Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Transportation Committee met Feb. 21.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
Members Present:Chris Snyder, Chair – DuPage County, Jessica Hector-Hsu, Vice-Chair – RTA, Holly Bieneman – IDOT OP&P, Darwin Burkhart – Illinois EPA (via phone), Brian Carlson – IDOT D1, Kevin Carrier – Lake County, Lynnette Ciavarella – Metra, Mike Connelly – CTA, Carrie Cooper – IDOT OIPI, John Donovan – FHWA, Doug Ferguson – CMAP, Tony Greep – FTA (via phone), Scott Hennings – McHenry County, Christina Kupkowski – Will County, Erik Llewellyn – Pace, Tara Orbon – Cook County, Ryan Peterson – Kendall County, Tom Rickert – Kane County, Leon Rockingham – Council of Mayors, Dave Seglin – CDOT, P.S. Sriraj – Academics and Research, Scott Weber – NIRPC, Rocco Zucchero – Illinois Tollway
Staff Present:Michelle Aguloye, Courtney Barnes, Lindsay Bayley, Sarah Buchhorn, Anthony Cefali, Teri Dixon, Kama Dobbs, Jesse Elam, James Gross, Leroy Kos, Timi Koyejo, Ben Krochmal, Kathy Lane, Amy McEwan, Martin Menninger, Dan Olson, Russell Pietrowiak, Stephane Phifer, Todd Schmidt, Joan Smedinghoff, Gordon Smith, Matt Stern, Laura Wilkison
Others Present:Garland Armstrong, Heather Armstrong, Elaine Bottomley, Baird Bream, Len Cannata, Emily Daucher, Mike Fitzsimons, Marlise Fratinardo, Michael Fricano, Grace Gallucci, Paul Gregoire, Tim Gustafson, Kendra Johnson, Mike Klemens, Daniel Knickelbein, Alex Kormer, Eliot Lewis, Wayne Miczek, Leah Mooney, Matt Pasquini, Kelsey Passi, Leslie Phemister, Brian Plum, Chad Riddle, Troy Simpson, Joe Surdam, Sonali Tandon, Holly Waters
1.0Call to Order and Introductions
The meeting was called to order at 9:31 a.m. by Chair Snyder.
2.0Agenda Changes and Announcements
Chair Snyder recognized Mr. Zucchero for his two years of service as chair of the committee, as well as introducing Ms. Hector-Hsu as the new Vice Chair. He then welcomed Mr. Llewellyn as a new member.
3.0Approval of Minutes
A motion to approve the minutes of the November 15, 2019 meeting, made by Mr. Connelly, seconded by Mr. Carrier, carried.
4.0Committee Reports
A report on the Coordinating Committee meeting from January 8, 2020 was given by Ms. Phifer. She reported that the only agenda item discussed was the LTA call for projects for the next fiscal year. She looks forward to bringing those projects to the April meeting of the Transportation Committee.
5.0FFY 2019-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
5.1Amendments and Administrative Modifications
Mr. Kos gave an update on the 2020-2024 TIP amendment report. New projects and cost changes to existing projects account for $2.3 Billion in additional costs being added to the TIP. Administrative amendments 20-02.1 and 20-02.2 were posted for information. A motion to approve TIP amendment 20-02, made by Mr. Seglin, seconded by Mr. Connelly, carried.
5.2Semi-Annual ON TO 2050/TIP Conformity Analysis and TIP Amendment
Mr. Kos updated the committee on the ONTO2050 TIP Conformity Analysis and TIP Amendment 20-03. The public comment period ended on February 7, 2020, with no comments. A motion to approve the recommendation of the semi-annual ON TO 2050/TIP Conformity Analysis to the CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee, made by Ms. Orbon, seconded by Mr. Carrier, carried.
6.0FY 2021 Unified Work Program (UWP) Update
Mr. Olson summarized the FY 2021 UWP memo included in the meeting packet. He stated that the FY 2021 call for projects was released on January 2, 2020. The expected federal funding mark for the year is $18.8 million, with matching funds of $4.7 million. The eighteen project proposals received by the January 30, 2020 deadline are under review currently. After scoring the projects, the program recommended by CMAP staff will be presented to the UWP committee on March 11, 2020. Once approved, the recommendation will be forwarded to the Transportation Committee and Coordinating Committee in April for recommendation to the CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee in June. A draft of the UWP document will be provided to IDOT by May 1, 2020 with the final document in place by the end of June.
7.0Metra Capital Program
Ms. Waters presented an overview of the Metra Capital Program. Chair Snyder noted that he did not see any mention of positive train control and asked if it was all already implemented. Ms. Waters responded that Metra was on pace to meet its 2020 deadline. Ms. Ciavarella added that positive train control was funded in prior year capital programs. In response to another question by Chair Snyder, Ms. Waters stated that Metra and private rail companies do share costs on shared-track projects on bridges. In response to a question by Ms. Orbon, Ms. Waters stated that there are over 500 bridges which are at least 100 years old. Ms. Hector-Hsu noted that there is more capital funding available to Metra than there was in prior years and asked how the additional funds will be used. Ms. Waters responded that the extra funds will allow Metra to make purchases at a more efficient scale, as well as work on projects which have been deferred in the past.
8.0 CTA Capital Program
Mr. Fitzsimons presented an overview of the CTA 2020-2024 Capital Program. Mr. Zucchero commented that agencies should be mindful of the scheduling of capital programs so that they do not compete with each other in contractor capacity and material availability which drives up costs.
9.0CTA Red Line South Extension
Ms. Mooney presented an update on the CTA Red Line Extension Project. In response to a question from Chair Snyder, Ms. Mooney stated that the extension will be built along a new rail corridor, adjacent to a Union Pacific rail corridor. In response to a second question by Chair Snyder, Ms. Mooney stated that CTA has been looking carefully at changes to supportive bus service in order to provide last mile service to the new stations. Mr. Seglin asked about an exact timeline for when operations will start, and Ms. Mooney replied that an exact timeline will be released after a NEPA consultant is hired.
10.0Great Lakes Hyperloop Feasibility Update
Ms. Gallucci presented an update on the Great Lakes Hyperloop Feasibility Study, released in December 2019. In response to a question from Chair Snyder, Ms. Gallucci stated that there are currently smaller-scale versions of the hyperloop being used for operational testing in a lab environment. In response to a second question, she stated that the cost is estimated at roughly $50 million a mile, which is about half the cost of high-speed rail. She then stated that the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is supportive of high-speed rail, but interest from the private sector has been in hyperloop technology. Ms. Orbon asked whether the 45-minute time was non-stop, and Ms. Gallucci affirmed. Ms. Cooper added that when considering the cost, hyperloops can also generate revenue via energy production and transporting freight. In response to a question by Mr. Carrier on ticket cost, Ms. Gallucci stated that there is no projected cost yet, but there is a commitment to accessibility to the public. Given that commitment, there will need to be some additional contribution by private partners or a mix of public and private services operating together.
11.0Legislative Updates
Mr. Smith provided an update on state legislative activities. President Cullerton has retired, and Senator Harmon has been elected to replace him. Additionally, Senator Villivalam is the new chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. Mr. Smith also highlighted that the Governor’s budget proposal includes line items that would provide funds for CMAP match federal metropolitan planning funds.
12.0Local Technical Assistance (LTA) Program
The LTA program status report was included in the meeting materials.
13.02020 Transportation Committee Meetings
Ms. Dobbs proposed a revised 2020 meeting schedule for the Transportation Committee, with the September meeting being moved to September 18 and the November meeting being moved to December 11. A motion to approve the revised schedule, made by Mr. Zucchero, seconded by Mr. Hennings, carried.
14.0Other Business
Ms. Bieneman reminded the committee that the IDOT Statewide Planning and Research funds call for projects is open, and applications are due March 13, 2020. She also stated that she anticipates a call for local HSIP projects soon. Mr. Elam stated that CMAP staff would provide an update on coordination to support safety performance targets at the April Transportation Committee meeting.
15.0Public Comment
Mr. Armstrong stated his concern over the lack of a push button crosswalk in Des Plaines by Miner St. and the Cumberland Metra Station to access the Pace Bus stop. Ms. Armstrong suggested a no-turn intersection at 87th and Pulaski, similar to the bridge at Chicago and Halsted. She also voiced support for the hyperloop project. A caller on the phone asked for clarification on whether the jobs created number from the hyperloop feasibility study was permanent positions or person-years. Ms. Gallucci responded that the employment growth projections in the corridor that she reported were from the project economist.
16.0Next Meeting
The next Transportation Committee meeting is scheduled for April 3, 2020.
17.0Adjournment
On a motion by Mr. Peterson, seconded by Mr. Ferguson, the meeting adjourned at 10:41 a.m.
https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/committees/other-groups/regional-transportation-operations
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