Technical Planning Committee

April 9, 2019 10:00 a.m. Lake Michigan Room

6100 Southport Road, Portage

Annotated Agenda

1. Call to Order by Chairman, Opening and Announcements

2. Pledge of Allegiance; Introductions

3. Meeting Participation Survey

   INDOT requires NIRPC to develop a questionnaire to help evaluate the success of their efforts to reach out to all members of our community. Participation is strictly voluntary and anonymous.

4. Minutes of the March 12, 2019 meeting (pp. 1-2)

ACTION REQUESTED: Approval

2.0 Public Comment on Agenda Items

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 sign the blue form.

1. Planning

2. FY 2019-2020 Unified Planning Work Program Amendment #2

   1. Public Comment Report on FY 2019-2020 Unified Planning Work Program Amendment #2 (p. 3-4)

      Staff will present on public comments received for amendment #2 of the 2019-2020 UPWP

      ACTION REQUESTED: Informational

   2. Resolution 19-14, FY 2019-2020 Unified Planning Work Program Amendment #2 (p. 5-100) Staff will present on Amendment #2 to the FY 2019-2020 UPWP

   ACTION REQUESTED: Recommend

3. NWI 2050 Plan Presentation

ACTION REQUESTED: Informational

1. Programming

2. FY 2018-2021 Transportation Improvement ProgramTransportation Improvement Program Amendment #21

1. Public Comment Report on FY 2018-2021 Transportation Improvement Program Amendment #21 (pp. 101)

   Staff will present the public comment report on amendment #21 to the Transportation Improvement Program to incorporate federally required performance-based planning targets.

   ACTION REQUESTED: Informational

2. Resolution 19-15, FY 2018-2021 Transportation Improvement Program Amendment #21 (pp. 102-128)

Staff will present Resolution 19-15, FY 2018-2021 Transportation Improvement Program Amendment #21 to incorporate federally required performance-based planning

targets.

ACTION REQUESTED: Recommend

1. Topical Committee Reports

   Various committees are invited to report out on their meetings.

2. Environmental Management Policy Committee (EMPC)

3. Ped, Pedal & Paddle Committee (3PC)

4. Transit Operators Roundtable (TOR)

5. Land Use Committee (LUC)

6. Surface Transportation Committee (STC)

7. Transportation Resource & Oversight Committee (TROC)

1. Reports from Planning Partners

2. Federal Highway Administration & Federal Transit Administration

3. Neighboring Regional Planning Agencies

1. Other Business, Staff Announcements and Upcoming Meetings

2. Other Business

3. Staff Announcements

4. NIRPC Meetings/Events

   • The Finance & Personnel Committee will meet on Thursday, April 18 at 8:00 a.m. in the Dune Room at NIRPC.

   • The NIRPC Executive Board will meet on Thursday, April 18 at 9 a.m. in the Lake Michigan Room at NIRPC.

   • The Outreach Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 8 at 10 a.m. in the Lake Michigan Room at NIRPC.

   • The remaining topical committees will meet in June. Notices will be sent.

8.0 Next Meeting

The next Technical Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 10 a.m. in the Lake Michigan Room at the NIRPC office.

9.0 Adjournment

Requests for alternate formats, please contact Mary Thorne at NIRPC at least 48 hours prior at (219) 763-6060 extension 131 or at mthorne@nirpc.org. Individuals with hearing impairments may contact us through the Indiana Relay 711 service by calling 711 or (800) 743-3333.

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, parental status, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program.

Technical Planning Committee NIRPC Lake Michigan Room, Portage, IN

March 12, 2019 Minutes

Kevin Breitzke called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and self-introductions. Committee members present were Kevin Breitzke, Diane Noll, Mark O’Dell, Dean Button, Michael Griffin, David Wright, Tom MacLennan, Kelly Wenger, Will Farrellbegg, Margot Sabato and Jessica Miller.

Others present were Tom Schmitt, Doug Ferguson, Craig Phillips, Jerry Siska, Jill Murr, K-Todd Behling, Katie Lemon, Frank Rosado, Jr., Michael Jabo, Claudia Taylor, Bruce Lindner, Laurie Keagle, John Novacich, Don Oliphant, Chris Moore and Beth Shrader.

Staff present were Trey Wadsworth, Mitch Barloga, Charles Bradsky, Dominique Edwards, Scott Weber, Peter Kimball, Eman Ibrahim and Mary Thorne.

The INDOT participation survey was available.

The minutes of the February 12, 2019 meeting were approved on a motion by Dean Button and a second by Will Farrellbegg.

There were no public comment requests.

Trey Wadsworth reported that Amendment #2 to the Unified Planning Work Program will be brought to the committee at the April 9 meeting.

Scott Weber presented on the Performance-based Planning Framework which will be included in the draft NWI 2050 Plan. These measures will be done by NIRPC as well as other stakeholders. NIRPC will be able to track implementation progress of the plan and allocate resources to areas to areas lagging in implementation progress and further convey transparently with the public. An example was provided. Brief discussion followed. On a motion by Michael Griffin and a second by Will Farrellbegg, the Technical Planning Committee voted to recommend the Performance-based Planning Framework to the Board for inclusion in the draft Northwest Indiana 2050 Plan, The Plan will go out for public comment on April 1st.

Eman Ibrahim made a brief presentation on the NWI 2050 Plan Draft Strategies which were reviewed by the committees and put out for public comment ending February 22. Two comments were received regarding more transit and emphasizing partnerships. There are 335 strategies. Brief discussion followed. On a motion by Dean Button and a second by Mark O’Dell, the Technical Planning Committee voted to recommend the NWI 2050 Plan draft strategies to the Board for inclusion in the draft Northwest Indiana 2050 Plan. The Plan will go out for public comment on April 1.

Charles Bradsky announced that Group 1 and Group 2 projects for the 2020-2024 Transportation Improvement Program will be considered further. Group 2 is completed. The

TIP is almost final and staff is waiting to hear from one Group 1 community and technical comments from Federal Highways and Federal Transit. Any revisions will be reviewed at the Transportation Resource & Oversight Committee meetings on March 26 and communicated back to the committees before going out for public comment along with the NWI 2050 Plan on April 1. It will then come back to TPC in May. No action was required.

The topical committees will be meeting next month.

Doug Ferguson reported that the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning MPO Committee will meet on Thursday on the O'Hare Express Service and the South Lakefront Framework Plan.

Mitch Barloga reported that several communities applied for the Next Level Trails grant. There was $140 million in applications for an initial $25 million pot.

Committee meetings at NIRPC were reviewed:

• The Finance & Personnel Committee will meet on March 21 at 8:30 a.m.

• The Executive Board will meet on March 21 at 9 a.m.

• The Surface Transportation Committee will meet on April 2 at 9 a.m.

• The Transit Operators Roundtable will meet on April 2 at 10:40 a.m.

• The Environmental Management Policy Committee will meet on April 4 at 9 a.m.

• The Land Use Committee will meet on April 4 at 10:39 a.m.

• The Ped Pedal & Paddle Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. on April 4.

The next Technical Planning Committee meeting will be held on April 9 at 10 a.m. Hearing no other business, Kevin Breitzke adjourned the meeting at 11:05 a.m.

Public Comment Report – April 1, 2019‌

FY 2019-2020 Unified Planning Work Program Amendment #2

The FY 2019-2020 Unified Planning Work Program Amendment #2 was released for a 7-day public comment period as required by the Commission’s 2014 Public Participation Plan. The comment period began on March 4, 2019 and ended on March 10, 2019. The draft FY 2019-2020 Unified Planning Work Program Amendment #2 was made available at www.nirpc.org.

One public comment was received regarding working to achieve transit across three counties. Please see attached page.

Technical comments were received by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to clarify language and modify the Air Quality Public Education task. All comments required to be addressed have been reflected in the final draft of the FY 2019-2020 Unified Planning Work Program Amendment #2. Changes are minor in nature and still propose to deliver the same tasks or activities as proposed in the initial draft.

4

RESOLUTION 19-13

A RESOLUTION OF THE NORTHWESTERN INDIANA

REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT #2 FOR THE FY 2019-2020 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM FOR

LAKE, PORTER, AND LAPORTE COUNTIES, INDIANA

April 18, 2019

WHEREAS, the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, hereafter referred to as “the Commission”, being designated the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Lake, Porter, and LaPorte County area, has established a comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing transportation planning process to develop the FY 2019-2020 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP); and

WHEREAS, the preparation of a UPWP is a necessary and required part of the metropolitan area transportation planning process as specified in 23 CFR 450.314; and by its State statutory authority, the Commission is charged with regional planning responsibility for the environment, economic development, and transportation; and

WHEREAS, the work tasks described within the Commission’s UPWP are in conjunction with the programs and planning emphasis areas of the Federal Highway and Transit Administrations, and significant planning projects in the region by other agencies; and

WHEREAS, this UPWP Amendment #2 was developed through a participatory process as prescribed in the Commission’s 2014 Public Participation Plan; and

WHEREAS, the Technical Planning Committee (TPC) has recommended that the Commission approve the UPWP Amendment #2; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission hereby adopts the FY 2019-2020 UPWP Amendment #2 and the Commission is authorized to enter into such agreements and contracts as may be required with the funding and administrative agencies for the execution of this UPWP.

Duly adopted by the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission this eighteenth day of April 2019.

ATTEST:

Diane Noll Chairperson

George Topoll Secretary

5

2019

2020

Amendment #2

Unified Planning Work Program

The NWI 2050 Plan guides NIRPC’s planning activities and identified four planning focus areas to implement the four visions for NWI: a connected, renewed, united, and vibrant NWI. These include, the environment, economy + place, people + leaders and mobility. Throughout this UPWP each task will be identified by the icons below for which planning focus area the task contributes to. Additionally, below, are the sixteen identified critical paths to achieve the visions of the NWI 2050 Plan.‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Table of Contents

UPWP budget 6‌

2019 estimated task budgets after amendment #1B 7

2020 estimated task budgets – after amendment #2 9‌

About NIRPC 10

Background + purpose 10‌

State authority 10

NIRPC Commission – 2019 appointments 12‌

NIRPC committees 13

NIRPC staff organization and functions 14‌

About the UPWP 15

Required elements 15

FHWA + FTA planning emphasis areas 15‌

Metropolitan planning activities and tasks 16

1. | Administration + public participation 16

   1. | Planning management + administration 17‌

   2. | Public participation + communication tools 18

   3. | Title VI program management 19

   4. | Environmental Justice program management 20

   5. | Americans with Disabilities Act program management 21

   6. | UPWP development and management 22

1. | Data collection + analysis 23‌

   1. | Planning data collection 24

   2. | Planning data analysis + forecasts 25‌

   3. | GIS support services 26

   4. | Performance-based planning activities 27‌

   5. | Congestion management 28

   6. | Travel demand modeling 29‌

   7. | Air quality conformity 30

1. | Short-range planning 31

   1. | Transportation Improvement Program development 32‌

   2. | Transportation Improvement Program management 33

   3. | Environmental red flag investigations 34‌

1. | Long-range planning 35

   1. | 2050 comprehensive regional plan development – 2019 task only 36‌

   2. | NWI 2050 Plan implementation 37

   3. | Regional land use planning 41‌

   4. | Surface transportation planning 42

   5. | Environmental linkages planning 43‌

500 | Multi-modal planning 45

1. | Active transportation planning 46‌

2. | Transit planning – 2020 tasks 51

600 | Special planning activities 52

700 | FTA activities and tasks 53

1. | Sub-grantees oversight 54

2. | Transit planning – 2019 tasks 55

800 | NIRPC programs 56‌

800.1 | Air quality + education 57

800.2 | e-TIP 62‌

900 | NIRPC administration 63

Other significant regional planning activities 66

Appendices 67

UPWP submittal letters and resolution of adoption 67‌

INDOT approval letter 71

USDOT approval letter 73‌

Cost allocation plan approvals 75

Planning agreements 78‌

NIRPC / INDOT / transit operators 78

CMAP / NIRPC / IDOT / INDOT 90‌

FHWA planning emphasis area letter 92

5303 activities

5303 activities

UPWP budget‌

nded act

nded act

ecial

ecial

2019 estimated task budgets after amendment #1B

Funding for CMAQ air quality public education will finish out the CMAQ Group 1 2018 funds already obligated. Amendment #1 is forthcoming, and will seek to secure funding previously obligated, and since de-obligated by INDOT to finish the Household Travel Survey already included in the 2019 work element, and previously approved in a 2017 amendment.

5303 activities

5303 activities

2020

Gabrielle Biciunas

Gabrielle Biciunas

Dominique Edwards

Dominique Edwards

Transportation Environment Communication Finance Adm inistration ED

Trey Wadsworth

Trey Wadsworth

Charles Bradsky

Charles Bradsky

Mitch Barloga

Mitch Barloga

Eman Ibrahim

Eman Ibrahim

Peter Kimball

Peter Kimball

Vacant

Vacant

Scott Weber

Scott Weber

James Winters

James Winters

Interns

Interns

Interns

Interns

Interns

Interns

Kathy Luther

Kathy Luther

Joe Exl

Joe Exl

Env. Educator/ Coordinator

Env. Educator/ Coordinator

John Smith

John Smith

Daria Sztaba

Daria Sztaba

Connie Boos

Connie Boos

Allen Hammond

Allen Hammond

Talaya Jones

Talaya Jones

Lisa Todd

Lisa Todd

Meredith Stilwell

Meredith Stilwell

Mary Thorne

Mary Thorne

Carolyn Brown

Carolyn Brown

Candice Eklund

Candice Eklund

Ty Warner

Ty Warner

UPWP

Staff cost Consultant Direct cost Total

Federal

NIRPC

Non-NIRPC

Special

Special

Special planning activities

section

/ partner cost

task cost

share

share

share

No activities 20-600.1 - - - - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 82 0 820 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total budget + match - - - - - - -

5307

5307

FTA activities + tasks

Sub-grantees oversight 20-700.1 351,279 - 74,000 425,279 340,223 85,056 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1476 984 1312 0 0 0 82 0

Total budget for 5307 + match 351,279 - 74,000 425,279 340,223 85,056 -

TIP funded activities Staff cost Cntrct Other

Air quality + eduction (FY2019 CMAQ) 20-800.1 - 360,000 - 450,000 360,000 7,060 82,940 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

E-TIP (FY 2019 STBG) 20-800.2 - 45,000 - 45,000 36,000 9,000 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NWI transit plan (5307 pending award/match) 20-800.3 - 625,000 - 625,000 500,000 - 125,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total budget for CMAQ or STP + match - 1,030,000 - 1,120,000 896,000 16,060 207,940

NIRPC local cost Staff cost

NIRPC local cost

20-900

37,083 - 43,500 80,583 - 80,583 - 16 164 0 16 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 82

2020 estimated task budgets – after amendment #2‌

NIRPC requests funding for CMAQ air quality public education be obligated from our 2019 Group 1 CMAQ allocation. These funds have already been approved for CMAQ eligibility in the June 2018 determination. In-kind match pre-approval has been submitted to INDOT and FHWA. In addition, to continue funding the e-TIP, NIRPC requested funding from our 2019 Group 2 STBG allocation. Funds for a regional transit study are pending approval of a FTA 5307 or Flex to FTA from Group 1 funds from the Commission.

Originally outlined in the 1962 Federal-Aid Highway Act, the “3C” transportation planning process requires cooperation among all levels of government, comprehensively consideration of many planning factors, and be a continuously evaluated planning process.

A Transportation Management Area is an urbanized area with greater than 200,000 people. Northwestern Indiana is such a region and this designation enhances NIRPC’s responsibilities under federal law. This includes the requirement that our planning process include a Congestion Management System and that USDOT certify that NIRPC conducts a 3C planning process.

About NIRPC‌

Background + purpose‌

NIRPC, as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Northwestern Indiana, has the responsibility to conduct the federally required “3C" transportation planning process for Lake, LaPorte, and Porter Counties. This Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is a core planning document required by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). The UPWP is the approved work plan for the MPO staff, identifying planning tasks and activities to be conducted over the next two years.

This UPWP is also a financial planning document linking resources and staff where they will be the most effective in responding to significant local and regional issues and resolving area-wide problems. This includes describing other planning, administrative and program offerings of NIRPC as a council of governments. It includes all environmental and economic development planning, as well as transit administration, which includes sub-grantee oversight to transit providers in our region, grant administration, and procurement.

The UPWP continues to balance within the available resources, long and short- range planning and programming; special studies; data gathering, analysis, and dissemination; travel demand modeling; public involvement; and program administration. The UPWP attempts to address the major surface transportation issues facing our region and supports the necessary work required of an MPO in a Transportation Management Area. The UPWP is designed to maintain a certified, 3C transportation planning process in the context of a connected planning process with land use, social justice, economic development, and the environment.

State authority‌

Regional planning and coordination came to Northwestern Indiana in 1965 when enabling legislation was passed by the Indiana General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor. The first state law called for a transportation planning commission, which was inspired by the 1962 Federal Highway Act. The state law has since been amended to create what is known today as the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, a three-county council of governments. In the 2007 enabling legislation, NIRPC’s Executive Board membership was expanded and weighted voting was enabled.

NIRPC region showing county and municipal boundaries

Northwestern Indiana is 1,520 square miles comprising a wide mixture of land uses, from the environmentally unique Indiana Dunes to one of the nation's largest concentration of heavy industry, and from urban and suburban communities to productive farmland. The communities along Lake Michigan and the places to the south have a diversity of residents, housing values and incomes.

Northwestern Indiana is a very important part of the sixteen county 9.7 million-person Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical Area (CSA).

Northwestern Indiana’s population is 769,294 (2015) and has a labor force of 370,465 (2013) representing a significant portion of the CSA.