DeKalb Times

City Dekalb Technical Advisory Committee met Nov. 7.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

ATTENDANCE

• City of DeKalb (1 votes): Tim Holdeman

• City of Sycamore (1 votes): Adam Orton

• DeKalb County (1 vote): Nathan Schwartz

• Town of Cortland (1 vote): not present

• IDOT District 3 (1 vote):Tom Magolan, Ryan Lindenmier

• NIU (1 vote): John Heckmann

• NIU SA (1 vote): not present

• VAC (1 vote): not present

• Kishwaukee College (1 vote): not present

• FHWA (non-voting): John Donovan

• IDOT Planning & Programming (non-voting): Doug DeLille

• IDOT Local Roads: Steve Chery

• DSATS staff: Brian Dickson

• Transit staff: Sabrina Kvasnicka

• Others Present:

(BOLD indicates main voting member. Italics indicates proxy voting member.)

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Schwartz called the meeting to order and established a quorum at 11:16 a.m.

1. Introductions

Introduction of members present was made.

2. Approval of Agenda

Motion #T1118-01: Motion to approve the November 7, 2018 meeting agenda made by Mr. Magolan; 2nd: Mr. Orton; approved by voice vote.

3. Approval of Minutes

Mr. Dickson said Mr. Chery requested the spelling of his name be corrected in the October 3rd minutes.

Motion #T1118-02: Motion to approve the October 3, 2018 meeting minutes with requested changes made by Mr. Heckmann; 2nd: Mr. Holdeman; approved by voice vote.

4. Public Comment

There was no public comment.

5. DSATS SFY19-23 TIP Amendment 2 Public Hearing

Mr. Dickson discussed that staff is looking to propose and approve STU funded projects. A number of new projects need to be added to the TIP. Currently, the public comment period is open and will end on Friday November 16, 2018.

Mr. Heckmann asked if there was rational to these projects, Chair Schwartz explained the logic behind the changes to the STU project list. The Peace Road to I-88 project cost was taking up several years of STU funding that it was removed as a full project and staff decided to just work on the intersections at this time. The Peace road project from I-88 to Fairview Drive project was moved a fiscal year to accommodate IDOT. Mr. Holdeman discussed how the City of DeKalb and DeKalb County want to do a development study in the Fairview Drive area. This study would not be a DSATS study. Chair Schwartz discussed how the Peace Rd. and Bethany project was replaced by Peace and Mercantile Drive paving project. This enabled staff to get a large project product savings.

6. Recommend Approval of Proposed STU 2020-2024 Projects

Chair Schwartz stated he recommend approval of the Proposed STU 2020-2024 Projects and associated SFY19-23 TIP Amendment 2.

Motion #T1118-03: Mr. Heckmann made a motion to recommend the Policy Committee approve the Proposed STU 2020-2024 Projects and associated SFY19-23 TIP Amendment 2. Second by Mr. Magolan and approved by voice.

Discussion continued, Mr. Heckmann asked if there was a policy in place to keep a $1million STU fund balance. Chair Schwartz explained how that was merely a coincidence, and this number can change and sometimes is higher and other times dip into negative territory.

7. Update on Traffic Counts project

Chair Schwartz explained how the traffic counting project is now in house. Mr. Dickson discussed how traffic counting began on October 9th, 2018. There is a total of 5 counters. These 5 counters have been placed in common groups for a 48-hour period and then moved to new locations. There was a delay due to 4th Street and 38 being closed for railroad repairs. One count had been delayed for an additional week due to files not being deleted to make room for new files. Staff is uploading data to Miovision. Mr. DeLille asked if the upcoming Veteran’s Day holiday would skew data. Mr. Heckmann suggested that it would not skew data as Northern Illinois University would not be closed for that day. Chair Schwartz stated that once staff receives data from Miovision then staff will compile the data.

8. Staff and Project Updates

Mr. Dickson stated that staff has been working on the Traffic Counter project, TIP Amendments, Public Comment and training transit staff.

Chair Schwartz discussed the Asset Management Plan and updated members that Route 23 and Barber Greene Road was completed.

Mr. DeLille notified members that Tier 2 for State targets is due on the 31st.

9. What’s new with our State and Federal Partners

Mr. Magolan provided an update:

Economic Development Program- OP & P began accepting applications for EDP projects on October 1, 2018. Applications are accepted year-round. Todd Smith is managing the program and can be contacted fort additional details at Todd.A.Smith@illinois.gov or by phone at (217) 785-8643. Information can also be found on the GATA site.

Local Illinois Special Bridge Program (formerly the Major Bridge Program)- The application deadline for FY2024 Local ISBP projects is closed, and submitted applications are currently under review. Announcement of the selected projects will occur with the release of the IDOT proposed FY 2020-2025 Highway Improvement Program in the spring of 2019.

Local Highway Safety Improvement Program- The deadline to federally authorize FY17/18 HSIP Awards is January 1, 2019 or funds will be rescinded. If a FY 17/18 project is not expected to be federally authorized by this deadline, a time extension request should be submitted to the District Local Roads Engineer. Copying BLRS. Local HSIP Time Extension Request Guidelines were distributed to the District Local Roads Engineers in July, but we can re-send these if requested.

Needy Township- The subcommittee has submitted proposed changes to the Director of OP&P. Distribution will likely be later this fall.

Other Local Benefits- High Growth and County Consolidated will be disbursed very soon if not already.

Chair Schwartz added that these were processed but they have not been released yet.

Truck Access Route Program TARP- Program funded at $7M level for FY 19. The application deadline was November 5, 2018.

Mr. Magolan also stated that the IL-23 project has been completed.

Mr. DeLille let member knows that the next safety targets were due in February.

Mr. Donovan has the Deputy Administrator visit his office. The renewal of the Fast Act is underway. There have been efforts to relieve the regulatory burdens. There may also be a delegation of program actions from FHWA to State DOTs. Buy America waivers have been on hold, changes have not been accepted as of yet. Autonomous vehicle guidance will be published soon, and Kay Beatty is retiring. Mr. Donovan also thanked Chair Schwartz for speaking at the Fall Planning conference.

Mr. Holdeman questioned IDOT representatives how much input IDOT has when the closure of a rail road. In the past, it has been very difficult to get any information from Rail. Mr. Magolan responded that he would share Steve Klein’s information. Mr. Holdeman went on to say that staff has heard information stating that the IL-38 and 4TH Street railroad crossing underbed has issue but staff cannot get any additional information.

10. Additional Business

There was no additional business.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion #T1118-04: Motion to adjourn at 12:01 p.m. made by Mr. Holdeman; 2nd: Mr. Magolan; approved by voice vote.

https://www.cityofdekalb.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11072018-1498