Below are the minutes for the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, held on Friday, February 17, 2006, 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, December 16, 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:
Gail Bauhs Human Services Council - Transportation Rob Charles City of Battle Ground Lynda David RTC Rebecca Eisiminger Port of Vancouver Chad Hancock WSDOT Mark Harrington RTC Bob Hart RTC Shinwon Kim RTC Katherine Klockenteger WSDOT Casey Liles WSDOT Mike Mabrey Clark County Brian McMullen WSDOT Thomas Picco ODOT Ed Pickering C-TRAN Sandi Roberts RTC Dale Robins RTC Scott Sawyer City of Washougal Bill Wright Clark County Phil Wuest City of Vancouver Lynda David, RTC, asked for any changes or corrections to the January 20, 2006, meeting minutes.
Becky Eisiminger, Port of Vancouver, requested having the paragraph replaced under agenda item VI with discussion of the West Freight Access Project. The paragraph should read as follows:
Becky Eisiminger, Port of Vancouver, reviewed the west Freight Access Project request for $4 million dollars. This project provides for an alternate freight rail ingress/egress at the Port. New freight access is essential for the development of additional Port property that will bring new jobs to the community and accommodate projected increases in imports and exports. The environmental/NEPA process is underway for the Columbia Gateway development, which includes looking at freight access alternatives. The 2007 Appropriation would be used for construction. Previously, the West Vancouver Freight Access project received $1 million in 2005 Appropriations, $2.3 million in 2006 Appropriations, and $600,000 in regional STP dollars.
BILL WRIGHT, CLARK COUNTY, MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 20, 2006, MINUTES WITH THE NOTED CORRECTION, AND PHIL WUEST, CITY OF VANCOUVER, SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
II. I-5 High Occupancy Vehicle Pilot Project: Final Evaluation Report, Discussion
Chad Hancock, the Southwest Region Traffic Manager for the WSDOT, gave an overview of the Final Evaluation Report for the I-5 HOV Pilot Project. Chad said in May 2005, the RTC Board recommended to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) that the I-5 HOV Pilot Project be discontinued. WSDOT subsequently terminated the pilot project and converted the lane to general-purpose traffic in August 2005. As part of that decision, the WSDOT committed to conducting a post-HOV evaluation. The draft I-5 High Occupancy Vehicle Pilot Project Final Evaluation Report has been completed. The report summarized post-HOV-data, collected in November 2005, and compares it with data from the previous evaluations and baseline data prior to the opening of the HOV pilot project in October 2001.
Chad presented a slide show titled “Review of I-5 HOV Lane Pilot Project Data Reports, Evaluation #7 Overview”. The slides that were displayed, 1) Project Area, Vancouver HOV Study Area, 2) Goal 1: Move More People in the HOV Lane – 2 HR, 3) Goal 1: Move More People in the HOV Lane, 4) Goal 2: Reduce Travel Time, 5) Goal 3: Minimize Impacts to Other Facilities, 6) Goal 4: Increase Shared Ride Use, 7) Goal 5: Maintain Safety, 8) Goal 6: Maintain Effectiveness with Enforcement, 9) Goal 7: Maintain Reliability for Shared Rides, and 10) Goal 8: Maintain or Improve Public Opinion.
There was discussion on how C-TRAN’s ridership may have affected the results. In the past year, C-TRAN increased fares and changed schedules. Ed Pickering, C-TRAN, asked if the final report would include information on the decision-making process with the RTC Board and Bi-State for the historical sake of the document. Chad plans to make this presentation at the RTC Board meeting in March 2006.
III. SR-500 and St. Johns Interchange - Update, Discussion
Casey Liles, WSDOT, presented the SR-500 and St. Johns Interchange update. Casey distributed a handout titled “SR-500/St. Johns Blvd. Interchange”. He said the project will replace the existing at-grade intersection with an interchange with St. Johns Boulevard going over SR-500. This will allow through traffic on SR-500 to flow continuously without a traffic signal, provide improved pedestrian/bike accessibility to the Discovery Trail system, and reduce accidents at this intersection.
Casey said the project is funded with $26.3 million in state Transportation Partnership money and $2.6 million in other funds. Casey pointed out that this is one of several projects planned to make travel on SR-500 safer and more efficient.
Casey reviewed the project timeline beginning in 1999 with preliminary design and environmental work for SR-500 and St. Johns Blvd., NE 42nd Avenue/Falk Road, and NE 54th Avenue/Stapleton Road intersections. In 2002 the Environmental Assessment was complete but preliminary design stopped due to lack of funding. Design resumed in 2006 following funding from the 2005 state Transportation Partnership Funding Package. Design should be complete in 2007 with construction beginning in 2008 and project completion in 2010. Casey said WSDOT will be holding public meetings and will have a kick-off or restart of the project with local agencies, emergency services, and schools invited to participate. Casey pointed out that this project would decrease accident rates and reduce the amount of traffic congestion at the existing intersection. It will improve mobility, decrease travel times, and reduce delays. He said the St. Johns Boulevard intersection is one of several intersections on SR-500 between I-5 and Andresen Road where accident rates are approximately 30 to 50 percent above the statewide average for intersections. In the next 20 years, the average daily traffic volumes on SR-500 are expected to increase by up to 30 percent and traffic on intersecting roads are expected to increase by up to 200 percent. Casey said the current configuration of this intersection could not accommodate these volumes of traffic.
There was discussion on design. Casey said that they were not yet at the decision point on whether to build a Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) or a tight diamond. He spoke of the wetland issues and the need to provide a tunnel for the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail. RTAC questioned whether potential HCT had been anticipated in the design. Brian McMullen, WSDOT, explained that wetland issues constrain the design and also the project is funded with gas tax which has restrictions.
Casey said WSDOT would provide opportunities for the public to learn more about potential traffic impacts that will occur during construction. WSDOT will inform the public of any future public involvement through area mailings, local media, and the project web page. Casey said as the project progresses he will come back and give RTAC members an update.
IV. Vancouver Area Smart Trek: Current Activities, Discussion
Bob Hart, RTC, presented Vancouver Area Smart Trek: Current Activities. Bob reviewed the project and said since January 2001, RTC has been responsible for the coordination and administration of the Vancouver Area Smart Trek (VAST) program. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed and executed in May 2001 that formed the VAST Steering Committee made up of: RTC, the City of Vancouver, the Washington State Department of Transportation, Clark County, C-TRAN, the City of Camas, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Bob said the Steering Committee responsibilities include: providing oversight for ITS project coordination and integration, project review, guidance and endorsement, and ensuring that the communications network for VAST is integrated. Bob pointed out the MOU has been an effective tool to provide a forum for the VAST agencies to coordinate projects, develop joint complementary funding applications for VAST projects, and discuss upcoming issues.
Bob noted the VAST partners have cooperatively developed a draft agreement covering the use and maintenance of fiber assets to maximize communications resources and improve efficiency. The draft agreement addresses issues such as coordination of maintenance, priority traffic, and cost responsibilities for shared communications, documents shared fiber, and allows agencies to enter into future fiber sharing arrangements.
Bob said initial software training occurred last November for the software package, OSPInSight, which uses a GIS ESRI platform and allows mapping and database documentation of fiber and communications assets. There will be additional training in mid-March. Bob pointed out agencies will have a wide range of information about their communications infrastructure at their fingertips with interactive maps. The shared asset management system will allow agencies to easily identify items such as fiber routes, fiber types and attributes, including who owns it, who is using it, and what is not being used. The shared database of assets will easily provide the critical information needed to develop agreements as described above.
Bob highlighted information available on the web and described the screen shots distributed to RTAC members showing Vancouver area traffic conditions, travel alerts and slowdowns, and traffic information from Portland area cameras. Bob pointed out that the successful implementation of the traveler information improvements required extensive cooperation between WSDOT, ODOT, City of Vancouver, and Clark County as well as agency staff from traffic operations, information technology, and public information.
V. 2005 Congestion Monitoring – Initial Data, Discussion
Dale Robins, RTC, distributed maps that present initial data of the 2005 congestion monitoring effort. Dale pointed out the congestion management system began in 1995 and has continued with an annual monitoring report. The annual congestion monitoring report provides valuable information on the performance of the transportation system. The objective of the congestion monitoring report is to provide a continuing analysis of transportation system congestion and thereby helps protect the region’s investment and improve the future transportation system. Dale said the congestion management system includes 30 regionally significant corridors with data collection focused in these corridors. It was noted that each corridor is divided into a series of segments. A segment is the portion of a roadway between major intersections. The purpose of considering transportation data by segment is to identify specific locations where congestion is occurring.
Dale referred to the tables in the memorandum and highlighted the AM and PM volume to capacity ratio index of greater than 0.9 as well as the AM and PM speed at 60% or less of posted speed limit. These measures highlight areas of concern. Dale pointed out that the segments in bold are segments of concern that are newly listed in the 2005 analysis. Dale reviewed the maps showing 2005 CMS Corridors, Areas of Concern: V/C Ratio 2005 PM Peak Hour, Areas of Concern: Speed 2005 PM Peak Hour, and Intersection Delay 2005 PM Peak Hour. Dale said he is asking each jurisdiction to review the maps and give him feedback of any changes or corrections before the final version is presented to the RTC Board of Directors.
VI. Other Business
A. RTAC Members
99th Street Park and Ride
Ed Pickering, C-TRAN, said the 99th Street Park and Ride project is moving forward. Ed described the traffic mitigation plan and court challenges. Ed said C-TRAN has successfully applied for funds from the state Regional Mobility Grant Program funded by monies allocated by the legislature. A new access road will be built and transit platform re-designed. C-TRAN is hoping the facility can be opened in late 2007.
B. RTC Staff
FY07 Transportation Appropriation applications due February 22, 2006
Dale said applications should be submitted to RTC by next Wednesday, February 22. Dale said RTC would send a regional request with all projects attached to Congressman Baird, Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell.
2004-2006 Transportation Enhancement Selected Projects
Dale distributed a Memorandum that listed the selected STP projects: 1) Confluence Land Bridge, total cost $10,480,000, Enhancement funds $1,595,000, 2) City of Washougal Downtown Improvement Project, total cost $3,369,938, Enhancement funds $543,000, 3) Lyle-Bridge & Pedestrian Facilities, total cost $385,000, Enhancement funds $110,000, 4) Chelatchie Prairie Rail & Regional Trail Alignment and Program Plan, total cost $600,000, Enhancement funds $450,000, and 5) The Confluence Project, total cost $22.83 million, Statewide Enhancement funds $1,465,000.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:22 a.m. The next meeting will be Friday, March 17, 2006.
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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