I-205 Corridor Study

Citizens' Committee Meeting #2

November 18, 1999
Meeting Summary

Citizens' Committee Members Present

Bryan Halbert, CREDC		Art Stubbs, Green Meadows Neighborhood Assoc.
Becky Archibald, Fircrest Neighborhood		Ward Knable, Vancouver Fire Services
Loyda Timmins, East Ridge Business Park		Tim Schauer, Clark County Home Builders
Alison Mielke, Friends of Clark County		Joe Gianotti, Marrion Neighborhood
Deanna Balam, Ellsworth Neighborhood		Alex Veliko, ENAG
Joe Kunkel, SW Washington Medical		Tim Schiller, Cascade Park Business Assoc.

Staff Present

Lynda David, RTC		Dean Lookingbill, RTC
Brian McMullen, WSDOT		Matt Ransom, City of Vancouver
Marian Lahav, City of Vancouver

Consultants

Jamie Damon, JLA		Sorin Garber, HDR
Roger Johnson, HDR		Kathy Higley, HDR
Hann Lee, Hann Lee Associates

Others in Attendance

Paul Edgar, Citizen

Mike Christ, Green Meadows Neighborhood Association

Agenda, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

1. Welcome
2. East Ridge Business Park
3. Impacts of I-695
4. Existing Transportation Conditions and Issues in the I-205 Corridor Study Area
5. Laying the Groundwork for 2020 Future Transportation Analysis - Polices & Land Use
6. Next Steps
7. Public Comment/Close

East Ridge Business Park

Loyda Timmins welcomed the group to East Ridge Business Park and explained to the group a little about the park and the tenants.

Impacts of Initiative-695

Brian McMullen of WSDOT discussed the impacts of the passage of Initiative 695 on this study:

• I-205 study put on hold - "suspended."
• There is $725K worth of work yet to do with no identified money to pay for the work.
• There is an uncertain timeframe as to when the work will be resumed.
• Washington Transportation Commission has stopped all studies focused on mobility.

The committee followed up on Brian's comments with a series of questions and concerns (comments in italics are staff responses):

Question: What is/was the hoped-for outcome of the study?

The purpose of the study is to forward a set of solutions for the corridor to resolve current and future transportation problems.

Question: How far can we go, as volunteers, to complete work while we wait?

Group members can contact legislators.

Question: Weren't these projects already funded and if so, where is the money?

Referendum 49 projects were based on bond funding; funding to pay for the bonds is not longer there.

Communication to this committee will continue, at some level, from RTC

Question: How much of the information we have today will still be valid 18 months from now?

If the study is suspended much beyond 18months then we will need to start over. It is important that communication continue between RTC and this committee, issues continue to occur that we need to address. RTC will package and forward updates from legislature, city, and state.

Question: How does 695 affect Burton Rd and other local projects?

We are not sure at this time. RTC will put together a list of local projects that are going forward and bring to the next meeting.

Question: How do we keep the group together without a facilitator?

We need a facilitator to keep this going.

Question: What are the facilitator costs-how do we continue to meet?

We will explore that.

Question: What is the City's role and commitment to move this forward?

Don't know at this time.

Question: Capacity allocation focus group-what is the status of that?

For questions related to the status of City projects and studies call, Matt Ransom 696-8290 x8412

Question: What is the point to continue if we can't get the technical info from the consultants.

We can meet in December to get up-to-date on 695 impacts; modeling information, etc.

Question: What about a creative brainstorming to patch together funds?

Concern: The legislature needs to meet to adjust priorities-it is a guessing game now.

Concern: Need to bring goals and objectives/priorities to legislature.

Concern: Need to be clear about the desired outcomes and conclusions for this study.

Concern: Don't stop the momentum of this group - we need to meet in December and possibly in February.

The timeframe works well, we will know more about what is happening by February.

Potential Agenda for December:

• Modeling
• Update on 695
• Projects moving forward
• Creative brainstorming
• Carry over from 11/18

Laying the Groundwork for 2020 Future Transportation Analysis - Polices & Land Use

Marian Lahav from the City of Vancouver presented information about the City and County's land use plans and policies.

Land Use

• The Comprehensive Plan - adopted 1994 - is a 20 year land use vision (year 2013 horizon)
• Zoning is what is in place on developed parcels.
• As of 1998 at "build out" - there is still a fair amount of vacant land meaning that this area could accommodate more growth in the future.
• Clark County is running 5% ahead of state population projections for Clark County.
• The Comprehensive Plan is not only policy-it is direction. The Comprehensive Plan mandates multi-modal, regionally-coordinated solutions.
• We are in year 5 of the Comprehensive Plan forecasts, however we are at the 10-year projection point.
• The urban growth boundary is not fixed-every 5 years it is re-evaluated with a possible outcome of the review to move the boundary.
• There are 5 or 6 different zone designations within residential and several different designations in commercial zoning.
• To do a zone change within a designation can happen anytime. However, to change a zone to a different designation takes a comp plan amendment which only happens once a year.

Concern: What is the point of moving the boundary if we can't get around?

Question: Is residential land usage outpacing industrial and commercial land usage (jobs)?

Yes

Concern: When residential outpaces jobs it results in longer commutes, more congestion on the transportation system.

Transportation Policies

Lynda David from RTC presented information about local and regional transportation policy and Brian McMullen presented information about the Washington State Highway System Plan. The Highway System Plan prioritizes projects according to categories. Maintenance, preservation, and safety are prioritized ahead of any mobility (capacity-expansion) projects. Pre-695 there were only limited funds available for the Mobility category; post-695, funding is even more constrained.

Question: Is the new median in Camas a safety project?

Yes

Question: Why Baseline?

Need a comparison point-to show what effect improvements have. Baseline is not an alternative-improvements are added in to see what happens.

Question: Are the projects on the WSDOT Highway System Plan lists for this region set in stone?

No, there is always opportunity for input and the lists are reviewed and updated regularly.

Question: City of Vancouver is switching to a corridor LOS - How will this plan coordinate with the City's measurements.

• 20-year plans are more general and take a segment by segment approach.
• Will use travel time as a measure to evaluate alternatives.
• Cross over points are travel time and travel delay.

Concern: LOS and corridor-based system need to be consistent.

Public Comment

I-205 problems are more severe because of limited solutions for Portland to Clark County traffic. When I-5 backs up it impacts I-205. This is part of a regional solution. We need capacity. We need to get vehicles off the road. Connect to light rail. Keep this Committee together.

Next Steps

The next meeting is scheduled for:

December 9, 1999 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
East Ridge Business Park

Close

Jamie closed the meeting at 9:00pm.