue to increase at unprecedented rates and, at present, project sponsors are expected to factor these into the amount of funds requested for their projects. He suggested the project sponsor should plan for higher rates so the cost can be covered and that the next TIP update offers the region the opportunity to incorporate these higher rates, reducing the need for TIP amendments.
Chairperson Brooks thanked Richard Perrin and the GTC staff for their efforts in conducting this review. She stated that, even though it looks like the Council is reacting, we are actually being proactive on this issue and that no other Metropolitan Planning Organization in New York State has conducted such a review. She asked members for their opinions.
Mark Aesch commented that in previous TIP updates a significant amount of federal funds have been programmed to existing projects to cover cost increases. He added that we need to address this by changing the culture of automatically amending the TIP to provide additional funds to existing projects.
Richard Perrin responded that there have been initial discussions at the TIP Development Committee level to accomplish this by providing the necessary funds, as determined by project sponsors, for existing projects and also limiting the opportunity to request additional funds for existing projects in the future.
Dan Hogan added that we need to identify such a process but also recognize that bids may come in higher than programmed amounts in limited circumstances and provide for adjustments, specifically for jurisdictions that have a limited ability to offset cost increases with other projects.
Leslie Bamann suggested GTC staff develop a communication plan in order for local communities to know what to expect given current federal funding availability, the need to provide updated costs, and the potential for limited opportunities to obtain additional federal funds. Richard Perrin responded that this is extremely important and that GTC staff would work with the TIP Development Committee to accomplish this.
Ed Muszynski asked about future sources of revenues for federal funds, noting that gas tax revenues were declining. Richard Perrin responded the gas tax would remain the primary source of revenue in the immediate future and that there are current discussions regarding indexing the gas tax to inflation or some other measure and identifying new sources. He noted that other sources (e.g., those based on carbon emission, vehicle miles traveled, etc.) need to be evaluated in terms of their ability to meet transportation funding needs and the equity of their distribution among all segments of the traveling public.
Tom Pericak noted that the vast majority of members of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission are recommending an immediate increase to the gas tax.
Richard Hannon noted that the speaker during the public forum stated that the project does not match the community desire. He noted that the City of Rochester disputes that assertion. While the project has some controversy, the City does not believe that the speaker reflects the view of the community at-large.
8. Next Meeting
The next GTC Board meeting will be held Thursday, September 11, 2008 at the 8:30 a.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Henrietta.
9. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:42 a.m.