Below are the minutes for the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, held on Friday, September 16, 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, September 16, 2005, at 9 a.m. in the 6th Floor Training Room of the Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street Vancouver, Washington. Lynda David, RTC Senior Transportation Planner, served as Chair for the meeting. Those in attendance follow:
Sam Adams City of Battle Ground Jim Carothers City of Camas Lynda David RTC Richard Gamble Clark County Mark Garrity Parsons Brinckerhoff Mark Harrington RTC Katherine Klockenteger WSDOT Mike Mabrey Clark County Brian McMullen WSDOT, SW Region Thomas Picco ODOT Ed Pickering C-TRAN Matt Ransom City of Vancouver Sandi Roberts RTC Dale Robins RTC Mark Turpel Metro Bill Wright Clark County Phil Wuest City of Vancouver Lynda David asked for any changes or corrections to the August 19, 2005, meeting minutes.
ED PICKERING, C-TRAN, MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 19, 2005, MINUTES. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY SAM ADAMS, CITY OF BATTLE GROUND, AND WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
II. 2006-2008 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program, Action
Dale Robins, RTC, presented the 2006-2008 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP). He said the MTIP is a three-year program of funded, regionally significant transportation projects. Projects programmed in the MTIP are drawn either directly from specific project recommendations made in the long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan or are developed from a more general series of recommendations (e.g. preservation, maintenance, safety, etc.) Dale pointed out that it does not include all the projects in the entire region.
Dale reviewed the three-step MTIP development process that RTAC is familiar with. The Project Screening and Evaluation and Ranking by Needs Criteria were completed last month. In October, the Project Selection and Programming will be completed. These are projects that are programmed for funding utilizing the project information generated by the previous steps. Dale reviewed project evaluation for the CMAQ and STP-Urban programs. The projects are listed in the memorandum included in the meeting packets.
Dale explained with the August 10, 2005, passage of the new Federal Transportation Act, SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users), there remains uncertainty with regard to RTC’s federal allocation. Given this uncertainly, RTC has been conservative in estimating available dollars. RTC has estimated that approximately $2.5 million of CMAQ, $4.2 million of STP-Urban, and $0.5 million of STP-Rural funding is available for programming.
Dale said in August, RTC staff proposed a set of projects for potential funding selection. The recommendation was to provide some funding for most of the top ranked projects and those that cannot be ranked. In addition, RTC has worked with the County and small cities to select projects for the STP-Rural program.
Dale highlighted the 2006-2008 MTIP Project Selection, by 1) Program, 2) Project Name, 3) Phase, and 4) Federal Cost. Projects are programmed by funding source and are financially constrained by year. Dale reminded members of the three-year project selection; projects may be programmed in year 2008 but if they are ready to proceed in 2006 they can do so dependent on WSDOT having funding obligation authority. The project can be approved as long as it is in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) which should be approved in early January 2006.
Dale said in addition to STP and CMAQ projects selected for programming, projects programmed in the 2005-2007 MTIP that have not been implemented are brought into the 2006-2008 MTIP. Also, regionally significant projects selected through other selection processes are also programmed in the MTIP. At this time, WSDOT has instructed RTC not to program the congressional earmarked projects included in SAFETEA-LU.
Dale distributed copies of a 2006-2008 Summary List of projects. Dale asked members to review the 2006-2008 MTIP Project Selection list to ensure their jurisdiction’s projects were correctly listed.
Dale said the MTIP adoption of the 2006-2008 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) will encompass the following actions: 1) MPO authorization of the 2006-2008 MTIP, which includes transportation projects totaling $29.7 million in federal transportation funds; 2) MTIP conformance with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Clean Air Act as amended, the Air Quality State Implementation Plan, and Conformity Guidelines; 3) Certification that the RTC planning process meets all requirements of Title 23 and Title 40 of the transportation Code of Federal Regulations, including those provisions added by SAFETEA-LU; and 4) Selection of all three years of the federal program of projects allowing projects to proceed towards implementation. Dale reminded RTAC members that projects must be identified in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) before they can be programmed for funding in the MTIP. In other words, the MTIP implements the Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
BILL WRIGHT, CLARK COUNTY, MOTIONED TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE 2006-2008 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (MTIP) BY THE RTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THEIR OCTOBER MEETING. PHIL WUEST, CITY OF VANCOUVER, SECONDED THE MOTION, AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
III. Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Discussion
Dale Robins reported that after more than two years of delay and 11 extensions, we now have a federal Transportation Reauthorization Act. On August 10, 2005, the President signed into law the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Dale said this bill provides $286.45 billion for transportation improvements for federal fiscal years 2004-2009. Dale said, however, the books are closed on 2004, and they are practically closed for 2005; so it is really a 2006-2009 Bill. Dale said SAFETEA-LU continues the fundamental core formula programs from previous federal transportation acts, with targeted investment for safety, equity, innovative finance, congestion relief, mobility and productivity, efficiency, environmental stewardship, and environmental streamlining.
Dale highlighted the Congressional Earmark Projects listed in the meeting packet memorandum. He said the last project on the list, ‘Improve Scenic Highway Signing’ is an Audubon Society request for a bird viewing trail. Dale also reviewed the “Request vs. Funded” chart on page two of the memorandum and noted that not all project requests came through RTC. He also pointed out that the I-5 Columbia River Crossing project and the I-5 Delta Park project totals include both Oregon and Washington request and earmark.
The two landmark bills that brought surface transportation into the 21st century, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), shaped the transportation program to meet the nation’s changing transportation needs. SAFETEA-LU builds on this firm foundation, supplying the funds and refining the programmatic framework for investments needed to maintain and grow our vital transportation infrastructure. Dale then provided a brief overview of some changes required of the regional transportation planning program as a result of SAFETEA-LU. The MTP and MTIP will now have to be updated at least every four years instead of the three year update cycle under previous Acts. RTC has until July 2007 to implement the new requirements. The revised requirements under SAFETEA-LU include expanded consultation requirements, discussion of potential environmental mitigation activities developed in consultation with Federal, State and Tribal wildlife, land management and regulatory agencies, and changes to participation requirements. There was discussion regarding specific requirements such as an annual listing of obligated projects including pedestrian and bicycle facilities. States will now have the delegated authority to determine which projects are classified as Categorical Exclusions (CEs) in the environmental review process. RTAC also discussed the continued uncertainty of CMAQ funds that this region will receive.
IV. MTP Update Schedule and Status Report, Discussion
Lynda David presented the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) Update Schedule and Status Report and said the main focus of the discussion will be on MTP update schedule, MTP projects list, and Designated Regional Transportation System.
Lynda said that SAFETEA-LU has revised requirements for the update of regional transportation plans to at least once every four years. However, all new SAFETEA-LU requirements of the regional transportation planning program have to be met before the new update cycle can be implemented. RTC is proposing that an interim update/amendment be completed in December 2005 and that a full update be deferred until late 2006 following the anticipated 2006 adoption of an updated Comprehensive Growth Management Plan for Clark County. RTC is awaiting a response from Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) officials regarding this proposed approach. Lynda pointed out that in 2006, the full MTP update would reflect the updated Comprehensive Growth Management Plan with changes to growth forecasts, land uses, urban growth areas, refinement to the regional travel forecast model, review and analysis of system performance and transportation levels of service, and a further review of the MTP project list to ensure MTP fiscal constraint and consistency between local, regional, and state plans. Lynda reviewed the meeting packet material titled, ‘2005 MTP Update/Amendment’ which outlined MTP elements to be changed in each chapter with the 2005 MTP update.
Next, Lynda asked RTAC members to review the draft list of projects to be identified in the MTP. These projects will be listed in Appendix A of the document. She explained that the list includes both MTP Designated Regional Transportation System projects and local projects. Projects in italics are local transportation system. Dale reminded everyone that if projects are not listed in the MTP, they cannot be programmed for funding in the MTIP. There was some discussion about projects that are not on the draft Appendix A projects list. Phil Wuest, City of Vancouver, commented that there is no project for connection between SR-500 and I-5 north. Lynda responded that WSDOT has said this will be analyzed as part of the Columbia River Crossing project. Another omission is any improvement at SR-500/SR-503 intersection. Lynda said that these locations should be noted in the Strategic MTP in Appendix B. Likewise, the Columbia River Crossing project will be addressed in Appendix B. Appendix B includes some projects or conceptual projects which cannot yet be included in the fiscally-constrained MTP. Lynda urged RTAC members to review the list of projects in ‘MTP Update 2005: Clark County Projects’ and let her know of any changes. Lynda said this would be in presented, in draft form, at the October 2005 RTC Board meeting.
Lynda said that at the August RTAC meeting, there was discussion of the need to update the Federal Functional Classification system to bring it as closely into line with local classifications incorporated within local Comprehensive Growth Management Plans. There was also discussion of potential highway segments to be added to the Designated Regional Transportation System. Lynda reviewed the elements of the transportation system that State Regional Transportation Planning Program Planning Standards require be part of the Designated Regional Transportation System as listed on page 2 of the meeting packet Memorandum. These elements are: 1) All state transportation facilities and services (including highways, state-owned park-and-rides lots), 2) All local freeways, expressways, and principal arterials (the definition of principal arterials can be the same as used for federal classification or be regionally determined), 3) All high-capacity transit systems (any express-oriented transit service operating on an exclusive right-of-way including high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes), 4) All other transportation facilities and services, including airports, transit services and facilities, roadways, rail facilities, marine transportation facilities etc. that the RTPO considers necessary to complete the regional plan, and 5) Any transportation facility or service that regional need or impact places in the Plan, as determined by the RTPO. Lynda distributed copies of a map showing proposed highway additions to the Designated Regional Transportation System highway element and matrix with data on each segment of road proposed for addition. The data included in the matrix included jurisdiction, current federal functional classification, Average Daily Traffic, PM Peak Hour traffic volumes and segment length in miles. Lynda pointed out that to be included as part of the Designated System, the segments should exhibit certain characteristics such as: higher functional classification (principal arterial and some minor arterials), carry significant traffic volumes, serve significant regional trip generators, should be part of a corridor of significant length and/or should serve significant regional system connectivity purposes.
Lynda reviewed each of the 16 highway segments proposed for addition to the Designated Regional Transportation System highway element. After RTAC discussion, the decision was reached to exclude proposed segments on NE 172nd Avenue (NE Ward Road to NE 119th Street), 49th Street (112th Avenue to 137th Avenue), and Ellsworth (SR-14 to Mill Plain). In place of the NE 172nd Avenue segment, the segment of Ward Road/NE 182nd Avenue (NE 162nd Avenue to Risto Road) was proposed for addition. Lieser is a short segment but is important as it serves the significant regional trip generator, the SW Washington Medical Center campus. Sam Adams, City of Battle Ground, questioned whether Scotton and Rasmussen should be part of the Designated Regional Transportation System. He said the two facilities would provide connection with SR-503. Lynda commented that the two facilities do not exhibit the characteristics of highway segments included in the Designated Regional Transportation System as they are fairly short and although they are very significant for connections within the City of Battle Ground, they are not as significant when considering county-wide regional travel. Sam and Lynda also commented that 239th Street from Battle Ground to Ridgefield should be considered in a future update to the MTP. Lynda said the list of proposed additions to the Designated System would be forwarded to the RTC Board of Directors.
V. Freight & Goods Transportation System Update, Discussion
Dale Robins said the state’s Freight & Goods Transportation System (FGTS) is a database of the state’s strategic freight corridors, including highways, county roads, and city streets. He said on his review of the FGTS as part of the TIB grant application process, it was apparent that the designated FGTS has not kept pace with the rapid growth in Clark County. In 2003, WSDOT requested updated information for the FGTS from local jurisdictions but only received replies from Clark County and City of Camas in this region. Dale pointed out that WSDOT has now begun work on a 2005 FGTS update. Dale said WSDOT’s Highways & Local Programs Division is coordinating the biennial update and is soliciting freight data on the street systems of cities and counties. Dale noted that it is important for jurisdictions to review and update the FGTS for their streets because freight transportation and the “T” classifications of the FGTS is a criteria used in TIB project evaluation. The Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) has also used FGTS data to determine projects that are eligible for funding.
Dale asked RTAC members to review websites noted in the packet’s memorandum for further information. http://www.awcnet.org/documents/FGTSguidance.pdf website provides guidance for classifying routes according to how much tonnage is carried and for estimating tonnage carried depending on traffic counts. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/freight/FGTS/FGTS_2003.pdf provides WSDOT’s 2003 report on the FGTS with a listing of facilities classified as part of the FGTS. Dale said that any changes to “T” classifications of streets resulting from increases or decreases in tonnages carried, or additions or deletions of streets identified in the FGTS should be noted.
Dale asked whether local jurisdictions want RTC to coordinate the response to WSDOT or whether jurisdictions will reply to WSDOT directly. RTC could take on the responsibility to create a GIS map layer for the FGTS. Phil Wuest said he thought RTC should coordinate the process. After discussion, RTAC members felt it would be best to send all suggested to changes both to RTC and to Paula Reeves, reevesP@wsdot.wa.gov, at WSDOT Highways & Local Programs. RTC will provide the compiled information in a GIS format. Dale said that Camas, Washougal, and Ridgefield have already responded with suggested changes for their respective jurisdictions. Dale said he will follow up with all the jurisdictions to make sure applications are properly processed and said he would also contact Paula Reeves to let her know how the update will be handled for this region.
VI. Other Business
A. RTAC Members
Mike Mabrey, Clark County, said the County is working on a circulation plan for the SR-503 sub-area roughly bounded by 99th Street, north of Salmon Creek, 72nd Avenue and 152nd Avenue.
There was some discussion regarding the Port of Vancouver’s plans for the Gateway EIS and proposed new rail access to the Port. Dale Robins suggested inviting the Port to give a presentation at the October meeting.
B. RTC Staff
Dale Robins reviewed the due dates for grant applications. He said information on the grant programs is on WSDOT’s website under Local Programs. Information on the STP Enhancement grant program is on on RTC’s website.
Upcoming Grant Due Dates
- Transportation Enhancement – September 16, 2005
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety – October 3, 2005
- Intersection and Corridor Safety – October 10, 2005
Lynda David reported she received an e-mail from Paula Reeves, WSDOT Highways & Local Programs, saying there is a potential funding source to support development of a statewide inventory for biking and walking infrastructure. Paula needs a cost estimate from RTC for completion of this inventory. Lynda will follow up with Jennifer Campos, City of Vancouver, and Ejaz Khan, Clark County.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:42 a.m. The next meeting will be Friday, October 21, 2005.
Regional Transportation Council
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