executive committee agenda | august 2011

7/28/2019 Executive Committee Agenda | August 2011

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Altoona Ankeny Bondurant Carlisle Clive Dallas County Des Moines DART Grimes Johnston Mitchellville Norwalk Pleasant Hill Polk City Polk County Urbandale Warren County Waukee West Des Moines Windsor Heights

The MPO receives federal funding and may not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color, or national origin, according to Title VI of the CivilRights Act of 1964. For more information or to obtain a Title VI Complaint form, call 515-334-0075.

NOTICE OF MEETING

Des Moines Area Metropoli tan Planning Organization (MPO)Executive Committee***************************

11:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 10, 2011Des Moines Area MPO Meeting Room

***************************TENTATIVE AGENDA

The established protocol for minutes of this meeting will be to list all attendees, and with each item onwhich a vote is conducted in the ordinary course in order to take formal action, those voting nay or

abstaining will be identified by name. Any member who is absent from the meeting for any period of time

during which a vote of the body is taken, is expected to notify the recording secretary at the conclusion of

the meeting so that the absence can be duly noted in the minutes. Roll Call votes will be taken as required

by law or upon the request of any member that is approved by the chair, and the vote of each member for

or against the proposition, or abstention, will be incorporated in the minutes or recorded on a separate

sheet attached to the minutes.

1. Call To Order

2. VOTE: Approval of Agenda

3. VOTE: Approval of Meeting Minutes……..............................................................................Page 3

• Review the J uly 13, 2011, meeting minutes; consider approval.

4. REPORT AND OPTIONAL VOTE: Purchase of Trail Counters……......................................Page 7 • Report and discussion on the possible purchase of trail counters; optional vote.

5. REPORT: Surface Transpor tation Funding Program Process………….……………............1

• Discussion of potential changes to the program to better fund regional priorities.

6. REPORT: Upcoming Metropolitan Transportation Plan Amendments……..…………….....Page 14

• Report and discussion on requested amendments to the Horizon Year 2035 MetropolitanTransportation Plan.

7. REPORT: Regional Plan for Sustainable Development planning process..........................Page 15

• Update on the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development Planning Process.

8. REPORT: Congressman Boswell Transportation Roundtable Update................................Page 17 • Update on plans to host an event with Congressman Boswell to discuss

transportation issues facing the region.

9. REPORT: New Des Moines Area Metropolitan Organization New Lego..............................Page 18

• Discussion of potential changes to the current MPO logo.

10. REPORT: New MPO Off ice Space...........................................................................................Page 19

• Update on the Status of the MPO’s New Office Development.

11. VOTE: Approval of the August 18, 2011, MPO Agenda.......................................................Page 20

• Approve the August 18, 2011, MPO agenda.



©FY 2012 Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Please call (515) 334-0075 to obtain permission for use

12. Other Non-Action Items of Interest to the Committee

13. Next Meeting Date – Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 11:30 a.m., MPO Meeting Room

14. Adjournment

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Agenda ReportExecutive Committee


August 2011Item No. 3

ISSUE:

VOTE: Review and approve minutes of the J uly 13, 2011, Executive Committee meeting.

BACKGROUND:

The minutes of the J uly 13, 2011, Executive Committee meeting are included on thefollowing pages.

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve the minutes of the J uly 13, 2011, Executive Committee meeting.

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MEETING MINUTES

Des Moines Area Metropoli tan Planning Organization (MPO)Executive Committee

11:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 13, 2011MPO Meeting Room

Urbandale, Iowa

The MPO Executive Committee held a meeting at 11:30 a.m. on July 13, 2011, in the MPO MeetingRoom. Before the meeting, the MPO staff sent agenda packets to the MPO Executive Committee’srepresentatives and posted the agenda at the MPO office at 4:22 p.m. on July 8, 2011. The fiscal year-to-date publication cost of meeting minutes for the MPO: $2,811.88. In addition to these publishedtentative minutes, there also may be additional meeting notes on file with the MPO staff that arepublic records and available upon request as provided by law. These tentative minutes reflect allaction taken at the meeting.

Members Present:

Chris Coleman, City of Des MoinesTom Armstrong, City of GrimesPaula Dierenfeld, City of JohnstonTed Ohmart, City of West Des MoinesRobert Mahaffey, City of Des MoinesAngela Connolly, Polk County

Members Absent:Tom Hockensmith, Polk CountyAngela Connolly, Polk County

Others Present:

Mike Clayton, Iowa Department of

Transportation*Debra Jeans, Gruen Gruen & AssociatesAndrew Ratchford, Gruen Gruen & AssociatesLynn Carlton, Sasaki AssociatesJames Miner, Sasaki AssociatesDavid Fields, Nelson/Nygaard Gary Lozano, RDGKim Chapman, Applied Ecological ServicesJuan Carlos Vargas, Geo Adaptive LLC.Hope Stege, Sasaki Associates

Staff Present:

Todd Ashby, Executive Director Stephanie Ripperger, Executive Administrator Jonathan Wilson, MPO General CounselDylan Mullenix, Principal Transportation

Planner Bethany Wilcoxon, Associate Transportation

Planner Michael Wright, Associate Transportation

Planner Intern

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1. Call to Order

MPO Chair Chris Coleman called the July 13, 2011, meeting to order at 11:30 a.m.

2. Approval of Agenda

MOTION: A motion was made to approve the July 13, 2011, Des MoinesArea Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Committeemeeting agenda.

MOTION C ARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Approval of Meeting Minutes

MOTION: A motion was made to approve the June 8, 2011, Des MoinesArea Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Committeemeeting minutes.


4. Regional Plan for Sustainable Development Consul tant Team Visit

MPO staff presented; discussion on item 4.

(Paula Dierenfeld arrived at 11:43 am)

5. Transportation Event w ith Congressman Boswell


6. Federal Fiscal Years 2012-2015 Transportation Improvement Program

MOTION: A motion was made to recommend that the Des Moines AreaMetropolitan Planning Organization approve of the Federal Fiscal Year 2012-2015 Transportation Improvement Program

(FFY 2012-2015 TIP) draft.


7. Fiscal Years 2012-2015 Transportation Capital Improvement Program

MOTION: A motion was made to recommend that the Des Moines Area

Metropolitan Planning Organization approval of the Fiscal Years2012-2015 Transportation Capital Improvement Program (FY2012-2015 TCIP) draft.


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8. Federal Transportation Authorization Update

MOTION: A motion was made to recommend that the Des Moines AreaMetropolitan Planning Organization approve sending a letter tocongressional members in response to the Senate’s proposal.


9. Surface Transportation Funding Program Process


10. Midwest Passenger Rail Commission Membersh ip

MOTION: A motion was made to recommend that the Des Moines AreaMetropolitan Planning Organization approve the support of $2,500.00 for the Midwest Passenger Rail CommissionMembership, and staff will determine where it will come from in

the budget.


11. New MPO Office Space


12. Approval of the July 21, 2011, MPO Agenda

MOTION: A motion was made to approve the July 21, 2011, MPO agenda.


13. Other Non-Action Items of Interest to the Commit tee

14. Next Meeting Date

11:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 13, 2011, MPO Meeting Room.

15. Adjournment

Chair Coleman adjourned the meeting at 12:41 p.m.

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ISSUE:

REPORT and OPTIONAL VOTE: Brief report and optional vote on the purchase of trail

counters.

BACKGROUND:

The Central Iowa Regional Transportation Planning Alliance (CIRTPA) approved the useof excess planning funds to purchase trail counting equipment from TRAFx Research Ltd.at its J uly 20, 2011, meeting. The trail counting equipment includes data analysissoftware, downloading equipment, and twenty infrared trail counters. The approximatecost of this purchase is $11,740. The MPO/CIRTPA staff will store the counters and lendthem out to CIRTPA governments when requested.

The CIRTPA acted on a recommendation made by the Central Iowa Bicycle and

Pedestrian Roundtable at its J uly 19, 2011, meeting. The Roundtable also encouragedthe MPO to consider purchasing trail counters to use on trails within the MPO planningarea. At its August 4, 2011, meeting, the MPO Transportation Technical Committee votedfor the MPO to also purchase trail counters, specifically by sharing in the cost of CIRTPA’strail counters in exchange for access to their use.

The MPO staff also recommends that the MPO purchase trail counters to use within theplanning area. Staff notes that MPO involvement could include two possible options:

Option 1: The MPO could reimburse CIRTPA for half ($5,870) of the trailcounter purchase. This would allow the twenty trail counters to beavailable for use by CIRPTA and the MPO member governments and

agencies.

Option 2: The MPO could purchase twenty trail counters and relatedequipment itself, at a cost of $10,700. This option would utilize fundsremaining from the Connect Plan project, and ensure the MPO membergovernments have their own pool of counters.

BUDGET IMPACT:

The FY 2012 UPWP and budget projected a federal reserve balance of $208,950 and alocal reserve balance of $203.317. The FY 2012 UPWP and budget also includes$30,000 in remaining Connect Plan grant funds.

Option 1: The total cost to the MPO is $5,870. The MPO amends its FY2012 UPWP and budget to add special work element 13.4 for the sharedpurchase of trail counters with CIRTPA, which is paid for by tapping into theMPO’s federal and local reserve balances at an 80/20 ratio. The federalshare is $4,696, and local share is $1,174. The new balance for the federalreserve is $204,254, and the new balance for the local reserve is $202,143.

Option 2: The total cost of the trail counting equipment is $10,700. TheMPO amends its FY 2012 UPWP and budget to add special work element13.4 for the purchase of trail counters and moves $10,700 from workelement 2.0 (Transportation Systems Planning) to work element 13.4.

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Staff offsets this reduction in work element 2.0 by billing trail planning workto the Connect Plan. This option alleviates concerns by the IowaDepartment of Transportation that purchasing trail counting equipmentmay not be an eligible use of Connect Plan. No reserve funds are tapped,and there is no net change to the MPO’s budget.

Budget sheets reflecting the two options are included on the following pages.

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommend the MPO approve an amendment to the FY 2012 UPWP to transfer fundsfrom work element 2.0 to work element 13.4 in order to purchase twenty trail counters andrelated equipment.

STAFF CONTACT:

Zach Young, [email protected];(515) 334-0075, extension #208; and,

Dylan Mullenix, [email protected];(515) 334-0075, extension #202.

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ISSUE:

REPORT: Report and discussion on potential revisions to the MPO’s Surface Transportation Program funding process to help fund regional priorities in the wake of

reduced opportunities for congressionally-directed funding.

BACKGROUND:

The Executive Committee periodically has discussed concerns over reductions incongressionally-directed funding (earmarks) in recent years and the need for the MPO tocontinue funding regional transportation priorities. One suggestion posed is to fundregional priorities with the MPO’s Surface Transportation Program (STP) and STP

Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds.

The current STP funding policy consists of member governments submitting projectapplications, MPO staff scoring projects on a scale from 0 to 100 based on a set of

standardized criteria, and the STP Funding Subcommittee identifying and recommendingaward recipients from projects scoring 50 points or greater. The scoring system variesamong the project categories, but generally awards points based on a transportationfacility’s level of service, pavement condition, traffic volume, crash benefit/cost ratio,federal functional classification system, and the local match provided.

Upon the direction of the Executive Committee, the MPO staff developed a memorandumoutlining the Proposed STP Allocation Process and the needed changes to proceed withits development. The Proposed STP Allocation Process would address project eligibility,new funding pools for different project types, fund amount awarded to projects,modification of the scoring process, and revisions to project applications and the projectselection process.

STP project applications are due to the MPO Office by Friday, November 18, 2011. If changes are desired, the MPO could accommodate policy-oriented changes for theFederal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016 funding cycle by taking action in September 2011.Additional changes could be developed prior to the FFY 2017 funding cycle.

Included, immediately following, is the memorandum regarding the Proposed STPAllocation Process.

RECOMMENDATION:

None. Report and discussion only.

STAFF CONTACT:

Luke Parris, [email protected];(515) 334-0075, extension #207; and,Dylan Mullenix, [email protected];(515) 334-0075, extension #202.

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MemorandumTo: MPO Executive Committee

From: MPO staff

Date: August 1, 2011

Re: Proposed Surface Transportation Program Allocation Process

BACKGROUNDIn Fall 2010, with a recommendation from the Surface Transportation Program (STP) Funding

Subcommittee, the MPO approved a revised STP scoring criteria and an expanded application process.

Minor revisions to the scoring process re-emphasized the value of various scoring criteria and provided

projects the opportunity to receive bonus points for the MPO’s Horizon Year 2035 Metropolitan

Transportation Plan (MTP) goals and objectives. The expansion of the application process included the

creation of a secondary application for eligible projects that identified the various MTP goals and

objectives addressed by projects.

In Spring 2011, the federal government indicated that earmarks for transportation projects would be

limited. The MPO staff and MPO Executive Committee acknowledged that STP funding remains the

only reliable source of federal funding for transportation projects in the planning area.

In Summer 2011, in order to accommodate an anticipated increase in demand for STP funding, the MPO

staff conducted an internal review of the STP Guidelines, Scoring Criteria, and Project Selection Process.

Following the review, the MPO staff developed the following Proposed STP Allocation Process.

PURPOSEThe purpose of the Proposed STP Allocation Process is to provide federal funding to the most critical

transportation needs of MPO member governments. The Proposed STP Allocation Process would

address these needs through the following changes:

Change #1: Define the term “regionally significant” and use it to determine project eligibility;Change #2: Develop a funding pool for large MPO member governments, small MPO member

governments, planning studies, and alternative transportation;

Change #3: Fully fund projects at their requested funding amount.

Change #4: Modify the scoring process into a cost/benefit analysis;

Change #5: Revise project applications to include any information needed for a cost/benefit analysis;

Change #6: Conduct project selection during the development of the MTP;

Change #7: Utilize cost/benefit analysis during the development of funding recommendations; and,

Change #8: Award funding for illustrative years that surpass the timeframe of the MPO

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

The MPO staff could implement changes 1-3 for use during the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016 STP

funding cycle beginning this fall. Changes 4-8 could be developed over the next year and beimplemented for use during the FFY 2017 STP funding cycle.

PROPOSED STP ALLOCATION PROCESSThe Proposed STP Allocation Process would be divided into two stages. The first stage is the project

selection process for the MTP. This stage would determine project eligibility, project cost/benefit ratio,

and funding recommendations for projects in the MTP.

The second stage is an annual project review process that reviews the status of current projects and the

amount of available funding. The annual project review process allows the MPO to adjust priorities by

moving projects between FFYs to ensure that critical projects are developed efficiently and that the MPO

TIP remains fiscally constrained.

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Stage 1: Project Selection Process for Metropolitan Transportation PlanStep 1. Project sponsors submit applications for eligible projects to MPO staff during the development

of the MTP.

Step 2. MPO staff reviews applications and conducts a cost/benefit analysis for each project.

Step 3. MPO Planning/Engineering Subcommittee reviews cost/benefit analysis and staff

recommendation.

Step 4. MPO Technical Committee reviews, revises, approves, and forwards the recommendation to

the STP Funding Subcommittee.

Step 5. STP Funding Subcommittee reviews and revises the MPO Technical Committee

recommendation and forwards it to the MPO Executive Committee;

Step 6. MPO Executive Committee reviews, revises, and makes a final recommendation to the MPO

Policy Committee.

Step 7. MPO Policy Committee reviews and approves the final recommendation.

Stage 2: Annual Project Review ProcessStep 1. Project sponsors submit status reports for project currently programmed in the TIP to MPO

staff.

Step 2. MPO staff reviews STP targets obtained from the Iowa Department of Transportation to

determine if funding levels have changed.

Step 3. STP Funding Subcommittee reviews STP status reports and STP targets, and recommends any

changes in funding to the MPO Executive Committee.

Step 4. MPO Executive Committee reviews, revises, and makes a final recommendation to the MPOPolicy Committee.

Step 5. MPO Policy Committee reviews and approves the final recommendation.

DESIRED BENEFITSThe MPO staff has identified the following benefits that could be achieved through the Proposed STP

Allocation Process:

Reduced reliance on earmarked federal funds;

Simplified application process with one application;

Project selection occurs during the development of the MTP, eliminating the need for an annualSTP selection process;

Annual project review provides the opportunity to adjust funding priorities and ensure that

projects are making reasonable progress towards completion;

Direct connection between projects listed in the TIP and the MTP;

STP funding levels maintained for projects from large MPO member governments;

Increased access to STP funds for smaller MPO member governments;

STP funding commitment to alternative transportation maintained;

STP funding available for transportation planning studies;

Projects are guaranteed full funding needed for the project to be completed; and,

STP funding commitments to projects can be maintained if a reduction in STP funds occur.

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ISSUE:

REPORT: Report and discussion on requested amendments to the Horizon Year 2035

Metropolitan Transportation Plan (HY 2035 MTP).

BACKGROUND:

The MPO staff recently received tentative requests to amend the HY 2035 MTP from theCity of Urbandale and the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART).

The City of Urbandale has requested several amendments to the HY 2035 MTP to reflectits updated Capital Improvement Program. These amendments would include moving sixprojects from the HY 2016-2025 timeframe to the HY 2011-2015 timeframe, as well asadding two new projects to the plan for HY 2011-2015. The MPO staff notified the City of Urbandale of the steps required in the amendment process. MPO staff also noted the plan

will be updated in conjunction with the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development, whichpresents the option of the City of Urbandale waiting to make the requested changes duringthe plan update’s development rather than as an amendment to the current plan. The Cityof Urbandale is still discussing how they would like to proceed. If the City of Urbandale stillwishes to proceed with the requested amendments to the current plan, the process wouldbegin in September with MPO action in October.

DART soon will begin efforts to conduct an Alternatives Analysis (AA) study on a corridorfor additional transit investment as part of theDART Forward 2035 Plan effort. DART hasrequested that the MPO amend the HY 2035 MTP to recognize the AA corridor (UniversityAvenue/Ingersoll Avenue Loop), which was approved by the DART Commission at itsAugust meeting. The process to make this amendment would also begin in September

with MPO action in October. Following completion of the AA in early 2012, DART will askthe MPO to again amend the HY 2035 MTP to recognize the resulting Locally PreferredAlternative produced by the AA study.

Additionally, the MPO staff is preparing a status update for the HY 2035 MTP similar toone presented in September 2010. This update will present an overview of changes ininformation contained within the plan (e.g., new 2010 Census data), a status update of theplan’s projects, an analysis of how well the MPO is meeting the plan’s goals andobjectives, and will discuss any recommended updates to the plan or the MPO’s TravelDemand Model. MPO staff will present this status update in September, with MPO actionin October.

RECOMMENDATION:


STAFF CONTACT:


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ISSUE:

REPORT: Update on the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development planning process.

BACKGROUND:

The MPO continues to move forward with the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD). On J uly 5th, the MPO entered into a contract with a consultant team led by SasakiAssociates, Inc. The Sasaki team includes GeoAdaptive, Gruen Gruen + Associates,Applied Ecological Services, Nelson\Nygaard, P laceVision, and RDG Planning andDesign. The Sasaki team made its initial site visit on July 12th and 13th. The trip includeda tour of the MPO’s planning area as well as meetings with DART, Capital Crossroadsrepresentatives, the Center on Sustainable Communities, the RPSD technical team, andthe RPSD Steering Committee.

The Sasaki team continues to work with the local consortium to identify a brand for theproject and to plan the public kickoff event, which is scheduled for Tuesday, September13th. The event will include informational booths, a video booth, a speaker, the unveilingof the project website, and interactive activities. More information will be provided at theAugust 10th Executive meeting.

Immediately following, is the save-the-date for the RPSD public kickoff event.

RECOMMENDATION:


STAFF CONTACT:

Bethany Wilcoxon, [email protected];(515) 334-0075, extension #203.

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ISSUE:

REPORT: Brief report on plans for a transportation event with Congressman Leonard

Boswell in August.

BACKGROUND:

As discussed at the J uly Executive Committee meeting, the MPO staff and CongressmanBoswell’s staff have coordinated to schedule a transportation-related event on August 18,2011, at 3:00 p.m., prior to the MPO meeting.

The roundtable event will be approximately an hour long, consisting of brief presentationsby Congressman Boswell and representatives from the private and public sector. Theremaining time will be a question and answer session. The following panelists willparticipate in the event:

• Congressman Boswell (federal perspective)

• Paul Trombino, Director, Iowa Department of Transportation (state perspective)

• Ruth Randleman, Mayor, City of Carlisle (local perspective)• J ay Byers, Greater Des Moines Partnership (private-sector perspective)

The event would spotlight transportation challenges and opportunities facing the region inthe coming years, including transportation authorization. The event will also provide anopportunity to focus on two key bills that have been introduce in Congress:

H.R. 2091: Freight Rail Infrastructure Capacity Expansion Act of 2011 –Introduced J une 2, 2011 by Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA). On J une 2,

2011, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R. 1780: Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011 – Introduced May 5,2011 by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA). On May 6, 2011, the bill was referredto the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s subcommittee on Highways and Transit. (The MPO staff notes that theSafe and Complete Streets Act of 2011 was also introduced in the Senateas S.1056 by Sen. Thomas Harkin (D-IA) on May 24, 2011).

Representatives from MPO member governments and agencies, as well as the MPO’sroundtables and working groups, have been invited to this event.

RECOMMENDATION:

None. Report and discuss only.

STAFF CONTACT:


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ISSUE:

REPORT: Brief report on the possibility of adopting new logo for the MPO.

BACKGROUND:

The MPO staff has discussed the possibility of adopting a new logo for the organization.Several logos for the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD) have beendeveloped by the project consultants, and the MPO staff believes one of the logos thatwas not ultimately chosen for the RPSD may work well as a new MPO logo. MPO staff will provide more information at the August 10, 2011, Executive Committee meeting.

RECOMMENDATION:

None. Report and discuss only.

STAFF CONTACT:

Todd Ashby, [email protected];(515) 334-0075.

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ISSUE:

REPORT: Brief update on the MPO office’s move to a new location.

BACKGROUND:

In May 2011, the MPO authorized the MPO Chair, Executive Director, and Legal Counselto negotiate a lease with Knapp Properties for office space located at 420 Watson Powellin Des Moines. The MPO has since signed a lease for the property, is working with KnappProperties to remodel the space, and is making other arrangements necessary for themove. The new lease begins September 1, 2011.

RECOMMENDATION:


STAFF CONTACT:

Todd Ashby, [email protected];(515) 334-0075

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ISSUE:

VOTE: Review and approve the August 18, 2011, MPO Policy agenda.

BACKGROUND:

The Des Moines Area MPO Policy agenda is included in this agenda packet’ssupplemental items.

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve the August 18, 2011, MPO Policy agenda.

executive committee agenda | august 2011

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