Place: tri-county regional planning commission

PPUATS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE AUGUST 18, 2010

PEORIA/PEKIN URBANIZED AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
DATE: AUGUST 18, 2010

TIME: 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION

211 FULTON STREET, SUITE 207

PEORIA IL 61602




1. Call to Order:

Mr. Wuellner called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

2. Roll Call: Present  Not Present 

PPUATS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
 Maureen Addis, IDOT  Charles Hanson, Creve Coeur

 *Eric Therkildsen, IDOT  *Alicia Hermann, Creve Coeur

 Thomas McFarland, Peoria County  Ric Semonski, East Peoria

 Amy Benecke-McLaren, Peoria County  *Patrick Meyer, East Peoria

 Jeff Gilles, Peoria County  Joseph Wuellner, Pekin

 John Anderson, Tazewell County  *Michael Guerra, Pekin

 Dan Parr, Tazewell County  Jeff Smith, Peoria

 Robert Wraight, Morton  Nick Stoffer, Peoria

 Patrick Meyer, Bartonville  Henry Strube, Jr., West Peoria

 Jeff Hermann, Peoria Heights  *Alicia Hermann, West Peoria

 Ken Newman, Washington  Jonathon Hodel, Woodford Co

 *Jon Oliphant, Washington  Mary DeVries, GPAA

 John Stokowski, GPMTD  Terry Kohlbuss, TCRPC

 *Joe Alexander, GPMTD  Steve Jaeger, HOI Port District**

Voting Member *Alternate **Non-Voting
Others Present: Tom Kelso, Tom Caldwell-IDOT OP&P

Tony Sassine, Ken Parks, Dennis Gould, Jarrod Bradfield-IDOT/Local Roads

Steve Ferguson-City of East Peoria

Cindy Loos-Hanson Engineers

Ric Anderson-Maurer Stutz

Maggie Martino, Eric Miller, Nick Hayward, Ryan Granata, Jim Webb, -TCRPC

3. 
   Approval of Minutes:
   

Mr. McFarland moved to approve the minutes of the July 21, 2010, PPUATS Technical Committee meeting. Seconded by Mr. Wraight.
Mr. Wraight noted a correction to page 2, agenda item 6, paragraph 2, 1^st sentence, “Mr. Wraight asked if STU funding can be used for Northmoor Road, which is an FAU route.” It should read, Mr. Wraight asked if STU funding can be used for Northmoor Road, Old Galena Road, which is an FAU FAS route.
The motion to accept the minutes as corrected passed unanimously.
4. Planning Report and Billings for June:

Mr. Kohlbuss reported that the financial statements for July were positive. He expects to bring an FY 2011 budget amendment to the Commission in September, which should show positive revenue over expenses.

Mr. Wraight moved to recommend that the PPUATS Policy Committee approve the Planning Report and Billings for July. Seconded by Mr. Smith and passed unanimously.

5. 
   Highway Safety Improvement Program-Sign Upgrade Application Approved:
   

Mr. Meyer stated that the HSIP $1,327,388 application to modernize signs has been awarded by IDOT. The next step is to submit all partners sign inventories to IDOT. The City of East Peoria is the lead agency and the partners are the Cities of Pekin and East Peoria’ the Villages of Bartonville, Bellevue, Morton, North Pekin, and South Pekin; and the Townships of Hollis, Kickapoo, Limestone and Medina.
Mr. Anderson stated that the Dee Mack Road, north and south of Cooper Road, safety improvements were also funded for $287,397.

5. 
   Update on Status of FY 2011-2014 STU Projects:
   

Mr. Semonski gave an update on the FY 2011 Centennial Drive project. Phase II engineering has begun. There are five parcels to acquire, with four owners. One is in negotiation. Their goal is an April letting. The Summit project has been awarded for the box culverts and ravine work toward Route 8.
In FY 2011, the East Jefferson Street and the Dallas Road projects expect to be let in January 2011.
In FY 2012, El Camino Drive is expected to be swapped for Petri Lane. Northmoor Road west of Sheridan to east of University is currently in the design phase. The City is meeting with homeowners. Anticipated letting date is June 2011.
In FY 2013, the PDR is 75% complete on Centennial Drive-Grange Road to Washington City limits. The survey and concept design is complete for the Trailhead. They are waiting on IDOT for information on STU eligible trailhead amenities.
In FY 2014, Phase I studies and PDR has begun for Sterling Avenue.

5. 
   Programming for Three Years of STU-Funding, FY 2015, 2016, and 2017:
   

Mr. Wraight moved to recommend that the PPUATS Policy Committee approve programming STU funds for FY 2015, 2016, and 2017. Seconded by Mr. Smith.
Mr. Wraight stated that the FHWA was informed of this possible action and did not have any objections. Ms. Martino stated that the precedent has been either three years or two years. Mr. Newman asked if it could be expanded to four or five years. Everyone agreed that the costs versus revenue for five years may be a detriment. In the past when the Federal Transportation legislation was reauthorized, there were additional STU funds, which were used to bring the percentages up to 70 on those projects already programmed, but Mr. Kohlbuss stated that he does not expect that to happen this year, since the Highway Trust Fund is depleted.
Mr. Newman moved to amend the motion to extend the programming years to 2018 and 2019. The motion died for lack of a second.
Ms. Hermann stated that programming three years will allow more communities to benefit if the percentage was 50. Mr. Sassine stated that PPUATS should not program 50% federal funds for a STU project in case the costs rise. The FHWA will not allow less than 50%.
The motion passed with two no votes by Mr. Newman and Mr. Hermann.

5. 
   Selection of Surface Transportation Program-Urban Projects:
   

Mr. Smith submitted Package One for discussion purposes:
Amount Available to Program: $5,877,764.70

Project Name Percentage Total

Petri 56.5% $ 777,368 ($560,000 from El Camino)

Northmoor 63.5% $2,955,588

Detroit 63.5% $1,695,808

Old Galena 50% $1,000,000

$6,428,764

Total minus El Camino funds $5,868,764
Ms. Hermann submitted Package Two for discussion purposes. This package was presented to the PPUATS Policy Committee by Mr. Kief:

Northmoor 60% $2,790,000

Detroit 60% $1,600,800

Sterling 56.4% $1,269,000

Petri 56.5% $ 777,368 ($560,000 from El Camino)

$6,437,168

Total minus El Camino funds $5,877,168
Ms. Hermann stated that the City of West Peoria pays approximately $100,000 a year to patch Sterling. It is over 40 years old and needs to be reconstructed. Package 2 were the top four projects for total points received. Mr. Wraight stated if these percentages are approved, the agency must pass a new resolution supporting the match. Mr. McFarland stated that the City if constructing Northmoor for less per foot that what is projected for the reconstruction of Sterling. Ms. Hermann stated that if the City of West Peoria receives this funding to fix Sterling, they will not have another project for a very long time.
Mr. Smith moved to conduct a roll call vote for either Package 1 or Package 2 for a majority of the number of votes each member agency has (Peoria County-3, Tazewell County-2, City of Peoria-2, and IDOT, Woodford County, Bartonville, Creve Coeur, East Peoria, Morton, Pekin, Peoria Heights, West Peoria, Washington, CityLink, and Tri-County Regional Planning Commission each have 1 vote for a total of 19, and if there are additional STU funds allocated to PPUATS, the funding percentages will increase to 70% other than Petri and Old Galena Road. Seconded by Mr. Newman.

Peoria County Package 2 Mr. McFarland stated that he did not think that Old Galena Road would be chosen.

Tazewell County Package 2

Woodford County Package 2

IDOT Package 2

Bartonville Package 2

Creve Coeur Package 2

East Peoria Package 2

Morton Package 1

Pekin Package 2

Peoria Package 1

Peoria Heights Package 2

West Peoria Package 2

Washington Package 1

CityLink Package 1

TCRPC Package 2

The majority of the votes were for Package 2.
If the PPUATS Policy Committee approves this recommendation, the Cities of Peoria, Pekin, and West Peoria, and the Village of Morton must pass resolutions of support.
The years chosen are as follows:

FY 2012 Petri

FY 2015 Sterling

FY 2016 Detroit

FY 2017 Northmoor
Mr. Sassine will send a spreadsheet to Ms. Wallace to recalculate the STU allotments for each program year.

5. 
   Updates:
   
   1. 
      ciCarpool
      

Mr. Granata reported that the Federal Transit Administration continues to review the applications submitted by the Human Service Transportation Plan, which includes the purchase of the ciCarpool software.

2. 
   Air Quality
   

Mr. Kohlbuss stated that a working group to establish and implement a public education campaign to urge motorists to occasionally use alternative forms of transportation will begin meeting soon. If the Commission is awarded a USEPA Showcase Communities Grant, it will be used to supplement the $100,000 provided by the Metropolitan Planning Funds. The Heart of Illinois Port District submitted a TIGER II Planning grant application to study container on barge, the City of Peoria is submitting a TIGER II construction grant application and a HUD Sustainability grant application for the Warehouse District. The Peoria Park District is submitting an application for an Enhancement grant to build an underpass under Knoxville for the Kellar Branch. The Commission may create an Enhancement streetscape application for Elmwood. Ms. Hermann stated that the “Safe Route to Schools” program is taking applications.

c. Travel Demand Modeling Policy Development

Mr. Miller reported that a contract for the Commission to develop a Travel Demand Model policy is working its way through IDOT. The TDM Advisory Group will meet after the September 15^th PPUATS Technical Committee meetings to begin developing this policy.

4. 
   Transportation Symposium
   

Mr. Kohlbuss stated that the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service continues to plan for a Transportation Symposium on November 10 at the Peoria Civic Center.

4. 
   Passenger Rail Advisory Committee
   

Mr. Kohlbuss reported that the Passenger Rail Advisory Committee voted to advocate for a passenger rail link between Peoria and Bloomington/Normal. They also endorsed the FTA “Alternative Analysis” grant application, which was presented to Senator Durbin and FTA Director Rogoff at the groundbreaking for the Normal transit center.
10. Other:

Mr. Kohlbuss reported that the Peoria Lakes Basin Alliance will have a River Awareness Cruise on Friday, September 17, 2010, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Commission is buying 80 tickets, and will reserve 10 for PPUATS members. This ticket will also grant the holder entrance into Oktoberfest and a meal.

Mr. Kohlbuss stated that he attended a seminar in Philadelphia on Public Private Partnerships. The current administration through Secretary LaHood has stated that there will not be an increase in the federal gas tax and PPP’s may be a way to raise funds for the Highway Trust Fund. Staff will continue to research PPP’s and bring this information to PPUATS.
11. Adjournment:

Mr. Alexander moved to adjourn the PPUATS Technical Committee meeting at 10:20 a.m. Seconded by Mr. Anderson and passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Terry Kohlbuss

Executive Director

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