1.01 Agency Administration – 75 %Complete [Staff Manager: Scott Johnstone]

·        Board held its Regular Meeting on March 15, 2006.  Major items included the following:

·        Update on development of FY07 UPWP.

·        Update on Circ-Williston EIS.

·        The Executive Committee met on March 1 and March 30, 2006. 

1.02 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) – 75% Complete [Staff Manager: Peter Keating]

·        The TAC discussed their future role as the CCMPO evolves, approved adoption of a TDM Implementation Strategy, and reviewed reports of development related to the FY07 UPWP and TIP.

1.03 Training and Staff Development – [All staff] 75% Complete

 

Note: The following breakdown is by CCRPC Work Program Elements

1.1.1 Complete Preparation of the 2006 Regional Plan. 80% Complete

·        The Commission is preparing the Public Hearing Draft of the 2006 Regional Plan based on feedback received on the Intermediate Draft. 

2.1.1 Regional Build-out Analysis - 0% Complete

·        No work to report.

2.1.2 Decision Support System (DSS) 30% Complete

·        CCRPC Staff conducted the necessary GIS processing needed to generate a revised allowable land use file (ALU) that more closely resembles build-out.  This file is a key input into the Landuse Allocation Module, which is being implemented for the Regional Plan and the Northwest Vermont Project

2.2.1   Asset Management Support- 85% Complete

·        CCRPC staff has provided follow-up software support to Jericho’s Town Planner.

2.2.4 Storm water Planning - 0% Complete

·        This task has been dropped from the FY 06 work plan.

      2.2.5 Data Update and Maintenance - 9% Complete

·        CCRPC staff continues to work with Local Motion in regards to the online trails project.  CCRPC staff purchased an ArcGIS extension that will allow map development to easily be transferred to Local Motion.  CCRPC tested the GPS files from Local Motion.  Next meeting is set for May 3rd.

3.3.2 Coordination & Assistance with Metropolitan Transportation Planning – 25% Complete

·        CCRPC staff has continued coordination with CCMPO staff regarding CCMPO’s TPI work task “Identification of Marketable and Developable Property Adjacent to Railroad ROW”.

 

Route 15 Corridor Plan:  1% Complete 

Staff has begun background work on corridor land use planning.

 

·        Staff continued their participation on the CCRPC’s Plan Review and Update Committee providing RPC staff with suggested guidance/comments/revisions to the draft Regional Plan.

·        Staff worked with a board subcommittee to draft CCMPO comments on the Regional Plan and presented these at the March Board meeting

3.01.1 Public Transit Planning by CCTA http://www.cctaride.org/ [Staff Manager: Peter Keating]

3.01.11 Ridecheck – 42% Complete

3.01.12 System-wide Time Point Analysis – 26% Complete

3.01.13 Rider Surveys – 65% Complete

3.01.14 Service and Operations Planning – 80% Complete

1.      Prioritizing Circ transit elements.

2.      Compiled performance statistics for all three Link routes for last three fiscal years.

            3.01.15 ITS Applications – 90% Complete

1.  Issued RFP for ITS signage at Cherry Street.

2.  Scheduling software implemented and in use.

3.01.16 Passenger Shelters – 75% Complete

1.      Working on FY06 Shelters

2.      Planning FY 07 Shelters

3.01.17 Market Research and Data Collection - 75% Complete

1.      Completed survey of riders on the 11 p.m. Winooski “Night Owl” trip to see if earlier departure would be preferred.

2.      Contacted Twincraft factory in Winooski to determine shift times and important service times.

3.      Creating survey questions for College Street Shuttle passengers.

3.01.18 Bus Stop and Route Variation Database Maintenance and Tracking – 60%

             Complete

1.  Working on installing directional signs for Middlebury Link park and ride sites in Vergennes and Middlebury.

3.01.19 Vehicle Type Operating Cost Comparison – 75% Complete

1. Collecting data on bus maintenance and operating expenses by bus size

3.01.20 Maintenance and Facility Planning - 85% Complete

1. Reviewed and commented on the Burlington Multi-Modal Transit Center program requirements.

3.01.21 Financial Planning – 90% Complete

1. Working on FY07 Capital and operating programming

3.01.22 Regional Public Transportation Expansion - 60% Complete

1.  Exploring CCMPO CMAQ project programming.

3.01.2 Public Transportation Planning by CCMPO & Human Services Transportation Analysis– 50% Complete http://ccmpo.org/ptp/index.html [Staff Manager:  Peter Keating]

·        Unmet Needs survey in process.  Staff looking at other regions’ surveys for guidance.

·        Public Transit committee working on policy statement related to roles and responsibilities of transit new starts.

3.02 Environmental Planning – 25% Complete [Staff Manager: Christine Forde]

·        No activity 

 

3.02.1 10% Challenge -67% Complete http://www.10percentchallenge.org [Staff Manager:  Christine Forde]

Primary Products:

1.            Participate and assist in coordination of activities and events (Way-to-Go Week and Best Workplaces for Commuters, Earth month events at institutions and businesses) to promote use of transportation alternatives and energy conservation.

·     Way to Go—all aspects of Way to Go! Commuter Challenge underway including:  partner support, business outreach, sponsorships, donations, website updates including structural changes to help participants access information for other modes.  Event planning continues with several scheduled events (refer to website for specific calendar of events at www.waytogovt.org).  Planning meetings with partners coordinated, minutes prepared and distributed and design work for collateral materials coordinated with CCTA.  Coordination with media and print sponsors including negotiations for donated radio time and space (Seven Days to donate 50% of purchased advertising space, plus Clear Channel is matching advertising funds 3:1 at a $1,000 purchase).  Coordination with business associations is underway – area businesses solicited to get involved.  Staff developed draft business to business competition to encourage greater participation (i.e. four award categories).

·   Earth Day – April 21^st – Church Street event, planning continues for AFV show on Church Street.  Coordination and collaboration with City offices, Church Street Marketplace, EVermont and others.

 

2.            Work with and support Chittenden County communities on energy reduction programs including supporting use of alternative forms of transportation to single occupant vehicles--Seek supplemental resources to support local planning and implementation for clean air and promotion of higher occupancy vehicles and increased transit use. Specific activities include student research projects, employee energy challenge program developed and piloted, and participation in Vermont Clean Vehicles Coalition meetings including project planning and development for outside funding.

·        Consultation with Hinesburg on sustainable development and support of same for VECAN.

 

3.            Collaborate with and advance no idling initiatives and other clean air initiatives in Chittenden County communities and schools with partners including American Lung Association of Vermont, Vermont Department of Health, Champlain Initiative, Agency of Natural Resources and others.

·        Discussions continue with Agency of Natural Resources to promote vehicle idling awareness.

·        Assistance to residents interested in idleness awareness.

·        Consultation with Farrell Distributing and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters regarding their vehicle idling policies.

 

4.            Education, outreach, and public participation: Raise awareness of planners, decision-makers and the public via workshops/presentations, brown bag lunches, newsletter articles including case studies, success stories and lessons learned. 

·        Communications— Vermont High Performance Schools Initiative March 30^th summit held.  Safe Routes to Schools featured in breakout

·        Harvard Kennedy School research project wrapped up.  Review anticipated early April.  10% Challenge business survey administered, outreach continues to existing/new businesses.

·        Vermont Energy Climate Action Network project.  No work this reporting period.

*Activities in italics are supported by other ACA funds.  Non-italic items also supported by other ACA funds and in-kind donations.

 

3.03 Bicycle/Pedestrian Transportation Planning – 75% Complete [Staff Manager: Peter Keating] http://www.ccmpo.org/BikePed/

·        Staff continues to participate on the project steering committee for the VTrans update of the state Bicycle/Pedestrian Policy Plan.

 

3.03.1 Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) Pilot Projects - 75% Complete [Staff Manager:  Peter Keating] http://www.ccmpo.org/SR2S/

·        SR2S training held March 27^th in Richmond.  Over 50 attendees present.  Planning for spring school events are progressing.  Staff assisting VTrans staff in the development of the statewide SR2S program.

 

3.04.1 2025 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Implementation (MTP) – 0% Complete [Staff Manager: Peter Keating] http://www.ccmpo.org/MTP/

·        No work planned or undertaken.

     

3.04.2 2030 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) - 50% Complete [Staff Manager:  Peter Keating]

·        Public opinion survey developed and recipients notified.

·         Third Sector Associates worked with CCMPO staff to draft a press release for the resident survey for the MTP.

 

3.06 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program – 75% Complete [Staff Manager: Peter Keating]

·        TDM Plan summary/implementation strategy approved by TAC and sent to Board for adoption. 

·        Way to Go Week 2006 planning underway.

·        Way to Go Week website redesigned and updated for 2006 with latest information (more information is forthcoming).  Online registration is currently functioning. 

3.07 Route 15 Corridor Land Use/Transportation Plan – 15% Complete [Staff Manager: Unassigned]

·        Staff met with Todd Odit to discuss the development of the RFP and project funding.  VTrans staff forwarded their comments and CCMPO staff will finalize the RFP.  A Project Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for April 18, 2006.

3.09 Transportation Systems Management – 75% Complete [Staff Manager: Susan Smichenko].

·        Staff continues to participate with VTrans in the Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

·        Staff discussed scheduling the signal optimization project with the consultant for the Town of Colchester.

·        Staff continues to coordinate with VTrans on ITS projects including the Portable Changeable Message Signs, and CARS/Amber alert.

·        Staff presented the Vermont Access Management power point to the Northwest VT project underway at CCRPC and discussed next steps.

3.11 Development Review – 50% Complete [Staff Manager: Susan Smichenko]

·        Staff submitted a review of the Traffic Impact Analysis report for Finney Crossing Planned Unit Development to Williston town staff. 

3.13 Freight Transportation Planning - 45% Complete [Staff Manager:  Daryl Benoit]

http://www.ccmpo.org/freight/

·        Continuing work on building the online pilot application for the VTrans-mandated TPI-work task: “Identification of Marketable and Developable Property Adjacent to Railroad ROW” for Chittenden County.  Currently working with CCRPC staff on the project.

·        Drafted a working paper to address the future of the Burlington Railyard redevelopment as well as transload (TOFC “piggyback”) implementation within the region on a larger scale.  This paper will be sent to VTrans, CEDO, and Burlington DPW.

·        Met with the Vermont Gateway Rural Improvement Pilot (GRIP) group at Union Station on 24 Mar 2006, to discuss collaborative efforts along the Vermont Western Corridor and the federal earmark (Rick Moulton, Mike Coates, Lee Kahn of OMYA, Melinda Moulton,  George Betke of Farmrail, Inc., Michael Smith of Finger Lakes Railway Corp., and Andrea of Vermont Rail Advocacy Network attended).  Now included in GRIP project elements is improvement of the ABRB-E rail line. An idea was drafted to establish Montreal to Rutland rail service utilizing Modernized Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs: a newer more cost-effective generation of the “Colorado Cars” - See http://www.industrial-rail.com/ ) to meet earmark criterion of a “Gateway” project.  Lee Kahn had a meeting scheduled with Dawn Terrill (on 27 Mar 2006) to get VTrans on board as a partner (requiring no match funding from them) to help with this, and to discuss upgrading of rail capacity from Ferrisburg to Middlebury to 286,000 pound rail cars.  More information on GRIP can be accessed from the MPO freight page listed above.  The discussion also covered the topic of the WISDOM freight model, developed by Lockheed/Martin to improve time and speed of freight movement and could improve profitability of the Vermont rail system by an estimated 13%.  User fees would increase and serve as a means to fund infrastructure improvement.

 

    3.14 Route 2 Corridor Study – 65% Complete [Staff Manager:  Susan Smichenko]

·        Staff prepared for and attended the March 30, 2006 Design Workshop.

·        Staff provided comments on the Project Vision and Goals statement.

·        Staff continued to respond to phone calls and emails on project.

·        Third Sector Associates prepared for, attended and created meeting notes for a public meeting in South Burlington on March 30, 2006.  A total of 47 people attended.  Flyers were posted in Williston, South Burlington and Burlington.  Media hits included an article in Burlington Free Press, and The Other Paper and calendar listings in:  Local Motion Enews, Seven Days, two municipal websites, CCMPO website and Burlington’s Neighborhood BUZZ Enews.

3.16 Route 7 Circulation Study – 40% Complete [Staff Manager:  Susan Smichenko)]   

·        Staff continued to coordinate with the Town and consultant on the project.

 

4.01 Data Collection and Maintenance – 100% Complete for season [Staff Manager: Daryl Benoit]  http://www.ccmpo.org/data/counts.html

·        Hired 3 interns to work in the traffic count and pavement inventory programs for the summer months.  There is one more position to fill.  The program will start on the week of 15 May 2006.

4.02.1 Planning Assistance and Coordination - 60% Complete [Staff Manager: David Roberts]

·        Staff attended a steering committee meeting on March 15, 2006 for the Exit 17 Growth Center Transportation study.  Consultant presented the phasing plan for the proposed alternative recommendations.

·        Staff continues to coordinate with the Town of Milton regarding finalizing the report for the Milton Multi-Use Path project.  The consultant has revised report to reflect the Selectboard’s decision and copies were forwarded to VTrans and Milton planning staffs.

·        CCMPO staff continues providing VTrans and the Circ EIS consultant with information on CCMPO data sources and models.  Staff continues attending Circ EIS technical committee meetings.  More information on the project is available at http://www.circeis.org .

·        Shelburne Village traffic study alternatives assessment meeting held with town, MPO, and Vtrans staff.  Consultant is underway with completion expected in June.

·        Staff continues to work with VTrans and Town on Williston on study to locate park and ride site.

 

4.02.2 Planning Assistance – Locally Managed [Staff Manager: David Roberts, except as noted]

·        Proposals for Burlington Transportation Plan received and evaluated and consultant selected.

·        Richmond and Williston have selected Lamoureux and Dickinson as the consultant for the East Hill Rd Study.  MPO staff is looking into availability of orthoimagery and lidar terrain data for one additional tile in Richmond needed to complete coverage of the study area.

4.03 Transportation Model Maintenance– 60% Complete [Staff Manager: David Roberts]

http://www.ccmpo.org/modeling/

·        Version 2.2.2 of the model released with minor bug fixes to the trip generation step and a new method to cap land use allocated by the “allowable” land use.

4.04 Chittenden Traffic Alert Program – 0% Complete for the season [Staff Manager: David Roberts] http://ccmpo.org/cta/index.html

·        Two Traffic Alert Program proposals were received in response to the RFP.  Staff recommendation provided to TAC for Administrative Advantage to continue managing the program.

4.05 Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) Grant Program – 50% Complete [Staff Manager: Peter Keating http://www.ccmpo.org/consultants/tlc.html

·        No activity to report this month.

 

http://www.ccmpo.org/TIP/

5.01 TIP Development – FY07-10 TIP - 25% Complete

·        VTrans Fiscal Constraint letter was received from VTrans

·        Capital Program has been reviewed for project cost and schedule information.

·        VTrans and town Project Managers have been contacted to verify project information.

·        First TIP subcommittee meeting to take place in April.

5.02 TIP Project Tracking and Management – 60% Complete

·        Staff working on project prioritization methodology.

·        Staff evaluating funding needs schedule for new transportation earmarks.

·        TIP amendments approved for VT15 (Jericho Road) Bike Path, Essex and Route 15 Streetscape, Jericho.

 

6.01  Public Involvement – 5 % Complete  [Third Sector Associates]

6.02 Communications –60% Completed

6.03 Legislative Monitoring – 35% Complete [Staff Manager: Scott Johnstone]

·        Monitored bills in legislative process.

 

7.01 Project Definition (Scoping) Studies

Colchester/Essex/Essex Junction, Route 15 Bicycle/Pedestrian Path – [Staff Manager: Christine Forde - 90% complete. 

·        Evaluating next steps to addressing VTrans comments on draft report.  

South Burlington, Bicycle/Pedestrian Crossing of Shelburne Road at Queen City Park Road – 100% Complete

·        Draft report being prepared by consultant.

South Burlington/Williston Multiuse Path Connection (Bridge over Muddy Brook) – 75%

·        Draft report being prepared.

·        Consultant to meet with resource agencies to discuss environmental impacts of alternatives.

VT15/Educational Drive, Essex Junction – 55%

·        Evaluating of alternatives underway.

VT116 Potash Brook Culvert, South Burlington

·        Existing conditions information being collected.

Hinesburg Park and Ride, Hinesburg

·        Alternatives are being developed. 

VT15/Sand Hill Road

·        Notice to Proceed issued to consultant.

·        Existing conditions information being collected.

I-89 Exit 14 Scoping Project [Staff Manager: Susan Smichenko]     

·        Reviewed construction plans for the project and provided comments to VTrans staff.  99% complete

     7.02 Locally Managed Project Definition (Scoping) Studies 

·        No activity

 

·     No Significant progress this reporting period