I-205 Corridor Study

Citizens' Committee Meeting #6

June 22, 2000
Meeting Summary

Citizens' Committee Members Present

Becky Archibald, Fircrest Neighborhood		Bryan Halbert, CREDC
Sgt. Dick Byrd, State Patrol		Tim Schauer, Clark County Home Builders
Joe Gianotti, Marrion Neighborhood		Art Stubbs, Green Meadows Neighborhood Association
Alex Veliko, ENAG

Staff Present

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

Consultants

Cathy Higley, HDR		James Gregory, HDR
Jamie Damon, JLA

Agenda, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Study Status Report
3. Evaluation Criteria
4. Preliminary Packaged Alternatives
5. Next Steps
6. Public Comment/Close

I. Welcome and Introductions

Jamie Damon welcomed Committee members and made Committee and Staff introductions.

Questions and comments follow, with staff responses in italics.

Comment: Sgt. Byrd of the State Patrol reported that there were five new motorcycle officers hired and assigned to the area - four troopers and one sergeant.

II. Study Status Report

Staff presentation:

Matt Ransom presented an update on related city processes. The TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) process is coming to a close. The city is in the process of mailing a letter to the neighborhoods summarizing the outcomes. The Vancouver TSP (Transportation System Plan) is currently underway with existing conditions analysis being conducted at this time. The public involvement process will begin in the fall.

III. Evaluation Criteria

Jamie began with asking for who in the group had been able to draft some sample criteria statements for presentation to the full group. Becky and Tim both had statements to share, they wrote them on the chart. The group discussed the criteria and added additional statements. The group decided to think of the criteria in "levels" to reflect community priorities while acknowledging the regional issues that the study is trying to address. The group decided that they would finalize the criteria at their next meeting so that it would be available for public meetings in late August and throughout September. The draft of the criteria that the group came up with from the meeting is as follows:

The following statements reflect the community values and needs to be addressed by a preferred alternative. The statements have been developed from input and discussion with the Citizens Committee, and comments received through stakeholder interviews, Open Houses, presentations, and completed questionnaires. The Citizen's Committee acknowledges that this set of criteria is to be used to evaluate alternatives in conjunction with the Technical Advisory Committee parameters and the local, regional, and statewide planning framework. The criteria are organized into two priority levels rather than a prioritized list.

Priority Level I 

The set of solutions for the I-205 Corridor Study need to:

• Improve local street connections that support the interchanges while minimizing neighborhood cut-through traffic.
• Include sound barrier protection for adjacent, impacted neighborhoods in the final project design.
• Ensure that the following areas are functional:
  • Emergency access corridors (hospital, fire station.)
  • SR 14/I-205 - Glenn Jackson Bridge access.
  • School corridors.
• Institute operational changes on the freeway to handle congestion, including managing ramp capacity, particularly during peak travel times.
• Include improvements (phased if necessary) that are easily fundable, cost effective, implemented as quickly as possible, and give us the "biggest bang for the buck."
• Resolve the priority problem areas while recognizing that some areas will continue to function at a reduced level of service.

Priority Level II

• Work toward creating a regional grid system that reduces congestion, increases capacity and promotes safety.
• Balance neighborhood, city, county and state needs and concerns.
• Encourage multi-modal and mass transit systems as an alternative to congestion on I-205 and local streets.
• Address future growth and economic impacts in the I-205 study area.
• Coordinate I-205 and I-5 studies, city and regional planning, state and local street planning.
• Resolve the role and purpose of I-205 as a part of the regional transportation system.
• Improve freight mobility.

The group decided that it would do some work on the criteria through email and by phone to be ready at the next meeting with a final set. Jamie will email the criteria for the group to review and edit prior to the meeting summary being developed and distributed.

IV. Preliminary Packaged Alternatives

Cathy presented the preliminary packaged alternatives (see attached handout) outlining the alternatives under consideration at this time. Cathy highlighted that the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) had not reviewed the preliminary alternatives yet and for the group to review them for understanding and to provide initial feedback. The TAC will work with the preliminary alternatives and come back to the CAC with a smaller set of alternatives that are technically feasible.

Questions and comments follow, with staff responses in italics.

CAC Comments regarding the alternatives:

Comment: Alternative D needs to include full build-out of 18th.

Comment: Check on the need for a signal at 92nd/Burton, we don't see any congestion there.

Comment: 97th/98th narrow 2-lane street that kids walk on to get to Marrion Elementary School-no sidewalks, etc. Need to consider upgrading 97th to a minor arterial, it will get traffic out of neighborhood and make it safer to walk. The right-of -way is there, (in neighborhood plan approved by the city.)

Question: Why would alternative C present an advantage over alternative D?

• Concern that it will increase cut-through traffic.
• Concern about all traffic on 18th and the viability of 18th to handle it.
• "C" could be a first phase to "D."
• The local streets that support the interchange need to be built first (18th).

Question: Why not an interchange only at Burton/28th Street?

Right-of-way issues, too far north to provide relief for Mill Plain

Question: What is the timeframe for building 18th?

Preliminary work (design) in next few years.

Setting up for an interchange.

Question: Where will traffic on 18th go during construction?

The construction process would be similar to the widening of 162nd. Widening would depend on use of the BPA Right-of-Way.

Comment: Alternative D Concerns:

• Long way around to get to 112th NB.
• May promote increased neighborhood traffic.
• 112th has a high accident rate now-putting more traffic through there could cause problems.
• May work in conjunction with a new interchange-may not without.

Comment: Intersection at end of I-205 NB ramp at Mill Plain. The traffic signal already causes traffic to back up onto I-205. Alternative D does not help. 

Comment: Alternative E S1 - expensive.

Comment: Need to get accident rate info for I-205 NB ramp to SR14 to Camas.

Comment: Need to enhance visibility.

Comment: Alternative E S2 - will promote bridge back up.

Comment: Alternative E N1 - ramp over is a problem, vehicle height and light at 112th.

V. Next Steps

• James will send a set of maps to - Tim, Brian, Joe, Art, Alex, and Becky.
• The TAC will meet on June 29, 2000.
• James will send a set of refined maps to group after TAC refines them (unless it is so close to the next CAC, then we will bring them.)
• Lynda, Brian, and Jamie will have a booth at the Chamber After Hours event at the East Ridge Business Park on July 25th.
• Lynda will present at the Evergreen Business Association Meeting at 12pm on July 26th at City University.
• If we have a refined set of alternatives in time for ENAG and VNAG meetings in August we will try to get on their agendas, otherwise, we will bring those maps to the next CAC and meet with the neighborhoods in August/September.
• August 26 from 10am - 3pm we will have some information at the Westfield Shopping Town.
• If the CAC is to play a role in summer outreach activities, Jamie will contact CAC members through email/phone to clarify roles and update about what is happening.

The next CAC meeting is August 24, 2000 from 7:00pm - 9:00pm in the Lewis Room at Evergreen School District Conference Center, located at the Evergreen School District Administrative Service Center, 13501 NE 28th Street, Vancouver.