AGENDA Transportation Policy Board Wednesday, July 12, 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 Urban Corridors Meeting Save the Date Citizen & Business Representatives September Meeting No August Meeting Retreat 9/13/17: 8:00 am 3:00 pm (location pending) Andy Ryder, Chair TRPC Staff 2. Approval of Agenda ACTION Andy Ryder, Chair 3. Approval of Meeting Notes from June 14, 2017 (Attachment) ACTION Andy Ryder, Chair 4. Public Comment Period 5. 7:10 7:35 Rideshare Companies & Last Mile Transportation Service (Attachment) As part of our transit and high capacity transportation discussion, an Uber representative will discuss the role of rideshare companies, especially in providing last mile transportation that often short and difficult distance from a hub to the final destination. 6. 7:35 7:50 Thurston Thrives Community Design Action Team Update (Attachment) Thurston County Public Health will provide information about a new tool for gathering trail walkshed data. 7. 7:50 8:05 Regional Transportation Improvement Program Amendment (RTIP) Process (Attachment) Staff will propose a revision that shortens the process for amending the RTIP. 8. 8:05 8:20 State of Our Transportation System Report (Attachment) In response to requests from the Council and Policy Board, staff created a report that discusses the state of our pavement preservation, bridges, and fish passage barriers. 9. 8:20 8:30 Council Retreat Summary Executive Director Daily will report on the Council s June 2, 2017 annual retreat. 10. Outside Committee Reports At the Chair s discretion, this item may be covered in the After Meeting Summary. Additional Attachment 1. Retreat Notice NO AUGUST MEETING Jackson Taylor, Manager, Community Partnerships Chris Hawkins, Thurston County Public Health ACTION Holly Gilbert Veena Tabbutt Scott Carte Marc Daily Doug DeForest TPB RETREAT: September 13, 2017 8:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. (Location pending) 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, June 14, 2017 2424 Heritage Court SW Conference Room A, 1 st Floor Olympia, WA 98502 Call to Order Chair Andy Ryder called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. Attendance Members Present: City of Olympia City of Lacey 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 Citizen Rep Members Absent: Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation Nisqually Indian Tribe Port of Olympia Business Rep Business Rep Clark Gilman, Council member Andy Ryder, Chair 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 George Carter III, DES Staff JoAnn Schueler, Staff Doug DeForest Graeme Sackrison, Vice Chair Martha Hankins VACANT Heidi Thomas, Staff EJ Zita, Commissioner VACANT VACANT Staff Present: Marc Daily, Executive Director Jared Burbidge, Deputy Director Karen Parkhurst, Program & Policy Director Paul Brewster, Senior Planner Sarah Selstrom, Administrative Assistant Veena Tabbutt, Research & Data Director Others Present: Dennis Engel, WSDOT, Olympic Region Kathy Murray, WSDOT, Headquarters Matt Pahs, WSDOT, Rail, Freight, & Ports Division Scott Davis, Thurston County Martin Hoppe, City of Lacey Brandon Hicks, City of Tumwater Dennis Bloom, Intercity Transit Elizabeth Robbins, WSDOT Mark McCaskill, WA State Dept. of Commerce, Growth Management Services Jane Wall, AWC Sophie Stimson, City of Olympia
Transportation Policy Board Minutes of Meeting June 14, 2017 Page 2 of 3 Agenda Item 1 INFORMATION Introductions/Announcements/Updates All present provided self-introductions. Programs & Policy Director Karen Parkhurst reported that TRPC, at their June meeting, approved two Policy Board recommendations the MPA boundary expansion and the reauthorization of funds for Intercity Transit. Agenda Item 2 ACTION Agenda Item 3 ACTION Agenda Item 4 Agenda Item 5 PRESENTATION Agenda Item 6 Agenda Item 7 DISCUSSION Agenda Item 8 DISCUSSION Ms. Parkhurst also announced the Business Representative interviews are scheduled for later in the month, that there was no RTIP amendment this month, and she indicated she would include in the after meeting summary the information asked for at the last meeting about the cost per individual for Sound Transit funding. Approval of Agenda Board member O Callahan moved, seconded by Board member DeForest, to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Approval of Meeting Notes from May 10, 2017 Board member Sackrison moved, seconded by Board member O Callahan, to approve the meeting notes. Motion carried unanimously. Public Comment There were no public comments. Washington Transportation Plan Phase 2 Kathy Murray and Matt Pahs, WSDOT, updated the Board on Phase 2 (Implementation and Freight System Plan) of the Washington Transportation Plan. Policy Board members asked questions about various topics, including technology and how that will change the way people and goods travel and how our system operates. WSDOT is currently in the outreach phase, hopes to have a final Plan by early December, and would like feedback from the Board on Phase 2 and the Freight Plans. Ms. Parkhurst asked if the members wanted to comment as a Board and they directed staff to draft comments for their review. Safety Performance Measures Research & Data Director Veena Tabbutt briefed the Board on Federal Safety Performance Measures and the process by which targets will be adopted into the Regional Transportation Plan. High Capacity Transportation What s Next? Programs & Policy Director Karen Parkhurst reviewed High Capacity Transportation (HCT) topics discussed from late 2016 through today and asked for direction on next steps for continuing to explore HTC options for the region. The Board discussed possibly developing a HCT plan and what the pieces of such a plan would look like, and the possibility of holding a public forum to educate the public on what is and is not possible, the cost per mile of different options, and what each would cost per taxpayer, as well as the cost of NOT doing anything. It was suggested this be added to the Retreat as a topic of discussion. TPB Retreat September 2017 Programs & Policy Director Karen Parkhurst distributed a Save the Date flyer for the TPB retreat on September 13 th and indicated the primary work of the day will be to develop the work program deciding what to focus on over the next year, beyond the have to s.
Transportation Policy Board Minutes of Meeting June 14, 2017 Page 3 of 3 Agenda Item 9 Agenda Item 10 2017 State Legislative Session Programs & Policy Director Karen Parkhurst indicated it was likely the Legislature would be called into a third session, which could result in a possible government shutdown if a budget is not adopted by June 30 th. Chair Ryder asked about the construction along I-5 that is resulting in huge backups at Mounts Road. Board member Schueler explained it was the first step of the JBLM plan and should be complete by the end of the construction season. Ms. Parkhurst indicated she would contact WSDOT and inquire about an update on the plan. Outside Committee Reports Board member DeForest reported on his attendance at the Puget Sound Regional Council TPB meeting. Adjournment There being no further business, Chair Ryder adjourned the meeting at 8:27 a.m. Andy Ryder, 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: Transportation Policy Board Karen M. Parkhurst, Programs & Policy Director DATE: July 5, 2017 SUBJECT: Rideshare Companies - Uber PURPOSE To better understand the role that rideshare companies, such as Uber, play in our multimodal transportation system. Summary: The Policy Board continues its discussion of transit and high capacity transportation options, with Jackson Taylor from Uber discussing the role of rideshare companies. This role includes not only direct origin to destination services, but also last mile transportation connecting someone from a home to a hub such as a transit station, where they will travel to their destination. REQUESTED ACTION None. Discussion only.
AGENDA ITEM #6 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Transportation Policy Board Karen M. Parkhurst, Programs & Policy Director DATE: July 5, 2017 SUBJECT: Thurston Thrives Active Community Design Strategies PURPOSE To provide an update on the efforts of the Thurston Thrives Community Design team. Summary: Building on the information and strategies of Sustainable Thurston, in 2013 the Thurston County Board of Health and a partnership of community organizations kicked off Thurston Thrives an initiative to improve our county s health. Community members serve on the initiatives eight action teams: Clinical & Emergency Care, Community Design, Education & Resilience, Economy, Environment (including Climate & Clean Energy), Food, Housing, and Public Safety & Justice. Policy Board member Pete Kmet serves on the Community Design Team. The Community Design Action Team set forth a vision that People are physically active in their daily lives. County Public Health staff will provide an overview of the team s activities, including a TRPC-created App for gathering trail data. REQUESTED ACTION None. Discussion only.
AGENDA ITEM #7 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Transportation Policy Board Holly Gilbert, Senior Planner DATE: July 5, 2017 SUBJECT: RTIP Amendment Process PURPOSE Discuss a proposal to revise process for amendments to the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP). Summary: TRPC staff drafted a proposal to revise the process for amending the RTIP for consideration by the Council, with input from the TPB. The primary purpose of the revision is to help jurisdictions move their transportation projects forward more quickly and efficiently during the limited construction season, while still preserving adequate review. The main components of the proposal consist of: 1) Recommending that the Transportation Policy Board (TPB) assume the review and approval of RTIP amendments, rather than the Council. 2) Moving public notice process from publication in the Olympian to publication on TRPC s website. 3) Recommending that certain kinds of project changes move from the formal amendment process to the administrative modification process. The proposal would shorten the formal amendment processing from its current length of thirteen weeks to eight weeks, a savings of five weeks. The proposal does not change the Council s role in the annual update of the RTIP, which it would continue to review and approve. REQUESTED ACTION Discuss the proposal and make a recommendation to TRPC.
MEMORANDUM Page 2 July 5, 2017 BACKGROUND 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. PROPOSED REVISIONS TO RTIP AMENDMENT PROCESS The primary purpose of the proposal to revise 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. Of secondary importance, but still important, the proposal will save both jurisdictional and TRPC resources. The main components of the proposal consist of the following recommendations: 1) That the Transportation Policy Board (TPB) assume the role of reviewing and approving RTIP amendments, rather than the Council. The proposal does not change the Council s role in the annual update of the RTIP, which it would continue to review and approve. 2) That the public comment process move from legal notice in the newspaper to notice on TRPC s website. Publishing legal notice of RTIP amendments in the newspaper does not have a history of generating public comment. The newspaper legal notice both adds time to the process and uses TRPC resources on something that is not effective in generating public comment. Members of the public who might be interested in RTIP amendments are likely to look at the agency s website instead. 3) That the following kinds of project changes move from the formal amendment to the administrative modification process: a. All WSDOT projects b. Projects where just local or state dollars are being changed. These recommendations would have the effect of shortening formal amendments from the current length of thirteen weeks, down to eight weeks, which is a savings of five weeks. Similarly, those projects which would move through the administrative modification process rather than the formal amendment process, would go from a thirteen-week process, down to one which is four to five weeks. This is a savings of eight to nine weeks.
MEMORANDUM Page 3 July 5, 2017 If the above recommendations were approved, the criteria for the formal amendment process would be as shown in the bulleted list below, and projects which do not meet these criteria would 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. 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. POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO ABOVE PROPOSAL Staff recommends the above proposal. However, one modification to the proposal that the Council, with input from the TPB, may possibly be interested in is that if an amendment involves a new non-wsdot project receiving federal funding exceeding $3 million, that the approval authority come back to the Council. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Review the proposal to revise the RTIP amendment process and make a recommendation to TRPC. 13:bm
AGENDA ITEM #8 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Transportation Policy Board Veena Tabbutt, Research & Data Director Scott Carte, GIS Coordinator DATE: July 5, 2017 SUBJECT: State of our Transportation System PURPOSE Brief Transportation Policy Board (TPB) on State of our Transportation System Report Summary: One of Council s priorities was a State of our Transportation System report. Staff received input from the Technical Advisory Committee, TPB and TRPC before generating the report. The report focuses on three topics: Pavement Preservation Bridges Fish Passage Barriers TRPC staff worked with local and Washington State Department of Transportation staff to gather data and develop the report. The report is available in print format and as an expanded on-line version that links to TRPC s monitoring report - the Sustainable Thurston Report Card - as well as on-line maps. REQUESTED ACTION For TPB s information and discussion.