Below are the minutes for the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, held on Friday, September 17, 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, 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, September 17, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. in the Conference Room (6th Floor) at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, Washington. Dean Lookingbill, Transportation Director served as Chair for the meeting. Those in attendance follow:
Sam Adams City of Battle Ground Jim Carothers City of Camas Mike Clark WSDOT Lynda David RTC Evan Dust Clark County Rebecca Eisminger Port of Vancouver Richard Gamble Clark County Chuck Green Parsons Brinckerhoff Michael Haggerty C-TRAN Mark Harrington RTC Shinwon Kim RTC Dean Lookingbill RTC Brian McMullen WSDOT Thomas Picco ODOT Matt Ransom City of Vancouver Sandi Roberts RTC Dale Robins RTC Bryan Snodgrass City of Vancouver Mark Turpel Metro Bill Wright Clark County Phil Wuest City of Vancouver Dean Lookingbill, RTC, asked for any changes or corrections to the August 20, 2004, meeting minutes.
A correction was recommended on Agenda Item III, page 3, the Motion for 2007 STP Evaluation, Prioritization, and Selection. The motion should read “to concur with the staff evaluation and ranking for 2007 STP-TMA funding”.
SAM ADAMS, CITY OF BATTLE GROUND, MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 20 2004 MINUTES WITH THE ABOVE CORRECTION AND PHIL WUEST, CITY OF VANCOUVER, SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
II. 2005-2007 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program, Action
Dale Robins, RTC, said the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) is a three-year program of regionally significant projects. In order for projects to be programmed in the MTIP and receive federal funds, projects must be drawn from the 20-year Metropolitan Transportation Plan. The MTIP development process continues to use the three-step screening process, Project Screening, Evaluation and Ranking by Needs Criteria, and Project Selection and Programming. Dale noted that by the August RTAC meeting, the first two steps had been completed. Dale said the purpose of today’s agenda item is to complete the MTIP development process by seeking a recommendation on project selection to forward to the RTC Board of Directors for adoption. Dale said that the selection process is based on the evaluation and ranking that was approved by RTAC in August: 1) NE 138th Avenue, 18th to 28th Street, 2) NE 72nd Avenue, 88th Street to St. Johns Road, 3) NE 88th Street, St. Johns Road to Andresen Road, 4) NE 15th Avenue, Union Road to 179th Street, and Unranked: NW 26th Avenue Extension and Rail Bypass EIS.
Dale pointed out that one of the difficulties in completing the project selection process is estimating the funding that will be available given that reauthorization of the Federal Transportation Act has not yet occurred. We are currently operating under an extension of TEA-21. The last extension carried us through federal fiscal year 2004. Dale reported that there is some good news in that our region received approximately $350,000 additional STP funds in 2004 above what staff had estimated. Given this higher 2004 allocation, and the conservative staff estimate for future years, RTC staff is recommending that an additional $800,000 of regional STP funds be programmed in 2007. Dale explained that the August recommendation was that the top two priorities and the unranked EIS project be funded. Given the additional $800,000 STP dollars, RTC staff is recommending that the top three priorities and the EIS project receive funding. The top two projects to receive the requested funding, while projects three and four receive approximately 2/3rds of their request.
Dale said the Draft MTIP also includes the CMAQ project recommendation that was discussed at the August RTAC meeting. RTC staff is anticipating a 45% reduction in CMAQ dollars due to our region becoming an attainment area for Ozone based on the new EPA 8-hour standard. This creates a need to reduce the CMAQ dollars programmed in the MTIP for years 2005 and 2006.
Dale pointed out that attached to the memorandum is the project information for inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Program. He said that it is crucial that each agency double-check the projects for their jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction needs to ensure that all regionally significant projects are listed and are accurate. If a project is mistakenly left out or the wrong amount of funding is programmed, it will likely take several months to amend the MTIP and STIP.
Dale noted that in order to meet the requirements of TEA-21, projects are programmed by funding source and are financially constrained by year. However, all three years of projects are selected and can proceed on a first come basis.
Air quality conformity analysis has to be carried out on the MTIP. Therefore results of the recently completed air quality conformity analysis were distributed to RTAC (“Daily Emissions Estimates for Clark County AQMA”). Mark Harrington, RTC, explained the predicament we are in regarding air quality conformity analysis. Mark explained that in June of this year we were designated an attainment area under EPA’s new eight hour ozone standard. Prior to this, the region was a maintenance area under the one-hour standard. After June 15, 2005 we will no longer be required to do air quality conformity for ozone. Until then, we are required to use EPA’s Mobile 6 emissions model for performing air quality conformity analysis while having to compare results against the emissions budgets calculated using the Mobile 5 emissions model that produces different emissions rates to Mobile 6 and therefore presents us some problems. Mark went on to highlight the conformity results for the MTIP.
Dale Robins distributed the “Draft Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program for Clark County 2005-2007”. Dale provided a quick overview of what is contained in each chapter of the MTIP draft document.
BILL WRIGHT, CLARK COUNTY, MADE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE 2005-2007 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (MTIP) BY THE RTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MATT RANSOM, CITY OF VANCOUVER, SECONDED THE MOTION AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
Added to the Agenda: Ramp Signal and Channelization
Dale Robins explained that a WSDOT MTIP amendment had been added to today’s agenda. The amendment is for signalization at the I-5/SR-501 ramps. The preliminary engineering is scheduled to begin in November 2004. Brian McMullen, WSDOT, said that two signals will be added and work will include some channelization to provide safer access/egress from the Port of Ridgefield’s property. Brian said that WSDOT had received some contributions to help fund the project.
MATT RANSOM, CITY OF VANCOUVER, MADE THE MOTION TO AMEND THE 2004-2006 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO INCLUDE THE SR-501 RAMP SIGNALS AND CHANNELIZATION PROJECT. MIKE CLARK, WSDOT, SECONDED THE MOTION. IT WAS UNANAMOUSLY APPROVED.
III. SR-14 Corridor Study, Discussion
Dean Lookingbill, RTC, said the purpose of this agenda item is to highlight the regional transportation issues of SR-14 in the Camas/Washougal area. The City of Camas, City of Washougal, and the Port of Camas/Washougal have expressed a need to improve the SR-14 corridor. At their request, WSDOT has initiated a planning study effort to address the SR-14 corridor between NW 6th Avenue in Camas and Evergreen Way/Gibson in Washougal. In addition, these jurisdictions are seeking a $3 million federal appropriation request to complete the design and environmental work. RTC will be doing some modeling work to support the study. Dale Robins, RTC, said SR-14 through the Camas/Washougal area is a two-lane high-speed state highway with multiple signalized and unsignalized intersections. SR-14 functions as an urban highway providing access between Camas/Washougal and Vancouver but also serves as a state route connecting southwest Washington to south-central/southeast Washington.
Dale said the purpose of the study is to examine current and future transportation deficiencies along SR-14 through the Camas/Washougal area and recommend highway improvements necessary to meet travel demand and safety needs. Some of the concerns of the local neighborhoods and businesses were safety, capacity, local access, and economic development. The SR-14 Corridor Planning Group has recommended the following objectives/goals: 1) Provide adequate capacity to meet current and future needs, 2) improve traffic safety, 3) encourage economic development, 4) provide sufficient land use access for residential, commercial, and industrial uses, 5) provide multimodal access to the Columbia River and recreational opportunities, 6) provide for adequate emergency vehicle access, and 7) identify staging/priority for recommended improvements. Dale said the cost for identified improvements may be in the $100 million dollar range and would likely have to be staged over time.
Dale reported that WSDOT is beginning to analyze accident history. There are a number of accidents in the corridor associated with vehicles crossing the centerline. Based on accident data between 2000 and 2002, the majority of accidents are associated with the intersections along the corridor (e.g. at SR-500, 2nd St., 6th St., 15th St. and 32nd St.). Dale reported in the past 10 years (1994-2003), the corridor has had a significant number of disabling injuries and fatalities. Dale pointed out that WSDOT is moving forward with several small projects to make the corridor safer. This past week, WSDOT has striped the intersection of SR-14 at 45th Street for an eastbound to northbound left turn pocket and will add illumination this fall. WSDOT is also moving forward this fall with a project to improve safety at the SR-14/32nd Street intersection.
Dale said in meetings with WSDOT a number of long-term alternatives have been developed for consideration. The alternatives include a combination of interchanges and widening through the corridor. Using the regional travel forecast model and traffic simulation model the alternatives will be further analyzed to develop viable long-term alternatives. Shinwon, RTC, has produced some preliminary results from the regional travel forecast model. These preliminary results show that Washougal would need to make improvements to 15th and 32nd in conjunction with SR-14 improvements.
Dale said there will be an Open House on September 22, 4-8 p.m., at the Camas Community Center. Jim Carothers, City of Camas, said WSDOT did a great job on the traffic simulations. Mike Clark, WSDOT, said a few of the simulations will be shown at the open house, but the main goal is to get input and comments from the community.
IV. MTP Update – New Land Use Allocation for the Travel Model, Discussion
Dean Lookingbill, RTC, said at August’s RTAC meeting there was discussion of elements of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) that will need to be updated over the course of the next few months before adoption of an MTP update. Periodic MTP update is a federal requirement and the update process can ensure that consistency between state, regional and local plans is maintained. The updated Comprehensive Growth Management Plans for Clark County and cities will be the basis for the MTP update.
A part of the MTP development process will be updating the regional travel model to include the county and cities’ new land use plans. Mark Harrington, RTC, reported that RTC’s regional travel demand model uses households and employment data as a major input to the travel demand modeling process. The household and employment data is allocated to 615 transportation analysis zones (TAZs) within Clark County and to over 250 TAZs in Oregon. Mark said these land use inputs are the basis for the trip generation; trip distribution and mode split modeling steps. Therefore, the quality of the land use forecast and its allocation to TAZs has a major impact on the quality of the travel demand forecast.
Mark said the regional travel forecast model update will reflect the adopted GMA plans, will be used for the MTP update and will also be used for the I-205 Corridor planning environmental process, and for the I-5 Columbia River Crossing environmental process. Regional travel forecast model information is also used as the basis for traffic impact studies for new developments. Mark emphasized to RTAC members that they should inform the land use planning staff of their respective jurisdictions of this update process, let them know of the significance of this model update and encourage their participation in the demographic allocation process. Reliable data going into the model means more accurate study results.
Mark, RTC, said we will be updating the travel model to reflect the newly adopted Comprehensive Plans and will also be adding Metro’s 2025 TAZ allocations reflecting land uses and demographic forecast from the Oregon side resulting from the Metroscope process. Dean said we hope to have updated model runs out by the end of this year. Evan Dust, Clark County, cautioned that there is some risk that TAZ allocations on the Clark County side may need to be revised depending on challenges to the County’s updated Comprehensive Plan. Dean Lookingbill asked Evan if the County could communicate with the jurisdictions and agencies on the GMA TAC regarding land use allocations to TAZs. Evan said the first step following the recent adoption of the updated Comprehensive Plan would be to share results of household and employment allocations and talk about localized adjustments to better reflect the expectations of local jurisdictions.
Dean raised the issue of bi-state transportation planning and questioned how different employment forecasts resulting from Metro’s Metroscope process and Clark County’s comprehensive planning process might be resolved. Dean said that there should be consistency in employment forecast numbers as we embark on the environmental planning process step for the I-5 Columbia River Crossing. Mark Turpel, Metro, concurred that there is need for agreement on employment numbers and that Metro would be working with land uses and employment numbers resulting from Clark County’s updated comprehensive planning process. Dean said that the process would involve the County running the vacant buildable lands model, would recognize the adopted GMA Plans, would coordinate with each local jurisdiction, would indicate where there were differences in land use, zoning or boundaries and would result in a TAZ allocation for input to the updated regional travel forecast model. This will provide us with a base forecast. We will also have to agree on employment allocations that will become the basis for the environmental process for the Columbia River Crossing Study.
V. I-205 Corridor Environmental Assessment Request for Qualifications, Discussion
Matt Ransom, City of Vancouver, said that in 2002 the region completed the I-205 Access Point Decision Report (APDR) which was subsequently accepted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The report identified interchange improvements along I-205 between SR-14 and NE 83rd Street (Padden Parkway). The next step in implementing the identified improvements is to prepare an Environmental Assessment for the I-205 Corridor from SR-14 to SR-500. Matt Ransom gave a brief history of planning in the I-205 corridor. He said that additional interchange locations were identified in the South County Sub-Area Traffic Study (1986). The definitive recommendation for current interchange proposals was developed as part of the I-205 East/West Arterials Study (1996). Matt said the FHWA rendered “engineering and operational acceptance” of the I-205 APDR recommendations in April 2003 clearing the way for initiation of the environmental study process. He said the FHWA Regional Engineer finds that the environmental documentation necessary for advancing the recommendations of the I-205 APDR is an Environmental Assessment (Spring 2004).
Matt reviewed the I-205 EA – Initial Activities RFQ. He said the initial task is to develop a scope of work, schedule, budget, study plan, and public involvement plan for the I-205 EA. He said that tasks are specified in the WSDOT Design Manual – Project Delivery Process. Matt said that in winter/spring 2004 Vancouver and WSDOT developed an understanding of roles and responsibilities related to the EA. The City will issue the RFQ and act as the overall contract administrator (in large part because the primary funding for the study will come through the City from a Federal earmark grant). WSDOT will assign a project manager and act as the day-to-day project administrator. Dean reminded RTAC that the City received $3 million dollars of earmarked federal funds from Senator Patty Murray’s office to fund the I-205/112th Avenue ramp project but this project was subsequently funded through the state “nickel package”. Therefore, the federal earmarked money is to be used for the I-205 environmental process.
Matt said the City of Vancouver intends to advertise the RFQ on September 20th with proposals due on October 13, 2004. The selected consultant will assist the City of Vancouver and WSDOT in preparing a detailed scope of work to be performed for completion of the EA. Matt said it is hoped a consultant can be under contract by year’s end (2004). The City and State project management team will reserve the right to supplement the initial agreement with further stages of work to complete the EA. Matt Ransom reported that more details on I-205 Corridor planning is available at WSDOT’s website.
VI. Capital Facilities Plans: City of Vancouver, Discussion
Dean Lookingbill said as part of the process to update Comprehensive Growth Management Plans, each jurisdiction has compiled an update to its Capital Facilities Plan (CFP). Over the next few months, RTAC meetings will include an agenda item for jurisdictions to present their updated CFPs. Dean said that the City of Vancouver will begin the series of CFP presentations. Matt Ransom and Phil Wuest, City of Vancouver, distributed copies of “Vancouver Comprehensive Plan 2003-2023, Chapter 5, Public Facilities and Services” (City of Vancouver, adopted 5/3/2004) and “City of Vancouver Transportation Plan”. Matt provided an overview of the documents. Matt explained that the process to develop the Transportation Plan included a series of focus group meetings, public outreach and research. The Transportation Plan includes a section on “how will we fund the Transportation Plan?” The TSP document is the transportation plan for the City of Vancouver while “Chapter 5, Public Facilities and Services” has a summary of what is contained in the Transportation Plan and meets the requirements of the Growth Management Act. Phil Wuest explained that “Chapter 5” is divided into sections that include a description of Transportation, Concurrency Management Program Standards, Capital Facilities Funding Summary including a revenue summary, and funding process and summary.
Matt said the adopted Vancouver Comprehensive Plan includes an update to the Concurrency Management Program Standards with LOS standards expressed in average peak hour travel speed for defined transportation corridors. The updated concurrency program is included on page 5-11 of “Chapter 5”. Matt and Phil reviewed some of the projects listed in the City of Vancouver, Comprehensive Growth Management Plan, 6-Year Capital Facilities Plan, 2004-2009 Project List. Phil explained that there is a detailed list of projects for the first 6 years and the Plan takes a more general approach to identifying transportation projects between years 7 and 20.
Lynda David, RTC, said that one of the reasons for having the series of CFP presentations at RTAC is so that RTC can be clear what projects need to be added into the updated MTP so that the MTP’s listing of projects will be consistent with updated local plan CFPs. Lynda explained that the MTP is focused on the regional transportation system. However, the list of projects in Appendix A of the MTP has to identify projects that are included in the regional travel forecast model and these can include collector facilities as well as the principal arterials and minor arterials that are the focus of the regional system.
VII. Other Business
A. RTAC Members
WTP Update
Mike Clark, WSDOT, distributed a copy of what is on WSDOT’s website regarding Washington’s Transportation Plan (WTP). Mike said the website has presentations that have been made to the Washington State Transportation Commission. Mike said there is a WTP milestone event for an invited audience to be held on October 19, 2004. Mike encouraged RTAC members to check the WTP website frequently for additional information on WTP work.
B. RTC Staff
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m. The next meeting will be Friday, October 15, 2004.
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.
       
|