What's New?

Web Changes

This is where we'll announce the most recent additions to our web site, as well as provide notice of upcoming meetings, highlight recent media coverage of RTC and transportation issues in general, and provide you with the latest press releases RTC has issued.

If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first.

Clark County Household Travel Survey

In an effort to identify future travel needs and problem areas in the current transportation network, the Clark County Household Travel Survey begins August 26, 2009. Throughout the three month effort, travel information will be collected from 1,650 households randomly selected from across Clark County. The information will improve our ability to identify future transportation needs and invest public funds wisely in a system that will support the growth of local jobs and our economy, while maintaining Clark County's quality of life.

Regional Transportation Plans, 2009 Update

The Regional Transportation Plans (RTPs) for Klickitat County and Skamania County are the region's principal transportation planning document. They represent a regional transportation plan for each county and are developed through a coordinated process between local jurisdictions in order to develop regional solutions. The first RTPs for Klickitat County and Skamania County were adopted in April 1995. The RTPs have been updated over the years. The 2009 update to the RTPs uses 2030 as the horizon year and incorporates the latest available data. The RTPs are developed to meet the magnitude of transportation issues facing each region and the need for cooperation between jurisdictions in order to develop regional solutions. The RTPs are a plan which will meet the transportation needs over the next 20 years by implementing a regional transportation planning process.

Metropolitan Transportation Plan, 2007 Update, Amended 2008

In July 2008, the RTC Board of Directors amended the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) for Clark County, to include the Columbia River Crossing project's Locally Preferred Alternative. The MTP is the long-range regional transportation plan for the Clark County region. The 2007 update has a 2030 planning horizon and describes how the regional transportation system will be developed to provide mobility and accessibility for people and freight movement. The transportation system supports the land uses and economic development plans for the region described in the Comprehensive Growth Management Plans of local jurisdictions. The 2007 MTP update focused on review of the MTP’s policies and goals as well as update to the list of identified transportation projects to provide consistency with local Capital Facilities Plans.

Clark County High Capacity Transit System Study

The Clark County High Capacity Transit System Study report is the culmination of a two-year effort, on the part of RTC and its partner agencies, to develop a High Capacity Transit (HCT) System Plan. The plan includes bus rapid transit (BRT) in the Highway 99, Fourth Plain, and Mill Plain corridors and significant bus improvements in the I-205 corridor. The plan will serve as a guide for C-TRAN and the communities in Clark County as they move forward with improvements in the planning of future HCT Corridors. The Final Report, System Plan Map, and numerous other related documents, maps and factsheets are available online for your review on this study's Information page.

Regional Traffic Count Program

Our complete database of traffic counts, going back to the early 1980s, has been repackaged specifically for the web. The presentation is now entirely database driven, feeding you the most recent data we have, as we get it. 

We Moved!

Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council moved to the county's new Public Service Center on February 7, 2003. We now have a new Post Office box for our mailing address and fax line (see our press release for details). Our phone number and email addresses will remain unchanged.

I-5 Transportation & Trade Partnership

The I-5 Partnership brings together Washington and Oregon citizens and leaders to respond to concerns about growing congestion on I-5. The I-5 Partnership is looking at transportation needs in the I-5 corridor from I-84 in downtown Portland to I-205 north of Vancouver. To gather input from the broader public, the Task Force will host several public gatherings in Portland and Vancouver at key milestones in the process of developing the strategic plan.

Bi-State Coordination Committee

The Bi-State Coordination Committee has been organized to review all issues of bi-state significance for transportation and present recommended actions to JPACT and RTC. We've added a section to this website devoted to bringing you all the news from this committee.

Final Reports Now Online

Given the widespread adoption of Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), we've decided to provide complete online copies of reports we produce. Watch this space for more as they become available. Recent additions:

• Clark County High Capacity Transit System Study
• Metropolitan Transportation Plan, 2007 Update, Amended 2008
• Congestion Monitoring Report
• Human Services Transportation Plan
• SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Feasibility Study Report

Upcoming Meetings

These meetings are scheduled for the near future, or have recently had their minutes posted.

• Bi-State Coordination Committee -- The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, November 19, 2009, but has been canceled. There are no meetings yet scheduled for 2010.
  
  
• Regional Transportation Advisory Committee -- The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 20, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at RTC's offices, in the sixth floor training room of the Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, Washington. This location is served by C-TRAN Route 3. The October 16 meeting was canceled.
  
  
• Board of Directors Meeting -- The next Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council Board of Directors meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1, 2009, on the 6th Floor of the Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, Washington. This location is served by C-TRAN Route 3. Agendas and minutes from previous Board of Director's meetings and a schedule of 2009 meetings are also available for browsing.
  
  
• Meeting locations commonly used by RTC.
  
  

Press Releases

These are the press releases we've issued over the last few years.

2009

• Request for Qualfications: SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study, November 12
• Public Comment Period for Draft 2010-2013 MTIP, September 4
• Household Travel Survey to be Conducted in Clark County, Washington, August 25
• Request for Proposals: Transportation Data Collection, August 5
• Request for Qualfications: VAST Management and Operations Work Program, April 28
• Request for Qualfications: Clark County Freight Mobility Study, February 3

2008

• FHWA: Transportation Planning Process Public Meeting Notice, September 17
• Public Comment Period for DBE Goals, August 28
• Public Comment Period for Draft 2009-2012 MTIP, August 27
• RTC Board to Hold Public Comment Meeting July 9, 2008, on Amending Metropolitan Transportation Plan to Include the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Columbia River Crossing Project, June 30
• RTC Board to Consider Amending Metropolitan Transportation Plan to Include the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Columbia River Crossing Project, June 6

2007

• RTC to Hold Open House on Metropolitan Transportation Plan and New Corridors Visioning Study, November 8
• Open House slated to gather input on Future Transportation Corridors, October 31
• Public Comment Period for Draft 2007 Update of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan for Clark County, October 29
• Public Comment Period for Draft 2008-2011 MTIP, September 2
• Public Comment Period for DBE Goals, July 20
• Notification of RTC’s Public Participation Plan, May 8

2006

• WSDOT: WSDOT Offers Grants for Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation Projects, May 24
• Request for Proposals: On-Call Traffic Data Collection, April 19
• Request for Qualfications: HCT Corridors Study, April 10
• RTC Title VI Notice to the Public, March 15
• Public Comment Period for DBE Goals, March 15

2005

• Public Comment Period for Draft 2005 Update of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan for Clark County, November 4
• Public Comment Period for Draft FY 2006-2008 MTIP, September 2
• WSDOT: WSDOT Announces Decision to Conclude I-5 Vancouver HOV Lane Pilot Project, August 2
• WSDOH: Community leaders and citizens learn about ways to encourage active living, June 15
• WSDOT: Information from Sixth I-5 Vancouver HOV Lane Pilot Project Evaluation Report Now Available, March 1

2004

• WSDOT: Information from Latest I-5 Vancouver HOV Lane Pilot Project Evaluation Report Now Available, December 10
• USDOT: Transportation Planning Process Public Meeting Notice, August 26
• Public Comment Period for Draft FY 2005-2008 MTIP, August 26
• The National Walkable Community Workshop Series Kicks Off In Clark County, April 21
• Public Hearing Scheduled to Review and Comment on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study, January 7

2003

• MTIP Public Open House Scheduled for September 25, 2003, September 15
• Public Open House for SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study Scheduled for May 15, 2003, May 2
• WSDOT: WSDOT Announces Vancouver HOV Lane Decision, February 14
• We're Moving!, January 23

2002

• Study to Focus on Skamania Public Transportation Needs, September 16
• Decision Scheduled for Possible Continuation of SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study, June 10
• Options Narrowed for SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study, May 14
• WSDOT: Information from HOV Evaluation Report #2 Available, April 25
• MTP/TIP Public Meeting: March 14, 2002, February 28
• Vancouver Area Smart Trek Forum: March 19, 2002, February 27
• WSDOT: Public Input on I-5 Corridor Transportation Improvements Working Draft Recommendations Sought at Two Open Houses, January 10
• WSDOT: WSDOT Recommends Shorter Hours of Operation for Vancouver HOV Lane to SW Regional Transportation Commission Board, January 9
• WSDOT: DOT Announces Public Meeting for Planned I-5 Widening Project from Salmon Creek to I-205, January 8

2001

• WSDOT: Vancouver HOV Lane to Open October 29, October 12
• Regional Transportation Council and Portland’s Joint Policy Committee on Transportation Support Delta Park Widening Project as a High Priority, October 4
• Public Open House for SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study Scheduled for October 11, 2001, September 28
• Portland-Vancouver Bi-State Transportation Committee Supports Delta Park Widening Project as a Top Priority, September 27
• I-205 Corridor Study Citizens' Committee Meeting: September 6, 2001, August 17
• Notification of Public Involvement Plan, August 6
• Options Narrowed for SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study, July 26
• I-205 Corridor Study Citizens' Committee Meeting: March 22, 2001, March 13
• I-205 Corridor Study Citizens' Committee Meeting: February 22, 2001, February 8

2000

• Long Range Transportation Plan to be Amended, November 28
• Public Event for SR-35 Crossing Study, October 12, 2000, October 3
• Open House: Let's Look at Our Alternatives!, September 13, 2000, September 7
• I-205 Corridor Study Citizens' Committee Meeting: September 21, 2000, September 5
• Second Phase of SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Study Begins, August 22
• Open House: Let's Talk Transportation!, August 26, 2000, August 15
• I-205 Corridor Study Citizens' Committee Meeting: August 24, 2000, August 14
• Board Meeting (August 1) Relocated, July 30
• I-205 Corridor Study Citizens' Committee Meeting: June 22, 2000, June 12
• I-205 Corridor Study Citizens' Committee Meeting: May 25, 2000, May 15
• I-205 Corridor Study Citizens' Committee Meeting: February 17, 2000, February 10
• Transportation Projects Receive Statewide Competitive Funding, January 31
• Advanced Transportation (ITS) Workshop, January 5

1999

• Open House will present preferred option for I-5 HOV lanes, December 1
• I-205 Corridor Study Third Citizens' Committee: December 9, 1999, December 1
• I-205 Corridor Study Citizens Committee is Underway, November 4
• Skamania County Transportation Projects Receive Statewide Competitive Funding, October 25
• Klickitat County Transportation Projects Receive Statewide Competitive Funding, October 25
• Open House will review options for possible extension of I-5 HOV lanes, October 25
• Delta Park I-5 Improvement, October 14
• I-205 Corridor Study Begins / Open House, September 17
• MTP/TIP Public Meeting, September 1
• I-5 HOV Operational Study Open House, August 18
• Transportation Projects Receive Statewide Competitive Funding, March 29

1998

• RFQ: I-205 Strategic Corridor Pre-Design Study, November 16
• RFQ: SR-35 Columbia River Crossing Feasibility Study, November 2
• MTP/TIP Public Meeting, September 10
• Citizens Stakeholders Committee Meeting for HOV Study, June 24
• Regional Transportation Plans to be Discussed, May 27
• Citizens Stakeholders Committee Meeting for HOV Study, May 21
• Citizens Stakeholders Committee Meeting for HOV Study, April 15
• Open House on Bi-State Transportation Options, March 20

1997

• Citizens Stakeholders Committee Meeting, December 10
• Regional Transportation Plan to be Discussed, October 31
• Citizens Stakeholders Committee Meeting for HOV Study, October 21
• Transportation Projects Receive Statewide Competitive Funding, June 20
• Latest Bridge Closure News Available on Web, May 15
• Portland-Vancouver Meets Air Quality Standards for Smog, April 30
• Regional Traffic Counts Available on the RTC Web Site, January 17
• RTC Establishes Internet Presence, January 17

Transportation News & Local Media Coverage of RTC

• State of the County -- Craig A. Pridemore, chair of the Clark County Board of Commissioners delivered this address on February 7, 2003.
  
  
• State of the City 2003 -- Vancouver Mayor Royce E. Pollard looks back at 2002 and ahead to 2003 and beyond in an address delivered on January 8, 2003.
  
  
• Beat the Bridge -- A collection of articles, from The Oregonian (Portland, OR) and The Columbian (Vancouver, WA), related to the September 1997 I-5 bridge closure.