Below are the minutes for the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, held on Friday, November 21, 2003, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Conference Room East (6A), 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, November 21, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. in the Conference Room (6 Floor) at Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street Vancouver, Washington. Dean Lookingbill, RTC Transportation Director, served as Chair for the meeting. Those in attendance follow:
Randy Bombardier City of Ridgefield Mike Clark WSDOT John Cullerton Metro Lynda David RTC Evan Dust Clark County Mark Harrington RTC Bob Hart RTC Dean Lookingbill RTC Robin Krause Clark County Greg Miller A.G.C. Oregon Columbia Chapter Daryl Oster et3 Ed Pickering C-TRAN Sandi Roberts RTC Dale Robins RTC Wade Strange SW Clean Air Agency Phil Wuest City of Vancouver Dean Lookingbill asked for any changes or corrections to the October 17, 2003, Meeting Minutes.
EVAN DUST, CLARK COUNTY, MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 17, 2003 MINUTES WITH THE CORRECTION OF THE HEADER AND JOHN CULLERTON, METRO, SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
II. Citizen Communications, Evacuated Tube Transportation Technologies (www.et3.com), Presentation
Daryl Oster, et3.com Inc, provided a Power Point presentation highlighting Evacuated Tube Transport. He said Evacuated Tube Transport (ETT) is a new kind of transportation system that requires less than two percent of the energy of current transportation methods. It is also much safer and faster. He said no air is in the tube to cause resistance. Ultra lightweight, pressurized cabins, like aircraft passenger cabins, travel in the tube on thin steel wheels, or P-Maglev. Most of the energy used to accelerate a capsule is “recycled” as the capsule is stopped, by using conventional electrical motor/generator technology. Daryl Oster highlighted the environmental benefits and cost factors. Daryl Oster said when established, ETT is expected to cost about 50% of the cost of equivalent interstate highways, and needs only 20% of the ongoing maintenance costs. Similarly, maintenance is expected to cost less than 10% of the amount per passenger mile we currently spend on air transport systems. The overall energy use for ETT will be less than one twentieth of what we would use if we continue with cars and planes.
Daryl said for a sustainable transportation plan to succeed it must in the short-term offer improved convenience, sufficient capacity, speed, lower costs and with greater safety. For the long term, systems should be able to offer a tenfold improvement in energy efficiency and improve environmental conditions with a tenfold reduction in emissions.
III. Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP): 2003 Amendment, Action
Lynda reviewed the 2003 amendment to the Metropolitan Transportation Plan. She said the RTC Board had reviewed the minor changes at the November meeting. Lynda highlighted the proposed minor amendments: 1) add the Port of Ridgefield Rail Overpass project, 2) update the MTP’s Strategic Plan section and 3) make minor changes to the Financial Plan chapter to address funding of the State “nickel Package” projects and to delete those projects now complete. Mike Clark, WSDOT, suggested under the Port of Ridgefield project to change the wording in point 3) from “safe access” to “safer access”.
Lynda said the RTC Board made no suggestions for changes to the proposed re-draft of the Strategic Plan Recommendations. The main purpose of the re-draft is to clarify the process for the Federal Transit Administration’s New Start program Alternatives Analysis. There is also more prominence given to stating the Need and Purpose for transportation improvements at the Interstate 5 Columbia River Bridge and in the I-5/I-205/SR-500 corridors. John Cullerton, Metro, suggested some minor wording changes that he shared with the Committee. The Committee concurred with the changes.
Lynda reviewed the minor amendments to tables in Chapter 4, the MTP’s Financial Plan. Lynda noted that projects completed since the December 2002 MTP update will be deleted from Chapter 4 tables. Mike Clark said that the project cost estimates for the I-5 widening (Salmon Creek to I-205) and SR-500/112th Avenue interchange were the contractor costs only and should be changed to reflect total costs. Lynda stated a Table 4-7 would be added to list those projects that are not part of the designated regional transportation system but that have regional significance because they cross the mainline railroad. These two projects are the 39th Street railroad over-crossing and Vancouver Yard rail improvement ($53.773 million) funded as part of the state “nickel package” and the Port of Ridgefield over-crossing with an estimated cost of $20 million that is not currently funded. Lynda said there would be significant changes to Chapter 4 following the completion of the Capital Facilities Plans as part of the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan update process. Lynda asked that RTAC members please contact her if there are any inaccuracies in the proposed MTP amendments prior to the mailing of RTC Board packets on Tuesday, November 25th. Dale Robins, RTC, said that today (November 21st ) at noon the TIB will announce projects selected for funding in the TIB’s FY 2005 program. Dale said this could impact the financial part of the MTP.
PHIL WUEST, CITY OF VANCOUVER, MADE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND FORWARDING THE 2003 MTP AMENDMENT TO THE RTC BOARD FOR ADOPTION AT THE DECEMBER 2003 RTC BOARD MEETING, SUBJECT TO ANY EDITS SUGGESTED AND MIKE CLARK, WSDOT, SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
IV. Highways of Statewide Significance (HSS), Action
Dale Robins, RTC presented the Highways of Statewide Significance (HSS). He said in 1998 the state legislature passed HB 1487, best known as the Level of Service Bill. One of the requirements of HB 1487 is that Highways of Statewide Significance should be designated and submitted for adoption by the 1999 legislature. This statewide system shall include at a minimum, interstate highways and other principal arterials that are needed to connect major communities across the state and support the state’s economy (RCW 47.05.021(3). Dale said the Transportation Commission designated the Highways of Statewide Significance (HSS) by resolution on December 17, 1998. The legislature concurred and adopted the HSS on April 14, 1999. In Clark County, the HSS includes: Interstate 5, Instate 205, State Route 14, and State Route 501 (from I-5 to Port of Vancouver Entrance).
Dale noted in August 2003, the Transportation Commission directed WSDOT to implement a process to update the HSS system in accordance with the Legislative requirement that the Commission review the system every five years. The proposed process asks RTPO’s to nominate routes for addition to or deletion from the HSS list. The Commission will evaluate the RTPO nominations based on the included criteria and make a recommendation to the Legislature.
Dale asked RTAC for discussion of facilities that meet the criteria and that should be considered for addition to the HSS system. The significance of the HSS is that the Transportation Commission is to give higher priority for correcting deficiencies on facilities classified as Highways of Statewide Significance. Dale said after meeting with WSDOT staff they agreed that the following facilities should be considered for addition to the HSS: 1) SR-500, I-5 to SR-503, 2) SR-503, SR-500 to SR-502 3) SR-502, I-5 to SR-503. Dale said the additions create a loop. Dale said proposals should be submitted by December 1, 2003. He asked for a recommendation to forward to the RTC Board.
Dale reviewed the Proposed Additions to the Highways of Statewide Significance. Dean suggested clarifying that they are Year 2003 truck volumes and Evan suggested inserting “Federal” in describing the Urbanized Area.
PHIL WUEST, CITY OF VANCOUVER, MADE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND TO THE RTC BOARD THAT THE PROPOSED SEGMENTS OF SR-500, SR-503 AND SR-502 BE NOMINATED FOR ADDITION TO THE HIGHWAYS OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE AND JOHN CULLERTON SECONDED THE MOTION.
Mike Clark, WSDOT, questioned the implications for concurrency and level of service of the facilities. He gave the example of SR-503 which as a non-HSS facility would have an LOS of E in the urban area (as set by the RTC Board) but as a HSS would have an LOS of D (as set by the state) and would not be subject to concurrency. Evan Dust, Clark County, said the biggest concern for Clark County if you change these highways to HSS then you take away the ability to regulate land use as it impacts transportation facilities along any HSS system. Evan felt it would disconnect the majority of the state route system from the land use plan. Phil Wuest, City of Vancouver, said the County still sets the land use along the corridors and the LOS Bill (HB 1487) requires that the impacts of the land use plan on state facilities are addressed as part of the Comprehensive Plan. The only change an HSS designation would make is that you can no longer regulate the growth with concurrency. However, in your comprehensive planning process you make land use decisions based on everything matching up. Phil asked, do you want to effectively change the land use plan by concurrency standards? You could instead change the land use plan though the comprehensive plan process. Phil said he was supportive of the suggested additions to the HSS because they are facilities that will need improvements and if they are to be given higher priority then it may be beneficial. There was a great deal of discussion on Highways of Statewide Significance.
Evan said that the concern about the impacts on the County’s Concurrency Program should be forwarded with the proposal to the RTC Board for discussion. Evan said he would draft some text to describe the problem to include in Board materials.
THE MOTION WAS MODIFIED TO INCLUDE A DESCRIPTION OF THE IMPACTS ON THE COUNTY’S CONCURRENCY ORDINANCE. THE MOTION WAS APPROVED. EVAN DUST, CLARK COUNTY, ABSTAINED FROM THE VOTE.
V. Obligation of Federal Funds: Project Status Report, Discussion
Dale Robins, RTC, presented a status report on the obligation of federal funds. He said there was one change to the list as the City of Vancouver has obligated $700,000 in STP funding for the Fruit Valley Road improvement, from 34th Street to Whitney. Dale said approximately $17.2 million in federal transportation funds has been obligated by local agencies as of the end of October. $1.7 million remains to be obligated this year and $0.8 million will be delayed to 2004. The City of Vancouver plans on obligating $1,658,000 of federal CM/AQ dollars for the construction of the Multi Corridor VAST project in December 2003. This is a combination of four VAST projects. Dale said we would take this to the RTC Board of Directors for approval. The City of Vancouver has been working with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to advance two Transportation Enhancement projects. SHPO has requested changes or additional information on these two projects, which will cause these projects to be delayed to 2004. The projects are the Vancouver Amtrak Station ($655,000) and 164th Avenue View Point ($144,000). When reviewing the table showing details of obligation in 2003, Dale commented that a majority of the projects the region has worked on with TEA-21 funding have finally come about and close to all funding has been obligated.
VI. Federal Transportation Act Reauthorization, Update, Discussion
Dean Lookingbill, RTC, said TEA-21 was supposed to end in 2003. However, Congress has not yet acted to reauthorize the Transportation Act so TEA-21 has been continued by resolution. It appears that Congress will authorize one more year of appropriations per TEA-21 before reauthorization.
Dean reported that the House and Senate Conference Committee had met to deal with earmarks. He said our region was earmarked to receive $3 million for the I-5 Partnership Study though this Study had not been in the previous Senate or House markups. Senator Murray was instrumental in recognizing that this is a top priority in the region and inserted the earmark for the Study. Dean reviewed FY04 appropriations. He said C-TRAN got $3 million for bus replacement, $1.6 million to continue ITS work and there is $0.5 million for the SR-14 pedestrian bridge. Dean said in 2003 the City of Vancouver received $3 million for Mill Plain, C-TRAN received $2 million for Van Mall and Camas received $3 million for SE 1st Street.
A handout, “Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users”, highlighted the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s proposal for reauthorization. This would depend on raising additional revenues to pay for the suggested transportation programs. Dean pointed out the Federal Highway Program 6 Year Comparison of Funding Levels with comparison between TEA-21 (the existing federal Transportation Act), SAFETEA (the Bush Administration’s suggested reauthorization) and TEA LU (the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s proposal).
Bob Hart, RTC, said there needs to be further RTAC discussion on CM/AQ funding in February or March of 2004.
VII. Other Business
Dale Robins, RTC, noted that with the lack of a new federal Transportation Act, the State had sent out an e-mail saying that there would be a continuation of TEA-21 funding programs into 2004. The state will review the status of the federal programs and progress toward federal Transportation Act reauthorization in February 2004.
A. RTAC Members
GMA Process, Update
Evan Dust, Clark County, said the Planning Commission has completed its deliberations and will be forwarding recommendations on the comprehensive plan map update to the Board of County Commissioners. They recommended a countywide no net loss of industrial land policy.
Evan said the recommended map should be on the website on Monday, November 24th. The Board starts its hearing process on Tuesday, November 25th. Evan said there will be an Open House focused on map changes to be held in the lobby of the Public Service Center Building from 4-6 p.m. prior to the Board starting the hearing process. The Board has expressed they want to maximize the opportunity to hear from property owners, individual member of the public and neighborhood associations during the evening hearing sessions on November 25th and December 9th. Evan said on December 8th, at 1:30 p.m., they would welcome representatives of cities, school districts, other government agencies and other spokespersons.
Evan highlighted the GMA changes and suggested looking at the web site at:
http://www.co.clark.wa.us/ComDev/LongRange/CompReview/GMA2000.asp.
C-TRAN 20-Year Plan Public Meetings
Ed Pickering, C-TRAN distributed a postcard showing the dates of all of their Open Houses. Two more meetings are added at Yacolt and Ridgefield. The full list of meetings is as follows:
- Mon., Dec. 1st, 2003, 5:30 p.m., Battle Ground High School Library
- Tue., Dec. 2nd 2003, 5:30 p.m., Fisher Landing Transit Center
- Wed., Dec.3rd, 2003 5:30 p.m., Columbia River High School
- Sat., Dec. 6th, 2003, 11:00 a.m., VHA, 2500 Main Street, Vancouver
- Mon., Dec. 8th, 2003, 5:30 p.m., Yacolt Primary School
- Tue., Dec. 9th, 2003, 5:30 p.m., Ridgefield High School
Ed also distributed C-TRAN’s 20-Year Plan Evaluation Matrix to be displayed at the Open Houses. The matrix highlights the five alternatives being considered. He said that model results would be processed for the Board decision process. Ed said that C-TRAN will be at RTAC in December to make a presentation and will follow up after final decisions are made in March 2004.
B. RTC Staff
LTC Vancouver Meeting, Nov. 18th, 2003
Dean Lookingbill, RTC, reported on the Legislative Transportation Committee’s meeting in Vancouver. He said the Committee heard presentations on the I-5 Partnership Program and enjoyed a bus ride to see the Park Rose MAX station on the Airport Red Line and the Interstate MAX project. Dean said Tri-Met may be offering an on-board Interstate MAX tour next spring.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m. The next meeting will be Friday, December 19th, 2003.
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.
       
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