Policy January 2019 FINAL
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NORTHEAST OHIO AREAWIDE COORDINATING AGENCY M E M O R A N D U M TO: Policy Committee Members Samuel Alai, Mayor City of Broadview Heights Annette M. Blackwell, Mayor, City of Maple Heights Pamela Bobst, Mayor, City of Rocky River Jeff Brandon, Trustee, Montville Township Armond Budish, County Executive, Cuyahoga County Ben Capelle, General Manager, Laketran Glenn Coyne, Executive Director, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Freddy L. Collier, Director, Cleveland City Planning Commission Andrew Conrad, County Engineer, Medina County William Friedman, President and CEO, Cleveland – Cuyahoga County Port Authority John R. Hamercheck, Commissioner, Lake County Ted Kalo, Commissioner, Lorain County Timothy Lennon, Commissioner, Geauga County Matt Lundy, Commissioner, Lorain County Valarie McCall, Chief, Communications, Government and International Affairs, City of Cleveland Myron Pakush, Deputy Director, ODOT District 12 Chase Ritenauer, Mayor, City of Lorain David H. Roche, Mayor, City of Richmond Heights Matt Spronz, Director, Office of Capital Projects, City of Cleveland Robert Stefanik, Mayor, City of North Royalton Michael P. Summers, Mayor, City of Lakewood Matt Zone, Councilman, Ward 15, City of Cleveland FROM: Commissioner Timothy Lennon, Chair DATE: January 11, 2019 RE: Policy Committee Friday, January 18, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. NOACA Offices 1299 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio I look forward to seeing you on Friday, January 18th at 10:00 a.m. at the NOACA offices. January 18, 2019, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. NOACA Offices 1299 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 POLICY COMMITTEE AGENDA Page 1. Minutes of October 12, 2018 Meeting 1-1 2. Public Comments on Current Agenda Items Oral 3. Chair’s/Executive Director’s Report Oral 4. Action Items a. 2019 Focus Areas 4-1 b. New or Modified Highway Interchange Projects Amendment Policy 4-3 c. Public Transit Performance Measures and Target Setting 4-5 d. Safety Performance Target Setting for CY 2019 4-9 5. Presentation/Discussion Items a. Future action i. None b. Information i. Workforce Accessibility and Mobility 5-1 6. Old Business 7. New Business 8. Adjourn Next Regular Meeting: Friday, April 12, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. NOACA Offices, 1299 Superior Avenue in Cleveland Agenda Item No. 1 MINUTES NOACA Policy Committee October 12, 2018 NOACA Offices 1299 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Present: Please see the attached attendance record. Commissioner Tim Lennon, Vice Chair of the Policy Committee, convened the meeting at 10:05 a.m. Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Chief Valarie McCall to approve the minutes of the Policy Committee meeting held on July 13, 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Rick Switalski. The motion passed by voice vote. Public Comments No public comments were made at this meeting. Executive Director’s Report Ms. Grace Gallucci reported on the following: • NOACA’s 2018 Annual Meeting had 334 registrants. NOACA received a total of $18,000 in sponsorships. • The consultant for NOACA’s Air Quality Outreach and Implementation Plan is holding a meeting at the Harvard Community Service Center on October 30th to get feedback on Northeast Ohio’s air quality. ACTION ITEMS New or Modified Highway Interchange Projects Amendment Policy Mr. Brian Blayney stated that NOACA is seeking to better define and utilize a consistent approach for the development of major interchange projects in the region. He noted that a new access point on the Interstate system and other state freeways requires an Interchange Justification Study (IJS), and a revision of an existing access point requires an Interchange Modification Study (IMS). Mr. Blayney talked about how the current process has been inconsistent when adding new or modified interchange projects to NOACA’s long-range transportation plan (LRTP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Mr. Blayney stated that the Safety and Operations Council (SOC) and Transportation Subcommittee concluded the following: 7969s 1 - 1 • Feasibility studies must be complete before a new or modified interchange project is considered for amendment to the LRTP. • An IMS/IJS must be conditionally approved by FHWA and ODOT before a new or modified interchange project will be considered for amendment to the TIP. Mr. Blayney stated that pending Board approval, the Regional Transportation Investment Policy (RTIP) will be revised to include the following language: • All projects requiring an IMS or IJS are major projects and must complete a feasibility study or Alternatives Evaluation Report that recommends a preferred alternative. • Projects may then be advanced through NOACA PPR and IGRC procedures for LRTP consideration. • Projects may be proposed for amendment to the TIP after IMS/IJS approval by FHWA and ODOT. LRTP and TIP amendment may not occur concurrently for these types of projects. A motion was made by Councilman Dale Miller to recommend the New or Modified Highway Interchange Projects Amendment Policy to the Executive Committee. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pamela Bobst. Mr. Myron Pakush asked if the policy restricts the sponsor’s ability to utilize federal funds in the study phases. Mr. Blayney said no. Mr. Pakush asked how federal funds will be utilized in developing IJS if the project is not on the TIP. Mr. Blayney stated that the funds could potentially be used via a statewide line item. Mr. Pakush stated that all federal funding sources need to be on the TIP so dollars can be authorized. He noted that the policy language would restrict the ability of local governments to utilize federal funds to develop the studies and get them approved by FHWA. He also noted that the policy changes would create hardship for sponsors who want to utilize federal funds. Mr. Lane stated that there is an opportunity to amend the preliminary development of the study phase to the TIP with federal funds without having to amend future phases for construction or implementation of the project. He noted that federal funds would not be prohibited from being used. He also noted that regardless of the funding source used, significant impacts to the Interstates are under the purview of NOACA’s planning requirements for analyzing and amending projects to the TIP. Mr. Lane stated that the project must go through the NOACA planning process so staff can include the preliminary phases in the TIP without approving the construction funds. Mr. Pakush stated that he wanted to make sure federal dollars will still be available for local governments that develop studies in the preliminary phases even if their project does not have a construction phase. He said the policy language needs to be cleared up. Mr. Blayney said staff will clarify the language in the policy. 7969s 1 - 2 Mr. Tom Jordan stated that ODOT should review the federal policy. Mr. Pakush agreed with Mr. Jordan and noted that ODOT would make sure the project is still eligible for federal dollars in the preliminary phase. Ms. Gallucci stated that the internal policy will help staff determine the appropriate time to move forward on interchange projects. She said the policy does not prohibit federal funding from being used and that an amendment would need to be made in order for the sponsor to use the funding for a particular aspect of the project. Mr. Jordan commented on the importance of NOACA having a consistent process to add amendments to the TIP. Ms. Gallucci asked Ms. Sarli and Mr. Blayney if either of them talked with ODOT staff about the policy. Ms. Sarli stated that ODOT staff, who sit on the Safety and Operations Council (SOC) and the Transportation Subcommittee (TS), made the recommendation. Ms. Sarli said additional language could be added to the policy for clarification. Mr. Blayney read the proposed language for the policy. Mr. Pakush reiterated that he did not feel the proposed language would enable local governments to utilize federal funds if their projects are not on the TIP. Commissioner Lennon asked if feasibility studies receive mainly federal funds. Mr. Pakush said yes and noted that a project must be on the TIP in order for the consultant to receive federal authorization. Ms. Gallucci stated that the policy language could be changed so the feasibility study can be added to the Plan and TIP without the interchange. Mr. Pakush suggested that NOACA staff ask ODOT Central staff to review the policy language. Ms. Gallucci stated that the proposed policy could be sent back to TS and SOC for further review. Chief McCall asked if the Committee could recommend the policy to the Executive Committee pending ODOT’s review of the language. Councilman Miller and Mayor Bobst withdrew their first and second motion to recommend the proposed policy to the Executive Committee. A motion was made by Councilman Miller to send the New or Modified Highway Interchange Projects Amendment Policy back to TS to address concerns raised by the Policy Committee. The motion was seconded by Mr. Pakush. The motion passed by voice vote. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION ITEMS Workforce Mobility Ms. Gallucci reminded the Policy Committee that NOACA staff presented information on workforce mobility at the meeting in July 2018. She explained how policy ideas will help NOACA identify where to spend its funding, how to spend its funding, and identify projects that would make the most sense relative to mobility rather than just mode. 7969s 1 - 3 Ms. Gallucci provided an overview of the following: • Greatest decreases of jobs (2000-2012) in several metropolitan areas in the United States • Journey to Work 1970 Census for Employment in the NOACA region • Journey to Work 2009-2013 ACS for Employment in the NOACA region • Cuyahoga County Work Place Journey to Work 1970 Census in the NOACA region • Cuyahoga County Work Place Journey to Work 2009-2013 ACS in the NOACA region • Workforce Mobility – employment density Ms.