Regional Technical Committee

10:00am, June 12, 2012

Note: Coffee will be available at 9:30 a.m. and a light lunch will be served following the meeting.

Commission Office
The ACP Building - 8th Floor
190 N. Independence Mall West
Philadelphia, PA

For directions Call (215) 592-1800
Please Use Sixth Street Entrance

1. Call to Order - Chairman’s Comments

2. Deputy Executive Director’s Report

ACTION ITEMS

3. Highlights of the Meeting of May 8, 2012

4. DVRPC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Actions

The dynamic nature of funding transportation improvements and the need to remain within financial constraint require amendments or modifications to the TIP. The following projects require formal TIP Amendments or Modifications this month for the FY2011 TIP for PA and the FY2012 TIP for NJ.

PA11-72: State of Good Repair (MPMS# 77180), SEPTA - Increase Scope of Project
NJ12-26: Bridge Painting (DB# X08), Various Counties - Add New Project

5. Recommendation for Adoption of Conformity Determination of the FY 2012-2015 TIP for New Jersey, FY 2013-2016 TIP for Pennsylvania, and the Connections Long-Range Plan

DVRPC has demonstrated Transportation Conformity for the FY 2012 New Jersey TIP, Draft FY 2013 Pennsylvania TIP, and Connections Long-range Plan. This demonstration is necessitated by a new Pennsylvania TIP and the proposed amendment of a regionally significant, non-exempt project to the Connections Plan. Staff will present the results of the Transportation Conformity Determination and request that the RTC recommend that the DVRPC Board adopt the findings at the June 28, 2012, Board meeting.

6. Approval of Two Congestion Management Process (CMP) Supplemental Commitment Tables and 2011 Supplemental Projects Status Memorandum

Two road capacity-adding projects require RTC action to be included in the Draft PA 2013 TIP. The first action is to approve the supplemental commitment tables for the Lafayette Street Extension and for the I-95 and Aramingo Avenue, Adams Avenue Connector projects. The second action is to approve the supplemental projects status report. The Board has designated the RTC to approve these reports.

7. Adoption of the DVRPC FY2013-2016 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Pennsylvania

Federal law and planning regulations require the development of a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) in order for the metropolitan region to be eligible to receive federal transportation funds. The creation of the TIP is to be done by the MPO in cooperation with the state and transit operators, and must provide opportunity for input and comment by the public. A 30-day comment period must be conducted prior to a formal action to adopt the TIP. For the DVRPC Draft FY2013 TIP for PA, staff will present an overview of the program, comments received during the public comment period, any recommended changes, and will ask the PCC/RTC to recommend the Board approve final adoption.

8. Connections - The Regional Plan for a Sustainable Future Plan Amendment: Include South Jersey Bus Rapid Transit System

New Jersey Transit (NJT) has recently completed an Alternatives Analysis study with regional planning partners that has identified a locally-preferred alternative that will provide new, high-quality transit service to the heavily congested Routes 42 and 55 corridor. NJT has requested that the project be included in the fiscally-constrained set of transportation projects in the region's long-range plan.

9. Fiscal Year 2013 Planning Work Program Amendments

To respond to the needs of member governments and agencies, work program changes and additions are brought to the PCC/RTC to permit the timely undertaking of technical activity.

Camden City Food Economy Strategy
Sea Grant Climate Adaptation 2012: City of Chester, PA - Helping a Tidal Riverfront Community Build Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change
US 322 Improvement Project, Delaware County

10. PennVest Applications

Resolution to Apply to PennVest for Tree Planting Project in Southeastern Pennsylvania
DVRPC will apply to PennVest for a grant to plant thousands of trees in the SEPA region for stormwater management and the many other benefits that trees provide. The project is a partnership with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), who would act as project manager. DVRPC is currently working with the five counties in SEPA and numerous municipalities to define the planting locations. A Resolution to Apply is needed from the DVRPC Board for the application to be completed.
PennVest Applications Reviewed for Consistency with Regional and County Plans
Two applications were submitted to PennVest and PennVest has requested DVRPC to review them for consistency with regional and local plans. One is Bucks County Equestrian Initiative and the second is Chester County Conservation District Dead Animal Recovery Composting Facility.

11. DVRPC Regional Trails Grant Program: Phase II Selected Project

In April 2012, DVRPC Board approved 10 Phase II grants totaling $456,000. Since that time, an additional project has been reviewed by the Selection Committee and nominated for funding: Schuylkill River Trail Phoenixville-Mont Clare Connector. Staff is requesting that the RTC recommend the Board approve this additional project.

12. Annual Self-Certification of the Regional Transportation Planning Process

Federal regulations require that the Metropolitan Planning Organization self-certify that the Regional Transportation Planning Process is carried out in conformance with applicable federal regulations. Staff will present its recommendation for Board adoption.

13. Election of Fiscal Year 2013 Officers

The PCC/RTC nominating committee will present a slate of candidates for FY 2013.

PRESENTATION ITEMS

14. Overview of the DVRPC Report Ready to Roll?

Staff will provide a brief overview of Ready to Roll?, DVRPC's recent report on the challenges and opportunities for alternative fuel vehicles in the Delaware Valley.

DISCUSSION ITEM

15. Migrating from Hard Copy to Digital Meeting Documents

Staff will lead a discussion on the feasibility of the PCC/RTC discontinuing the practice of mailing meeting materials prior to each meeting and replacing that process with an all-digital method. The Board has successfully used an all-digital method, and it is expected that the PCC/RTC would follow that model.

INFORMATION ITEMS

16. NJDOT Local Pavement Management

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is studying local pavement management practices in New Jersey. The Department engaged Cambridge Systematics to provide a better understanding of the local pavement management tools and methods currently employed in New Jersey and across the County and to assist in determining the need for and desired capabilities of potential new pavement management tools for New Jersey Counties and municipalities.

17. One Minute Reports

PCC/RTC Members and guests will be invited to provide updates on the activities of their agencies.