Below are the minutes for the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, held on Friday, August 18, 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, August 18, 2006, at 9:00 a.m. in the Training 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 Lynda David RTC Rebecca Eisiminger Port of Vancouver Mark Harrington RTC Bob Hart RTC Katherine Klockenteger WSDOT Dean Lookingbill RTC Mike Mabrey Clark County Brian McMullen WSDOT Ed Pickering C-TRAN Matt Ransom City of Vancouver Sandi Roberts RTC Dale Robins RTC Scott Sawyer City of Washougal Mark Turpel Metro Bill Wright Clark County Dean Lookingbill, RTC, asked for any changes or corrections to the June 16, 2006, meeting minutes.
MATT RANSOM, CITY OF VANCOUVER, MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 16, 2006, MINUTES AND SCOTT SAWYER, CITY OF WASHOUGAL, SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
II. 2007-2010 MTIP Project Evaluation, Prioritization, and Selection, Action
Dale Robins, RTC, presented the 2007-2010 MTIP Project Evaluation, Prioritization and Selection. Dale said the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) identifies and prioritizes federally funded and regionally significant projects across all travel modes and jurisdictions. The MTIP includes a priority list of projects to be carried out in each of the next four years and a financial plan that demonstrates how the projects are funded. The RTC Board of Directors is scheduled to adopt the 2007-2010 MTIP this October. Projects can be implemented beginning in January 2007. Dale pointed out that the current MTIP project evaluation and prioritization process will be the basis for project selection and programming of 2009 STP and CMAQ funds in the 2007-2010 MTIP. Projects currently programmed in the 2006-2008 MTIP can be carried into the 2007-2010 MTIP. Dale said the purpose of this agenda item is to seek concurrence of RTAC with the evaluation and ranking of projects based on the evaluation criteria. Dale said he is asking RTAC to recommend adoption of the evaluation and ranking of projects to the RTC Board of Directors. Dale said he also wanted to discuss projects currently programmed in the 2006-2008 MTIP to be carried into the 2007-2010 MTIP.
Dale reviewed MTIP project selection process steps: 1) Project Screening for consistency with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), land use plans, air quality goals, and regional screening criteria, 2) Evaluation and Ranking by Selection Criteria. Each project is evaluated and ranked against a set of selection criteria previously adopted by the RTC Board, 3) Project Selection and Programming. Projects are programmed for funding utilizing the project information generated by the project evaluation and ranking.
Dale reviewed changes that need to be made to the MTIP to meet SAFETEA-LU requirements. First, the MTIP will become a four-year rather than a three-year program of projects. This will have minimal impact since the region will keep a three-year selection process. Second, the MTIP will include a list of federally obligated bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Dale said beginning with the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), STP funds were allocated to regions to select the highest priority projects. In Clark County, federal transportation funds are programmed through RTC. The region developed an overall selection process to program the region’s highest priority projects. Although a direct allocation to an agency is not permissible, equity is important. Dale highlighted the table “Obligation Regional Federal Dollars 1992-June 2006” that shows the obligation of STP and CMAQ dollars by agency since 1992.
Dale reported that projects programmed in the 2006 element of the 2006-2008 MTIP can be carried into the 2007 element of the 2007-2010 MTIP. Dale referred to the handout “2006 Summary” and said that he has been notified by WSDOT that projects shown as shaded have been obligated. Projects shown with strike-through are delayed until 2007. Dale asked that jurisdictions let him know of projects that need to be carried forward.
Dale said the 2007-2010 MTIP project selection process begins with the completion and submittal of the RTC Federal Project Summary Form. Projects are screened by regional screening criteria to ensure eligibility. In this current MTIP process, 18 projects were submitted to RTC. Seven of the projects are VAST projects. All projects screened were deemed eligible to compete for STP/CMAQ funding.
Dale reviewed the evaluation and ranking of projects by selection criteria: Mobility, Multimodal, Safety, Economic Development, Financial/Implementation, and Air Quality. Dale said that staffs from applicant agencies were able to review the accuracy of the evaluation. Dale explained that based on the evaluation STP-TMA projects are ranked in the following order: 1) 18th Street, 112th to 138th Ave., 2) 137th Avenue, 28th to 49th St., 3) NE 63rd Street, Andresen to I-205, and 4) NE 119th Street, 72nd to 117th Ave. In addition, there were two planning studies submitted that do not fit the evaluation criteria for projects: 1) RTC UPWP Program Support and 2) Region-wide Travel Survey. For CMAQ funding, air quality points are tripled to determine the rank order. Based on CMAQ evaluation, projects are ranked: 1) Signal optimization program, 2) VAST, 3) Hybrid buses 4) 112th Avenue ITS Corridor, phase III, 5) Regional CTR program expansion.
Dale said that based on the project evaluation and anticipated funding levels he has put together an example of how the MTIP program of projects might look. Dale referred RTAC to the “2007-2009 MTIP Programming Summary” which showed a list of projects by funding program, jurisdiction, project phase, MTIP year, federal funding and total project cost. Dale said that in September, RTC will seek RTAC’s recommendation on the selection and programming of projects in the 2007-2010 MTIP.
Ed Pickering, C-TRAN, then explained the “CMAQ Grant Backfill Request”. He said C-TRAN was awarded a CMAQ grant in the 2006 federal program to fund the Transit Super Stop Site Determination and Development Project. However, the $430,000 project was the last qualifying project among the list of candidate projects, and was not fully funded. As a result, C-TRAN provided an additional $49,000 as well as the $86,000 local match so C-TRAN’s contributions totaled $135,000 in local funds. It was understood that if additional CMAQ funds became available then the shortfall in funding could be backfilled with CMAQ funds. C-TRAN is requesting that the additional $49,000 now be allocated from the remaining CMAQ funds so this project can be fully funded as originally proposed.
Dale said it appears our region may get about $200,000 less than anticipated for STP funds which leaves us with about $4 million to program. We are likely to get about $1.5- $2 million in CMAQ funds. Dale said he is waiting for the final funding numbers from WSDOT before finalizing the list.
MATT RANSOM, CITY OF VANCOUVER, RECOMMENDED TO AMEND THE 2006 CMAQ PROGRAM TO MEET C-TRAN’S REQUEST TO PROGRAM $49,000 IN CMAQ FUNDS TO FULLY FUND THE TRANSIT SUPER STOP PROJECT AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED AND TO FORWARD THIS RECOMMENDATION TO THE RTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR APPROVAL. BILL WRIGHT, CLARK COUNTY, SECONDED THE MOTION, AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
MATT RANSOM, CITY OF VANCOUVER, RECOMMENDED THAT THE EVALUATION AND RANKING OF CMAQ AND STP PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD FOR APPROVAL TO THE RTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ED PICKERING, C-TRAN, SECONDED THE MOTION, AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
III. 2008 Transportation Improvement Board Grant Request, Action
Dale Robins, RTC, presented the 2008 Transportation Improvement Board Grant Request. Dale said the purpose of this agenda item is to outline the set of projects for submittal to the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) for statewide competitive funding. The TIB urban programs include the following: Urban Arterial Program (UAP), Urban Corridor Program (UCP), and Sidewalk Program (SP). In addition to the urban programs, TIB also has a Small City Arterial Program (SCAP) for cities with a population of 5,000 or less. Dale noted over the years, our region has worked cooperatively to coordinate efforts to develop successful statewide competitive grant applications. In order to continue the past success of our region, RTC and jurisdictions have been working together to coordinate TIB grant applications. Dale said an RTAC subcommittee met to develop projects.
Dale highlighted the projects that have been recommended as TIB project submittals: 1) NE 18th Street, 112th Avenue to 138th Avenue, (City of Vancouver), 2) NE 88th Street, Highway 99 to St. Johns Road (Clark County), 3) NE 88th Street St. Johns Road to Andresen Road, (Clark County), 4) NE 179th Street, Union Road to NE 29th Avenue, (Clark County), 5) NE 99th Street, SR-503 to NE 137th Avenue, (Clark County) and 6) E Street, (City of Washougal) was added to the list. Dale said the Small City Arterial and Sidewalk Program projects will not be discussed regionally. However, local agencies can submit these projects along with the regional package if desired.
Dale reviewed the schedule: August 30, 2006, Final Grant Applications due to RTC; August 31, 2006, Applications mailed to TIB; September 5, 2006, RTC Board endorsement of projects; and November 17, 2006, TIB selects projects. Dean concluded by saying RTC’s role is to support the development of project applications, help the best projects come forward, to insure all projects are in the Regional Transportation Plan, and to act as a region to support these projects.
BILL WRIGHT, CLARK COUNTY, MADE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND ENDORSEMENT OF THE PROJECTS FOR TIB FUNDING BY THE RTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BECKY EISIMINGER, PORT OF VANCOUVER, SECONDED THE MOTION. IT WAS UNANIMOSULY APPROVED.
IV. 2006-2009 Congestion Management Monitoring Scope of Work, Action
Dale Robins, RTC, presented the 2006-2009 Congestion Management Monitoring Scope of Work. Dale said as part of the requirements of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991, the RTC Board of Directors adopted the Congestion Management System for the Clark County region in May of 1995. This Congestion Management System provided a process for the continuing analysis of transportation network congestion to identify and implement needed transportation improvements. SAFETEA-LU requires that metropolitan planning areas serving as a TMA have a Congestion Management Process (CMP). Dale pointed out that in April of 2006; the RTC Board of Directors adopted the Congestion Management Process for this region. Dale explained the objective of the CMP is to provide a continuing analysis of transportation system congestion and help protect the region’s investment and improve the future transportation system. The CMP for the Clark County region supports the long-term transportation goals and objectives defined in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and assists in identifying needed transportation improvements. The CMP, through performance monitoring, also helps to identify system bottlenecks and potential solutions. The CMP has been integrated into and supports other federal, state, regional, and local requirements by providing a comprehensive view of the transportation system performance.
Dale said the 2006-2009 Congestion Management Monitoring (CMM) project will continue to monitor the region’s transportation system performance as it relates to the congestion management system transportation network. Dale said funds for CMM are programmed in the MTIP for 2006-2008 for $100,000 per year. We did not make a request for 2009 in the MTIP process. RTC will be asking for approval from RTAC and the RTC Board of Directors to use this $300,000 in CMAQ funds to implement the CMM process. Dale reviewed the Scope of Work and said the congestion management process includes: 1) Identification of congestion management system, 2) Monitoring of system performance to identify needs, and 3) Implementation of identified needs. Dale said the Congestion Management Monitoring program is focused on the monitoring of system performance to identified needs, but includes other elements. He highlighted these elements: 1) System Identification, 2) Data Collection, 3) Data Analysis, 4) Final Report, and 5) Implementation of Needs. Matt Ransom, City of Vancouver, said he would like to see more information and detail on performance measures.
Dean summarized saying the action requested of RTAC is to recommend that CMAQ funds programmed for years 2006, 2007 and 2008 can be used to implement the CMM program. It is anticipated that the funds programmed for the three years will see the program through to the end of 2009.
MATT RANSOM, CITY OF VANCOUVER, MADE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND THAT THE RTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS AUTHORIZE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2006-2009 CONGESTION MANAGEMENT MONITORING PROJECT. MIKE MABREY, CLARK COUNTY, SECONDED THE MOTION, AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
V. Commute Trip Reduction Program Update, Discussion
Lynda David, RTC, distributed information packets supplied by WSDOT on the CTR program. Information in the packets included:
- a copy of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6566, the CTR Efficiency Act
- Commute Trip Reduction Efficiency Act (Power point presentation)
- Commute Trip Reduction Program, Implementing the CTR Efficiency Act (May 2006, folio),
- Commute Trip Reduction Program CTR Efficiency Act Implementation (Frequently Asked Questions),
- Commute Trip Reduction Program 2006 (a summary)
- CTR Efficiency Act: Implementation Primer for ETCs,
- CD entitled “CTR Task Force 2005 Report to the Washington State Legislature”.
Lynda directed RTAC members to read through the “Commute Trip Reduction Program CTR Efficiency Act Implementation (Frequently Asked Questions).
Lynda said the updated CTR Act is designed to ensure that CTR plans and employer goals are coordinated with transportation and growth plans. Under the new law, the CTR program will be focused in Urban Growth Areas with the greatest need and potential benefit. UGAs determined to be part of the CTR program in Clark County are Vancouver, Camas, and Washougal. The law also encourages more aggressive CTR programs in concentrated areas known as Growth and Transportation Efficiency Center (GTECs) and gives programs more flexibility. The MPO/RTPO and local jurisdictions are required to develop Regional and Local CTR Plans to address how the CTR program will be implemented. A 16-member CTR Board made up of statewide representatives oversees the program by establishing policy, providing guidance, and allocating funding.
Lynda encouraged RTAC members to review CTR materials available on the WSDOT website. Lynda said currently WSDOT is seeking feedback on four draft rules elements for the CTR program (WAC) designed to provide guidance on CTR implementation. The four rules elements are: 1) Local and Regional CTR Planning, 2) Goals and Measurement, 3) Jurisdiction opt-in and 4) Growth and Transportation Efficiency Centers (GTECs). The rules were drawn up with input from a CTR implementation workgroup that has been meeting over the past few months.
Lynda said they are currently working on how to distribute funds and assistance for locals and the regions to develop their CTR Plans. WSDOT will develop a Plan template that jurisdictions can use as they are developing their CTR Plans. Plans will need to be updated every four years. The Plans themselves will need to address how to fund CTR efforts at the local level.
Matt Ransom, City of Vancouver, is a member of the 16-member CTR Board. He said one of the key issues with the new law is to have jurisdictions work with the affected employers with over 100 employees but also to try to integrate CTR planning into comprehensive plans to encourage alternative modes of transportation such as Rideshare. Matt said CTR Plans might be very complex or could be made simple depending on each jurisdiction. Matt would like to see an RTAC sub-committee, consisting of Clark County, Vancouver, Camas, and Washougal representatives, that could work together to develop the local and regional Plans and to work on goals, measurement and identifying the GTEC areas.
Mark Turpel, Metro, pointed out that Metro has the Regional Travel Options program and would like to see coordination of the programs on both sides of the river. Matt Ransom, City of Vancouver, said Jan Bowers is the CTR Coordinator for City of Vancouver and has been working with Metro to coordinate vanpool options. Matt said this would be a good bi-state effort.
VI. Other Business
A. RTAC Members
Katherine Klockenteger, WSDOT, distributed “The Washington Transportation Plan 2007-2026 “placemat” and “The Discussion Guide for WTP Public Outreach” for RTAC members to review. This information will also be available at the WTP Public Outreach Open House to be held on August 22, 2006, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., 6th Floor, Public Service Center. Dean and Katherine encouraged RTAC members to attend and to extend the invitation colleagues. Dean noted that a Press Release was published and the RTC Board of Directors was notified. The Open House is sponsored by the Washington State Transportation Commission. Katherine said comments could be made online before September 1st. The WTP should be adopted in the third week of September at the Washington State Transportation Commission meeting in Olympia.
B. RTC Staff
- Regional Collaboration Competitive Grant - Due September 15, 2006. Lynda encouraged RTAC members to go the CTED website for additional information. Lynda will forward to RTAC members the e-mail she received on this grant.
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program - Due September 20, 2006. Lynda said there is $7 million available to primarily address locations with an accident history.
- Safe Routes to School Program - Due October 2, 2006. Lynda said there is $7 million available.
- Regional Mobility Grant Program - Due October 13, 2006.
- GMA Modeling Update – Revised Alternatives 1 and 2. Mark Harrington, RTC, said he was working on revisions to the travel forecast model for GMA Alternatives 1 and 2. Mark will print out maps for TAZ to TAZ comparisons. Dean said out of this process will come a preferred alternative with a 2024 demographic forecast. RTC will be using the 2024 forecast as the basis for extending it to 2030 for transportation planning purposes. RTC will be working with local jurisdictions to complete the 2030 forecast.
- RTAC Bylaws: Dean Lookingbill, RTC, referred to the handout “Regional Transportation Advisory Committee Bylaws (redline). Dean asked RTAC members to review the proposed changes to RTAC Bylaws. In particular, he asked that members review the two alternative proposals for changes to RTAC membership. Dean said that whatever the decision on membership, there will need to be commitment from members to attend RTAC meetings regularly in order to achieve a quorum for meeting votes. Dean said RTAC should consider these suggested changes and let him know of RTAC feedback. Changes to RTAC Bylaws will be brought back to RTAC and then carried forward to the RTC Board of Directors.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m. The next meeting will be Friday, September 15, 2006.
Regional Transportation Council
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Vancouver, Washington 98660Tel: 360-397-6067
Fax: 360-397-6132
E-mail: info@rtc.wa.govServed by C-TRAN Route 3.
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