SOUTH JERSEY TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION  

Policy Board Meeting

PHONE CONFERENCE  

Monday, November 26, 2007 - 11:00 A.M.

782 S. Brewster Road , Unit B-6, Vineland  

The meeting was called to order at 11:05 a.m. by Chairman Daniel Beyel, followed by the flag salute.  Timothy Chelius then advised that the requirements of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act were met through Annual Notice on November 19, 2007 to The Press of Atlantic City, The Bridgeton Evening News, The Daily Journal, Today's Sunbeam, and to the Clerks of the four member counties.  Also, the Notice was posted on the designated bulletin board in Vineland City Hall.  Attendance of members was then taken by roll call:  

ATTENDANCE:  

Members:  

Daniel Beyel, Cape May County
Thomas Russo, Atlantic County
Douglas Rainear, Cumberland County
Charles Sullivan, Salem County
William Marsh, Atlantic City (Not Present)
Jeffrey Ridgway, Pittsgrove Township
Leonard Desiderio, Sea Isle City (Not Present)
Perry Barse, City of Vineland
David Kuhn, NJDOT
Dr. Jerome Lutin, NJ Transit
Kathleen Aufschneider, SJTA (Representing Bart Mueller)  

Also in attendance:  

James Pierson, Angelini, Viniar & Freedman
John Peterson, Atlantic County
Robert Brewer, Cumberland County
Pippa Woods , NJ Transit
Brian Wahler, NJ Turnpike Authority
Sonia Frontera, Governor’s Authorities Unit
Timothy Chelius, SJTPO
Monica LoGuidice, SJTPO
John Petersack, SJTPO    

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: September 24, 2007  

On Motion by Freeholder Sullivan and seconded by Freeholder Director Rainear, the minutes of September 24, 2007 were unanimously approved by roll call vote.

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT  

In Chairman Brewer’s absence of the November TAC meeting, Vice Chairman Peterson reported that TAC recommended Board approval of the scheduled agenda items.  Mr. Peterson noted that NJDOT was not present at the November TAC meeting, and he emphasized to NJDOT representatives that he would hope to avoid having that happen on a regular basis.

CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS  

Chairman Beyel hoped everyone had a happy Thanksgiving and wished everyone a happy and healthy holiday season and new year.  

NOMINATING COMMITTEE  

Chairman Beyel reported that the Nominating Committee recommends Freeholder Director Beyel as Chairman, Freeholder Vice Chairman Russo as Vice Chairman, and Freeholder Sullivan as Secretary/Treasurer.  With no additional nominations, On Motion by Freeholder Director Rainear, the report of Nominating Committee was accepted by all Policy Board members.  

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR  

Executive Director Chelius announced that Jerry Lutin will be retiring in December and he introduced Pippa Woods as Dr. Lutin’s replacement as the NJ Transit representative.  Chairman Beyel thanked Dr. Lutin for his contribution to the Board and wished him well in his new career and retirement.  

NEW BUSINESS  

1.      Resolution 0711-35:  Approving Revision 08-11-01 to the FY 2008-2011 Transportation Improvement Program By Deleting the Resurfacing of Shore Road from Illinois Avenue to California Avenue and Shifting the Funds to Extend the Limits of the Resurfacing of Tilton Road from US 30 to Country Club Drive  

On Motion by Vice Chairman Russo and seconded by Committeeman Ridgway, Resolution 0711-35 was opened for discussion.  Executive Director Chelius explained that due to an inadvertent listing in the FY 2008-2011 TIP, a project that is already underway is included, and Atlantic County is proposing to shift the funds to extend the limits of the resurfacing of Tilton Road from US 30 to County Club Drive.  This additional funding would extend the southern limit of the project from Country Club Drive to Odessa Avenue .  Atlantic County will be able to prepare the CED for the entire length and proceed with the project.  Mr. Chelius stated that the project conforms with air quality standards and that notice was sent to CAC, and no comments were received.  With no further comment, Resolution 0711-35 was unanimously approved by roll call vote.  

2.      Resolution 0711-36:  Revising the FY 2008 Local CMAQ Project Ranking  

On Motion by Mayor Barse and seconded by Freeholder Director Rainear, Resolution 0711-36 was opened for discussion.  Executive Director Chelius explained that Atlantic County is proposing to amend their original application to acquire bio-diesel vans in the amount of $400,000, to substitute the acquisition of Mobile Data Terminals to interface with their existing Trapeze scheduling and Routing Software. 

Mr. Chelius explained that projects were submitted and reviewed by the CMAQ Project Selection Committee (PSC) who then presented the projects to the Technical Advisory Committee on July 9 and November 12, 2007.  The proposals were analyzed for their potential emissions reductions by an independent consultant using AQONE computer modeling, and the PSC scored and ranked the proposals in accordance with the project selection procedures.   TAC recommended the final project ranking for Policy Board action.  

Kathy Aufschneider questioned why a project that wasn’t part of the original ranking is now being considered in the CMAQ ranking for the same amount of money.  Ms. Aufschneider then stated that there is a particular reason for the question, and that is due to the fact that SJTA has a project in the amount of $80,000 that fell just below the line.  Ms. Aufschneider then asked if Atlantic County is not able to do their project, then why doesn’t the ranking change to include the next project below the line of the list.  

John Peterson responded that the issue is not that Atlantic County cannot complete the project, but that funding is delayed for several years prior to actual purchase of the vehicles.  At the same time, in order to make more efficient use of the current vehicles and funding that Atlantic County does have, it made sense to   request the Mobile Data Terminals for the purpose of being able to coordinate with other agencies and improve overall efficiency.  These MDT’s can be purchased within the year that the funding is available.  

Ms. Aufschneider commented that she understands the delay in the vehicles, but does not understand how a decision was made to purchase the terminals for $400,000.  Mr. Chelius stated that he corresponded with the Fleet Manager for Atlantic County , and they are confident that they can outfit the entire fleet with the MDT’s, which was also supported by the County Administrator .  Mr. Chelius also stated that at the TAC meeting, the emissions reductions were considered from the various projects that were on the table.  In this case, Atlantic County ’s substitute project tremendously increased the amount of VOC’s that would be reduced.  In other words, it improved the emissions reductions over the buses.  In comparing that Atlantic County substitute project to the SJTA Stockton College Student Shuttle, it more than doubles the reduction in VOC’s, it more than doubles the reduction in Carbon Monoxide, and it increases the reduction in Nox by 60 or 70 percent.  

Ms. Aufschneider explained that she is not questioning the emissions, but that her only concern is the process in how this project is replacing another project.  She further stated that none of the other agencies were able to submit a substitute project, and if they did, there may have been a different outcome, and not necessarily the Stockton Shuttle. Ms. Aufschneider also questioned that if there was a decision amongst everyone, than maybe only half of the fleet could have been outfitted with the mobile devises.  

David Kuhn commented that he supports Ms. Aufschneider’s concerns and agreed that there is an issue with the process.  Mr. Peterson emphasized that at the TAC meeting there was no representative from NJDOT to either object or comment on Atlantic County ’s request, and stated that he is taken aback by that comment.   

Chairman Beyel asked Vice Chairman Russo if he was pleased with Atlantic County ’s recommendation, and Mr. Russo stated that he was.  With no further comment, Resolution 0711-36 was approved by roll call vote with abstentions from Kathleen Aufschneider, Dr. Lutin, and David Kuhn.  Mr. Chelius stated that the motion passes six votes to three.  

3.      Resolution 0711-37:  Approving Consultant Selection for the Atlantic City International Airport Economic Impact Analysis  

On Motion by Kathleen Aufschneider and seconded by Mayor Barse, Resolution 0711-37 was opened for discussion.  Executive Director Chelius reported that three proposals were received to the notice of the RFP that was sent to approximately 130 firms.  The Consultant Selection Committee consisting of Atlantic County Regional Planning & Development, South Jersey Economic Development District, SJTA, and SJTPO recommends the selection of Center for Regional & Business Research of Mays Landing, NJ in association with the New Jersey Institute of Technology of Newark, NJ and M&M Communications of Gloucester County, NJ, for a total cost of $36,186.40, with a 10,6% DBE.  With no further comment, Resolution 0711-37 was unanimously approved by roll call vote.  

4.  NJDOT Updates:  David Kuhn  

Shore Connection Projects:   

Chairman Beyel explained that since there was no report submitted for Board review in time for the meeting that it would be held off until NJDOT submits the report to members by mail.  Jerry Mooney stated that the full report will be available in time for the SJTPO minutes, but that there are two updates:  1)  Rt. 9/CR 550 Ocean View Drive – change to the description of handling the utility movebacks – NJDOT asked the County Engineer for his assistance in relocating the utilities and NJDOT will provide the design.  NJDOT is still waiting on a response from the County; and 2) on the Rt. 47/Rt. 347 and Rt. 49/50 Corridor Enhancement Concept Development Study – NJDOT is proposing to pursue a breakout of the Rt. 47 ITS project to add cameras and signals and be controlled by the Traffic Operation Center in Cherry Hill.  

For the Shore Connection Travel Information Project, the Department will try to determine Maurice River Township ’s acceptance of the proposed Rt. 47/55 intersection reconfiguration.  

Mr. Mooney also mentioned that two projects have been listed at the conclusion of recent SCC reports.  After further review by the NJDOT-Concept Development Department, they have determined that the two projects:  1) Rt. 50/CR616 ( Tyler Rd. ); and 2)  a passing lane on Rt. 50 between Pennsylvania Avenue and CR 610 in Upper Township, will be dropped from the report due to the fact that they are not cost effective.

 PUBLIC COMMENT  

On Motion by Freeholder Sullivan and seconded by Committeeman Ridgway, the Policy Board unanimously approved by roll call vote to appoint Monica LoGuidice to execute the minutes and resolutions in Freeholder Sullivan’s absence.  

ADJOURNMENT  

On Motion by Chairman Beyel and seconded by Mayor Desiderio, the meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.  

Approved Minutes Certified Correct:    

Charles R. Sullivan/mal

_______________________________________
Charles R. Sullivan, Secretary/Treasurer