Minutes

 

OVERSIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (OAC) - MEETING #9

 

Thursday, November 30, 2000

4:45 pm

City/County Building, Room 201

210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard

Madison, WI

 

 

--          ROLL CALL

 

Members Present: LaMarr Billups; Thomas Carlsen; David Cieslewicz; Kristine Euclide; Ann Falconer; Rob Kennedy; Ken Leonard; Supv. Scott McDonell; George Nelson; Dick Wagner.

 

Members Absent: Supv. Michael Blaska; Robert Cook; Ald. Ken Golden; Darlene Horner; Ald. Warren Onken.

 

Staff Present: Bob McDonald (Madison Area Metropolitan Planning Organization); John Norwell (Dane County Highway and Transportation Department); Sharon Persich (Madison Metro); Pam Porter (Dane County Executive’s Office); David Trowbridge (City of Madison, Department of Planning and Development; Project Administrator for Transport 2020).

 

Others Present: Fred Bartol (Dane Alliance for Rail Transit); Melissa Bordewin (Parsons Brinckerhoff); Stephanie Eiler (Parsons Brinckerhoff); Don Emerson (Parsons Brinckerhoff); Kim Lobdell (KL Engineering); Ken Kinney (Cambridge Systematics; Project Manager for Transport 2020).

 

 

1.            REVIEW OF AGENDA

 

Co-Chair Scott McDonell welcomed Committee members to Meeting #9 of the Oversight Advisory Committee for Transport 2020.

 

Project Manager Ken Kinney then provided a brief overview of the 11/1 agenda items.  Scott McDonell noted a minor change to the order of the agenda, inserting agenda item 7 in between 4 and 5.  The OAC agreed to do that.

 

McDonell also introduced candidate project manager Stephanie Eiler to the OAC.  McDonell noted that Ms. Eiler (of Parsons Brinckerhoff) would be transitioning into the project manager position and that she had recently been interviewed by the Transport 2020 Management Team.  McDonell noted that he had met her during a previous commuter rail study interview (in 1995), and was impressed with her credentials and interview skills at that time.

 

Eiler introduced herself as the Transportation Planning Director of the Minneapolis office (of Parsons Brinckerhoff).  Eiler acknowledged the confidence that the OAC has developed with Ken Kinney and said that she has begun working with him on the transition process.  She said that she looks forward to learning about the Madison/Dane County community and helping to guide a very good study process.  Eiler pledged her constant availability (as well as the entire project team’s availability) with the Transport 2020 study, even though the distance may be somewhat farther than Milwaukee.  She said that this community has a number of unique assets to protect, and added that the geographic constraints may create opportunities (as well as challenges).

 

Kinney assured the OAC that, through the transition, there would be no delays in the study schedule.  He also said that he told Ms. Eiler that the OAC is a fine group to work with.

 

 

2.            APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM OAC MEETING #8 (NOVEMBER 1, 2000)

 

The Minutes for Meeting #8 of the Oversight Advisory Committee were approved, as submitted on a motion by Rob Kennedy/George Nelson.

 

 

3.            OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

 

There were no public appearances.

 

 

4.            PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS: UPDATE

 

Kim Lobdell (KL Engineering) provided a couple of comments on the public participation process.  She said that the OAC packet included a draft newsletter (to be sent out to the large general mailing list) by December 15^th.  She said that she would like to get OAC comments or suggestions on that draft newsletter, which basically summarizes the results of the first Public Information Meeting (PIM).

 

Lobdell noted that Ken Kinney had suggested adding a sentence to describe each of the land use scenarios, to make the distinctions more clear.  She also said that OAC/TAC member affiliations would be added.  Lobdell said that the maps shown at the 10/30 PIM would be included as well.  She also said that the mailing list has grown by about 110 persons since the 10/30 PIM, and that the newsletter will provide an easy opportunity to be added to that.  She said that there are about 700 people on that mailing list at this time.

 

She then asked for specific OAC suggestions.  Rob Kennedy said that one of the maps should show commuting patterns, and how the origins and destinations are clearly linked in the region.  Bob McDonald (Madison Area MPO) handed out some copies of a map that could potentially show that.  Lobdell said that this change could be made.  McDonald said that he would try to get a better version of the map for the newsletter.

 

Kristine Euclide said that there is currently some confusion among the general public about the difference between high speed rail and the transit options being considered in Transport 2020.  She said that it would be helpful to have something in the newsletter that differentiates the two processes.  Lobdell said that this distinction was included on the web page (under FAQs) but could be added to the newsletter as well.  Ann Falconer said that there should not be too much separation between the two processes, though.  Dick Wagner asked for a link (on the Transport 2020 web site) to high speed rail information.  David Trowbridge said that he would provide a web address to link to the City of Madison web page, where this information exists.  Tom Carlsen said that the state web site could also be explored for a potential linkage.

 

Lobdell thanked to OAC for their suggestions.  She also said that the Transport 2020 web page was being added to, including a project schedule.  She said that there are good links to the City and County web sites as well.  Lobdell said that the stakeholder meetings were almost completely scheduled, with the exception of the legislators.  She said that the various Dane County communities would also be contacted for meetings fairly soon, starting with a land use workshop in January 2001.

 

 

5.            TRANSPORT 2020: FUTURE PROJECT FINANCING

 

Don Emerson (of the PB Team) discussed some of the key issues discussed earlier that day (11/30) at the Financial and Governance Workshop.  He also provided copies of his slide presentation to interested members of the OAC.

 

(Note: Copies of Mr. Emerson’s overheads can be obtained by request)

 

Emerson said that he is from Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Herndon, Virginia office, and is in attendance this evening to discuss the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) New Starts process.  Emerson noted that he had been the director of that federal transit funding program for 15 years, prior to joining PB.  Kinney said that it will be important to understand how to obtain the most federal dollars possible.

 

Emerson showed a flow chart that summarized the process for obtaining federal funding – from the Alternatives Analysis process to construction (and the attainment of a full funding grant agreement).  Emerson also discussed the federal authorization and appropriation process that takes place at the federal level.  He said that this is the place where the critical decisions are made, in terms of funding of the projects.

 

Emerson said that it will be useful to review how other communities have been successful in obtaining federal funding, and learn from their experiences.  Emerson noted that it is never too early to get started with obtaining federal funding, even if it is for a small amount of funding for preliminary engineering (PE).  He said that Madison/Dane County should start (in February 2001) to try and get a PE earmark for 2002.  Emerson pointed out that this is useful to start laying the groundwork now for federal funding authorization.

 

He also said that, in the future, it might be helpful for the interested units of government to hire someone to represent your viewpoints to members of Congress.  Emerson said that a funding strategy is critical to every project’s success and it is very important to begin thinking about that early in the process.

 

Ken Leonard said that Senator Herb Kohl has obtained funding appropriations for commuter rail projects in southeastern Wisconsin.  Leonard said that Kohl had attained appropriations for alternatives analysis planning ($800,000) and PE ($4 million).  He said that it is important to begin thinking about that.  Rob Kennedy agreed and said that Transport 2020 should begin thinking about soliciting some PE dollars through the New Starts process.  McDonell said that it is important to start with small amounts of money first.

 

 

6.            REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF INITIAL TRANSPORT 2020 STUDY OPTIONS

 

Ken Kinney reviewed some of the initial study options, to be modeled in Phase I of Transport 2020 – in order to obtain information on traffic impacts, ridership, land use impacts, capital costs and operating costs.

 

Kinney said that the packages of initial rail, bus, land use and highway alternatives recommended to be modeled include the following:

 

(1a) Rail Transit: Sun Prairie, Middleton, McFarland, Airport (existing R-O-W); Current Trends Land Use; No Build Highway

 

(1b) Rail Transit: Sun Prairie, Middleton, McFarland, Airport (existing R-O-W); Existing Plans Land Use; No Build Highway

 

(1c) Rail Transit: Sun Prairie, Middleton, McFarland, Airport (existing R-O-W); Vision 2020 Land Use; No Build Highway

 

(2) Rail Transit: Sun Prairie, Middleton, McFarland, Airport (existing R-O-W); Existing Plans Land Use; Build Highway

 

(3) Rail Transit: Sun Prairie, Middleton, McFarland, Airport (existing R-O-W with street running on Main/Doty); Existing Plans Land Use; No Build Highway

 

(4) Rail Transit (street running): East Towne, Washington Avenue, University Avenue, West Towne; Existing Plans Land Use; No Build Highway

 

(5) Bus Rapid Transit (route, schedule as in 1b); Existing Plans Land Use; No Build Highway

 

Kinney said he was also recommending that some ridership estimates be developed for a transit option running north to DeForest and south to Stoughton.  He said that detailed capital cost and land use impacts would not be developed for those “extension” options.

 

Ken Leonard asked why the “Build” highway alternative was not included in options 3-5.  Kinney said that this would be done in later phases, but that the model runs were being limited at this time.  Kinney said that this phase of modeling attempted to optimize the information that would be obtained (for review and further analysis).  This is being done to show primary differences and sensitivities among the options.  Kinney said that the Transit Workshop (12/15) would be considering transit stations, operating schedules, etc. and that this information would be presented back to the OAC in December (12/19) for review and approval.  Kinney said that after 12/19, 6 weeks would be needed to conduct modeling and cost analysis.  He also wished to make clear the fact that these decisions on initial options do not preclude an option from returning for further analysis in Phase II of Transport 2020 (and also in future stages of study, such as in PE and the NEPA process).

 

Dick Wagner asked why Wilson Street was taken off of the initial street running options.  Kinney said that the TAC and subsequent field work had shown that Main Street (on the Capitol Square) might hold more promise for a street option.  Kinney said that, from a modeling standpoint, there would be little difference.

 

Rob Kennedy asked about the timeline for modeling and initial analysis.  Kinney said that, assuming the initial options are approved tonight and in mid-December, there should be some initial information to review in late January or early February 2001.

 

Kristine Euclide asked about the rationale for conducting only ridership analysis to DeForest and Stoughton.  Kinney said that this information would be easy to obtain and that various members of the OAC wished to see the information.  McDonell said that he wished to have a more “regional” nature to the initial analysis, even if it would be somewhat cursory and based on previous study information.

 

The initial set of model runs was approved unanimously by the OAC, on a motion submitted by George Nelson/Dick Wagner.

 

 

7.            TRANSPORT 2020 STUDY AREA VS. CORE TRAVEL AREA

 

Ken Kinney wished to discuss the difference between the broad Transport 2020 study area and the facility improvement corridor in the middle of the metropolitan area.  He said that the 1-page White Paper had been sent in the packet and Kinney would like approval of that document at this evening’s meeting.

 

Dick Wagner said that he is comfortable with the 1-pager and said that the initial concern was raised by OAC member Ald. Warren Onken.  Wagner said that Onken’s main concern was the need to show how everyone is affected by this problem.  He said that the regional nature of the issue is important, but that the primary mobility problems are in a concentrated corridor.  Wagner referred to Bob McDonald’s handout regarding origins and destinations, and said that this is helpful in showing the breadth of the problem.  Wagner said that the numbers in that handout are understated, given the changes that have taken place since 1990.

 

The 1-page White Paper was approved unanimously by the OAC, on a motion submitted by Dick Wagner/Rob Kennedy.

 

 

8.            NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) PROCESS

 

Co-Chair Scott McDonell asked the Committee to refer discussion of this issue to the December meeting of the OAC.  The Committee agreed to do so.

 

 

9.            FUTURE TRANSPORT 2020 MEETINGS/NEXT STEPS

 

Kinney then updated OAC members on some future evaluation activities that were planned and also future TAC meetings that are scheduled.

 

- Highway Workshop/TAC: Thursday, December 7^th, 9:00 am, Room 100 Madison Municipal Building (City Transportation Conference Room);

- Transit Workshop/TAC: Friday, December 15^th, 9:00 am, Room 260 MMB;

- Land Use Workshop: January or February, 2001 – to be scheduled; and,

- Technical Evaluation (ongoing)

• Detailed Transit Plans
• Model Runs
• Costs
• Land Use Impacts

 

 

10.            SCHEDULE NEXT OVERSIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

 

Kinney said that another meeting of the Oversight Advisory Committee (some time in mid-December, after the 11/30 OAC) would need to be scheduled, and that the following date has been tentatively identified as a possibility:

 

- Oversight Advisory Committee Meeting #10: Tuesday, December 19^th, 4:45 pm, Room 260 Madison Municipal Building.

 

The Committee agreed to meet on that date.

 

 

11.        ITEMS BY OAC CO-CHAIRS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS

 

There were no items by the Co-Chairs or Committee members.

 

 

12.            ADJOURNMENT

 

The Committee adjourned its meeting at 5:50 p.m.