NORTHWESTERN INDIANA REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION Together We Make The Difference 6100 Southport Road Portage, Indiana 46368 Fax Messages On the Internet E-mail Messages (219) 763-6060 (219) 762-1653 www.nirpc.org nirpc@nirpc.org PATHWAY TO 2040 COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL PLAN IMPLEMENTION COMMITTEE April 30, 2015-9:00 AM @ NIRPC AGENDA 1. Call to Order by Chair Michael Griffin, Chair a. Pledge of Allegiance b. Welcome and Introductions c. Approval of Minutes March 25, 2014 2. 2040 CRP Update a. Public Comment Report b. Action on 2040 CRP Update 3. Other Business a. Staff Comments/Announcements b. Committee Announcements c. Public Comments 4. Adjourn Next Meeting: Thursday, August 13 @ 9:00 AM at NIRPC Requests for alternate formats, please contact Mary Thorne at NIRPC 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 rthwestern 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.
Pathway to 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan Implementation Committee Meeting NIRPC Auditorium March 25, 2015 Minutes Attendees Michael Griffin, Roosevelt Allen, Jr., Deb Backhus, George Malis, Don Parker, Brian Poland, Richard Morrisroe, Cecile Petro. Guests Christopher Meyers, Ken Davidson. Staff Gabrielle Biciunas, Eman Ibrahim, Mitch Barloga, Scott Weber and Mary Thorne. Welcome and Introductions Chairman Michael Griffin called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and selfintroductions. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the vember 13, 2014 meeting were approved under general consensus. 2040 CRP Update and Presentation Stephen Sostaric gave a presentation on the 2040 Comprehensive Update, which will be adopted along with the new FY 2016-2019 Transportation Improvement Program and the Air Quality Conformity Analysis. He gave an overview of NIRPC, its duties and information on the 2040 Plan s creation. Public meetings are being held. Areas being updated include environment, freight, economic development, transportation, and transit. Implementation strategies were illustrated and included Creating Livable Centers implementation, cultural and historical inventory mapping, transit-oriented development projects in the urban core, the Marquette Plan update, food study recommendations, congestion management and ITS architecture updates, the Greenways + Blueways Plan update, red flag analyses, watershed management plans, the Deep River/Burns Waterway project, and the green infrastructure vision update. Roosevelt Allen, Jr. discussed a quarry was to be opened in the Kankakee River watershed which would create soil contamination and aquatic issues and additional transit services. The non-motorized Ped, Pedal & Paddle plan will be updated separately. He noted that the region lost 33% of its population since 2010, although some gains have been seen in south Lake County and Porter County. Housing supply continues to grow despite population loss. Stephen Sostaric said the FY 2016-2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for highways includes $144.7 million in total spending for INDOT projects and $343.6 million in total spending for 166 local project phases. There are no new projects. The FY 2016-2019 transit TIP includes 229 proposed projects in the amount of $265,516,090. Federal funds expected total $12,795,292 with a local funds match needed of $144,720,799. The air quality conformity process is federally mandated for capacity expansion projects and NIRPC s role and criteria for achieving conformity. The interagency consultation is between NIRPC, FHWA, FTA, USEPA,
2040 CRP Implementation Committee Meeting March 25, 2015 Minutes IDEM and INDOT. New projects include the Willowcreek Road extension, Livable Broadway bus rapid transit, GPTC Lakeshore South and rth routes and the Triangle Transit Service. The NIRPC Commission will take action to adopt the update at their May 2015 meeting. Brief discussion followed. Comments are being taken by email at comments@nirpc.org, by phone at 219-763-6060 extension 160, by regular mail, on the website at www.nirpc.org, Facebook and Twitter. Other Business: Michael Griffin explained that NIRPC s incoming Chair, Blair Milo, formed a committee on committees to look at structure and other issues. Regarding the draft graphic she provided to the Commission, NIRPC, as a Council of Governments, maintains the Legislative, Finance & Personnel and Local Government Assistance committees. As a Metropolitan Planning Organization, a Transportation Finance Committee will funnel projects into the Environmental Management Policy committee, Ped Pedal & Paddle Committee, Land Use Committee, Rail Vision/Freight Committee, Transit Operators Roundtable and Surface Transportation Committee for project review and selection. Those committees will then recommend projects to the Technical Planning Committee which consists of the TPC and 2040 Implementation Committees for recommendation to the NIRPC Board for adoption. Before this plan is finalized, committees will continue on as they do now. George Malis discussed the abrupt announcement of the Indiana Dunes State Park s plans for pavilion improvements and development of a convention center on park property which would impact lake access, air quality, wildlife and other environmental concerns. He asked that everyone contact the Department of Natural Resources and attend any public meetings being held to voice their concerns. (NOTE: The first public meeting is April 6.) Roosevelt Allen Jr. gave an update on the Lake County-La Porte County attempt to purchase the Indiana Toll Road. A successful bid would have brought $5 million in revenues to each county annually. An Australian fund manager entered into an agreement to purchase the company that operates and maintains the Indiana Toll Road. Necessary third-party and government authorizations and approvals are needed before the deal is finalized. Chris Meyers announced the Hobart NW Neighborhood Spotlight kickoff takes place Thursday, April 9th, from 1 pm to 6 pm at Avalon Manor in Hobart. Public Comment: Ken Davidson asked for clarification on fiscal capacity with regard to taxes being increased or a new tax being instituted. Stephen Sostaric described NIRPC s public participation plan. NIRPC s Commission and committee meetings are recorded; public comment opportunities are not. Don Parker remarked that it sounded like two different comment periods were being discussed. Adjournment: Michael Griffin announced the Pathway to 2040 Committee will meet again on April 30 at 9 a.m. Hearing no other business, Michael Griffin adjourned the meeting at 11:10 a.m. Handouts and materials provided: Agenda Packet Agenda and Minutes Local Food Program flyer An audio file of this meeting is available upon request. Requests for alternate formats, please contact Mary Thorne at NIRPC 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.
DRAFT Public Comment Report rthwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission April 23, 2015 The rthwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) convened a public comment period to gather input on three items: the update to the 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan (CRP), the 2016 2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and the new Air Quality Conformity Analysis. The comment period began March 9, 2015 and was originally scheduled to end on April 10, 2015. It was subsequently extended to April 27, 2015 due to issues encountered with the development of the air quality conformity analysis. The extension allowed for the required 30 day review period. Seven public meetings were held throughout the region during the month of March. The meeting schedule was as follows: March 12: Valparaiso City Hall, 166 Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 17: Merrillville Town Hall, 7820 Broadway, Merrillville, IN, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. March 19: Michigan City City Hall, 100 E Michigan Boulevard, Michigan City, IN, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. March 21: John W. Anderson Library, Indiana University rthwest, 3400 Broadway, Gary, IN 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. March 24: Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road, Munster, IN, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. March 26: Porter Regional Hospital Community Room, 85 East US 6 Frontage Road, Valparaiso, IN, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 31: East Chicago Public Library Main Branch, 2401 E Columbus Drive, East Chicago, IN, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. As required in the 2014 Public Participation Plan (PPP), meeting reports were prepared for each of these meetings and provided to meeting attendees and the NIRPC Commission. These reports are also available online at www.nirpc.org. In addition to the public meetings, comments could also be submitted by email to comments@nirpc.org, by telephone at 219 763 6060, ext. 160, or by United States Postal Service. The following pages contain the comments received, the manner in which the comments were considered by staff, whether or not the comments are considered significant, and if there was a need to modify the documents.
The Valparaiso V Line should serve the new Porter Regional Hospital at US 6 & SR 49 The V Line needs to expand its service area west of Campbell Street. There are many people who could use the service in that part of town who cannot because the bus is too far away. Valparaiso Public Meeting, March 12, 2015 The City agrees and has applied for a CMAQ demonstration grant to operate a route to the hospital to test its feasibility and local support. The City is looking at route changes based on the recently completed route analysis. Service west of Campbell Street is one of the areas under review. I wish Valpo would develop more housing (i.e. condos, townhomes) near transit hubs and main artery streets, with bus routes, and 2 3 story apartments with retail on the first floor (grocers). Areas like around Butterfield Park, rth Calumet, and near bus/train depot. Me and 50 friends are for Complete Streets in Valpo, County, and region! Please make Willowcreek extension walk/bike lane/separated lane and/or a bus route the whole length to the lake! Valparaiso has been planning for transit oriented development for the downtown area. The City recently acquired several large tracts of land in the vicinity of the existing train station/chicago DASH commuter bus parking lot. They are also working with the RDA on a large grant to support higher density development in that area. NIRPC adopted a Complete Streets Policy with guidelines in 2010, and a design manual was adopted the following year. This policy are for projects that are funded with NIRPCprogrammed federal monies. This is not applicable for state or local projects. Even so NIRPC is working with several communities at this time in getting Complete Streets policies adopted at their local level. Lowell was the first to adopt a policy in late 2014, and NIRPC will be working with Valparaiso, and number of other communities this year. Regarding the Willowcreek extension project, if this is funded with NIRPC attributable monies, then we will make sure the jurisdictions involved will incorporate sidewalks and bike lanes to the greatest degree possible.
The 2040 Plan is excellent, especially Greenways/Blueways component. Mitch is doing a wonderful job! But, most of the money for implementation is going toward roads and highways which will become obsolete in coming decades. We need more bikes and trains and fewer cars, trucks, roads, and highways. NIRPC agrees that alternative transportation options need more focus, and thus more funding to expand regionwide. This includes expanding both non motorized and transit routes. To this end NIRPC affords a significant percentage of federal transportation dollars to non motorized facilities such as multi use trails. This has been accomplished with the broad understanding that these improvements offer more choices of travel for region residents, and provides major quality of life enhancements towards our health and economic well being. Can we have a continual bike path like in Hobart, Chesterton, Highland, etc.? NIRPC continues to work with all region communities in Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties towards expanding our popular multi use trail network both on land and water. Although a majority of communities are connected via abandoned rail or utility corridors, there are a few that pose significant challenges. Primary of these are Valparaiso and the City of LaPorte. Even so NIPRC has identified corridors that connect these, and all other communities into a vast network vision encompassing over 500 miles of off road trails. To date over 130 miles of trails have been opened, with many more to come in the near future. Other than the land challenges, another major obstacle is funding. Last year NIRPC solicited $7 million for new trail projects over a 7 year period. We received over $35 million in requests a clear indication of the popularity of trails in NW Indiana, as well as the obstacles that remain in expanding our network.
I very much appreciate being invited to these meetings. I try to make every meeting. This is very important to me. NIRPC is happy to provide the opportunity for the public to be involved and provide input. What are the Valparaiso streetscaping/landscaping Transit Oriented Development (TOD) improvements? The City of Valparaiso has an area designated for TOD. These projects, listed in the transit Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), are for establishing and enhancing that area. How does the region s air quality rate? The region is generally on par with the rest of the state. We are unique in this region, and Valparaiso especially, because we straddle the boundary line for the Lake There seems to be no regulations governing water withdrawals, and Michigan watershed. Because of this, that means any new the state DNR just tracks the amount of water withdrawn. proposed withdrawals from Lake Michigan comes with many hoops that need to be jumped through due to the Great Lakes Compact. Merrillville Public Meeting, March 17, 2015 There needs to be more frequent and widespread bus transit that stops at more places. For example, in Chicago buses can typically stop every second or third block. We need to be looking beyond places like the mall to other places people go. The South Shore Line extension should go across Lake County to Valparaiso first to give more people in communities that may not be as affluent better access to the train. It seems like the decision to go down the west side of Lake County was made without much public input. NIRPC supports more public transit across the region. The lack of a dedicated source of local funding is the major roadblock to developing a regional system. The decision to build the West Lake connection first was made by the NICTD Board of Directors after extensive analysis of current and future population growth and economic impact.
Why are there so many fewer opportunities for access to Lake Michigan in the urban core? At the turn of the century, when industry began to expand around the southern shore of Lake Michigan, land with potential industrial development was in great demand. Thousands of acres of submerged land were filled to expand facility operations. Housing and commercial development that supported the workforce occurred further inland since the lakefront was viewed to have greater value in supporting industry operations. Our urban core communities were first developed during this time period. During the early two thirds of the past century, these industries created tens of thousands of jobs, and operated as did all industry of the time, with little or no environmental controls. Most of these facilities continue to operate today, and their private property is heavily regulated under current environmental, safety, and homeland security laws created with the intent to protect people and the environment. These rules also make it exceedingly difficult for these lands to be transferred to other uses or to allow public use. What is currently happening with the Illiana Expressway? What kind of impact on the region's air quality is expected with the shutdown of things like the coke ovens at the steel mills in East Chicago? Munster Public Meeting, March 24, 2015 The Illiana Expressway is currently on hold in both Indiana and Illinois pending the results of the project evaluation that Illinois Governor Rauner asked be performed to determine if it was fiscally responsible for Illinois to continue to participate and contribute. There will most likely be an improvement. However, NIRPC does not track this kind of air pollution, only the pollution Porter Regional Hospital Public Meeting, March 26, 2015
Technology and modern communications are enabling groups to form and get projects going without the traditional channels being used. There is currently a movement to form a civic incubator or "C Lab" in Valparaiso. The hope is to create a template and package the concept so it can be moved to other communities throughout the region such as Gary and Hammond. These C Labs are meant to function outside traditional channels and participants, such as 20 to 30 somethings working in citizen teams. These citizen teams would contribute to improvement efforts with civic activities. NIRPC's work could fit with this. NIRPC is always looking to work with groups within the region to improve their communities. NIRPC would be happy to help in any way we are able as the C Lab concept moves forward in Valparaiso or anywhere else. Sidewalks, lighting, and safety should be priorities in planning. In Gary specifically, resources need to be focused on business districts, such as the one at 11th & Grant. Programs such as façade grants would be helpful. East Chicago Public Library, March 31, 2015 While NIRPC doesn't fund or administer these types of programs specifically, they are the kinds of programs which help create livable centers.
Opportunities for fishing access and/or a marina in Gary are needed to provide access to the lakefront. At the turn of the century, when industry began to expand around the southern shore of Lake Michigan, land with potential industrial development was in great demand. Thousands of acres of submerged land were filled to expand facility operations. Housing and commercial development that supported the workforce occurred further inland since the lakefront was viewed to have greater value in supporting industry operations. Our urban core communities were first developed during this time period. During the early two thirds of the past century, these industries created tens of thousands of jobs, and operated as did all industry of the time, with little or no environmental controls. Most of these facilities continue to operate today, and their private property is heavily regulated under current environmental, safety, and homeland security laws created with the intent to protect people and the environment. These rules also make it exceedingly difficult for these lands to be transferred to other uses or to allow public use. What is the current timeline and plan for the Willowcreek Extension in Porter County? The Willowcreek Extension will go from Willowcreek's current terminus at 700N south past US30 to 100S. The current projected open to traffic date is 2026. The ADA has to be the core for any type of planning. We need to be thinking of how to integrate/retrofit it into the existing landscape. New development needs to be held accountable for it as well. Should look beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of the law when planning for the future and making plans. The ADA absolutely must be considered and planned for whenever any projects are being done. For example, any trail projects must take the requirements of the ADA into account, while NIRPC's Complete Streets policy expands these requirements to the idea that roadways should be properly designed in order to be accessible and open to all users.
Outreach needs to be done in a way that accounts for the different personalities/character of the region and its different communities. There should be more engagement with people in the different communities as well as new generations like high school seniors. It's difficult to civically engage the current generation. NIRPC is always working to refine its public involvement process, and any suggestions are always welcome. Additionally, NIRPC is always open to invitation from groups throughout the region to come and be a part of any meetings or activities they may be having. Other Comments Received From the April, 2015 Environmental Management Policy Committee meeting: NIRPC needs to try harder to communicate with news sources to inform citizens of the region. NIRPC informs local news sources (including newspapers, television, and radio outlets) when there are upcoming events or important news items from the agency. NIRPC staff also appears on local shows and in newspaper interviews to talk about current projects at the agency and to promote NIRPC's vision for the future. NIRPC cannot, however, control what the various media outlets decide to publish or air. We can only provide the information and encourage its distribution.