Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO)
Technical Committee Meeting

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

9:30 am

College Township Municipal Building

AGENDA  

1.                  Call to Order  

2.         Approval of Minutes:  September10, 2008 Technical Committee meeting  

3.         Citizens’ Comments:  For items not on the agenda  

4.         CCMPO/CATA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU):

            MOU for transportation planning responsibilities

Action:  Recommendation to Coordinating Committee  

5.         Route 26 Pine Grove Mountain Safety Improvements:

Status report from PennDOT District 2-0

No action required  

6.         Route 322 Corridor Safety Improvements (Harris and Potter Townships ):

Status report from PennDOT District 2-0

No action required  

7.         2009-2012 Centre County Transportation Improvement Program (TIP):

a.   Amendments to transit element – November 2008

                        Action:  Recommendation to Coordinating Committee

b.      Amendments to highway element – November 2008

                        Action:  Recommendation to Coordinating Committee  

8.         Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative (PCTI):

Potential candidate projects from the CCMPO

Action:  Recommendation to Coordinating Committee  

9.         Centre County Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP):

Status report about issues, process and schedule for new LRTP

No action required

 10.      FY 2009-10 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP):

Priorities for UPWP

 No action required

 11.       Announcements

 12.       Adjourn

ITEM 4  

CCMPO/CATA MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU)  

MOU for Transportation Planning Responsibilities  

Draft MOU for transportation planning responsibilities

Every three years, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) performs a “Triennial Review” of all public transit agencies receiving federal funding, including the Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA).  The purpose of this review is to assess compliance with the federal laws and regulations pertinent to public transportation.  If deficiencies are found, FTA provides guidance to the transit agency so that corrective action can be taken.  

FTA performed a Triennial Review of CATA in spring 2008.  At that time, FTA found a minor deficiency, in that there was not an existing MOU between CATA and the CCMPO to delineate roles and responsibilities in the metropolitan transportation planning process.  Although CATA and the CCMPO work cooperatively to meet all applicable federal transportation planning requirements, FTA specifies that the cooperative efforts be codified in a formal legal document.  Accordingly, FTA is requiring that an MOU be prepared and executed by CATA and the CCMPO in 2008 as a corrective action.  

Staff has prepared a draft MOU for consideration by the CATA Board of Directors and the CCMPO in November 2008.  At the meeting, staff will provide a brief presentation about the draft MOU and solicit input before the document is finalized.  

Attached is:  

·         Draft MOU for transportation planning responsibilities

The Technical Committee should receive the staff presentation, and provide a recommendation to the Coordinating Committee about approval of an MOU.  

            Presented by:   Greg Kausch, CRPA  

Actions:           Recommendation to the Coordinating Committee about approval of an MOU between the CCMPO and CATA for transportation planning responsibilities.

ITEM 5  

ROUTE 26 PINE GROVE MOUNTAIN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS  

Status Report from PennDOT District 2-0  

T

The 2007-2010 and 2009-2012 Centre County Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs) include funding for a safety improvement project on Route 26 ( Pine Grove Mountain ) south of the Village of Pine Grove Mills in Ferguson Township .  PennDOT District 2-0 is currently completing the Preliminary Engineering (PE) phase of the project, and has developed conceptual improvements focused on 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

In June 2008, PennDOT presented the conceptual improvements and preliminary cost estimates to the Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors.  PennDOT sought 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 on the 2009-2012 TIP, and because construction of the lower escape ramp would require the acquisition of a residential dwelling.

A majority of the Board of Supervisors supported advancing all three elements.  The Board also supported an approach to phase the improvements, because of the length of time necessary to obtain environmental clearance and right-of-way for the lower escape ramp, and because additional funding is needed for the project.

As the PE phase is completed and a strategy is developed to phase the improvements, PennDOT and MPO staff will be working to identify a potential source of funds to provide the additional funding needed for the Construction phase.  Potential TIP amendments may be considered in January 2009.

PennDOT District 2-0 will provide a status report about the project.

The Technical Committee should receive the report, and provide comments to PennDOT and the CCMPO staff that may be considered when potential TIP amendments are prepared in 2009.  

            Presented by:   Karen Michael, PennDOT District 2-0  

            No action required  

ITEM 6  

ROUTE 322 CORRIDOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

(HARRIS AND POTTER TOWNSHIPS )  

Status Report from PennDOT District 2-0  

The 2007-2010 and 2009-2012 Centre County TIPs include funding for the Route 322 Corridor Safety Improvements project.  The intent of the project is to identify and implement short-term improvements in the corridor until a process for planning long-term improvements can be initiated.

The CCMPO included the project on the TIP and the Centre County Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) in response to the termination of the South Central Centre County Transportation Study (SCCCTS) in spring 2004.  SCCCTS had been focused on a long-term solution to transportation needs in this part of Centre County .

The Preliminary Engineering (PE) phase for the short-term improvements began in early 2008, and a draft feasibility study has been completed.  After the results of the study are presented to the municipalities and CCMPO, PennDOT will refine the preliminary design for specific projects and prepare cost estimates.  PennDOT and MPO staff will compare the costs to the amount of funding included on the current TIP.  Potential TIP amendments may then be considered in January 2009 if additional funds are needed to implement the improvements.

PennDOT is already implementing some short-term improvements, such as center-line rumble strips and painted dots on the pavement.  In addition, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and the State College Police Department (which provides police services to Harris Township ), have increased traffic enforcement activities in the corridor.  

PennDOT District 2-0 will provide a status report about the feasibility study.  

The Technical Committee should receive the report, and provide comments to PennDOT and the CCMPO staff that may be considered when potential TIP amendments are prepared in 2009, and when the projects are implemented.  

            Presented by:   Karen Michael, PennDOT District 2-0  

            No action required  

ITEM 7.a.  

2009-2012 CENTRE COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)  

Amendments to Transit Element - November 2008  

  Transit Sheet #1, which illustrates the details of the proposed amendments.

The 2009-2012 Centre County TIP was adopted by the CCMPO in July 2008, and became effective on October 1, 2008 following approval by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration.  

Amendments are being proposed to the Transit Element of the TIP for several projects:  

·         Addition of $220,000 in federal funds and $55,000 in state and local matching funds for improvements to the CATA Operations and Maintenance Facility, including but not limited to: replacement of lifts; replacement of air compressor; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning enhancements.  

·         Addition of $540,000 in federal funds from the Clean Fuels Grant Program and $60,000 in local matching funds for a CATA bus replacement project.  The Clean Fuels funding will allow CATA to include hybrid engine technology in some of the new buses.  

·         Addition of $278,400 in federal funds from the Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) Program and $69,600 in local matching funds for the purchase of vans for CATA’s Centre Commute vanpool operation.  

·         Addition of $224,134 in state funds from the Community Transportation Section 1516 Capital Equipment Program for the replacement of transit vehicles by the Centre County Office of Transportation.  

Other projects on the TIP are not affected by proposed amendments, because these are additional allocations of federal and state funds.  

Attached is:  

Transit Sheet #1, which illustrates the details of the proposed amendments.

The Technical Committee should review the proposed amendments, and consider a recommendation to the Coordinating Committee.

            Presented by:   Tom Zilla , CRPA; Greg Kausch, CRPA

             Action:    Approval of proposed amendments to the Transit Element of the 2009-2012 Centre County TIP .

ITEM 7.b.  

2009-2012 CENTRE COUNTY TIP  

Amendments to Highway Element - November 2008  

  Highway Sheet #1, which illustrates the details of the proposed amendments

  Highway Sheet #2, which illustrates the administrative actions

Amendments are being proposed to the Highway Element of the TIP  

·         Revise the amount of the Eastern Inner Loop earmark from $4,000,000 to $400,000, and shift the $400,000 to the North Atherton Street Corridor Signal Coordination project.  This action will result in the deletion of the Eastern Inner Loop project from the TIP.  The change in the earmark amount was approved in the SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections legislation, which was approved by Congress and the President in 2008.  

·         Addition of $500,000 in earmarked funds to the University Park/Penn State Baseball Stadium Intersection Improvements ( Park Ave./Fox Hollow Rd./Porter Rd. ), as provided for in the SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections legislation.  The project bid was significantly higher than the amount of funding programmed on the previous and current TIPs, and the new earmark will be added to the previous earmark of $750,000 being utilized for the project.  

·         Addition of $31,000 in federal flex funds administered through the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) and $7,750 in state and local matching funds for improvements to the CATA Operations and Maintenance Facility, relative to the diesel and gasoline systems.  

Other projects on the TIP are not affected by the amendments, because the earmarked funds and flex funds represent an additional allocation of federal funding.

 Attached is:  

Highway Sheet #1, which illustrates the details of the proposed amendments.

The Technical Committee should review the proposed amendments, and consider a recommendation to the Coordinating Committee.  

            Presented by:   Tom Zilla , CRPA  

Action:  Approval of proposed amendments to the Highway Element of the 2009-2012 Centre County TIP.  

*****  

The CCMPO’s adopted Procedures for TIP Modifications permit project sponsors to complete certain TIP administrative actions without requiring formal approval by the CCMPO Coordinating Committee.  The Procedures specify that the administrative actions be reported to the CCMPO Committees for information purposes.  Staff will provide a brief report about administrative actions that have been taken by PennDOT, primarily focused on the state bridge program.  

Attached is:  

Highway Sheet #2, which illustrates the administrative actions.

 ITEM 8  

PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE (PCTI)  

Potential Candidate Projects from the CCMPO  

Correspondence from PennDOT about the PCTI

Fact sheet from PennDOT about the PCTI

PCTI project application form

Smart Transportation Principles  

CCMPO staff attended the annual statewide Transportation Planning Partners Meeting on October 6-8. At the meeting, PennDOT announced the kick-off of a new program intended to advance “Smart Transportation” principles in the Commonwealth.  The “Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative (PCTI)” is being funded with a total of $60 million in federal and state funds from the Secretary of Transportation’s spike funding allocation in the first two years of the 2009-2012 TIP (FFY 2009 and 2010).  Eligible projects may receive up to $5 million for construction activities, or up to $300,000 for planning activities.  

Initial applications must be submitted to the PennDOT Central Office by December 15, 2008.  All initial applications received from prospective project sponsors will be provided to PennDOT Engineering District Offices, MPOs, and RPOs for review.  

Attached are:  

Correspondence from PennDOT about the PCTI

Fact sheet from PennDOT about the PCTI

PCTI project application form

 Smart Transportation Principles  

Because MPOs are eligible to submit proposed projects, the MPO staff and PennDOT District 2-0 discussed potential candidate projects that are on the 2009-2012 Centre County TIP or the adopted Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), and could be advanced in the next two years.  Two high priority projects were identified:  

·         Philipsburg Park and Ride Lot(s) [LRTP] – Construction phase
The request would be for construction funds to implement park and ride facilities at the existing Cold Stream Dam parking area, and the parking area located across Route 322 from the YMCA building.  The project would formalize the existing informal lots, and would complement commuter bus service between the Moshannon Valley and Centre Region.  The commuter service is currently being discussed by CATA, the Area Transportation Authority serving Clearfield County , and county and municipal officials from Centre and Clearfield Counties .

·         Whitehall Rd./University Dr . Extension project – Preliminary Engineering (PE) phase
The request would be for planning funds to design a “Complete Streets” approach to the corridor, as part of the PE phase that is currently underway.

Other projects on the TIP or LRTP that are advancing in the next two years and may be candidates for the PCTI include:

·         Route 45 Betterment near Old Fort ( Potter Township )

·         Route 550 ( Bishop Street ) Betterment (Bellefonte Borough and Spring Township )

·         Centre Hall Sidewalk Rehabilitation (Centre Hall Borough)

·         Village of Boalsburg Streetscape ( Harris Township )

·         West Beaver Ave. /South Fraser St . Intersection Realignment  

Staff will provide a presentation about the PCTI, and the potential candidate projects that may be submitted by the CCMPO.  

The Technical Committee should receive the staff presentation, discuss the potential candidate projects proposed by staff, and provide a recommendation to the Coordinating Committee about projects that may be submitted by the CCMPO.  

            Presented by:   Tom Zilla, CRPA  

Actions:           Recommendation to the Coordinating Committee about potential candidate projects that may be submitted by the CCMPO for the PCTI.

ITEM 9  

CENTRE COUNTY LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN (LRTP)  

Status Report About Issues, Process and Schedule for New LRTP  

 

  Discussion #2 outline

  Project Ranking Criteria

  PowerPoint presentation

The CCMPO adopted the Centre County LRTP 2030 in September 2006.  The Plan was updated in June 2007 and July 2008 to address the requirements of SAFETEA-LU and federal transportation planning regulations.  

The CCMPO staff initiated the preparation of a new LRTP in fall 2008, with adoption of a new Plan tentatively scheduled for June 2010.  This schedule will permit the CCMPO to meet federal requirements that a major update or a new Plan be prepared every four years.  

Several significant issues will affect the preparation of the new LRTP, including the rapid escalation of project costs, the shortfall of both federal and state funding, and other policies relative to climate change and energy.  Locally, the future of both small and large highway projects, PennDOT’s expanded bridge program, and the desire to expand the use of other modes of transportation will be important issues in the new LRTP.  

The CCMPO Coordinating Committee discussed some of these issues from a policy perspective at its September 23 and October 28, 2008 meetings.  Staff also presented a tentative process and schedule to the Coordinating Committee on October 28.  

At this meeting, staff will update the Technical Committee about the Coordinating Committee’s discussions, and its actions relative to the process and schedule for preparing the new LRTP.  

Attached are:  

Staff PowerPoint presentation about new LRTP

Discussion #2 outline

Project Ranking Criteria

PowerPoint presentation about the reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU and the status of the federal Highway Trust Fund

The Technical Committee should receive the staff presentation, and provide comments to staff.  

            Presented by:   Trish Meek, CRPA; Mike Bloom, CCPCDO                                               

            No action required

ITEM 10  

FY 2009-10 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM (UPWP)  

Report about Priorities for UPWP  

Each year in February, the MPO adopts a UPWP for the fiscal year which begins on July 1 of that year and ends on June 30 of the following year.  The UPWP lists the work tasks to be completed by the CRPA and the Centre County Planning and Community Development Office (CCPCDO) on behalf of the CCMPO.  The MPO staff is currently operating under the FY 2008-09 UPWP.  

In 2005, the Coordinating Committee directed staff to schedule discussions of the upcoming UPWP prior to the February meetings at which the UPWP is adopted, in order to provide more time for discussion of the work tasks on the new program.  Thus, the purpose of this agenda item is to initiate discussion about the priorities for the FY 2009-10 UPWP.  

Of particular interest is the Technical Committee’s input about potential supplemental planning funds projects for FY 2009-10 including, but not limited to:  

·         Preparing a detailed inventory of municipal bridges for project identification and prioritization

·         Continuation of projects to coordinate land use and transportation plans (one of two projects using supplemental planning funds from the FY 2007-08 and FY 2008-09 UPWPs)

·         Continuation of the update of socioeconomic and land use forecasts, and the travel demand model for the new LRTP (originally funded in the FY 2008-09 UPWP)

·         Updating the 1998 CATA Public Transportation Plan (short-range transit plan) [this would be a follow-up project to the Assessment of Public Transportation Services in Centre County study which is now underway, using supplemental funds from the FY 2007-08 UPWP]  

A first draft FY 2009-10 UPWP will be prepared by staff for presentation to the CCMPO Committees in January 2009.  The new UPWP must be adopted by the Coordinating Committee in February 2009.  

Please note that the annual “Planning Priorities” letter from the PennDOT Central Office has not yet been received.  Thus, the letter will be included in a future agenda package.  PennDOT has informed MPO staff that no increase in federal and state funding levels will be provided in the FY 2009-10 UPWP because of the current economic situation.  

The Technical Committee should receive the staff report, and provide comments to assist in the preparation of the new UPWP, particularly related to supplemental planning funds projects.  

            Presented by:   Tom Zilla , CRPA  

            No action required

ITEM 11  

ANNOUNCEMENTS  

1.  Future Meeting Dates  

            a.         Technical Committee:              Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 9:30 am; Location to be announced  

ð  2009-2012 Centre County Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

ð  Centre County Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

ð  FY 2009-10 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)

ð  Local Bridge Program Statewide Task Force  

            b.         Coordinating Committee:         Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 6:00 pm; Location to be announced  

ð  2009-2012 Centre County TIP

ð  Centre County LRTP

ð  FY 2009-10 UPWP

ð  Local Bridge Program Statewide Task Force  

A proposed meeting schedule for the remainder of 2009 will be prepared and presented to the Coordinating Committee on November 25, 2008.  

2.         Attached for Committee members only is a copy of the latest I-99 Newsletter for the construction on I-99 in the Skytop area.  If others wish to receive the newsletter, please contact the MPO staff or visit PennDOT’s website at www.dot.state.pa.us; select “More News and Media”, and click on I-99/Pyritic Rock Information.  

3.         CCMPO staff contact information:  

                  Centre Regional Planning Agency              Telephone:       814-231-3050
                  2643 Gateway Drive                                  Fax:                 814-231-3083
                  State College , PA   16801

                        Tom Zilla, Transportation Planner       tzilla@crcog.net

                        Trish Meek, Transportation Planner     tmeek@crcog.net

                        Greg Kausch, Transportation Planner  gkausch@crcog.net  or  gkausch@catabus.com

                        Lori Shingler, Office Manager             lshingler@crcog.net

                  Centre County Plng & Community Dev. Office    Telephone:       814-355-6791
                  420 Holmes Street – Willowbank Office Building             Fax:      814-355-8661
                  Bellefonte, PA  16823   

                        Bob Jacobs , Director                           rbjacobs@co.centre.pa.us

                        Sue Hannegan , Assistant Director        shannegan@co.centre.pa.us

                        Mike Bloom , Transportation Planner   dmbloom@co.centre.pa.us