Transportation Resource Oversight Committee Meeting (Lake & Porter Counties)

(Virtual Meeting)

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 9:00 am CST

6100 Southport Road

Portage, Indiana 46368

(219) 763-6060

www.nirpc.org

Zoom:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81022642128?pwd=OVVxOFliaTArYjU0dWpEUGh1RWZ6dz09

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(312) 626-6799 US (Chicago) Meeting ID: 810 2264 2128

Passcode: 013992

Agenda

1. Call to Order by Chairman and Pledge of Allegiance

   
   

2. Meeting Minutes of July 27, 2021

   ACTION REQUESTED: Approval

3. Public Comments

   This is an opportunity for comments from members of the audience. The amount of time available to speak will be limited to 3 minutes. Commenters must indicate their wish to comment on the sign-in sheet.

   
   

4. Spending Plan update

   1. A spreadsheet with a summary of all applications was provided in the meeting packet.

   2. Projects going to construction this fiscal year (Total Cost, Letting Date):

      1. Gary – Airport Rd Ph 4 ($896,000; December, 2021March/April, 2022)

      2. Burns Harbor – Marquette Greenway Trail Ph 1 ($796,176; January, April, 2022)

      3. Merrillville – Sidewalks along Broadway ($775,000; February 2022)

      4. Munster – EL & P trail Connector ($980,000; February, April, 2022)

      5. Hobart – Colorado St & US 30 Intersection Improv ($2,333,333; March/April, 2022)

      6. Lake County – 45th Ave Roadway Expansion ($11,000,000; March 2022)

      7. Portage – Central Ave Road Rehab ($718,750; March 2022)

      8. Porter County – Central Ave Bridge Replacement ($1,125,000; March 2022)

         ACTION REQUESTED: For Discussion

   3. Projects with allocated funds this fiscal year (Phase, Total Cost):

      1. Chesterton – Westchester/Liberty Trail (ROW; $150,000)

      2. Porter County – Calumet Trail (PE; $200,000)

      3. Valparaiso – Downtown to TOD trail (PE; $147,875)

      4. NIRPC – Air Quality Education (UPWP; $450,000)

      5. Hobart – Purchase New Propane Vehicles ($1,924,833)

      6. Valparaiso – Chicago Dash Expansion ($650,000)

      7. NIRPC TIP Mgmt software ($53,045)

      8. Hobart – County Line Rd (ROW; $316,000)

      9. Portage – Central Ave (PE & ROW; $973,090)

      10. Lake County – Colorado St Bridge (PE; $350,000)

          ACTION REQUESTED: For Discussion

          
          

5. New Business

   1. Local Quarterly meetings will be held on Wednesday, October 27; Thursday, November 4; and Monday, November 8. See Attached for the Quarterly Meeting schedule.

   2. Other Business not discussed earlier.

7) Adjournment

The next regularly scheduled TROC Lake/Porter meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. We are hoping to meet in-person, but the location and format will be determined later.

Transportation Resource Oversight Committee Meeting (Lake and Porter County)

Tuesday, July 27, 2021 Minutes

This meeting was convened as an electronic meeting, in accordance with House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1437 as incorporated into Governor Holcomb’s Executive Order 21-13. All persons were meeting remotely on a Zoom platform that allowed for real time interaction and supported the public’s ability to observe and record the proceedings. When the agenda item provided for public comment, this was supported as well.

Charles Bradsky called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was taken by Candice Eklund. In attendance were Duane Alverson (Lake County), Mark O’Dell (Chesterton), Julio Arichavala (East Chicago), Tom Schmitt (Schererville), Jeff Huet (Schererville), Andy Raab (Griffith), Chris Salatas (St. John), and George Topoll (Union Township). David Wright (GPTC), Dean Button (Hammond) and Beth Shrader (Valparaiso) joined the meeting after roll call and approval of the minutes.

NIRPC staff included Charles Bradsky, Thomas Dow, Meredith Stilwell, Kevin Polette, Flor Baum, and Candice Eklund. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the April 27, 2021 TROC meeting were approved on motion by Mark O’Dell and seconded by Duane Alverson. With Duane Alverson, Mark O’Dell, Jeff Huet, Tom Schmitt, Andy Raab, George Topoll, and Chris Salatas voting in the affirmative, one abstention vote, and no one voting in the negative, the motion passed.

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

Charles Bradsky introduced Thomas Dow, NIRPC’s new Transportation Director. Mr. Dow shared he has spent

most of his planning career in the state of Kansas working at the Kansas Department of Transportation, where he worked with other Metropolitan Planning Organizations in the state. He has also worked for several cities and towns in his career as well as being a consultant.

Spending Plan Update

Charles Bradsky noted a link to the spending plan was provided in the meeting packet. Charles then discussed the projects that are going to construction this fiscal year. No comments or project delays were received. Charles also discussed the projects with allocated funds this fiscal year.

Only one comment was received. Jeff Huett asked if the roadway expansion project on 45th Avenue in Lake County had any foreseeable concerns with timeline delays. With the project letting in March 2022 and project total cost of $11 million, it could be difficult to reallocate funds if needed. Duane Alverson stated the project is on schedule with monthly status meetings taking place. Many Row of Way (ROW) parcels still need to be acquired but it is felt the schedule will be met. Duane will notify Charles of any timeline delays.

New Business

Charles reminded the Committee of the virtual Local Quarterly Meetings that are scheduled for August 9, 11, and

12. Charles shared the meeting schedule and reminded everyone that the meeting schedules have been sent to the communities.

Adjournment

Having no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m. The next meeting will be held on October 26, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.

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