Below are the minutes for the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, held on Friday, July 15, 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, July 15, 2005 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:
Rob Charles City of Battle Ground Mike Clark WSDOT Lynda David RTC Evan Dust Clark County Mark Harrington RTC Bob Hart RTC Dean Lookingbill RTC 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 Dean Lookingbill, RTC, asked for any changes or corrections to the June 17, 2005, meeting minutes.
BILL WRIGHT, CLARK COUNTY, MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 17, 2005 MINUTES AND SCOTT SAWYER, CITY OF WASHOUGAL, SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
II. 2005-2007 MTIP Amendment: C-TRAN Preventative Maintenance, Action
Dale Robins, RTC, presented the 2005-2007 MTIP Amendment: C-TRAN Preventative Maintenance. Dale stated all regionally significant projects must be listed in the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP), which in turn becomes a part of the statewide State Transportation Improvement Program. Dale pointed out C-TRAN is requesting an MTIP amendment to add additional Section 5307 funds to their 2005 Preventative Maintenance program. Dale said the scope of the Preventative Maintenance program in not changed but will increase its funding in the 2005 element of the MTIP. This amendment is consistent with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Congestion Management System, is air quality exempt, and is financially constrained. This project will help to preserve investment made in the transportation system. Dale further explained that federally funded projects must be programmed in the MTIP and STIP before funds can be obligated. Action on this amendment will provide a total of $4,845,766 in federal Section 5307 funds and $1,211,442 of local funds for C-TRAN Preventative Maintenance. Ed Pickering, C-TRAN, explained that the Preventative Maintenance funding is for both vehicle and facilities maintenance.
MATT RANSOM, CITY OF VANCOUVER, MADE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THIS 2005-2007 MTIP AMENDMENT FOR C-TRAN’s PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROJECT TO THE RTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THEIR AUGUST 2005 MEETING. PHIL WUEST, CITY OF VANCOUVER, SECONDED THE MOTION AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
III. TIB Competitive Project Development, Discussion
Dale Robins, RTC, said the purpose of this agenda item is to begin to outline the set of projects to be submitted to the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) for statewide competitive funding. The TIB urban programs this year includes Corridor Completion Investment - $30 million statewide, Arterial Improvement Program (AIP) - $4 million SW Region, Transportation Partnership Program (TPP) - $7.3 million West Region, and Pedestrian Safety & Mobility Program (PSMP) - $390,000 West Region, excluding Puget Sound. Dale pointed out that over the years our region has worked cooperatively to coordinate efforts to develop successful statewide competitive grant applications. In order to continue the success of our region, RTC and jurisdictions have once again been working to coordinate TIB grant applications. A subcommittee has met to discuss potential projects. Dale said the subcommittee would also participate in the grant review process.
By Thursday, August 11, 2005 agencies are to submit a list of TIB projects to RTC providing a project title, brief description, total cost estimate, and TIB grant request. Then draft grant applications are due to RTC by Friday, August 19, 2005. Dale said when you submit your project application to RTC, you will be given another application from another agency to review. Dale said that he will review and provide comment on all applications. Each project will therefore have two reviews in an effort to make the applications from this region as strong as possible. Comments will be returned the following week. Final grant applications will be due to RTC on Monday, August 29, 2005. Dale said a copy of the grant request will be required for RTC’s file. Grants will then be submitted as a region, with a regional cover letter of support.
Dale reviewed the list of potential projects suggested by jurisdictions at the subcommittee session as listed on the second page of the RTAC Memorandum. At the August RTAC meeting, RTAC members will be asked to recommend endorsement of the final list of TIB projects to be presented to the RTC Board of Directors. Dale highlighted the Arterial Improvement Program & Transportation Partnership Program list and the Corridor Completion list. Dale pointed out that projects could be submitted for both the AIP and TPP programs on the same application. TIB will evaluate the project for both programs and select the best projects for funding under each program. AIP and TPP projects can be the same or a portion of a Corridor Completion project. Dale asked for input on Corridor Completion. He suggested it would be helpful to partner with other agencies and/or private developers to help make your project successful.
Dean said this will be an information item at the August 2005 RTC Board meeting. Dean said a map would be provided to the RTC Board showing the location of suggested projects. Dale said he will e-mail updates to the Committee so everyone will have the current information.
IV. MTP Update: 2030 Transportation System Deficiencies, Discussion
Dean Lookingbill said that as part of the 2005 MTP update process RTC is moving forward with analyzing 2030 transportation system deficiencies. Dean said he is planning to take the deficiencies analysis to the August RTC Board meeting. Dean said he had concerns about how transportation projects between the 2024 Comprehensive Growth Management Plan horizon year and the 2030 MTP horizon year are identified to try to meet the identified system deficiencies. Dean further explained that the 2030 forecast could change considerably following completion of the Comprehensive Plan review and update now underway.
At the June meeting, Lynda David and Shinwon Kim had reviewed the 2030 land use inputs used in the 2030 regional travel demand model as well as 2030 transportation system performance measures. A general magnitude of change in demand between the previous MTP with a 2023 horizon and 2030 was reviewed with comparison of traffic at various screen lines around the county. Also, there had been a brief review of preliminary volume to capacity (v/c) maps for the 2030 p.m. peak hour assignment.
Mark said that as the p.m. peak-hour travel demand forecast has grown along with the County’s forecast of population and jobs, there has been increasing discussion at RTAC regarding methods to address the peak hour spreading of demand. Demand and congestion increase beyond the transportation system’s one-hour capacity. Mark explained that the 2030 v/c map is now based on an assignment that scales the number of vehicle trips crossing the Columbia River in the peak direction during the p.m. peak from a v/c ratio of 1.41 to 1.16. The bridges provide a meter for traffic flowing into our region in the P.M. peak hour. Mark Harrington said this river crossing scaling methodology was used to, in effect, spread the p.m. peak hour demand for Columbia River bridge crossings. RTC staff has compared this river crossing scaling methodogy with results from travel forecasts produced using multiple hour peak assignments. Mark said that future peak hour periods spread beyond two hours because the second hour assignment results do not look much different from the P.M. peak one-hour results. Mark said that RTC staff had met last week with WSDOT, Clark County, City of Vancouver and some of the small cities to discuss this peak hour spreading issue and concluded that the scaling methodology should be used for this MTP update. Dean said we would also discuss this with Metro.
Mark reviewed the tables provided in the Memorandum which provided a comparison of preliminary 2030 travel demand results, with and without the application of the river crossing scaling methodology, as well as comparative data for year 2000 travel model results and the adopted 2023 MTP for 1) P.M. Peak Hour Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), 2) P.M. Peak Hour Average Speed, and 3) P.M. Peak Hour Lane Miles of Congestion, and 4) P.M. Peak Hour Vehicle Hours of Delay. Mark displayed a slide of a map “2000 to 2023 and 2000 to 2030 Average Daily Volume Increases” for RTAC members. Mark also reviewed maps showing “Draft 2030 P.M. Peak 1-Hour V/C Ratios” and “Draft 2030 P.M. Peak 1-Hour V/C Ratios - P.M. River Crossings Scaled”. Dean invited RTAC members to take a closer look at the maps after the meeting.
Mark explained that the regional travel model network used for the 2030 travel demand forecast represents all the transportation improvements identified in the current MTP Appendix A list of projects and improvements identified in the Capital Facilities Plans developed by local member jurisdictions. Mark pointed out that there are over 8,000 links in the regional model network and RTC staff is requesting RTAC members’ assistance in reviewing network coding to ensure all transportation projects and facilities are properly represented. Mark distributed EMME/2 plots to jurisdictions to enable review of coded link capacities, volume delay function/speed and number of lanes. The plots also included assigned traffic volumes and V/C ratios. Mark said that RTC would appreciate feedback and will continue to work with local jurisdictions and partner agencies to refine the 2030 travel demand analysis and system performance analysis to include identification of system deficiencies, level of service, and development of transportation solutions that can be incorporated into the fiscally-constrained MTP update. It was noted that RTC staff will also begin public outreach and involvement activities to support the MTP update.
V. Other Business
A. RTAC Members
Matt Ransom, City of Vancouver, invited people to visit the new street improvement project at Esther Street and 6th adjacent to Esther Short Park. He said it is designed as a curbless street with center drain. It is designed with Vancouver Farmers’ Market activities in mind and to promote easy walking for the public. There is provision for utility hook ups for phone lines, gas, water and electric up and down the street. Matt will submit the project for recognition by the APWA. The project also has a compact urban roundabout. The groundbreaking ceremony with Mayor Pollard will be on July 16, 2005.
B. RTC Staff
The Washington State Transportation Commission will meet in Vancouver on Tuesday, July 19, 2005. Dean will be making a presentation on transportation projects.
Dean provided a brief update on the federal Transportation Bill reauthorization which he said was inching forward though would likely need to have another extension before it is finally passed. Passage of the reauthorized Bill may come before the end of the month.
MTIP grant applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 15, 2005.
Dale Robins, RTC said Transportation Enhancements grant applications will be due to the state by November 1, 2005. Dale said he would be holding a transportation enhancement workshop within the next two weeks. This three-county region should receive about $2 million dollars.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m. The next meeting will be Friday, August 19, 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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