St. Cloud Area Planning Organization TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES A regular meeting of the St. Cloud Area Planning Organization s (APO) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was held on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 9:00 AM at the Stearns County Public Works Building. Ms. Angie Stenson, APO Senior Transportation Planner, presided with the following members present: Voting Members Present Chris Byrd Benton County Jodi Teich Stearns County Bill McCabe City of St. Augusta Tom Cruikshank MetroBus Steve Voss MnDOT District 3 Steve Foss City of St. Cloud Matt Glaesman City of St. Cloud Todd Schultz City of Sauk Rapids Angie Stenson Mike Nielson City of Sartell Ex-Officio Members Present Bobbi Retzlaff MnDOT Also in Attendance: Kelvin Howieson MnDOT Dist 3 Craig Vaughn Lance Bernard Paul Morris Shaun Morrell MnDOT Jason Gottfried Dorothy Sweet INTRODUCTIONS: Introductions were made. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mr. Foss motioned to approve the agenda and Ms. Teich seconded the motion. Motion carried. CONSIDERATION OF NOVEMBER 6, 2013 TAC MEETING MINUTES: Mr. Glaesman motioned to approve the November 6, 2013 TAC meeting minutes, and Mr. McCabe seconded the motion. Motion carried. SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL (SRTS) STATEWIDE FUNDING SOLICITATION FOR FY 2015 AND 2016: Ms. Stenson stated that this is a separate statewide solicitation with $4.7 million available and is separate from the TAP solicitation. The funding is for FY 2015 and 2016. The St. Augusta project is also eligible to be submitted to the statewide program. Any project submitted last year is also eligible for submission this year. The projects are no longer 100 percent funded. They will now be
80% funded with a local match of 20%, and infrastructure projects near high schools are now eligible. Ms. Stenson reminded everyone that the application deadline is January 31, 2014. TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (TAP) LETTER OF INTENT APPLICANTS: Ms. Stenson overviewed the solicitation and application process, the various deadlines involved, the TAC process of prioritizing and approval of TAC s recommendation from the Executive Board, as well as the project descriptions. The following list includes projects which have submitted a Letter of Intent. The list could change because applications are not due until February 1, 2014. St. Augusta Safe Routes to School - $120,000 Benton Co CSAH 3 (2 nd St N) Bike Path - $120,000 Stearns Co Parks Beaver Island Trail Extension - $1,000,000 Stearns Co Parks Lake Wobegon Trail Extension - $1,000,000 St. Joseph Phase III CSAH 2 Pedestrian Trail - $464,300 TOTAL: $2,704,300 Ms. Stenson commented that $3.2 million TAP funds are available in the Central MN Area Transportation Partnership (ATP), with $1.6 million available for each fiscal year 2017 and 2018. Mr. Voss suggested that since the February 1 deadline falls on a Saturday, the electronic version should be received by February 1 and a hard copy to follow. Applications for these TAP funds should be sent to Steve Voss. TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP): Mn/DOT FUNDING CHANGE FOR FY 2018 & FY 2019 LOCAL PORTION OF FEDERAL STP FUNDS: Ms. Stenson highlighted the STP funding and formula changes for FY 2018 and FY 2019. The STP federal funding amount available for the APO in FY 2018 has decreased from an expected $1.85 million to approximately $1.56 million, a decrease of approximately $300,000. The APO will be programming $3.12 million instead of $3.7 million for the TIP solicitation currently underway for FY 2018 and FY 2019. This substantial decrease comes from a change to the formula for distribution of STP funds statewide to each MnDOT ATP. The formula was previously based on 100% population, with funding distributed accordingly. However, MnDOT changed the formula in December 2013 to be based 50% on population and 50% on CSAH and MSAS needs as calculated by MnDOT s State Aid for Local Transportation. Because of this revised formula, the Central MN ATP (MnDOT District 3) saw a reduction of approximately $1.4 million in STP funds for local projects (from $9 million to $7.6 million). The APO received 20.53 percent of the amount allocated to the Central MN ATP, thus the similar reduction of funding. Rochester area also saw a decrease of $900,000, while the other ATP s saw increases. Mr. Voss reviewed the old and new process and the changes and what the District is required to do. He noted that because of MAP-21, we do have some other pots of money available to us, i.e. TAP Program and increased funds of Highway Safety Improvement Projects (HSIP) funds. Both Ms. Stenson and Mr. Voss agreed there is still a change in the formula that means less funds for ATP 3.
10 CR 135(2 nd Ave S): CSAH 137/7 th St S to CSAH 75/Div St CSAH 75: Old Collegeville Rd to CSAH 81 CSAH 29/1 st St: CSAH 33 Intersection Rapids Stearns Co Stearns Co Benton Co TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP): LOCAL PROJECT SUBMITTALS FOR FY 2018 & FY 2019 FEDERAL STP FUNDING: Project Jurisdiction Project Type Submitted Fed Request Submitted Local Match Road & Bridge (Expansion) APO 2035 Plan Investment Target 50% 33 rd St S; Southway Dr to City of St. Roadway $1,900,000 $1,500,000 Cooper Ave Cloud Expansion Road & Bridge (Safety/Preservation) APO 2035 Plan Investment Target 40% Benton Dr: 2nd Ave S to TH City of Sauk Roadway Recon- $1,785,000 $1,785,000 struction Roadway Reclamation, Roadway Reclamation, Intersection Operation Improvement $400,000 $100,000 $1,260,000 $315,000 $400,000 $100,000 9 th Ave S: 4 th St S to 22 nd St S City of St. Roadway $1,120,000 $280,000 Cloud Reclamation, Transit. Bike & Ped (Multi-Modal) - APO 2035 Plan Investment Target 10% Two Class 500 CNG Bus St. Cloud Bus Replacement $286,400 $71,600 Replacements Metro Bus TOTAL OF ALL REQUESTS: $7,151,400 APO FEDERAL FUNDING TARGET: $3,120,000 SHORTFALL: $4,031,400 Agenda Item #3 Ms. Stenson distributed information on the seven TIP projects. Representatives from each jurisdiction described and reviewed their project(s). We are currently at a 56%/32%/12% investment split and will need to look at how it compares to our adopted 2035 plan for investment splits (50%/40%/10%). Ms. Stenson also distributed a handout containing the APO 2035 Plan Investment Targets Compared to Programing. Ms. Stenson and the Interim Executive Director will score the projects. At the February meeting the TAC members will be reviewing, ranking and prioritizing the projects and will look at the technical components and the different scoring areas in their process. The TAC recommendation will then be sent to the Executive Board for final approval. Ms. Stenson stated that the TAC does not have the final say on the projects. It was noted that in the past, TAC recommendations have not always been followed by the APO Board. LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN: Ms. Stenson provided everyone with an updated list of TAC meetings and timeline changes for the Long Range Transportation Plan per MnDOT s guidance. An August 2014 approval date is now required. Craig Vaughn, Lance Bernard and Paul Morris with SRF Consulting gave presentations on Goals, Objectives and Performance Measures, Access Management Guidelines and Alternative Management Strategies. They also gave an overview of the project identification process for the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). They will be conducting a workshop next month, separate from TAC meetings.
Mr. Lance Bernard recapped the results of the November Public Open House and the six resulting priority areas. More direction and guidance is needed on Performance Measures, particularly by the State and Federal. Mr. Bernard explained the differences between Performance Measures and Performance Indicators. Some measures will continue to evolve. Access Management Guidelines will require recommendations and approval by the TAC. The Goal Areas presented were Safety, Accessibility & Mobility, System Connectivity, System Management, System Preservation, Active Transportation, Energy & Environment, Metropolitan Vitality and Security. Mr. Bernard stated they wanted to start with simple measures and Ms. Retzlaff concurred. Ms. Retzlaff also noted that actual targets will be developed as well. Mr. Foss questioned if accident reduction under Safety is related to Vehicle Miles Traveled. Mr. Vaughn stated that it could be and could be tied together. No comments were made by TAC members on Access/Mobility, System Connectivity, System Management, System Preservation, Active Transportation, Energy & Environment, Metropolitan Vitality and Security. Mr. Byrd motioned to accept the Goals and Objectives and Mr. Foss seconded the motion. Motion carried with no one opposed. The Proposed Access Management Guidelines handout was discussed. Mr. Foss expressed his concern about driveway spacing issues. It was clarified that the driveway spacing applies for new changes and does not apply to existing. Mr. Foss and Mr. Glaesman expressed their concern about the driveway spacing issue since some funding application forms have a yes or no checkmark. TAC members discussed driveway spacing for two lane roads, new roads, new alignment and new locations. Changes were suggested which included deleting the term (Downtown) in the Urban Core section and placing the phrase or pre-existing in the explanation with the single *. Mr. Byrd motioned to accept the Proposed Access Management Guidelines but to have the term Downtown removed from the Urban Core Section and the phrase pre-existing added under the single *. Mr. McCabe seconded the motion. Motion carried with no opposition. The Alternative Management Priority Strategies resulting from the recent November Open House and the Bike/Ped Committee include: Cycling Improvements, Complete Streets, New Urbanism, Transit Improvements, Park-and-Rides and Traffic Calming. Some TAC members were surprised that the public wanted New Urbanism added to the list. Three attendees felt the term was either redundant, confusing or had a stigma associated with it. The TAC members suggested removing the number of votes associated with each topic and not listing them in any particular order of priority. Mr. Glaesman mentioned that the top four priorities were the same top four in a recent survey in St. Cloud. Mr. Glaesman motioned to accept the recommended alternative management strategies and Mr. Schultz seconded the motion. Motion carried. Mr. Paul Morris reviewed SRF s process and approach for the roadway system plan. Issues were identified by: Public Input (Nov Open House & Bike/Ped Advisory Committee), Existing Conditions (Crash Analysis & Level of Service & Congestion) and Regional Model (Future (2040) Travel Demand). The four identified system needs include: Safety, Preservation, Congestion Management and Expansion. The system needs are evaluated through Low Cost/High Benefit Solutions (CMP, Safety Analysis, etc.), System Management Alternatives (TSM, ITS, Land Use, Etc.), Resultant Range of Alternatives and Regional Model/Qualitative Criteria Testing of Alternatives.
Mr. Morris reviewed each need and SRF s general plan for accomplishing this: Risk Assessment (Evaluate complex expansion projects) Preliminary Cost Estimates (Align with financial forecasts) Communication Plan (Convey system needs, evaluation process and findings) TAC and Public Involvement (Seek feedback on project list and priorities) The Key Concepts of Congestion Management were reviewed and discussed: Congestion Management Process Transportation System Management Supplement to capacity expansion/major mobility Focus on lower-cost/high-benefit improvements Expand geographic distribution w/limited resources Address existing problems on roadway system Right sizing solutions Point of diminishing returns Time value of resources Agenda Item #3 The Congestion Management Methodology includes: Identifying problem locations Screen list of top 10 worst problem sites Develop lower-cost/high-benefit solutions (An example of developing lower-cost/highbenefit solution in the Twin City area is the Intersection at TH 51 (Snelling Ave) and Larpenteur where right turn lanes, dual turn lanes and property access modifications were created on southbound approach) Prioritizing solutions with highest return on investment The Final Steps will include: Educating APO staff on congestion management methods to be applied in future LRTP updates Preparing technical memorandum documenting congestion improvements that address the most severe problem locations Reviewing the signal timing throughout the APO planning area, which involves coordinating with Mn/DOT, cities, and counties to understand the status of their respective signal timing systems AGENCY UPDATES: No updates were received other than the APO will request TIP project status reports, which will be on the TAC agenda next month. Two TAC meetings will be held in February and one TAC meeting is scheduled for March. ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Schultz motioned to adjourn and Mr. Foss seconded the motion. Motion carried.