AGENDA Wednesday, November 8, 2017 7:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. Thurston Regional Planning Council Conference Room A, 1 st Floor 2424 Heritage Court SW, Suite Olympia, WA 98502-6031 1. Introductions/Announcements/Updates Andy Ryder, Chair TRPC Staff 2. Approval of Agenda ACTION Andy Ryder, Chair 3. Approval of Meeting Notes from September 13, 2017 Attachment ACTION Andy Ryder, Chair 4. Public Comment Period 5. 7:20 7:30 Business and Citizen Representatives Attachment The Board will consider the recommendation of the Interview Panel on candidates to fill the Business and Citizen Representative slots. 6. 7:30 7:45 2018 Work Program Attachment Staff will provide an overview of the 2018 Work Program that is slated for adoption by the Council at their December 2017 meeting. 7. 7:45 7:55 Call for Projects Update Attachment The Policy Board is scheduled to review/make recommendations on the applications at the December 2017 meeting. 8. 7:55 8:05 Revisions to Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) Amendment Process Attachment Staff will brief the Board on TRPC revisions to the process for amending the RTIP. 9. 8:05 8:15 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Plan Update Attachment Staff will provide an overview of a recent workshop and progress on updating this plan. 10. 8:15 8:25 2018 Legislative Session Attachment The Board will discuss responses from Board and Council on a recent survey of priorities for the 2018 State Legislative session. Outside Committee Report At the discretion of the chair, this item may be covered in the After Meeting Summary. ACTION Karen Parkhurst Karen Parkhurst Veena Tabbutt Paul Brewster Holly Gilbert Scott Carte Steve Xu DISCUSSION Karen Parkhurst Doug DeForest NEXT MEETING December 13, 2017 Plan for an Extended meeting for Project Review 7:00 am to 9:00 am TRPC ensures full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by prohibiting discrimination against any person based on race, color, national origin, or sex in the provision of benefits and services resulting from its federally assisted programs and activities. For questions regarding TRPC's Title VI Program, you may contact the Department's Title VI Coordinator at 360.956.7575. If you need special accommodations to participate in this meeting, please call us at 360.956.7575 by 10:00 a.m. three days prior to the meeting. Ask for the ADA Coordinator. For TDD users, please use the state s toll-free relay service, 711 and ask the operator to dial 360.956.7575. ThurstonHeretoThere.org is an easy-to-navigate website which includes information on carpooling, vanpooling, rail, air, bus, bike, walking, health, telework and flexible schedules, recreation, and school transportation. Please consider using an alternate mode to attend this meeting: bike, walk, bus, carpool, or vanpool. This facility is served by Intercity Transit Routes 43 and 44.
MINUTES OF MEETING TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD Wednesday, September 13, 2017 2424 Heritage Court SW Conference Room A, 1 st Floor Olympia, WA 98502 Call to Order Board member John Hutchings called the meeting to order at 7:01 a.m. Attendance Members Present: City of Olympia City of Tumwater Thurston County City of Rainier City of Tenino City of Yelm North Thurston Public Schools Intercity Transit State Government WSDOT Business Rep Citizen Rep Members Absent: City of Lacey Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation Nisqually Indian Tribe Port of Olympia Business Rep Business Rep Citizen Rep Clark Gilman, Council member Pete Kmet, Mayor John Hutchings, Commissioner Jonathan Stephenson, Council member John O Callahan, Council member Tracey Wood, Council member John Suessman, Staff Don Melnick, Board member Tomy Mollas, DES Staff (alternate) JoAnn Schueler, Staff Doug DeForest Martha Hankins Andy Ryder, Chair VACANT Heidi Thomas, Staff EJ Zita, Commissioner VACANT VACANT Graeme Sackrison, Vice Chair Staff Present: Holly Gilbert, Senior Planner Karen Parkhurst, Program & Policy Director Paul Brewster, Senior Planner Sarah Selstrom, Administrative Assistant Scott Carte, GIS Coordinator Veena Tabbutt, Research & Data Director Others Present: Scott Davis, Thurston County Steve Johnson, Thurston County Eric Phillips, Intercity Transit Martin Hoppe, City of Lacey Randy Wesselman, City of Olympia Rob LaFontaine, Intercity Transit Joel Carlson, Sierra Club
Minutes of Meeting September 13, 2017 Page 2 of 3 Agenda Item 1 INFORMATION Introductions/Announcements/Updates All present provided self-introductions. Programs & Policy Director Karen Parkhurst announced she would be sending out a survey tool to help identify legislative issues members would like to see brought up in 2018. Ms. Parkhurst also reported work to schedule interviews for the open Business and Citizen representative positions was continuing. Research & Data Director Veena Tabbutt reported on the August 30 th Urban & Rural Centers meeting and indicated it would be televised on TCTV. Ms. Tabbutt announced upcoming work on the population and employment forecast and asked for volunteers to serve on the stakeholder group. Board members Ryder, Stephenson, O Callahan, Gilman, Hankins, and Melnick volunteered. Agenda Item 2 ACTION Agenda Item 3 ACTION Agenda Item 4 Agenda Item 5 ACTION Agenda Item 6 ACTION Agenda Item 7 ACTION Senior Planner Paul Brewster announced three recent funding awards in the region. Approval of Agenda Board member O Callahan moved, seconded by Board member Melnick, to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Approval of Meeting Notes from July 12, 2017 Board member O Callahan moved, seconded by Board member DeForest, to approve the meeting notes. Motion carried unanimously. Public Comment There were no public comments. Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) Amendment 17-10 Senior Planner Holly Gilbert briefed the Board on RTIP Amendment 17-10, and asked for a recommendation to TRPC. The proposed amendment included five proposed project additions 4 from WSDOT and 1 from the City of Lacey. Board member DeForest moved, seconded by Board member O Callahan, to recommend TRPC approve the amendment. Motion carried unanimously. Regional Transportation Improvement Program Amendment (RTIP) Update Senior Planner Holly Gilbert briefed the Board on the draft 2018-2021 RTIP and asked that a recommendation be forwarded to TRPC. Board member O Callahan moved, seconded by Board member Melnick, to recommend TRPC approve the 2018-2021 RTIP. Motion carried unanimously. Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Amendment Programs & Policy Director Karen Parkhurst briefed the Board on proposed amendments to the Regional Transportation Plan and asked that a recommendation be forwarded to TRPC. Board member O Callahan moved, seconded by Board member DeForest, to recommend TRPC approve the proposed amendments to the Regional Transportation Plan. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes of Meeting September 13, 2017 Page 3 of 3 Agenda Item 8 Transportation Work Program Research & Data Director Veena Tabbutt and Programs & Policy Director Karen Parkhurst briefed the Board on changes to the process in developing the transportation work program and asked for input on possible work to be discussed at the retreat. Ms. Tabbutt explained that the transportation work program would now be developed along with the agency work program, on a yearly basis as per guidance from Federal Highways, Federal Transit Administration and WSDOT. Ms. Tabbutt and Ms. Parkhurst reviewed the six topics currently on tap for discussion at the retreat in October: 1) develop a greenhouse gas emissions framework; 2) update the Vision Reality report; 3) reconvene the Urban Corridors Task Force; 4) pre-step to conducting an alternatives analysis to determine what types of high capacity transit the region may be able to support in the future; 5) an I-5 Study pre-step; and 6) updating transportation finance studies. Agenda Item 9 Agenda Item 10 The Board asked that emerging technology and emergency response be added to the retreat topics. State of Our Transportation System Research & Data Director Veena Tabbutt presented the recently completed State of Our Transportation System report. The report provided information on the topics of Pavement Preservation, Fish Passage Barriers, and Bridges. Outside Committee Reports Board member DeForest reported on his attendance at the Puget Sound Regional Council TPB meeting. He suggested a possible presentation from WSDOT following a recent reorganization. Adjournment There being no further business, Board member Hutchings adjourned the meeting at 8:36 a.m. John Hutching, Acting Chair Minutes prepared by Sarah Selstrom, Administrative Assistant Thurston Regional Planning Council These minutes are not verbatim. A verbatim transcript of this meeting is available upon request.
AGENDA ITEM #5 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Karen M. Parkhurst, Programs & Policy Director DATE: October 30, 2017 SUBJECT: Business and Citizen Representatives PURPOSE To discuss the results of a TRPC/TPB survey on priority issues for the 2018 state Legislative Session. Summary: TPB by-laws allow for two citizen representatives and three business representatives, who serve for a term of one or two years, with terms staggered to provide for continuity. While there is no limit to the number of terms a citizen or business representative may serve, at the end of the second term, the Chair initiates a recruitment process. Citizen Representative Martha Hankins indicated that she can no longer serve. Business Representative Doug DeForest expressed his interest in continuing. The Interview Subcommittee consisting of Chair Ryder, Vice Chair Sackrison, John Hutchings, and Don Melnick conducted six interviews on October 6. Of the six Business applicants, one was unavailable for the interview and one of the two Citizen applicants dropped out. The Interview Subcommittee recommends the following appointments: o BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES: Doug DeForest 1 year term Joel Baxter, Dir. of Gov. Affairs, Olympia MasterBuilders 2 year term Renee Radcliff Sinclair, President, TVW 2 year term o CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVE: Kevin Pestinger 1 year term REQUESTED ACTION Review the recommendation of the Interview Subcommittee and act to appoint new business and citizen representatives.
MEMORANDUM Page 2 October 30, 2017 AGENDA ITEM #6 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Karen M. Parkhurst, Programs & Policy Director Veena Tabbutt, Research & Data Director DATE: October 30, 2017 SUBJECT: 2018 Transportation Planning Priorities PURPOSE To discuss the 2018 Transportation Planning Priorities in preparation for Council adoption in December 2017. Summary: TRPC approved a two-year Regional Transportation Planning Priorities work program on May 6, 2016. This work program funds activities from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018. Many of the work program activities are required or ongoing elements. Staff has prepared a list of Major 2018 Initiatives. The Board will be asked to consider which initiative they would like to dive deeper into, including possible formation of a subcommittee. This program is funded through Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds. REQUESTED ACTION Discussion and direction on which project the Policy Board would like to dive into.
MEMORANDUM Page 2 October 30, 2017 BACKGROUND TRPC approved a two-year Regional Transportation Planning Priorities work program on May 6, 2016. This work program funded TRPC transportation priority activities from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018. It is now time to review progress on the planning activities, and develop a work program for July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. In past years, the Regional Transportation Planning Priorities were developed in concert with the Required Planning Activities outlined in our Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). Following guidance from our UPWP funding agencies Federal Highways, Federal Transit Administration, and Washington State Department of Transportation we will no longer combine the two work programs. Starting in 2017, we will develop the Regional Transportation Planning Priorities Work Program in concert with our annual Agency Work program. Ongoing Activities Much of this work program consists of ongoing programs such as local agency support, inter-regional coordination, modeling, information technology, communication and outreach, response to emerging issues, and support for the Council, the Policy Board, and the Technical Assistance Committee. Major 2018 Initiatives Based on discussions with the Council and Policy Board, the following items reflect the major initiatives for 2018 (not in priority order). 1. Transportation Model Morning Peak Calibration: Calibration of regional travel demand model to morning peak period. The model is currently calibrated to the afternoon peak period, but adding a morning module is necessary for assessing I-5 conditions. 2. Sustainable Thurston and Monitoring: Includes annual Mainstreet Journal and update of Sustainable Thurston Report Card. In 2018, will include a 5-year update on progress on Sustainable Thurston actions. 3. State of the System report: The first report was completed in 2017. In 2018, staff will work with TPB and TAC to determine next topics and begin data collection. The next report will likely be issued in 2019. 4. Economics and Transportation: Participate in transportation-related economic development activities. 5. Update regional population and employment forecast: The county level forecasts will be finalized in early 2018. A major work effort to update the land supply files and small area (city, town, planning area) forecast will be undertaken in 2018. 6. Update Regional Trails Plan: The Regional Trails plan was adopted in 2007. The update of the Plan will begin in 2018 and conclude in 2019. 7. Vehicles miles traveled study (Vision Reality effort): Continue exploring pathways to meeting our vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emission goals. This work program was initiated in 2017 and will conclude in early 2018, and will then be incorporated into the Regional Transportation Plan update. 8. Update Transportation Funding Plan: The last transportation funding plan Guide to Financing the Regional Transportation Plan was updated in 1999. This work program will develop a funding plan for the current and future RTPs. 9. Conduct a pre-step to the I-5 study: Expand WSDOT s I-5 Dynameq model to extend from Tumwater to SR512. Use the model to analyze current and future delay in the corridor with and without improvements to the Joint Base Lewis-McChord corridor. 10. Explore local policy options regarding emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (EVI).
MEMORANDUM Page 1 September 29, 2017 AGENDA ITEM #7 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Paul Brewster, Senior Planner DATE: October 30, 2017 SUBJECT: Regional 2018-2020 STP and CMAQ Call for Projects Process Update PURPOSE To receive a briefing on the 2018-2020 Surface Transportation Program (STP), and Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) Call for Projects process. Summary: On October 6, TRPC approved a call for projects process to award $500,000 in federal STP funding for FFY 2018 and $1.2 million in CMAQ funding for FFY 2018 and 2020. A description of the process was included in the October TPB meeting packet. Applications were accepted until October 27. The Technical Advisory Committee will review proposals on November 2. TPB members will have an early opportunity to review the proposals On December 13, the TPB will review the proposals, and forward a funding recommendation to TRPC. TRPC will approve projects for funding on January 5. REQUESTED ACTION No Action is requested.
AGENDA ITEM 8 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Holly Gilbert, Senior Planner DATE: October 30, 2017 SUBJECT: Revisions to RTIP Amendment Process PURPOSE Brief the (TPB) on revisions made by TRPC to the process for amending the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP). Summary: In July, both the Council and TPB discussed a staff proposal to revise the process for amending the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP), when project changes occur in between the annual updates to the document. In October, the Council continued the discussion, and were briefed on TPB input given at their July meeting. At their November meeting, the Council adopted a resolution revising the process for amending the RTIP as follows: 1. Public notice for formal amendments to the RTIP will be published on TRPC s website, and will no longer be published in the Olympian. 2. The RTIP Administrative Modification process will apply to the following two additional categories of RTIP amendments: a. All amendments where the purpose is to change only state or local dollars, meaning federal funding is not affected. b. All WSDOT projects, unless reviewing staff determine a formal amendment is warranted. 3. The (TPB) will approve RTIP formal amendments, with the opportunity for TRPC to provide input. The primary purpose for the revisions to the process is to help jurisdictions move their transportation projects forward more quickly and efficiently during the limited construction season, while still preserving adequate review. REQUESTED ACTION None. For TPB information and discussion.
MEMORANDUM Page 2 October 30, 2017 BACKGROUND ON RTIP AMENDMENTS The Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) is a four-year programming document derived from the comprehensive six-year Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs) that local jurisdictions, and Intercity Transit, each develop and adopt annually. In turn, the RTIP is used by the state to prepare the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The RTIP is updated annually. Each fall, the Council reviews and approves a new four year RTIP. But in between the annual updates, federal requirements stipulate that when certain changes are made to projects, an amendment to the original RTIP document is required. This in turn then triggers an amendment to the STIP. The RTIP amendment process is important because a jurisdiction cannot proceed with a project for which it has been awarded federal money until the STIP is formally amended and approved by the federal agencies. Depending upon the kind of change required of the RTIP, this amendment may be either a formal amendment or a streamlined administrative modification. The formal amendment process currently takes thirteen weeks for a project to make its way through both the RTIP and STIP processes, and the administrative modification process takes four to five weeks. Those portions of these processes which involve the relevant state and federal agencies role in amending the STIP are not something which TRPC can make decisions on regarding changes to the process. However, TRPC can make changes to the part of the process involving the RTIP amendment process. TRPC staff has consulted with WSDOT on the issues under consideration. EARLIER DISCUSSION ON STREAMLING THE RTIP AMENDMENT PROCESS In July and October, the Council discussed a TRPC staff proposal to revise the process for amending the RTIP. In July, the TPB also received a briefing on the proposal and had a robust discussion. In the Council s October briefing, TPB input was provided. At their November meeting, the Council approved the proposed revisions to the RTIP amendment process. The primary purpose for considering revisions to the RTIP amendment process is to help jurisdictions move their transportation projects forward more quickly and efficiently during the limited construction season, while still preserving adequate review. REVISED RTIP AMENDMENT PROCESS The process for amending the RTIP has been revised as follows: 1. Public notice for formal amendments to the RTIP will be published on TRPC s website, and will no longer be published in the Olympian. 2. The RTIP Administrative Modification process will apply to the following two additional categories of RTIP amendments: a. All amendments where the purpose is to change only state or local dollars, meaning federal funding is not affected. b. All WSDOT projects, unless reviewing staff determine a formal amendment is warranted. The Council and TPB will continue to receive a periodic informational report on Administrative Modifications, as they have in the past.
MEMORANDUM Page 3 October 30, 2017 3. The (TPB) will approve RTIP formal amendments, with the opportunity for TRPC to provide input. This opportunity will be provided by including an informational staff report on formal amendments in the Council s packet. If a Council member has comments or concerns they would like the TPB to consider when they meet the following week, they will raise those during the meeting, or to staff prior to the meeting, and they will be conveyed to the TPB when the next TPB meeting. These revisions to the RTIP Amendment process do not change the Council s role in the Annual Update of the RTIP, which it will continue to review and approve. These changes only affect amendments to the RTIP, which happen in between those annual updates. With the adoption of the above revisions, the criteria for the formal amendment process are listed below. Projects which do not meet these criteria will go through the administrative modification process: Revised Criteria for Formal RTIP Amendments The below criteria apply to non-wsdot projects only. Changes to WSDOT projects are handled as administrative modifications, unless reviewing staff determine a formal amendment is warranted. Addition of a project not already included in the RTIP, including Appendices. A major change in federal funding that meets the following criteria: 1) greater than or equal to $100,000 and greater than or equal to 30% of total funds of all project phases programmed in the RTIP, or 2) any amount greater than or equal to $3 million. A major change in design concept or scope, including any project that would affect air quality conformity. For example, changing the number of through traffic lanes. Public comment on these revisions was published in the Olympian, and on TRPC s website. As of the date of writing this report, no public comment has been received. The Council s approving action also amended the revised RTIP Amendment process into the 2018-2021 Regional Transportation Improvement Program. EFFECT OF REVISIONS ON THE RTIP AMENDMENT PROCESS TIMELINE These revisions will shorten the formal amendment process by five weeks, from the current length of thirteen weeks, down to eight weeks. Similarly, those projects which will now move through the administrative modification process rather than the formal amendment process, will be shortened by eight to nine weeks going from a thirteen week process, down to a four or five week process. Most importantly, this time savings will significantly assist local jurisdictions in being able to move their transportation projects forward more quickly and efficiently during the limited construction season, while still preserving adequate review. Of secondary importance, but still of note, it will also save staff and policy maker time in meetings, as well as save jurisdictional and TRPC resources.
AGENDA ITEM # 9 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Scott Carte, GIS Coordinator Veena Tabbutt, Research & Data Director DATE: October 30, 2017 SUBJECT: Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture Update PURPOSE Brief (TPB) on Regional ITS Architecture Update Summary: Staff are currently working on updating the ITS Architecture for the Thurston Region. Staff worked with FHWA and Iteris Consulting to conduct a Regional Workshop on October 17th to begin the data collection effort. Staff will update TPB on the overall process REQUESTED ACTION Information Only.
AGENDA ITEM #10 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Karen M. Parkhurst, Programs & Policy Director DATE: October 30, 2017 SUBJECT: 2018 State Legislative Priorities PURPOSE To discuss results of a TPB/TRPC survey of potential priorities for the 2018 state legislative session. Summary: Each year, the Regional Council decides on important regional issues to bring to our State Legislative delegation and other members of the Legislature. Legislators prefer a concise list of issues and specific requests. To begin the prioritization process, staff distributed a survey to Council and Board members to solicit draft priorities. Staff will provide an overview of those results. Throughout the fall, staff will work with local groups, statewide associations, the South Sound and Military Communities Partnership, Shared Legislative Strategies group, and individual contracted lobbyists to align messages on issues of mutual interest. REQUESTED ACTION Discussion only.