Champaign-Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation Study (CUUATS) Policy Committee

Transcription

1 CUUATS CHAMPAIGN URBANA URBANIZED AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY 1776 East Washington Street Urbana, IL Champaign-Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation Study (CUUATS) Policy Committee MINUTES APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED DATE: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 TIME: 10:30 a.m. PLACE: Champaign County Regional Planning Commission John Dimit Meeting Room 1776 E Washington, Urbana, IL Policy Voting Members Agency Present Absent Champaign County Pius Weibel Champaign Roland White (proxy) Don Gerald Urbana Mike Monson (proxy) Laurel Prussing (Chair) Savoy Robert McCleary UIUC Jack Dempsey CUMTD Willard Broom (proxy) Ron Peters (Vice Chair) IDOT District 5 Robert Nelson (proxy) Dennis Markwell Others Present: Tom Caldwell & Darla Latham (IDOT), Betsy Tracy (FHWA), Cameron Moore (CCRPC), Bill Gray (Urbana), Morgan Johnston (UIUC), Jeff Blue (Champaign County), Cynthia Hoyle (CUMTD), Pattsi Petrie (Champaign County Bd), Gary Cziko CUUATS Staff: Rita Black, Gabe Lewis, Eric Hansen, Beth Brunk MINUTES I. Call to Order As acting chair, Mr. Broom called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m. II. III. Roll Call The roll was taken by written record and a quorum was declared present. Audience Participation Gary Cziko of Urbana Mr. Cziko reviewed the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Unified Technical Work Program (UTWP) FY2012 and was disappointed to find that there was no mention of roundabouts in either document. A roundabout study for two locations in Urbana will be presented to the Urbana City Council in June. Some states require a roundabout study on any intersection, new or upgraded, to see what type of configuration is most effective. Mr. Cziko hopes the TIP and UTWP will include roundabout projects in the near future. IV. Approval of Agenda There being no changes, Mr. Weibel made the motion, seconded by Mr. McCleary to approve the agenda as distributed. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. CUUATS Policy Committee 1 May 11, 2011

2 V. Approval of Minutes A. CUUATS Policy Committee Meeting April 13, 2011 There being no changes, Mr. McCleary made a motion, seconded by Mr. Weibel, to approve the minutes of the April 13, 2011 CUUATS Policy Committee meeting as distributed. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. VI. New Business A. Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Amendments Gabe Lewis 1. Champaign County and the City of Urbana North Lincoln Avenue With input from the public and the Champaign County Board, an updated alignment along north Lincoln Avenue between Saline Court and Olympian Drive has been determined. Urbana and Champaign County have requested to use $60,000 of Surface Transportation Program Urban (STP(U)) funding to help defray the cost of the updated Phase 1 study. This funding will not affect the Olympian Drive project already in the STP(U) table. Mr. Weibel made a motion to approve the Transportation Improvement Program amendment for north Lincoln Avenue. Mr. Monson seconded. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. 2. Champaign County Forest Preserve District (CCFPD) Kickapoo Rails-to-Trails Project CCFPD has detailed the funding information for the TIP to convert the abandoned rail corridor to a Rails-to-Trails path from Smith Road in Urbana to Kickapoo State Park in Vermilion County. Mr. White made a motion to approve the Transportation Improvement Program amendment for the Kickapoo Rails-to-Trails project. Mr. McCleary seconded. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. 3. City of Champaign, Village of Savoy and Champaign County Curtis Road The funding responsibilities between the local agencies were finalized for the widening of Curtis Road as the construction is complete. Mr. Dempsey made a motion to approve the Transportation Improvement Program amendment for the Curtis Road Project. Mr. McCleary seconded. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. B. Approval of Fiscal Year Draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Gabe Lewis The CUUATS Technical Committee approved the draft TIP today. If approved by CUUATS Policy Committee, the draft TIP will be made available for a 30-day public review period with printed copies at Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, Champaign/Urbana Public Libraries and a digital format of the document on the CUUATS website. Mr. Lewis stated that some changes have been identified by the CUUATS Technical Committee and those changes plus any public comments will be incorporated into the final TIP for approval at the June CUUATS meeting. Mr. McCleary made a motion to approve the FY Draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as presented. Mr. Weibel seconded. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. C. Approval of Final Unified Technical Work Program (UTWP) FY2012 Rita Black Ms. Black indicated that there were no major changes from the draft. The Intergovernmental Agreement changes that were approved at last month s CUUATS meeting will be incorporated in the UTWP once all the agencies have approved the agreement. CUUATS Policy Committee 2 May 11, 2011

3 The UTWP outlines the tasks for CUUATS staff as directed by CUUATS Technical and Policy Committees. The main priorities include the implementation of the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) 2035, compilation of the annual transportation projects in the TIP, Champaign County Greenways & Trails Plan update and development of five models CUUATS Travel Demand Model, Mode Choice for the University District, Air Quality & Greenhouse Gas Emission Model (Move 2010), Land Use Evolution & Impact Assessment Model (LEAM) and Neighborhood Affordability Index. In addition to these tasks, staff assists member agencies with grant applications and traffic/safety studies as needed. Ms. Black noted that in the CUUATS Proposed Fee Structure for FY 2012, the local match for the member agencies stayed at the same level as FY Mr. McCleary made a motion to approve the final Unified Technical Work Program FY2012 as presented. Mr. Nelson seconded. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. VII. Old Business A. Committees and Working Groups 1. CUTEC No report 2. CATS III Technical Committee No report 3. Champaign County Transit Partnership Group (CCTPG) Rita Black CRIS Rural Transit is providing rural transit service in Rantoul and the surrounding area. Ms. Black hopes to have ridership numbers at the next CUUATS meeting. 4. Olympian Drive Bill Gray An amended Intergovernmental Agreement has been approved by Champaign County and Urbana. It will be up for approval at the Champaign City Council meeting on May 17 th. The amended agreement included construction of Lincoln Avenue to Apollo Drive and Champaign Avenue to Duncan Road, design, land acquisition and maintenance responsibilities for the road when completed. Urbana is selecting an attorney to assist in the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) petition process if necessary and compiling a list of IDOT-approved appraisers. Mr. Dempsey asked if the CUUATS Policy Committee needed to take a position in response to the Stop Olympian Drive group s plan to intervene through an ICC petition. Mr. Blue stated that the ICC typically does not get involved in local disputes. 5. miplan Cynthia Hoyle The White Street/Springfield Avenue Corridor studies are being presented to Urbana and Champaign s Planning Commissions and City Councils. CUUATS staff received a good response from the surveys to the University community about transportation so they can proceed with updating the Mode Choice travel demand model and developing scenarios. That information will be used in applying for the Very Small Starts grant opportunity to improve some street infrastructure in the University District. B. Agency Reports 1. City of Champaign Roland White The Fourth Street HSIP safety and pedestrian improvement project from John Street to Armory Avenue will include bumpouts, signal and bike lane improvements and LED lighting. Similar enhancements will occur on University Avenue between Chestnut Street and State Street including a new pedestrian refuge median and an overlay. Both of these projects will begin in June. CUUATS Policy Committee 3 May 11, 2011

4 The John Street Drainage project will lay a 60 pipe down the road between State Street and Willis Avenue, and then the road will be rebuilt. Champaign qualified for a $750,000 IEPA grant for green infrastructure along Green Street including large right-of-way rain gardens and permeable pavement on a side street. Maintenance work will focus on campus this summer with overlays on First Street, Third Street, Fifth Street, Chalmers Street and Armory Avenue. Additional work in the University District will include sidewalks and two alleys. 2. City of Urbana Bill Gray Urbana is in the design phase for construction next year on Race Street between Griggs Street and University Avenue. Similarly, Broadway Avenue will be reconstructed between Water Street and University Avenue as part of the Boneyard Improvement Project. All twenty easements have been executed for the High Cross Road side path between Windsor Road and Po Boys Restaurant with a possible August letting. The Big Broadband project (UC2B) has finalized plans and specifications, and the bidding process will begin soon. In Urbana, $6 million of construction will start in July or August and affect various streets for the next 18 months. Champaign County and Urbana are finalizing an agreement concerning north Lincoln Avenue to forward with the Project Development Report for the design and construction in FY15 a $5.6 million project. Urbana is widening Philo Road south of Washington Street to accommodate bike lanes. Segments of Springfield Avenue, Lincoln Avenue and Park Street will be resurfaced using motor fuel tax revenue. Other road reconstruction includes Springfield Avenue between McCullough Street and Cedar Street, McCullough Street between Main Street and Griggs Street, Airport Road west of US-45, and Philo Road south of Windsor Road. Urbana and IDOT have received approval to move the Illinois Jobs Now (IJN) money that was allocated to the I-74 interchange access justification study to IL-130 road improvements (widen, signalize, etc.) between University Avenue and Florida Avenue extended to accommodate a future Menards building site. Combined with other IJN money, a total of $8.425 million will be available for this project in FY Village of Savoy Robert McCleary Final grading will complete the work at the Tickseed Avenue/Church Street interchange. Feutz Contractor is ahead of schedule on the Old Town Drainage project. Woodfield Alley, the frontage road in front of Schnucks in Savoy, will be rebuilt, and the bid opening is May 17 th. Savoy s portion of Prospect Avenue will be overlayed with a July bid and August start. 4. C-U Mass Transit District (MTD) Cynthia Hoyle On campus, MTD is installing new kiosks with real time transit information. The hybrid buses have been well received by the community. A public meeting will be held to review the proposed adjustments to the bus routes for the fall. 5. Champaign County Jeff Blue Work on some township roads and bridges, striping and six railroad crossing improvements will be bid in May. Bids in June include resurfacing County Road 11 from Thomasboro to north of Gifford and a bridge removal/replacement on Maplewood Drive north of Rantoul. Additionally, eight township bridges are in the final design phase for construction hopefully before winter. A bridge reconstruction in Flatville will be bid in August with construction next year. The County will work on safety improvements (widening slopes and filling in ditches) on the county highway west out of the Village of Philo. CUUATS Policy Committee 4 May 11, 2011

5 6. University of Illinois Morgan Johnston The crosswalks on campus will be repainted and receive new signs to reflect the change in Illinois law where motorists must now stop instead of yield to pedestrians. This summer, contractors will install a new storm sewer under Gregory Drive from First Street to Fourth Street and then repave the street. A porous asphalt parking lot will be constructed this fall at Fifth Street and Chalmers Street. Improvements to the Grainger Library crosswalk will be delayed until next summer to coincide with a chilled water project that will need to cut across Springfield Avenue. Ms. Johnston announced that the University will fund $1.5 million in street projects and road repairs on campus for the next fiscal year. A pavement analysis was done last year, and those recommendations will be prioritized. Ms. Johnston surmised that St. Mary s Road will be a top priority. 7. Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) Rita Black The Stratton Safe Route to Schools plan was approved by the City of Champaign and can be viewed on the CUUATS website. Many students, faculty and staff of the University responded to the Mode Choice survey. CUUATS staff will now tabulate the data to develop a Mode Choice Model for the University District. Staff received confirmation that they were the recipients of two grants from IDOT s Division of Public & Intermodal Transportation. An update of the Greenways & Trails plan was awarded $30,500 and a traffic study of the University District received $250,000. The traffic study will develop a micro-simulation model which can evaluate the changes that have been done on campus and future scenarios. Transportation and Community and System Preservation (TSCP) Grant Opportunity Curtis Road Corridor Study FHWA is soliciting applications for a grant program, Transportation and Community and System Preservation (TSCP). This program allows agencies to apply for planning funds to enhance the relationship between transportation, land use and economic development. Ms. Black examined the Long Range Transportation Plan and proposed to apply for a grant to conduct a corridor study of Curtis Road between Rising Road and IL-130 that would fit the criteria for the TSCP. It will be up to the CUUATS Policy Committee to support this proposal and determine the boundaries of the study. The submission deadline of the grant application is May 23 rd. Mr. Gray commented that a corridor study could enhance potential ICC funding on the rail grade separation on Curtis Road by Neil Street. Mr. Dempsey stated that he has met with the University of Illinois Chancellor and the Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences (ACES) this morning, and the University will not participate in the proposed Curtis Road Corridor Study. Taxpayers have paid millions of dollars to move the University s farms south, and developing that corridor will contribute to light pollution and other issues that will negatively impact the farms. Mr. Dempsey understood that the ring road would move from Curtis Road to First Street to Windsor Road and then IL-130. Mr. Gray interjected that this proposal is just a study. He viewed this as an opportunity to reopen the discussion to see if the concerns of the University could be mitigated and open up community access to the I-57/Curtis Road interchange on the east-west axis. Mr. Moore noted that this study may help the University crystalize their land use needs in that area. Mr. Gray stated that a previous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Urbana and the University was discussed that addressed the concerns from the College of ACES like culverts to move farm equipment/cattle under the road and no streetlights. Mr. Dempsey CUUATS Policy Committee 5 May 11, 2011

6 expressed his willingness to work with Urbana and if a MOU sufficiently satisfied the University s concerns, the University would be willing to support the corridor study. Mr. Moore suggested preparing the grant application to include a study of Curtis Road from Rising Road to no further east than First Street. If the University and the City of Urbana can come to some agreement on what happens east of First Street within the next week, then it will be included in the application. Mr. McCleary stated that Savoy is deeply tied with the University so whatever is in the best interest of the University will be in the best interest of Savoy. 8. IDOT District 5 Robert Nelson Construction projects in the area include: Repairs on the structure carrying Market Street over I-72 at the north edge of Bondville April 29 th letting Traffic signal modernization at Church Street and University Avenue April 29 th letting Patching on the I-74 ramps from I-57 April 29 th letting US-45 resurfacing from Curtis Road in Savoy to the northern corporate limits of Tolono contractor plans to begin work on May 12, 2011 Mr. White asked when the design work for the overpass on Windsor Road over I-57 will take place. Mr. Nelson will inquire about that project and report back to Mr. White. Mr. Dempsey and Ms. Johnston left the meeting at this time. 9. IDOT Central Office Tom Caldwell No report 10. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Betsy Tracy Ms. Tracy mentioned that while that is no long-term transportation bill yet, there has been talk to replace the traditional gas tax with some type of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) taxation. She was not sure if this initiative will gain any traction in the future. Ms. Black asked about the Administration s draft that would eliminate non-transportation Management Areas (non-tmas population under 200,000) MPOs unless they demonstrated sufficient technical capabilities to do work comparable to TMA MPOs. Ms. Tracy has not heard anything official concerning this issue. C. Announcements Mr. White announced that the Illinois Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) issued an award for the latest phase of Curtis Road recognizing the Village of Savoy, City of Champaign, Champaign County and Clark Dietz, Inc. Mr. Gray mentioned that Mishauno Woggon, City of Champaign Planner, and Jennifer Selby, City of Urbana Engineer, were recognized at the Illinois Chapter of APWA for their collaboration on the bicycle safety video, C-U Sharing the Road. VIII. IX. Audience Participation None Adjournment There being no further business, Mr. McCleary made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. White seconded. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Broom adjourned the meeting at 11:39 a.m. CUUATS Policy Committee 6 May 11, 2011