Below are the minutes for the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, held on Friday, June 17, 2005, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Training Room 679 (6th Floor), 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, June 17, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. in the Conference Room (6th Floor) at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street Vancouver, Washington. Lynda David, Senior Transportation Planner, served as Chair for the meeting. Those in attendance follow:
Justin Clary City of Ridgefield Lynda David RTC Evan Dust Clark County Richard Gamble Clark County Bob Hart RTC Shinwon Kim RTC Katherine Klockenteger WSDOT Thomas Picco ODOT Ed Pickering C-TRAN Matt Ransom City of Vancouver Sandi Roberts RTC Dale Robins RTC Scott Sawyer City of Washougal Bryan Snodgrass City of Vancouver Mark Turpel Metro Bill Wright Clark County Phil Wuest City of Vancouver Lynda David, RTC, asked for any changes or corrections to the May 20, 2005, meeting minutes. Mark Garrity, WSDOT, noted a correction on page 4, Agenda Item V., Vancouver Area Smart Trek: 2005/2006 Program Management. The total budget should be $174,000 with $150,000 in federal CMAQ funds, not $160,000 as stated in the minutes, and $24,000 local match.
MATT RANSOM, CITY OF VANCOUVER, MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE CORRECTED MAY 20 2005 MINUTES AND JUSTIN CLARY, CITY OF RIDGEFIELD, SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
II. 2005-2007 MTIP Partnership Package Amendment, Action
Dale Robins, RTC, said in the 2005 legislative session, the Washington State legislature passed a 16-year expenditure plan. This Partnership Package includes $244 million in funding for thirteen specific projects in the Clark County region. Dale pointed out that this amendment would amend the 2005-2007 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) to program funding for phases of eight of the Partnership Package projects: 1) I-5/SR-501 Ridgefield Interchange, $1,200,000, 2) SR-14 Lieser Road Interchange Ramp Signalization, $200,000, 3) SR-14 Camas Washougal Widening and Interchange, $3,500,000, 4) I-205 Mill Plain Interchange to NE 28th Street, $10,000,000, 5) SR-500/I-205 Interchange Improvements, $125,000, 6) SR-503 Lewisville Park Climbing Lane, $500,000, 7) SR-500/St. Johns Blvd. Interchange, $300,000, and 8) Columbia River Crossing – Vancouver, $50,000,000. Projects 7) and 8) are in the current TIP but have funds increased and phases added with the 2005 Legislature Transportation Partnership funds. Dale explained that the full amount for Partnership Program funding would be included with regular MTIP approval. Dale said inclusion of the projects in both the MTIP and State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) would allow the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to move forward on these projects.
MATT RANSOM, CITY OF VANCOUVER, MADE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THIS MTIP AMENDMENT TO THE RTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THEIR AUGUST 2005 MEETING. SCOTT SAWYER, CITY OF WASHOUGAL, SECONDED THE MOTION. IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
III. Transportation Improvement Board Grants, Action
Dale Robins, RTC, said the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) has called for FY 2007 projects for all major TIB funding programs and for a new Corridor Completion Program. Dale reminded RTAC members that applications must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, August 31, 2005. Additional information and grant applications can be downloaded from the TIB website at http://www.tib.wa.gov/. Funding decisions will be made in November.
Dale reported that he attended the TIB funding workshop held in Washougal on June 14, 2005. Dale offered that if anyone has any questions they should contact him.
Dale reviewed each of the TIB programs and amount of funding available: 1) Corridor Completion Investment, $30 million, 2) Arterial Improvement Program (AIP), $25-$35 million, 3) Transportation Partnership Program (TPP), $35-$40 million, 4) Pedestrian Safety & Mobility Program (PSMP), $3-$4 million, 5) Small City Program (SCP), $6-$8 million, 6) Small City Preservation and Sidewalk Program, $2 million, and 7) Small City Federal Match Program, $5 million.
Dale said our goal is to identify a project that can compete in a statewide competitive process and that is competitive with Puget Sound projects. Dale said he could help jurisdictions in putting together a competitive project application. Dale pointed out that over the years our region has worked cooperatively to develop successful statewide competitive grant applications. Dale proposed that a subcommittee of RTAC be formed to coordinate grant applications. The project list would be brought back to RTAC and would be forwarded to the RTC Board of Directors for approval. Dale said it would be beneficial for everyone submitting grants to attend RTAC sub-committee meetings.
Dale said the first sub-committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 30, 2005, 3-4 p.m. at the Public Service Center. Dale suggested that RTAC members begin to coordinate potential projects and reminded that projects with multiple partners often score better. He asked that staff do some research and work in preparation for the June 30 meeting.
IV. Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program, Action
Dale reminded RTAC that RTC has invited public agencies in the Clark County region to submit applications for federal STP-TMA, CMAQ, and STP-Rural funding. A copy of the call for projects letter, dated June 8, 2005, was attached to the RTAC Memorandum. A call for STP-Rural projects went out on June 6, 2005. Applications for STP-TMA and CMAQ funding will be due to RTC by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 15, 2005. Dale pointed out the application form is available at http://www.rtc.wa.gov/tip.
Dale reported that at the June 7, 2005 meeting, the RTC Board of Directors amended the MTIP selection criteria. The RTC Board raised the maximum points that could be scored under Economic Development criteria from 20 to 25 points. A total of 28 points are available in the category, but the maximum score is 25. The Board asked that the decision on how to add in the extra three points within the Economic Development category be made by RTAC. RTC staff has reviewed the section and is recommending that 1 point be added to ‘Employment Growth, Retail Employment Growth’, 1 point be added to ‘Employment Growth, Other Employment Growth’ and 1 point added to ‘Provide or Improves Access to Existing Employment.’ This change will make 28 points available in the Economic Development category with a maximum score of 25 points. There was some discussion on how TIB evaluates projects under Economic Development. Dale said that TIB requires square footage of permitted employment land use, whereas we use the TAZ employment allocation that is based on comprehensive land use plans.
It was suggested that text be added to the Air Quality criteria section to make clear that when projects are evaluated for potential CMAQ funding then the air quality score is multiplied by three.
BILL WRIGHT, CLARK COUNTY, MADE A MOTION TO AMEND THE SELECTION CRITERIA TO FOLLOW THE RTC BOARD POLICY DIRECTIVE RAISING THE POINTS AVAILABLE UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO 25 OUT OF A POTENTIAL 28 POINTS; THE ADDITIONAL THREE POINTS TO BE ALLOCATED PER RTC STAFF SUGGESTION DISCUSSED AT THIS RTAC MEETING. MATT RANSOM SECONDED THE MOTION. IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
V. MTP Update: 2030 Travel Demand Forecast, Discussion
Lynda David, RTC, presented the MTP Update: 2030 Travel Demand Forecast status report. Lynda said that at the May meeting, RTAC considered the designated regional transportation system and development of the 2030 regional travel demand model. In May, Mark Harrington, RTC, had reviewed the 2030 MTP land use forecast and development of the 2030 travel demand forecast. Lynda reported that RTC staff has now completed the first round of the 2030 MTP travel forecast model that will be used as a tool to identify future transportation needs. Lynda pointed out the 2030 travel demand forecast takes the land uses from the 2023 adopted Comprehensive Plan (adopted September 2004) and extends the land uses 7 years to 2030.
Lynda highlighted the table on page 1 of the Memo which provides a comparison of demographic data for: 1) year 2000, 2) adopted 2023 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, and 3) the 2030 MTP now in process. All employment numbers are Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Lynda said the household and employment data come from the land use allocation and are input to the regional travel forecast model.
Lynda then referred to the tables relating to transportation system performance on page 2 of the Memo that provide preliminary 2030 travel demand results as well as comparative data for year 2000 and adopted 2023 MTP. The data presented was for: 1) Peak Hour Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), 2) Peak Hour Average Speed, and 3) Peak Hour Lane Miles of Congestion. Lynda also reviewed the table on page 3 that shows all day traffic volumes (ADT) from the regional travel forecast for certain corridor screenlines at various locations throughout Clark County for years 2000, 2023 MTP and 2030 MTP. Lynda pointed out the percentage ADT increase between years 2000 and 2023 and years 2000 and 2030 is also shown. She also referred RTAC members to the Memo’s attached map showing “2000 to 2023 and 2000 to 2030 Average Daily Volume Increases” that presents the table’s information in graphic format.
Lynda and Shinwon Kim, RTC, reviewed two additional maps displayed at the meeting that showed 1) Draft 2030 PM Peak 1-hour V/C Ratios, and 2) Draft 2030 PM Peak 1 hour V/C Ratios PM River Crossings Scaled. The maps showed PM peak hour volume to capacity ratios with segments colored to reflect the severity of capacity deficiency. Shinwon Kim explained that the first map showed 2030 results from the regional travel forecast model for the PM Peak 1 Hour and the second map showed results after scaling of Columbia River bridge crossings. Shinwon said that not all travel demand for Columbia River crossings could be met in the peak 1 hour so there would be peak hour spreading. He said he had scaled the data to represent 1.16 V/C for river crossings. He said this would reduce the amount of traffic on the Clark County system.
Lynda pointed out that, in general, many of the North/South corridors are congested as are the links crossing bodies of water such as the Columbia River, East Fork of the Lewis River to La Center and in the Daybreak area as well as crossings of Salmon Creek and the Goodwin Road crossing of the Lacamas watershed. Many of the northbound off-ramps on I-5 north are capacity deficient. Lynda explained that there are some additional transportation improvements assumed in this 2030 model over and above what is included in the 2023 MTP (adopted December 2002). She explained that some CFP projects are included. Almost all interstate freeway links have capacity problems in the P.M. peak 1 hour. With scaling back river crossings interstate conditions improve. However, I-5 north has capacity problems in both scenarios. Lynda said more discussion is needed on the travel demand strategy to use in the MTP update. Lynda said RTC staff would be setting up a meeting with local jurisdictions and partner agencies to refine the travel demand assumptions and analysis. An additional meeting toward the end of July will be scheduled to work on how to address the transportation system deficiencies and what projects to include in the updated Appendix A of the MTP given the “fiscal constraint” requirement of the MTP. Lynda said that public outreach and involvement activities to support the MTP update would also be underway in the summer months. Bill Wright, Clark County, asked that the preliminary 2030 numbers be looked at for the 139th street project.
VI. Other Business
A. RTAC Members
Ed Pickering, C-TRAN, distributed copies of C-TRAN Staff Report #05-024, dated June 14, 2005, that outlined the proposed Service Preservation Plan requiring a vote to increase 0.2 percent increase in C-TRAN’s sales and use tax.
Ed highlighted the Proposed Service Preservation Plan and said it requires C-TRAN to achieve high service performance standards, increase passenger fares every other year to keep pace with inflation, and allocates service hours equitable across the following service delivery systems: 1) Local Urban Service and required ADA Paratransit Service (C-VAN), 2) Premium Commuter Service to downtown Portland, and 3) Innovative Service to Clark County’s smaller cities. Ed reviewed the list of fixed route service listed on page 4 and noted that route #7 will be adjusted to innovative service and route #25 service to WSU-Vancouver will be restored with stops at Legacy Hospital and Salmon Creek Kaiser Clinic.
Ed said that the C-TRAN Board had approved Board Resolution #BR-05-021 (attached with distributed handout) requesting the Clark County Auditor to place on the September 20, 2005 primary ballot, a proposition which authorizes the imposition of up to an additional 0.2 percent of the sales and use tax available to the Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area (C-TRAN) for the purpose of funding a Service Preservation Plan.
B. RTC Staff
2004 CMS Report – available
Lynda said that the 2005 Congestion Management System Report is available to RTAC members who want to take a copy.
Transportation Enhancements
Dale reminded RTAC members to continue thinking about Transportation Enhancement project applications. The Statewide Enhancements Committee met last month and a call for projects will likely come out in July 2005 with applications due in the fall of 2005.
Active Community Environments Workshop – Friday, June 24, 2005, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. at WSDOT, SW Region
Lynda asked RTAC members to note the Active Community Environment Workshop flyer available at the table. If anyone wants to attend, contact Patti Petersen, Community Choices 2010, at 360-567-1067, to register. Feet First developed the workshop, with participation by Washington Department of Health, Washington Department of Transportation and Puget Sound Regional Council. The course presenter, David Levinger, PhD, PE, is executive director of Feet First, is an engineer and political anthropologist. David presents nationally, assessing and improving communities.
Mark Garrity, WSDOT, announced that after two years at WSDOT he is leaving to join Parsons Brinckerhoff. Mark hopes to continue working with RTAC members in his new role as consultant. Lynda thanked Mark for his contributions to RTAC.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m. The next meeting will be Friday, July 15, 2005.
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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