Below are the minutes for the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, held on Friday, March 21, 2003, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Conference Room East (6), at the Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street - Floor 4, Vancouver, Washington. The agenda for this meeting is also available.
I. Call to Order and Approval of Minutes
The meeting of the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order on Friday, March 21, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. in the Conference Room East (6) at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street 6th Floor Vancouver, Washington. Dean Lookingbill, RTC Transportation Director, served as Chair for the meeting. Those in attendance follow:
Mike Clark WSDOT Lynda David RTC Chris Deffebach Metro Evan Dust Clark County Chuck Green Parsons Brinckerhoff Patrick Green C-TRAN Mark Harrington RTC Bob Hart RTC Shinwon Kim RTC Eric Levison City of Camas Dean Lookingbill RTC Mike Mabrey Clark County Sandi Roberts RTC Dale Robins RTC Wade Strange SW Clean Air Agency Bill Wright Clark County Phil Wuest City of Vancouver Dean Lookingbill asked for any changes or corrections to the February 21, 2003, Meeting Minutes.
Mike Clark, WSDOT, noted that the estimated cost for the SR-14 Pedestrian Crossing should be $3.5 to $4.5 million.
BILL WRIGHT, CLARK COUNTY, MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 21, 2003 MINUTES AND MIKE CLARK, WSDOT, SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
II. City of Ridgefield Mixed Use Overlay Transportation Analysis, Discussion
Chuck Green, Parsons Brinckherhoff, gave a presentation on the City of Ridgefield Mixed Use Overlay Transportation Analysis Study. The purpose of the Study was to analyze traffic impacts of the Employment Mixed Use Overlay (EMUO), recommend transportation system improvements, develop a traffic circulation plan, identify update needs for a Traffic Impact Fee (TIF) System and develop a SEPA checklist. The Study utilized RTC’s 2023 MTP regional travel forecast model with a refined zone system for the overlay area. The traffic impacts of four different land use scenarios were analyzed and supplemental traffic simulation was conducted using Synchro. Highlights of the Findings from the EMOU analysis include:
- More trip intensive than current zoning
- Adds trips to peak direction
- Increase in residential development helps internalize trips
- New east-west I-5 crossing triggered
- Build-Out will trigger another I-5 crossing
- Other system improvements necessary
- EMUO decreases overall development footprint
Chuck explained that at the Ridgefield Interchange four traffic lights within one-half mile of each other would be needed. The tight signal spacing causes high levels of congestion in the interchange area and creates the need for additional I-5 crossings. The Ridgefield City Council and Planning Commission are also concerned about the traffic signal spacing. There has been some interest expressed in considering a roundabout at the Ridgefield Junction interchange as a means to reduce the number of signals in the interchange area. One of the landscape architects involved with the project sketched a possible design.
The study recommendations include considering adding some residential to further internalize trips, updating the Transportation Plan and updating and increasing TIF assessments
He said the next steps are:
- Adoption of EMUO ordinance (4/3/03)
- Review TIF structure and costs/trip (April – May)
- Revise Street Standards (April)
- Update Capital Facilities Plan (May)
- Update Transportation Element of Comp. Plan (May – June)
- Port of Ridgefield Waterfront Redevelopment Plan (TBD)
- Interchange Management Plan (TBD)
- SR-501 Corridor Strategy (Underway)
III. Highway 99 Arterial Atlas Amendment, Discussion
Mike Mabrey, Clark County presented the Highway 99 Arterial Atlas Amendment. The Clark County Arterial Atlas identifies the functional classification of Highway 99 from Main Street to Salmon Creek Avenue as a six-lane principal arterial (Pr-6cb). If built to this standard, the future cross-section would include six travel lanes, a continuous center left turn lane or raised median, bike lanes and sidewalks.
Team 99, an organization of Hazel Dell residents and property owners, has been advocating that the County reduce the standard for this roadway to a five-lane principal arterial. There are three planned improvement projects in the 2003-2008 Transportation Improvement Program related to Hwy 99:
- Realignment of Highway 99, from 20th Avenue to NE 134th, is planned for construction within the next three years.
- Highway 99, from NE 99th St. to NE 117th Street, is ranked No. 3 in the 2003-2008 Transportation Improvement Program.
- Highway 99, from the Ross Complex to NE 63rd Street, is ranked No. 6 in the 2003-2008 Transportation Improvement Program.
Clark County Long Range Planning will be asking the Board of County Commissioners for direction to initiate an amendment to the Arterial Atlas to establish a five-lane principal arterial (Pr-4cb) as the standard for this road segment.
A discussion ensued about preserving county-owned right-of-way in the corridor for possible future use for the implementation of a high-capacity-transit (HCT) corridor along Hwy 99. It was suggested that the County could adopt a five-lane principal arterial with HCT standard that would preserve current right-of-way.
IV. Overview Travel Modeling Coordination, Discussion
Shinwon Kim, RTC, presented an overview of current travel demand modeling coordination between RTC members, including the City of Vancouver, Clark County, and WSDOT. Shinwon said since we are now housed in the same building, the Public Service Center (PSC), this would be a good time to review our coordination efforts in travel demand modeling, transportation planning and analysis to achieve optimal communication, effectiveness and efficiency.
Shinwon said one of RTC’s purposes is to ensure consistency both within the larger metropolitan area and the Clark County region in regard to travel forecasting and transportation planning and analysis. As part of this effort, RTC developed the subarea travel modeling guidelines to maintain consistency in local traffic analyses. In addition to the regional scale modeling, Clark County and RTC also worked on integrating transportation planning analysis and traffic operations analysis as part of Clark County’s Transportation and Community and System Preservation study (TCSP). RTC also leads the Transportation Model Users’ Group (TMUG) to inform RTC members of updates in modeling methods and techniques.
Shinwon noted that the main transportation planning software is EMME/2. Currently our region holds four EMME/2 licenses for City of Vancouver, Clark County, WSDOT, and RTC. Whenever we update the MTP, we distribute the final databank to other jurisdictions. Each agency uses the databank for transportation planning analysis, and if necessary, modifies the databank to meet its own analysis needs.
Shinwon reviewed the four-step modeling process and what roles each agency has in using the regional model.
There was discussion on whether RTC should have a central work station available for small cities and all jurisdictions to have access to EMME/2 and for RTC to provide technical support. RTAC suggested that TMUG members from each agency should discuss the feasibility and logistics of establishing a central modeling workstation and bring a proposal back to their respective agencies.
V. Federal Functional Classification Update, Discussion
Lynda David, RTC presented the Federal Functional Classification Update. Lynda said the draft update to the Urban Area Boundary (UAB) was submitted to WSDOT following RTC Board endorsement at its March 4, 2003 meeting. A team, including WSDOT and FHWA staff, will meet soon to consider approval of the UAB update.
Lynda said the draft update to the federal functional classification system for the region should now be updated and submitted to WSDOT by July 1, 2003 so approval of the updated system can be completed by December 2003 to coincide with update to the local, regional and state Transportation Improvement Programs. RTC staff will be calling upon local staff to coordinate the update process.
Guidance on updating the federal functional classification system can be found in the WSDOT publication, Guidelines for Amending Urban Boundaries and Functional Classification, (WSDOT, October 2002). Copies can be obtained from Bill Pierce at WSDOT, SW Region, Vancouver (360) 905-2215. RTC has a reference copy available. Lynda said the criteria and characteristics for each functional classification type can be found in the publication. Chapter 3 of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan for Clark County (MTP), available on RTC’s web site at www.rtc.wa.gov, also addresses functional classification.
Lynda reviewed the Rural Functional Classification Criteria and the Urban Functional Classification Criteria tables. Lynda reminded RTAC to be aware of the percentages of miles under each classification such as principal, minor arterial and collectors. Lynda also pointed out that trip length, route spacing and system continuity are also considerations in the functional classification of roadways. Lynda highlighted the tables regarding counts of mileage from the existing (1993) federal functional classification system and a draft count of mileage from the Clark County GIS system coverage of Arterial Road miles.
Chuck Green, Parsons Brinckerhoff, asked if the RTC Board would be asked to adopt the update to the Federal Functional Classification system. Dean said that the draft would come to RTAC in June 2003 and the RTC Board would be asked to endorse the update at its July meeting. Eric Levison, City of Camas, said we should have more discussion on the UAB and what this means regarding allocation of federal funds.
VI. Other Business
A. RTAC Members
Chris Deffebach said Metro had made a decision to extend the urban growth boundary. Staff is now redoing the allocation of future growth to TAZ’s. Chris asked that when the County finishes the GMA process that staff from both sides of the river ensure that the Portland-Vancouver land use allocations are consistent. We need to maintain consistency for purposes of Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), Metro’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and travel-forecasting model development.
Phil Wuest said the City of Vancouver will be kicking off the Transportation Finance Task Force which could be an interesting topic for a future RTAC presentation.
B. RTC Staff
2003 STIP Workshop: Tuesday, April 15, 2003, 1:00-4:00pm at WSDOT, Vancouver.
FY 2004 UPWP Federal and State Review: Monday, March 31, 2003, 9:30am, 4th Floor PSC.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:05 a.m. The next meeting will be Friday, April 18, 2003 at the Public Service Center 6th Floor.
For More Information Contact:
Regional Transportation Council
1300 Franklin Street, Floor 4
Vancouver, Washington 98660Tel: 360-397-6067
Fax: 360-397-6132
E-mail: info@rtc.wa.govServed by C-TRAN Route 3.
If you have special needs, please contact RTC.
       
|