MEETING SYNOPSIS OF THE APRIL 20, 2017 PROGRAM, FINANCE, AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council s (NYMTC s) Program, Finance, and Administration Committee (PFAC) meeting was called to order by Ian Francis of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) on behalf of the PFAC Chair, Ron Epstein. The committee members introduced themselves and a quorum was declared. B. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S REPORT Mr. Jose Rivera, NYMTC s Executive Director, reported that staff continued to work on the draft Regional Transportation Plan (Plan 2045), the draft Congestion Management Process, and the draft Transportation Conformity Determination. He noted that Plan 2045 titled Maintaining the Vision for a Sustainable Region, covered all facets of transportation, including roadways, public transportation, bicycles, pedestrian and transportation for those with special needs within federal fiscal years 2018-2045. He noted that the Congestion Management Process continued to promote its Toolbox, which included transportation systems management strategies, various proposals to improve transit approaches, methods to enhance accessibility and recommendations for building infrastructure for bicycle and pedestrian lanes. He said that when making a case for additional infrastructure improvements, public health and environmental footprint should be considered. He noted that public outreach for the draft Plan 2045, the Congestion Management Process and Transportation Conformity would begin in May 2017 and that the Council would take action on the draft Plan 2045 on June 29, 2017. He thanked the members and his staff for their dedication, hard work and collaboration throughout the process. C. PRESENTATION Moynihan Station Development Project, Phase II, Michael Evans, President, Moynihan Station Development Corporation Mr. Michael Evans, President of the Moynihan Station Development Corporation gave a presentation on Phase II of the Moynihan Station Development Project. He talked about the upcoming improvement plans to connect the James A. Farley Post Office with Penn Station noting that it s a multi-phase plan that would transform the landmarked Post Office building into the new Manhattan home for Amtrak. Mr. Evans noted that Penn Station was currently at full capacity with its concourse, platform, track and the Hudson River tunnel space. He noted that the 100-year old infrastructure, named after the late U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, would be utilized by both Amtrak and the Long Island Railroad and would help to alleviate the congestion at Penn Station and would address the surge in growth in the Far West-Side of Manhattan. He pointed out that the courtyard of the original Farley building would become a three-story atrium space, Grand Train Hall, which would maintain prior historic trusses and incorporate a skylight system for added natural lighting; the concourse space would be increased by 50 percent and increased vertical circulation of passengers with 30 new additional escalators, elevators and stairs from the platform; and there will be 750,000 square feet of retail and office space developed. He noted that the selected developer team for the public-private-partnership project, (Related, Vornado and Skanska) were responsible for a fixed-price contract, construction management, completion guaranty and 30% MWBE goal. Mr. Evans said, we are going to take a 100 year-old infrastructure, a beautiful historic gem, and reuse it to solve a 21 st century problem and create a 21 st century transportation facility. The approximately $1.6 billion project is expected to be completed by fourth quarter of 2020. D. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION George Bulow questioned why New Jersey Transit was not a partner in the Moynihan project and if there would be additional exits from the subway in the new entranceway of the Grand Hall. Murray Bodin of Concerned Grandparents said that positive train control needed to be stopped. Vincent Pellecchia, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, expressed his support for PFAC Resolution #448, Recommendation of Changes to a New York City Roadway Functional Classification, that would reclassify the Arthur E. Sheridan Enhancement Project expressway from an interstate roadway to a principal arterial roadway.
E. Proposal for the George Washington Bridge Pedestrian/Bicycle Paths Neile Weissman, Complete George Neile Weissman of Complete George expressed that the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey's (PANYNJ) George Washington Bridge Restoration Project should include wider and separate bicycle and pedestrian paths. Mr. Weissman noted that the current improvements in the project included replacing the stairs with ramps, wider approaches, 7 foot paths on the edges of the roadway and anti-suicide barriers. He said the paths have become dangerous and inadequate and that the paths had 700 cyclist per day with a growing rate of 10.4% per year. He said that the rate would increase to 9,000 per day by the year 2024. He urged the PANYNJ to expand the paths beyond 7 feet which would support a great number of commuters daily. He said that his proposal was supported by 160 organization, businesses and elected officials. He asked the PANYNJ if 3,700 cyclist today, increasing to 9000, wasn t sufficient to warrant widening the paths, then what would. Lou Venech, representative of the PANYNJ, noted that the agency was very familiar with Mr. Weissman's proposal. Mr. Venech said that the Restoring the George Program Package was an essential reconstruction rehabilitation that was comprised of many projects that would ensure a safe, reliable service of the bridge for decades to come. He noted that the expected completion date was 2024 and it incorporated extensive upgrades to the existing bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on the bridge and was a priority in the board-approved 10-year Capital Program amounting to nearly $2 billion and funded by the PANYNJ's consolidated revenues. Mr. Venech highlighted some of the projects enhancements noting that the project did not include widening the separated bicycle and pedestrian paths, but did not preclude widening as a future project. He noted that the bicycle/pedestrian path improvements that were included in the project were praised publicly by a range of advocacy organizations and agencies. Mr. Venech said that the PANYNJ is responsible for the George Washington Bridge facility and asked NYMTC not to enforce Mr. Weissman's request for support. Jose Rivera, NYMTC Executive Director, said that NYMTC encouraged the expansion of pedestrian and bicycle paths as noted in NYMTC s long range plan. He added that the proposal would be reviewed and a response would be given in writing. F. ACTION ITEMS 1. ACCEPT: APRIL 20, 2017 MEETING SYNOPSIS A motion to accept the April 20, 2017 Meeting Synopsis was made by Mr. Jack Schmidt representing New York City Transportation Coordinating Committee, and seconded by Mr. Robert Brickman, representing the Nassau/Suffolk Transportation Coordinating Committee. There was no discussion. The meeting synopsis was unanimously accepted. 2. ADOPT: RESOLUTION #446 AMENDMENTS TO THE STATE FISCAL YEARS 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM Mr. Seitu Allen of NYMTC staff explained that the purpose of the resolution was to amend staff and member agencies projects. He noted that funds were available to be reprogrammed through the amendments in the State Fiscal Years 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 Unified Planning Work Program and did not require new funding. He said that the proposed revisions were consistent with NYMTC s regional goals and desired outcomes as presented in the Federal Fiscal Years 2014-2040 Regional Transportation Plan. A motion to adopt Resolution #446, Amendments to the State Fiscal Years 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 Unified Planning Work Program was made by Ms. Karin Sommer, representing the New York City Transportation Coordinating Committee, and seconded by Ms. Naomi Klein, representing the Mid-Hudson South Transportation Coordinating Committee. There was no discussion. The resolution unanimously passed. 3. ADOPT: RESOLUTION #447 AMENDMENT TO THE VISION AND PEDESTRIAN-BICYCLE ELEMENTS OF THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEARS 2014-2040 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN Mr. Jan Khan of NYMTC staff explained that the purpose of the resolution was to add four project concepts the Replacement of the Grand Street Bridge over the Newton Creek, the Arthur E. Sheridan Expressway Enhancement Project; the Expansion of the Weigh-in-Motion Program, and the Expansion of the Clean Vehicle Program to the vision element of Plan 2040. He noted that the New York City Department of Transportation and the New York City Economic Development Corporation were co-sponsors of the Pedestrian-Bicycle Element of Plan 2040 which included the South Bronx Greenway along the Bruckner Boulevard project. A motion to adopt Resolution #447, Amendments to the Vision and Pedestrian-Bicycle Elements of the Federal Fiscal Years 2014-2040 Regional Transportation Plan was made by Mr. Patrick Gerdin, representing the Mid-Hudson South Transportation Coordinating Committee and seconded by Mr. Robert Brickman, representing the Nassau/Suffolk Transportation Coordinating Committee. There was no discussion. The resolution unanimously passed.
4. ADOPT: RESOLUTION #448 RECOMMENDATION OF CHANGES TO A NEW YORK CITY ROADWAY FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION Mr. Chris Hardej, NYCTCC Staff Director, explained that the purpose of the resolution was to change the expressway s functional classification of the Arthur E. Sheridan Enhancement Project from an interstate roadway to a principal arterial roadway. A motion to adopt Resolution #448, Recommendation of Changes to a New York City Roadway Functional Classification was made by Mr. Chris Chatterton, representing the Nassau/Suffolk Transportation Coordinating Committee and seconded by Ms. Sandra Fusco, representing the Nassau/Suffolk Transportation Coordinating Committee. There was no discussion. The resolution unanimously passed. Ms. Karin Sommer, representing the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), said that the NYCDOT, in spirit of cooperation, agreed to the changes of the Sheridan s expressway functional classification but would like to note that the NYCDOT had questions and reservations about the project and they expect to be fully involved in the project development and planning moving forward. G. PUBLIC REVIEW OF PLAN 2045, NYMTC S NEXT REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN Jan Khan of NYMTC staff provided the dates of the public comment period and public review meetings for NYMTC s draft Regional Transportation Plan (Plan 2045), related Congestion Management Report and the draft Transportation Conformity Determination for the Plan 2045, and the 2017-2021 Transportation Improvement Program. He noted that the comment period will begin on May 1, 2017 and would end on May 30, 2017. The review meetings will be held at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the lower Hudson Valley on May 10 th and May 11 th, in New York City on May 16 th and on Long Island on May 23 rd and May 24 th. Details can be found at www.nymtc.org. H. CONFIRMATION OF THE NEXT PFAC MEETING The next PFAC Meeting was confirmed to be held on Tuesday June 27, 2017 at the NYMTC Office I. CONFIRMATION OF THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING The next Council Meeting was confirmed to be held on Thursday, June 29, 2017 at the NYMTC Office J. ADJOURN - The meeting was adjourned.
ATTENDANCE Voting Members/Alternatives Robert Brickman, Nassau County Department of Public Works/Planning Division Chris Chatterton, Suffolk County Department of Public Works Ian Francis, New York State Department of Transportation (Acting Chair) Sandra Fusco, Putnam County Planning Department Patrick Gerdin, Rockland County Department of Planning & Public Transportation Naomi Klein, Westchester County Department of Public Works & Transportation Julia Seltzer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Jack Schmidt, New York City Department of City Planning Karin Sommer, New York City Department of Transportation Advisory (Non-Voting) Members Matthew Laurita, US Environmental Protection Agency Daniel Moser, Federal Transit Administration Michael Rabinowitz, New Jersey Transit Lou Venech, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey NYMTC Staff and Contractors Ali Afshar Afolabi Aiyedun Seitu Allen Sangeeta Bhowmick Gerry Bogacz Thusitha Chandra Ken Chin Michael Chiume Nina DelSenno Daniel Etkin Oluseye Folarin Leslie Fordjour Angelina Foster Fidel Garcia Michael Giardina Jean Gunsch Chris Hardej Anthony Inzerillo Daniel Johnson Jerry Jonassen Abraham Kohen Kim Kyeongsu Jan Khan David Lake Henry Lam Jack Ma Ali Mohseni Darrin Moret Larisa Morozovskaya Geoffrey Rick Jose Rivera Chris Rodrigues-Moore Abdus Salam Bela Shah Lynne Thisse OTHERS Mehdi Amjadi, DCP Angela Bellisio, PCAC Murray Bodin Matthew Bradley, MSDC George Bulow Elizabeth Chatem, NYCT/MTA Robert Carlota, PANYNJ John Crodier, FTA Cynthia Danza, NYCDOT Sandra Dixon, PANYNJ Michael Evans, MSDP Michael Flynn, NYSDOT Tatyana Golikova, NYSDOT Hanna Greenberg, USEPA Christian Higgins, CS Richard Lamb, WCBS Radio Aviva Lauranti, Sam Schwartz Andrew Lombardi, BP Brewer Office Kevin Luzong, Suffolk County Karen E. Lund Conn MacAogain, NYCDOT Vincent Pellecchia, TSTC Mark Simon, NYCDOT Veronica Smith, PANYNJ Brian ten Seithoff, Cambridge Systematic Alton Treadwell, NYSDOT Angel Vazquez, ACEC NY Neile Weissman, Complete George William Young, PA
Respectfully Submitted, Andrea Miles-Cole Andrea Miles-Cole NYMTC Secretary 2
RESOLUTION #449 RECOMMENDATION OF THE DRAFT FEDERAL FISCAL YEARS (FFYs) 2018-2045 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND DRAFT 2017 CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROCESS STATUS REPORT FOR COUNCIL ADOPTION WHEREAS, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) is a regional council of governments which is the metropolitan planning organization for New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley; and WHEREAS, pursuant to 23 CFR 450.324, NYMTC is responsible for the development of a Regional Transportation Plan (Plan) for the downstate New York region; and WHEREAS, NYMTC's current FFYs 2014-2040 Plan was adopted by the Council on September 4, 2013, having addressed all federal planning requirements set forth in 23 CFR 450.324, and, per federal regulations, expires on September 30, 2017; and WHEREAS, NYMTC has prepared a draft FFYs 2018-2045 Plan (Plan 2045) to address the federal planning requirements set forth in 23 CFR 450.324, beginning on October 1,2017; and WHEREAS, in conjunction with the Plan 2045 draft, NYMTC has also prepared a draft 2017 Status Report for the Congestion Management Process (CMP) to address regulations set forth in 23 CFR 450.322 and 23 CFR 500.109; and WHEREAS, these draft products meet all applicable federal requirements and have undergone public involvement and public review per federal regulations and NYMTC's Operating Procedures; and WHEREAS, per the Memorandum of Understanding between NYMTC s members, the Program, Finance, and Administration Committee (PFAC) must act to recommend drafts of the three federally-required planning products to the full Council prior to Council action. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT PFAC recommends that the draft FFYs 2018-2045 Regional Transportation Plan and draft 2017 CMP Status Report be adopted by the Council. This resolution shall take effect on the twenty-seventh day of June, two thousand and seventeen. ADOPTED:
RESOLUTION #450 AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH NEIGHBORING METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS/COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENT WHEREAS, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) is a regional council of governments which is the metropolitan planning organization for New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley; and WHEREAS, per 23 CFR 450.312(f), in multistate metropolitan areas, the Governors with responsibility for a portion of the multistate metropolitan area, the appropriate MPO(s), and the public transportation operator(s) are strongly encouraged to coordinate transportation planning for the entire multistate metropolitan area; and WHEREAS, per Resolution #249 on January 17, 2008, the Program, Finance and Administration Committee (PFAC) adopted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between neighboring MPOs in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut; and WHEREAS, through similar actions of four other MPOs, the Metropolitan Area Planning (MAP) Forum was created as a consortium of MPOs in a multistate metropolitan area; and WHEREAS, the recent reorganization of councils of government (COGs) by the State of Connecticut and the desire of additional MPOs and COGs to join the MAP Forum have necessitated the review and revision of the original MOU which created the MAP Forum; and WHEREAS, the revised MOU must now be signed by the MPOs and COGs which will constitute the MAP Forum; and WHEREAS, NYMTC continued involvement with the other MPOs and COGs in the multistate metropolitan region will help fulfill the requirements of 23 CFR 450.312(f), as well as continuing to enhance NYMTC s planning process. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT PFAC authorizes the Executive Director of NYMTC to sign the revised MOU on behalf of NYMTC, thus continuing NYMTC s participation in the MAP Forum. This resolution shall take effect on the twenty-seventh day of June, two thousand and seventeen. ADOPTED:
PROGRAM, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE (PFAC) RESOLUTION #451 - AMENDMENTS TO THE TO THE STATE FISCAL YEAR (SFY) 2017-2018 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM (UPWP) WHEREAS, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) is a regional council of governments which is the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley; and WHEREAS, pursuant to 23 CFR 450.308, NYMTC, in cooperation with the State and operators of publicly-owned transit, is responsible for developing UPWPs which document planning activities to be performed with funds provided under Title 23 U.S.C., and Title 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53; and WHEREAS, the UPWP identifies work proposed for the next one- or two-year period by major activity and task, in sufficient detail to indicate who will perform the work, the schedule for completing the work, the resulting products, the proposed funding by activity/task, and a summary of the total amounts and sources of federal and matching funds; and WHEREAS, NYMTC s SFY 2017-2018 UPWP, which was adopted by NYMTC on February 22, 2017, identifies federally funded planning programs and projects to be undertaken by NYMTC s staff and its member agencies; and WHEREAS, NYMTC s staff and member agencies are now carrying out their SFY 2017-2018 UPWP projects and need to add previously programmed projects and a new project to the SFY 2017-2018 UPWP as noted in the attached Amendment Actions Summary; and WHEREAS, the requested amendments impact the use of funds programmed in SFY 2016-2017 or earlier and do not require new funding; and WHEREAS, NYMTC staff has determined that the funds are available to be programmed through this amendment in the SFY 2017-2018 UPWP; and WHEREAS, in addition, the catalogue of transportation-related activities funded through other funding sources needs to be amended by adding a project sponsored by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; and WHEREAS, NYMTC staff has reviewed the proposed revisions and determines that they are consistent with NYMTC s regional goals and desired outcomes as presented in the Federal Fiscal Years 2014-2040 Regional Transportation Plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that PFAC hereby adopts the amendments described above to the SFY 2017-2018 Unified Planning Work Program as summarized in the attached table. This resolution shall take effect on the twenty seventh day of June two thousand and seventeen. ADOPTION: