|
Centre County
Metropolitan Planning
Organization (CCMPO)
Coordinating
Committee Meeting
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
6:00 pm
College
Township Municipal Building
AGENDA
1.
Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
2.
Approval of Minutes:
April
29, 2008 Coordinating Committee meeting
3.
Citizens’ Comments: For
items not on the agenda
4.
Member Reports:
Reports
about a significant item(s) of interest from each member (limited to 1 minute)
No action required
5.
Centre
County
Long
Range
Transportation Plan (LRTP) 2008 Update:
Review
Final Draft LRTP 2008 Update for adoption
Action:
Adopt LRTP 2008 Update
6.
2009-2012 Centre
County
Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP):
Review
Final Draft TIP for adoption
Action: Adopt 2009-2012
Centre
County
TIP
7.
Procedures for TIP Modifications:
Review
revised procedures for adoption
Action:
Adopt Procedures for TIP Modifications
8.
Air Quality Conformity Resolution
for 2009-2012 Centre
County
TIP
and
LRTP 2008 Update:
Review
conformity report and resolution for adoption
Action:
Approve conformity analysis report and adopt conformity resolution
9.
Annual Federal Transportation Planning Process Certification:
Action:
Adopt planning process self-certification resolution
10.
Federal Safe Routes to School (FSRTS) Program:
Process
for providing comments about applications
Action:
Approve process for providing comments about applications
11.
Draft Bylaws for CCMPO:
Review
Draft #9 Bylaws
Action: Take item from the table
and review bylaws
12.
Announcements
ITEM 4
MEMBER
REPORTS
About Significant Item
(s) of Interest
This agenda item provides an opportunity for voting and non-voting members to
briefly report on an item (s) of significant interest within their organization,
municipality, or planning region. Items
of interest may relate to transportation, other infrastructure, capital
budgeting or land use.
Members are asked to limit their reports to approximately one minute in length.
Voting members of the
Coordinating Committee include:
| Centre
County
Board
of Commissioners |
Jon Eich |
| Centre
County
Board
of Commissioners |
Rich Rogers |
| Benner
Township |
John
Elnitski |
|
College
Township |
Dan Klees |
| Ferguson
Township |
Steve
Miller |
|
Halfmoon
Township |
Barbara
Spencer |
| Harris
Township
|
Chris Lee |
|
Patton
Township |
Jeff Luck |
| Spring
Township
|
Frank
Royer |
|
State College
Borough |
Elizabeth
Goreham |
|
Penns
Valley
Planning Region |
Bob Corman |
| Lower
Bald
Eagle
Valley
Planning Region |
Thomas Poorman
(interim member) |
| Upper Bald
Eagle
Valley
Planning Region |
Jadine Reese |
| Moshannon
Valley
Planning Region |
Mike Savage |
| Mountaintop
Planning Region |
Ken Hall |
| Centre Area
Transportation Authority |
John Spychalski |
| Centre
Regional Planning Commission |
Ronald
Buckalew |
| PennDOT
Central Office (
Harrisburg
) |
Thomas TenEyck |
| PennDOT
District 2-0 Office (
Clearfield
) |
Kevin Kline |
Non-voting
members of the Coordinating Committee include:
| Bellefonte
Borough |
Frank
Halderman |
| Pennsylvania
State
University
|
Rob Cooper |
| Federal
Highway
Administration |
Matt Smoker |
| Federal
Transit Administration |
Keith Lynch |
*****
Presented by: Committee members
No
action required
ITEM 5
CENTRE
COUNTY
LONG
RANGE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN (LRTP) 2008 UPDATE
Review
Final Draft LRTP 2008 Update for Adoption
 Public
Comment Overview
The
CCMPO adopted the Centre
County LRTP 2030 in September 2006, and updated the Plan in June 2007 to be in
full compliance with the requirements of the federal Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
The LRTP is being
updated again in 2008 to:
 | Add
projects financed with additional revenue provided through Pennsylvania Act
44
|
| Address
federal Year of Expenditure (YOE) regulations (revised revenue and costs)
|
| Remove
projects that fall outside the range of fiscal constraint, based on updated
projections of revenue and costs |
In March 2008, staff
presented revised revenue projections that incorporated Act 44 revenue and
addressed federal YOE requirements. Staff
also presented revisions to the LRTP project lists, based on the updated revenue
projections and project costs. On
March 25, 2008, the Coordinating Committee provided policy direction about the
removal of projects from the Highway/ITS project list to maintain fiscal
constraint.
On
April 29, 2008, the Coordinating Committee reviewed the revised LRTP project
lists. The Coordinating Committee
authorized staff to advertise a Final Draft 2008 Update for a required 30-day
public comment period, which began on June 3, 2008 and closed on July 3, 2008.
A required public information meeting was held on June 24, 2008.
Because
Centre
County
is a “maintenance” area for ozone, and because some of the projects
proposed to be removed from the LRTP are “air quality significant”, an air
quality conformity analysis was performed for the 2008 Update.
The air quality conformity analysis also addressed the new 2009-2012
Centre County Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which is being prepared
concurrently with the LRTP 2008 Update. The
conformity analysis report was available for review during the public comment
period.
A
copy of the Final Draft LRTP 2008 Update is attached for members only.
For
individuals not receiving this attachment, the document is posted on the CCMPO
website www.ccmpo.net , or you may contact
the CRPA office to obtain copies.
A summary of the
input received during the public comment period is also attached.
The public input summary addresses both the LRTP 2008 Update and the
2009-2012 Centre County TIP (see next agenda item).
On
July 9, 2008, the CCMPO Technical Committee reviewed the Final Draft LRTP 2008
Update and the public comment period summary, and recommended that the
Coordinating Committee adopt the LRTP 2008 Update.
The
Coordinating Committee should receive a staff presentation, review the public
input provided, and consider adopting the LRTP 2008 Update.
Presented by: Trish Meek, CRPA
Mike Bloom, CCPCDO
Greg Kausch, CRPA
Action:
Adoption of the LRTP 2008 Update.
ITEM 6
2009-2012
CENTRE COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)
Review
Final Draft TIP for Adoption
In
Pennsylvania
, the TIP and the Twelve Year Transportation Program (TYP) are updated every two
years, with the update process taking approximately one year.
From September through December 2007, MPO staff presented transportation
issues relative to the new 2009-2012 TIP, and worked with PennDOT and CATA to
develop a Preliminary
Draft TIP. On
January 22, 2008
, the Coordinating Committee approved the submission of a Preliminary Draft TIP
to the PennDOT Central Office.
On
February 5, 2008, Governor Ed Rendell announced a new initiative to expand the
program for repairing or replacing structurally deficient (SD) state bridges.
Following the announcement, PennDOT District 2-0 added bridge projects to
the Preliminary Draft TIP, in order to meet targets established by the PennDOT
Central Office for the expenditure of bridge funds, and for the number of SD
bridges to be advanced. In mid-April
2008, the PennDOT Central Office provided comments about the revised TIP, and
also provided a response to requests for spike funding for highway and bridge
projects.
On
April 29, 2008, the Coordinating Committee reviewed the revisions to the
Preliminary Draft TIP, and received PennDOT’s decision to provide spike
funding for two bridge projects in
Centre
County
. The Coordinating Committee then
approved a Final Draft TIP to be advertised for a required 30-day public comment
period, which began on June 3, 2008 and closed on July 3, 2008.
A required public information meeting was held on June 24, 2008.
Because
Centre
County
is a “maintenance” area for ozone, an air quality conformity analysis was
performed on the Final Draft TIP. As
noted in the previous agenda item, the conformity analysis also addressed the
Centre County LRTP 2008 Update. The
conformity analysis report was available for review during the public comment
period.
A
summary of the input received during the public comment period is attached to
the previous agenda item.
The public input summary addresses both the LRTP 2008 Update and the
2009-2012 TIP.
Route 26 –
Pine
Grove
Mountain
The
current 2007-2010 TIP includes funding for the Preliminary Engineering (PE)
phase of a safety project on Route 26 (
Pine
Grove
Mountain
) south of the
Village
of
Pine Grove Mills
. Funding for the remaining phases
of the project is included on the Final Draft 2009-2012 TIP.
PennDOT
District 2-0 has been working through the PE phase, and has developed conceptual
improvements which include three primary elements:
|
·
Truck pull-off area at the
Huntingdon/Centre County line at the top of the mountain
|
|
·
Truck escape ramp above the
S-curve at the bottom of the mountain
|
|
·
Truck escape ramp below the
S-curve, above the Village at the bottom of the mountain |
On
June 16, 2008, PennDOT District 2-0 presented the conceptual improvements and a
preliminary cost estimate to the Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors.
PennDOT was seeking input from the Board about the elements of the
project because the preliminary cost estimate for the Construction phase is
higher than the amount of funding proposed on the 2009-2012 TIP, and because
construction of the lower escape ramp would require the acquisition of a
residential dwelling in the Village.
A
majority of the Board of Supervisors supported advancing all three primary
elements. The Board also supported
phasing the improvements, given the need for additional funding and the length
of time necessary to obtain environmental clearance and right-of-way for the
lower escape ramp.
MPO
staff recommends that the 2009-2012 Centre County TIP be adopted with the
funding amount illustrated on the Final Draft TIP for the Construction phase of
the project. As PennDOT District 2-0
refines the preliminary design in the next few months and considers the most
effective method of phasing the improvements, PennDOT and MPO staff will work to
identify a potential source(s) of funding from the TIP to provide the additional
funds needed for the Construction phase. PennDOT
and MPO staff will provide an update to the CCMPO at the September and/or
November committee meetings.
*****
On
July 9, 2008, the CCMPO Technical Committee reviewed the Final Draft 2009-2012
TIP and the public comment period summary. The
Technical Committee recommended that the Coordinating Committee adopt the
2009-2012 TIP as presented, with minor editorial revisions to the state funding
codes on the transit element of the TIP.
The
Coordinating Committee should receive a staff presentation, review the public
input provided, and consider adopting the 2009-2012 Centre
County
TIP
.
Attached
are:
·
Staff
PowerPoint presentation
·
Narrative
Summary of TIP Process
·
Highway/Bridge
Element of the Final Draft TIP (as of April 29, 2008)
·
Map
of highway projects on the Final Draft TIP
·
Map
of bridge projects on the Final Draft TIP
·
Revised
Transit Element of the Final Draft TIP (as of April 29, 2008)
·
Detailed
listing of highway/bridge element (11 x 17 sheets)
·
Detailed
listing of transit element (11 x 17 sheets)
Additional
supporting documents are posted on the CCMPO website www.ccmpo.net
.
Presented by:
Tom Zilla
, CRPA
PennDOT District 2-0
Action: Adoption
of the 2009-2012 Centre
County
TIP
.
ITEM
7
PROCEDURES
FOR TIP MODIFICATIONS
Review
Revised Procedures for Adoption
Procedures
for TIP Modifications
A
set of procedures for administering modifications to the 2009-2012 Centre County
TIP must be adopted and included in the submission package for the TIP.
Minor
revisions to the current adopted Procedures
for TIP Administrative Actions have been made to ensure consistency with the
latest Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PennDOT, the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) about TIP
modifications. No revisions have been made to the key policy elements of the procedures
that specify thresholds for changes requiring formal action by the CCMPO.
The
draft Procedures for TIP Modifications
for the 2009-2012 TIP are attached. The
minor revisions are illustrated in Tahoma font, bold italics.
On
July 9, 2008, the CCMPO Technical Committee recommended that the Coordinating
Committee adopt the new Procedures
for TIP Modifications
for the 2009-2012 TIP.
The
Coordinating Committee should receive a brief staff presentation, review the procedures,
and consider adopting the new TIP modification procedures.
Presented by:
Tom Zilla
, CRPA
Action:
Adoption of new Procedures for TIP
Modifications.
ITEM 8
AIR
QUALITY CONFORMITY RESOLUTION
2009-2012 CENTRE
COUNTY
TIP
AND
LRTP 2008 UPDATE
Review
Conformity Report and Resolution
Draft
2008 Air Quality Conformity Analysis Report Volume I – Executive Summary
Draft
2008 Air Quality Conformity Analysis Report Volume II – Technical Analysis
2008
Air Quality Conformity Resolution
Staff
PowerPoint presentation
In 2004, new Federal
regulations for conformance with air quality standards were instituted.
As a result,
Centre
County
was designated as a “non-attainment” area for ozone.
Improvements in air quality in the ensuing years enabled
Centre
County
to be redesignated as a “maintenance” area.
However, the designation as a maintenance area still requires that an air
quality conformity analysis be prepared for the CCMPO’s TIP and LRTP.
PennDOT’s air
quality consultant completed a conformity analysis on the new 2009-2012 TIP and
the LRTP 2008 Update, with assistance from PennDOT and MPO staff.
The conformity analysis report was advertised on June 3, 2008 for a
required 30-day public comment period, as part of the public comment period for
the 2009-2012 TIP and 2008 LRTP Update.
At the meeting, staff
will provide a brief presentation about the results of the conformity analysis,
and the 2008 Air Quality Conformity Resolution.
The results of the analysis show that forecasted emissions associated
with the LRTP 2008 Update and the 2009-2012 TIP are lower than the emission
“budgets” (thresholds) established for
Centre
County
, and the LRTP and TIP will not adversely affect air quality.
Thus, the conformity requirements for ozone are satisfied.
Copies
of the following materials are being distributed to members only:
| Draft
2008 Air Quality Conformity Analysis Report Volume I – Executive Summary
|
| Draft
2008 Air Quality Conformity Analysis Report Volume II – Technical Analysis |
For
individuals not receiving these materials, the documents are posted on the CCMPO
website www.ccmpo.net , or you may contact
the CRPA office to obtain copies.
Also attached is:
| 2008
Air Quality Conformity Resolution
|
| Staff
PowerPoint presentation |
On
July 9, 2008, the CCMPO Technical Committee recommended that the Coordinating
Committee approve the Air Quality Conformity Report, and adopt the air quality
conformity resolution.
The
Coordinating Committee should receive a staff presentation, and consider
approving the Conformity Report and adopting the resolution.
Presented by:
Tom Zilla
, CRPA
Action:
Approval of the 2008 Centre County Air Quality Conformity Analysis
Report, and adoption of the Air Quality Conformity Resolution.
ITEM 9
ANNUAL
FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS
CERTIFICATION
Self
Certification Resolution
The CCMPO is required to certify that its planning process is in
compliance with all applicable Federal regulations.
A resolution and supporting documentation certifying the CCMPO's
compliance is attached.
On July 9, 2008, the CCMPO Technical Committee recommended that the
Coordinating Committee adopt the self-certification resolution.
The
Coordinating Committee should consider adoption of the resolution.
Presented by:
Tom Zilla
, CRPA
Action: Adoption
of the resolution certifying the CCMPO's compliance with all applicable federal
transportation planning regulations.
ITEM 10
FEDERAL
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM
Process
for Providing Comments about Applications
Staff
Presentation
Informational
Flyer
In May 2008, the PennDOT Central Office announced the
opening of an application cycle for funding from the Federal Safe Routes to
School (FSRTS) Program. The
program provides a new source of federal funding for projects that enable and
encourage children to walk or bike to school.
The new program is not affiliated with
Pennsylvania
’s Home Town Streets/Safe Routes to School Program, which was financed with
federal Transportation Enhancements (TE) funding. While
the goals and overall project outcomes are similar, the new federal program has
different funding requirements.
Applications must be submitted directly to
PennDOT by 5:00 pm, August 1, 2008. Program
guidance, project applications, and vario
us
resources are available from PennDOT’s website at:
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/CPDM.nsf/SRTSHomepage?OpenFrameset
.
MPO staff provided an
information flyer and the program guidance to all municipal managers and
secretaries, and to all
Centre
County
school district superintendents and transportation directors.
The applications will be reviewed, evaluated, and ranked by a statewide
committee. MPOs and RPOs will not be
involved in the approval of projects, but will have an opportunity to provide
comments to the statewide committee.
On
July 9, 2008, the CCMPO Technical Committee received a presentation from staff
about a proposed process for the CCMPO
to provide comments to the statewide review committee.
The first step in the process includes review of the applications by one
staff representative from each of the following agencies:
Centre County Planning and Community Development Office
PennDOT Central Office
Centre Regional Planning Agency
PennDOT District 2-0 Office
The second step is for the review committee to provide its comments to
the CCMPO Committees at the September 2008 meetings.
Comments approved by the CCMPO Coordinating Committee in September would
then be provided to the statewide committee by the October 1, 2008 deadline.
The Technical
Committee recommended that the Coordinating Committee approve the proposed
process.
Attached are:
| Staff
PowerPoint presentation
|
| Informational
flyer about the FSRTS Program prepared by MPO staff |
The
Coordinating Committee should receive the staff presentation, and consider
approving a process to review and provide comments about FSRTS applications for
projects in
Centre
County
.
Presented by: Trish Meek, CRPA
Action:
Approval of a process to review and provide comments about FSRTS applications for
projects in
Centre
County
.
ITEM 11
DRAFT
BYLAWS FOR CCMPO
Review
Draft #9 Bylaws
Draft
# 9 Bylaws
On
April 29, 2008, the CCMPO Coordinating Committee discussed draft bylaws for the
CCMPO, as prepared by the Performance Review Committee, and voted to table
discussion of this item.
The
Coordinating Committee should consider approving a motion to take this item from
the table.
Attached is:
·
Draft #9
Bylaws
If
the item is taken from the table, the Coordinating Committee should review and
discuss the Draft #9 Bylaws, and decide on a course of action relative to
further review and adoption of bylaws.
Presented
by: Performance Review Committee members
Action:
Review the Draft #9 Bylaws, and establish a course of action relative to
further review and adoption of bylaws for the
CCMPO.
ITEM
12
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.
Future Meeting Dates
a.
Technical Committee: Wednesday,
September 10, 2008, 9:30 am;
Location to be announced
ð
2007-2010
Centre
County
Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP)
ð
Centre
County
LRTP
– Major Update
ð
I-80
Toll Conversion Project
ð
Centre
Commute (regional rideshare) Program
b.
Coordinating Committee: Tuesday,
September 23, 2008, 6:00 pm ;
Location to be announced
ð
2007-2010
Centre
County
Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP)
ð
Centre
County
LRTP
– Major Update
ð
I-80
Toll Conversion Project
ð
Centre
Commute (regional rideshare) Program
2. Attached is a letter
from Governor Ed Rendell responding to the CCMPO’s February 2008
correspondence indicating its opposition to the tolling of Interstate 80 as a
method for generating revenue for transportation improvements.
3. Attached is a letter
from State Senator Jake Corman and State Representative Kerry Benninghoff to
Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Allen Biehler urging PennDOT to advance
safety improvements along existing Route 322 in
Centre
County
.
4. Each year, PennDOT
District 2-0 provides the CCMPO and affected municipalities with a list of the
roadway pavement improvement projects on state roadways that are scheduled to be
completed in the upcoming fiscal year using state funds from the 711 maintenance
program and Act 44 funding for pavement restoration.
The 711 program does not fall under the purview of the MPO.
Attached are a map and list illustrating the projects to be completed in
state fiscal year 2008-09. Please
note that several of the projects have already been completed or are underway.
5. In late April 2008,
legislation was approved by the U.S. Congress to implement technical corrections
to SAFETEA-LU, the federal transportation authorization legislation.
The technical corrections include modifying the $4 million earmark for
the Eastern Inner Loop to a $400,000 earmark, and reprogramming the earmark to
the North Atherton Street Signal Coordination project.
The
North Atherton Street
project is included on the 2009-2012 Centre County TIP.
After the legislation is signed into law by President Bush, modifications
will be made to the CCMPO’s 2009-2012 TIP to reflect the technical
corrections. Staff will provide an
update about the legislation at the September 2008 CCMPO meetings.
6. As noted during
discussions about the CCMPO’s FY 2008-09 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP),
the MPO staff has been participating in meetings of a statewide task force
working on a procedure to develop a database and project prioritization method
for local (municipal and county) bridge projects.
Staff will provide an update about the discussions at the September 2008
CCMPO committee meetings.
7. Mr. Dean Roberts will
represent the PennDOT Central Office on the CCMPO Technical Committee, following
the recent retirement of Harold Nanovic. Dean
will also serve as the alternate representative on the Coordinating Committee,
and will represent the Central Office on a temporary basis until a permanent
appointment is made by PennDOT.
8.
CCMPO staff contact information:
Centre Regional Planning Agency
Telephone:
814-231-3050
2643 Gateway Drive
Fax:
814-231-3083
State College
,
PA
16801
Bob Crum
, Director
rcrum@crcog.net
Tom Zilla
, Transportation Planner
tzilla@crcog.net
Trish Meek, Transportation Planner
tmeek@crcog.net
Greg Kausch, Transportation Planner gkausch@crcog.net
or | 
