Transportation ANDLAND USE Subcommittee of the

Climate Change Advisory Committee

Draft

Conference Call Minutes

Date: April 27, 2009, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00p.m.

Members:Peter AlyanakianVivian LoftnessRon Ramsey

Rep. VitaliJim VolanskiNathan Willcox

Attendees:Nathan Willcox, Chair Ron Ramsey

Chris Trostle (DEP Subcmte. Lead)Jim Wilson (E. H. Pechan & Assoc) Jackson Schreiber (E. H. Pechan) Danielle Spila (PennDOT)

Rob d’Abadie (Michael Baker Jr.)Bob Kaiser (Michael Baker Jr.)

Colleen Turner (Michael Baker Jr.)Karen Green (TCRPC)

Atwood Davis (Apex Companies)Steven Bliss (Renew Lehigh Valley)

Elizabeth Hensil (PA Assn. of Realtors)Angela Watson (PB)

The meeting was called to order at 3:35p.m. by Nathan Willcox.

  1. Introductions and Review of April 23, 2009 Meeting Minutes:
  • Mr. Willcox led a brief round of introductions.
  • Mr. Willcox requested that the group review the minutes. No comments or changes were made or suggested.
  • Ms. Spila confirmed with Mr. Willcox that Mike Rader had been contacted from the Department of Agriculture. Mr. Willcox informed the group that Mr. Rader was contacted and is the correct contact person to assist with T-2.
  • Mr. Wilson informed the group that the next CCAC meeting will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2009. Pechan will incorporate obvious changes to the Work Plans (WPs) resulting from today’s call into the documents for the CCAC’s review at their 4/30/09 meeting.
  1. Walk through Feebates example from Work Plan (WP) T-5
  • Mr. Schreiberprovided the group with a background.
  • The goal of the feebate program includes the assumption of a $500/.01 gallons per mile feebate from a 24 mpg pivot point.
  • Mr. Schreiber state the following regarding Table 5-2:

1.Pechan is currently consulting with Baker in order to obtain better data on the estimated number of vehicles sold in PA.

2.Studies were used in order to determine feebate effectiveness.

  • Mr. Kaiser questioned whether the feebates would apply to new vehicles only. Mr. Schreiber confirmed that is the case.
  • Ms. Spila requested whether the pivot point should shift over time and Mr. Schreiber confirmed that as new technologies arise, the pivot point would change.
  • Mr. Schreiber made the following comments regarding Table 5-4

1.Assumes any new vehicle sold will last 10 years.

2.The benefits reach a peak at 2020 and maintain that level to 2025; however, it is likely that the trend will change when better PA data is available.

  • Ms. Spila requested that the subcommittee remain mindful that as fuel efficiency increases, revenue to DOT decreases through loss in fuel tax revenue. Mr. Schreiberconcurred and will note this issue in the WP language.
  • Mr. Schreiber informed the group that costs estimates were derived from scaling down on national programs to reflect PA’s size.
  • Ms. Green inquired whether the sales data took the economic downturn into account. Mr. Schreiberinformed the group that the economic downturn, as well as other PA-specific data, will be incorporated when the data becomes available.
  • Mr. Wilson suggested that the subcommittee revisit the goal at a later time to ensure they are still comfortable with it.
  1. Walk through CCS Questions on WPs T-8, 9, 10, and 11

CUTTING EMISSIONS FROM FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION (T-8)

  • Ms. Green suggested moving the locomotive idling (long-haul & switch) measures of WP into T-4 if Act 124 applies to locomotive engines.
  • Mr. Kaiser informed the subcommittee that Act 124 does not cover locomotive engines.
  • Mr. Kaiser suggested that locomotive idling does not belong under WP T-4 because, in many cases, it falls under federal purview, which would make it a measure to incentivize rather than enforce.
  • Ms. Green suggested that “aircraft” be removed from this WP.
  • Mr. Wilson suggested that some of the multimodal improvements are really only effective in reducing criteria pollutants should be removed; and that # IV. Should be removed from the WP because it does not fall under this work group.
  • The subcommittee agreed with Mr. Wilson’s suggestions.
  • Ms. Green will make edits to this WP and follow-up with Mr. Wilson.

INCREASING FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR EFFICIENT TRANSIT AND EFFICIENT FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION IN PA (T-9)

  • Mr. Willcoxrequested a data update from Baker.
  • Mr. Kaiser informed the subcommittee that Baker was able to locate data regarding previous CMAQ funding expenditures, which could be used as a reference.
  • Mr. Kaiser suggested that the subcommittee analyze this WP on scalable financial bases, e.g., $100 million. The subcommittee agreed to this suggestion.
  • Pechan will revise this WP as discussed, in preparation for the 4/30/09 CCAC meeting.

ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR EXISTINGSMART GROWTH / TRANSIT AND LAND USE POLICIES (T-10)

TRANSIT ORIENTED DESIGN, SMART GROWTH COMMUNITIES AND LAND USE SOLUTIONS (T-11)

  • Mr. d’Abadie requested that the subcommittee provide a percentage of expected development in smart growth / TOD areas as a starting point for analysis.
  • Mr. d’Abadie recommended that the impacts be calculated separately, i.e. land use would be calculated under T-10, subtracting the impacts of TOD which would be summarized under T-11.
  • Ms. Green suggested that goods movement should be part of this measure and will provide data/studies to Mr. d’Abadie so that he may investigate developing a quantifiable goods movement piece to these strategies.
  • Mr. dAbadie suggests that it should be stand alone or it should be in Freight WP.
  • Mr. Wilson suggested that, at this point, the group must determine if all of the WPs are quantifiable, there will be some issues regarding assumptions, etc. that can be resolved at a later date.
  • Mr. Wilson noted that final quantification of the measures should be complete June 1st – June 15th.
  • Ms. Spila suggested utilizing the DCED State of the State Land Use Report as a data source, and suggested utilizing the DCED representative to the CCAC as an initial contact.
  • Mr. Willcox will follow-up with the DCED contact in order to let them know that Baker will be contacting them.
  • Ms. Green will follow-up on the MPO-side and provide information to Mr. d’Abadie.
  • Mr. dAbadie will continue to research these WPs.
  • The subcommittee confirmed that, as of this conference call, nothing will change in the WPs for T-10 and T-11 for the CCAC meeting on 4/30/09.
  • Mr. Wilson requested that he receive anything that Ms. Green and Mr. d’Abadie develop or discuss so that he can be the focal point.
  1. Public Comments
  • Mr. Willcox opened the call up for public comments
  • No public comments were made.
  1. Next Steps
  • Any suggested WP revisions, which would go before the CCAC on 4/30/09, must be sent to Mr. Wilson within the next 24 hours (no later than COB Tuesday, April 28, 2009).
  • The next conference call will be held on May 7th 2009 1:00 p.m.

The conference call was adjourned by Mr. Willcox at approximately 4:33p.m.

4/27/2009Draft1