Below are the minutes for the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, held on Friday, February 20, 2004, 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, February 20, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. in the Conference Room (6th Floor) at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street Vancouver, Washington. Dale Robins, RTC Planner, served as Chair for the meeting. Those in attendance follow:
Jennifer Campos City of Vancouver John Cullerton Metro Evan Dust Clark County John Fratt Port of Vancouver Mark Garrity WSDOT Mark Harrington RTC Bob Hart RTC Thomas Picco ODOT Ed Pickering C-TRAN Sandi Roberts RTC Dale Robins RTC Phil Wuest City of Vancouver Dale Robins asked for any changes or corrections to the January 16th, 2004, meeting minutes.
Evan Dust asked to change December 31st to December 1st on the 1st paragraph under GMA process update.
EVAN DUST, CLARK COUNTY, MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 16, 2004 MINUTES AND PHIL WUEST, CITY OF VANCOUVER, SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
II. 2004-2006 MTIP Amendment #2: Federal; 2004 Appropriations Earmarks
Dale Robins, RTC, said the Federal 2004 Transportation Appropriations Bill was passed in January 2004 and included earmarks for five specific projects in our region. This amendment will amend the 2004-2006 MTIP to bring in the projects that were part of the 2004 Appropriations Bill. Dale highlighted the projects:
- I-5/Columbia River Crossing, WSDOT, $3 million discretionary funds
- I-5/Salmon Creek Interchange, Clark County, $1 million discretionary funds
- SR-14 Pedestrian Bridge, City of Vancouver, $500,000 discretionary funds
- Bus Replacement, C-TRAN, $2.9 million Section 5309 funds
- VAST ITS, C-TRAN, $1.6 million Section 5208 funds.
Dale said all five projects would be programmed in the 2004 element of the MTIP. This amendment is found to be consistent with all state and federal requirements including consistency with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Congestion Management system, air quality conformity analysis, and is financially constrained. All projects were included in the existing regional air quality conformity analysis. Dale pointed out that the federally funded projects must be programmed in the MTIP and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) before federal funds can be obligated. Action on this amendment would provide over $9 million in federal transportation funds for transportation system investments in the Clark County Region. Dale also explained that the C-TRAN VAST ITS project requires a 50% match and has limitation on the use of funds. Prior to proceeding with this project C-TRAN will need to identify matching dollars and final scope of project.
ED PICKERING MADE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND TO THE RTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO AMEND THE 2004-2006 MTIP TO INCLUDE THE FEDERAL 2004 APPROPRIATION EARMARKS. BILL WRIGHT, CLARK COUNTY, SECONDED THE MOTION. IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
III. Federal Transportation Reauthorization and 2005 Appropriations
Dale Robins, RTC said the congressional process to reauthorize the six-year federal transportation bill is underway. He said with last month’s final approval of the 2004 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, the federal transportation reauthorization bill and 2005 appropriations process is picking up steam. Because the previous 6-year authorization bill has ended, this year’s federal priorities discussion will include both the single-year 2005 appropriation bill and the multi-year reauthorization bill. Dale reported that the congressional offices of Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, and Representative Brian Baird have all asked for federal fiscal year 2005 transportation appropriation requests. These requests need to be coordinated across the region, information assembled, request forms completed and submitted to congressional representatives by the end of February.
The RTC Board selected a list of projects for possible submittal for 2005 appropriations. Dale said the RTC Board had requested that the projects to be categorized.
Local Jurisdiction Construction:
- East Mill Plain Blvd., SE 172nd to SE 192nd Avenue, Vancouver, ($2 million changed to $1.4 million,
- NE 72nd Avenue Widening (Right-of-Way), NE 99th St. to St. Johns Blvd, Clark County, $1.6 million.
Project Development:
- I-5 Transportation and Trade Partnership DEIS Process (changed to I-5 Columbia River Crossing-Vancouver), WSDOT, $8 million,
- SR-35 Columbia River Crossing FEIS, RTC, $0.8 million,
- I-205 Corridor EIS, WSDOT, $3 million,
- SR-14 Corridor EIS in Camas/Washougal, Port of Camas/Washougal, $3 million.
Transit:
- I-5/I-205 High Capacity Transit Loop AA Process, RTC, $2 million.
Intelligent Transportation System:
- ITS Real-Time Transit Arrival and Departure Times, C-TRAN, $3.5 million,
- ITS VAST Projects, RTC, $3 million (change to multi-jurisdictional).
Rail:
- Port of Ridgefield Rail Crossing Pre-DEIS Study, Port of Ridgefield, $1 million,
- Fruit Valley Rail/Road Bypass (Add DEIS) Study, Port of Vancouver, $1 million.
Water Transport:
- Columbia River Channel Deepening, Port of Vancouver, $15 million.
Dale noted in addition to our region’s list of projects, the RTC Board supported Portland’s 2005 appropriations request for $40.85 million in Interstate MAX funding, $9.2 million for final design of the I-205 and Portland Mall portion of the South/North LRT project, and a request for $4 million for the I-5 Trade Corridor EIS (change to Columbia River Crossing ODOT request).
Dale reminded RTAC members that applications are due to Senator Cantwell and Congressman Baird’s offices by Monday, February 23, 2004. Late applications will not be considered.
Dale said the Federal Transportation Reauthorization bills have been passed out of the House and Senate Transportation Committees. In addition, the House has produced a second bill that addresses metropolitan transportation funding programs. Both transportation reauthorization bills would require an increase in federal transportation revenue over TEA-21 (Senate 45% and House 72%). On Thursday, February 12, 2004 the Senate overwhelmingly approved SAFETEA. Dale said the House has yet to act on its bill, but has proposed a four-month funding extension of TEA-21 beyond the February 29th expiration. The administration says it will recommend that President Bush use his veto authority if spending levels are above $256 billion.
Dale reviewed House Bill 3550 (TEA-LU), 1072 (SAFETEA) and 3611 (“the Metropolitan Congestion Relief Act”) and said the reauthorization process is likely to continue, and as congressional legislation emerges, there will be opportunities to weigh-in on what is best for our region. Dale said the list of requested earmarks for the multi-year reauthorization would need to be developed and finalized. This list should be short; projects must be consistent with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and be regionally significant. Also, projects must be able to obligate/spend funds during the 6-year authorization period (2004-2009), and there must be financial resources to complete the projects. Because these projects are funded from various federal program sources it would also be helpful to categorize projects into the following four groups: Highway Priorities, Transit Priorities, ITS Priorities, and Local Project Priorities. RTAC had discussion of these projects and concurred with the list.
IV. I-5/I-205 HCT Project
Bob Hart, RTC, distributed a copy of the Power Point presentation that he would be presenting to the RTC Board of Directors and asked for RTAC feedback. Slides included: I-5/I-205 High Capacity Transit Project, Why Investigate an HCT Loop for Clark County?, Clark County Household and Employment Growth (2000-2023), Growth in PM Peak Hour Vehicle Miles Traveled (2000 – 2023): I-5 Corridor, Growth in PM Peak Hour Vehicle Miles Traveled (2000 – 2023): I-205 Corridor, Growth in PM Peak Hour Vehicle Miles Traveled, What are the HCT Options?, Base Case, Bus Rapid Transit, Light Rail Transit, and Street Car/Trolley.
Bob said the HCT planning process must be a part of the regional planning process that is responsive to transportation problems, needs, and solutions identified in the planning process, must be consistent with regional transportation plans and policies in the region and must follow the New Starts federally-required planning process to be eligible for federal funding. Bob said that at the end of the process the “best” alternative for our region is based on overall transportation system performance, performance of the alternatives, benefit to users and benefit/cost of each alternative. He noted things we will study for each HCT Alternative: Mode, Location and General Alignment, Equipment and Requirements, Right of Way, Impacts and Capital and Operating Cost. RTAC members had discussion regarding the slides and provided comments to improve the clarity of the presentation for the RTC Board.
V. C-TRAN 20-Year Plan, Update
Ed Pickering, C-TRAN, distributed a copy of C-TRAN Staff Report #04-012 presented to the C-TRAN Board and Public Hearing.
The C-TRAN Board of Directors acted to:
- Authorize staff to develop an implementation plan for Alternative #1;
- Adopt Alternative #2 as the preferred alternative;
- Instruct staff to develop a final service and implementation plan;
- Direct staff to submit a staff report and Board Resolution at the March Board meeting setting a September election for an increase of 0.3 percent sales and use tax; and
- Direct staff to combine Alternative #4 and #5 into a high capacity transit service alternative that shall serve as a long-range vision for C-TRAN and a Board policy statement for the future.
Ed said it appeared that the 0.3% sales tax increase will go to the voters on November 2nd. There is likely to be more favorable turnout of transit supporters in general elections than in special elections. However, the vote date and amount need to be confirmed by the C-TRAN Board at its March 9th meeting. Dale Robins, RTC, commented that Spokane Transit system was cutting transit service in phases and would be asking voters to vote on transit service funding. Ed said that under Alternative #1, it is likely that all commuter service would terminate at the nearest light rail station in phase I of service cuts in January 2005.
VI. Other Business
A. RTAC Members
Phil Wuest, City of Vancouver, asked is there was any update on the status of the Congestion Relief Study. Mark Harrington, RTC, said a status report would be provided at a future RTAC meeting.
Jennifer Campos, City of Vancouver, provided information about the state’s “Active Community Environments” program. To provide context, Jennifer handed out a draft Diagram of Health/Physical Activity Work in Washington 2003-2004. Jennifer explained that Clark County was one of nine counties, statewide, selected to participate in this program. The region is expected to amend the MPO’s UPWP so that funds can be passed to the region for use in this work, convene an Active Living Task Force, and prepare people to attend training in Seattle on April 13th. An interlocal agreement will need to be set up to pass funds through RTC. RTAC members favored proceeding with this project.
B. RTC Staff
Dale Robins, RTC, asked that no one proceed with 2005/2006 CMAQ projects because without transportation act reauthorization act there is uncertainty about funding. Dale said 2004 projects could proceed; the City of Vancouver and City of Camas have one project each.
Four Walkable Community Workshops will be held throughout Clark County, May 12th – 14th, 2004. Dale reported that locations are being selected and meeting places confirmed to hold these 4-hour workshops On the evening of Wednesday, May 12th a workshop will focus on downtown Ridgefield, on the morning of Thursday, May 13th a workshop will focus on Highway 99 and a workshop is set for the Fourth Plain area on the morning of Friday, May 14th. Dale said we are still working on setting a fourth workshop. RTAC members will be provided with details of these workshops when the schedule is finalized.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m. The next meeting will be Friday March 19th, 2004.
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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