2023-10-16 TAC Mtg Minutes AZGRAND ISLAND AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (GIAMPO)
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) MINUTES
October 16, 2023 at 10:00 am
Grand Island City Hall – Council Chambers
100 E 1st Street, Grand Island, NE 68801
Voting Members in Attendance:
Keith Kurz, City of Grand Island, Public Works Director Present
VACANT, City of Grand Island, Assistant Public Works Director Absent
Laura McAloon, City of Grand Island, City Administrator Present
Chad Nabity, Hall County Regional Planning Director Present
Don Robb, Hall County Public Works Director Present
Mike Meyer, Merrick County Hwy Superintendent Absent
Wes Wahlgren, NDOT District 4 Engineer Present
Craig Wacker, NDOT Highway Planning Manager Absent
Ramona Schafer, Village of Alda Absent
Mike Olson, Central Nebraska Regional Airport Present
Charley Falmlen, City of Grand Island Transit Program Manager Present
Non-Voting Members in Attendance:
Allan Zafft, City of Grand Island, MPO Program Manager Present
Shannon Callahan, City of Grand Island, Street Superintendent Absent
Patrick Brown, City of Grand Island, Finance Director Present
Brian Schultz, City of Grand Island, Assistant Finance Director Present
Catrina DeLosh, City of Grand Island, Public Works Admin Coordinator Absent
Tim Golka, City of Grand Island, Project Manager Present
Stacy Nonhof, City of Grand Island, Interim City Attorney Absent
Cindy Johnson, Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce Present
Mary Berlie, Grand Island Area Economic Development Corp. Absent
Justin Luther, FHWA, Transportation Planner, Realty, Civil Rights Absent
Mark Bechtel, FTA, Deputy Regional Administrator Absent
Cathy Monroe, FTA, Planning and Program Development Director Absent
Logan Daniels, FTA, Region VII Transportation Program Specialist Absent
Daniel Nguyen, FTA, Region VII Community Planner Absent
Gerri Doyle, FTA, Region VII Community Planner Absent
Jodi Gibson, NDOT Local Projects Engineer Absent
Kaine McClelland, NDOT, State Modeler Absent
Jeff Soula, NDOT, Local Projects Urban Engineer Absent
Ryan Huff, NDOT, Planning and Project Development Engineer Absent
Curtis Nosal, NDOT, Assistant Planning Engineer Absent
Jeff Soula, NDOT Local Projects Urban Engineer Absent
Jeremy Wegner, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Absent
Kelli O’Brien, Union Pacific Railroad Absent
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2023/10/16 TAC Meeting Minutes
Call to Order
Nabity called the meeting to order at 10:03 am. The Nebraska Open Meetings Act was
acknowledged.
Roll Call
Roll call was taken. Note: McAloon arrived to the TAC meeting at 10:08 am, and she did not vote on
the following agenda item – Approval of Minutes from the April 10, 2023 Technical Advisory
Committee Meeting.
Approval of Minutes from the April 10, 2023 Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
Motion by Wahlgren to approve the minutes of the April 10, 2023 meeting, seconded by Robb.
Upon voice vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Approval Recommendation of Final Draft Amendment No. 1 to FY 2024-2028 Transportation
Improvement Program
Zafft informed the TAC that Amendment No. 1 to the FY 2024-2028 Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP) is to add the West Connector Trail project and to delete the Platte River - Phillips
project. He indicated that the Platte River - Phillips projects was let in August 2023 and has been
awarded, and it is included in the FY 2023-2027 TIP. This amendment will be released for public
review and comment prior to Policy Board adoption. A TAC member asked if the Cathcart Rail project
has to be included in the TIP. Zafft indicated that this project is not required to be included in the TIP
because the TIP only includes surface transportation projects.
Motion by Wahlgren to approve the Recommendation of Final Draft Amendment No. 1 to FY 2024-
2028 Transportation Improvement Program, seconded by Olson. Upon voice vote, all voted aye.
Motion adopted.
Approval Recommendation of Final Draft Amendment No. 6 to 2045 Long Range Transportation
Plan Amendment
Zafft informed the TAC that Amendment No. 6 to the 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
adds one fiscally constrained bicycle and pedestrian project (Project ID: 45, Project Description: Trail
between near the Old Potash Hwy and North Rd intersection to near the Water Tower). This
amendment consists of modifications to specific figures, tables, and sections in Chapter 7 (Future
Transportation Revenues) and Chapter 9 (Fiscally Constrained Plan) of the LRTP. Amendment No. 6
will be released for public review and comment prior to Policy Board adoption
Motion by Olson to approve the Recommendation of Final Draft Amendment No. 6 to 2045 Long
Range Transportation Plan, seconded by Wahlgren. Upon voice vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Approval Recommendation of Final Draft Public Participation Plan Update 2024
Zafft presented on the Draft Public Participation Plan Update 2024, which describes the public
involvement process for the GIAMPO transportation planning process. An update of the GIAMPO
Public Participation Plan is required at least every 5 years, prior to LRTP updates. The original and
first Public Participation was adopted in November 2015 and the next LRTP update begin sometime in
2024. Zafft provided a summary of the updates to the Draft Public Participation Plan Update 2024.
This document will be released for public and comment prior to Policy Board adoption.
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2023/10/16 TAC Meeting Minutes
Motion by McAloon to approve the Recommendation of Final Draft Public Participation Plan Update
2024, seconded by Kurz. Upon voice vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
Report on the NDOT Carbon Reduction Strategy
Zafft reported on the NDOT Carbon Reduction Strategy, which is required by the Carbon Reduction
Program (CRP). The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) authorized the CRP, a new federal
program intended to fund efforts to reduce carbon emissions from surface transportation. As a
requirement of the CRP, states must develop a CRS in consultation with the state’s metropolitan
planning organizations (MPOs) by November 15, 2023. NDOT has held individual consultations with
each of Nebraska’s four MPOs, hosted an online survey for the general public, and held a virtual
public meeting in September 2023.
Report on the Carbon Reduction Program Funds
Zafft reported on the funding through the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), which is a new federal
program that was included in the IIJA. The purpose of the CRP is to provide federal funding for
projects to reduce transportation emissions or the development of carbon reduction strategies.
NDOT purchased the FY 2022 CRP funds for the Grand Island urbanized area in exchange for state
cash through its Federal Funds Purchase Program, and NDOT plans to purchase the remaining fiscal
years of CRP funds for the Grand Island urbanized area. The City of Grand Island is using the buyback
dollars (state cash) on roundabouts, side paths, and sidewalks on the City’s existing projects.
McAloon asked why NDOT decided to purchase the CRP funds. Zafft indicated the small CRP annual
apportionments for a project which would have to go through the federal aid process. NDOT will use
the CRP funds for the Grand Island urbanized area on a state project(s) within the Grand Island
urbanized area.
Report on the Non-Motorized Subcommittee of Technical Advisory Committee
Zafft provided an update on the Non-Motorized Subcommittee, which consisted of the following –
the changes to this subcommittee approved by the TAC in August 2022, review of names with
respective agency/organization of the subcommittee members, and review of the three
subcommittee meetings since August 2022.
Report on the Comprehensive Plan Update
Nabity reported on the Comprehensive Plan Update, which will take place over the course of FY 2022,
2023, and 2024. The plan process is expected to take place between 18 to 24 months from the time
it began in April 2022. A kickoff meeting was held in June 2022 and open house meetings were held
on October 25-27, 2022, January 31, 2023, and September 14, 2023. A report on the Comprehensive
Plan Update will be made at the Grand Island City Council Study Session on October 17, 2023.
Next Meeting Date
The next meeting of the TAC will be on December 11, 2023 at 10:00 am.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Nabity adjourned the meeting at 10:57 am.