"Think Globally, Act Locally"

Submitted by Paul Ellis

It's an adage that's at least a couple of decades old, but still true: "Think globally, act locally." And the reverse is sometimes true, as well--what's good for a local interest is sometimes good for a larger constituency.

Washington State Senator Derek Kilmer--vice chairman of the Economic Development, Trade & Management Committee and a member of the Transportation Committee--wants to give his constituents "the best possible deal" when it comes to their share of the costs related to travel from the Gig Harbor Peninsula to the rest of Pierce County. He spells out the details of that deal in an op-ed in Sunday's edition of The News Tribune. What he's proposing may be good for the larger interests of Pierce County and Washington State, too.

Kilmer has several specific proposals linked to action already taking place in Olympia:

• Senate Bill 5681 would keep bridge users from having to foot the bill for the sales tax on the construction of the bridge, shaving roughly $40 million to $60 million from the cost of the bridge from tolls;
  
• Senate Bill 5391 would direct a portion of the fine (equal to three times the amount of the toll) to the Narrows Bridge Tolling Account, generating an additional $15 million to $20 million over time for this account;


• Senate Bill 5680 would nearly double the amount of the state fuel tax distributed to the Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account, subsidizing the state’s cost of running ferries and reducing the corresponding fares paid by waterborne commuters;


• Senate Bill 5862 would direct some of the funding generated from the sales tax on fuel used by ferries into an account that supports passenger-only ferries;


• Keep $1.3 million budgeted for this year and another $8.7 million for the biennium for a discount for Narrows Bridge users during the first year the bridge is open--Kilmer contends that commuters will pay a full toll for a project that doesn’t deliver a full benefit, and that those commuters will very likely face a commute that’s even worse than it is today.

Kilmer's proposals are reasonable, would seem to serve the best interests of his constituents, and have a multi-modal thrust, addressing ferries as well as bridge commutes. Kilmer's suggestions may have a broader impact, though, as well.

As the first major test of tolling in Washington State, it's imperative that the Narrows Bridge project be a success not just for the transportation system but also for the broader constituency both served and impacted by new or expanded facilities. Kilmer's proposals may help make that goal a reality.

Paul Ellis is lead staff for RAMP; an employee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Ellis led the Pierce County Transportation Advisory Committee (PCTAC), the community's largest transportation planning effort.

The Roads Ahead (II) - Another Way

Submitted by Paul Ellis

With construction and real estate costs rising much faster than inflation--and the resulting uncertainty over how future projects will be funded--Washington State policymakers are looking for effective new financing alternatives. Greater use of public-private partnerships may be a more attractive alternative than some of the taxes and fees under consideration in Olympia during this current Legislative Session.

One Pierce County group, the Plateau Transportation Partnership (PTP), is pioneering another alternative. The PTP consists mostly of residential and commercial development enterprises, including Quadrant Homes, Miles Sand & Gravel, Cascadia, Falling Water and Plateau 465 (a partnership between Investco Financial, Tucci & Sons, Inc., and Homeland Ventures).

The PTP, led by former Pierce County Engineer Tom Ballard, proposes to pool resources from a public/private partnership to build and finance projects. While Washington State has been slow to fully embrace such partnerships, the tool has been used across the country because of its effectiveness and ability to reduce costs and construction times.

Paul Ellis is lead staff for RAMP; an employee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Ellis led the Pierce County Transportation Advisory Committee (PCTAC), the community's largest transportation planning effort.

The Roads Ahead (I) - The Senate's Approach

Submitted by Paul Ellis

Washington State Senator Mary Margaret Haugen--chair of the Transportation Committee-continues to wrestle with the growing gap between transportation needs and the funding that state, federal and local sources can be expected to generate.

Opposition from RAMP, Washington ports, and may help forestall her proposal to impose a new container tax, but the problem will remain whatever the outcome on that specific legislation.

Paul Ellis is lead staff for RAMP; an employee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Ellis led the Pierce County Transportation Advisory Committee (PCTAC), the community's largest transportation planning effort.

Invitation to RAMP Participants

During the months of February and March, Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID) are seeking public input on the draft Roads & Transit package.

The Roads & Transit package will present to voters a unified program of investments in freeways, light rail, commuter rail, HOV lanes, park-and-ride lots, and express and local bus service. Key features include:

• Reduction in traffic delays
• Faster travel times
• 42 miles of new light rail
• Major improvements to “highways of regional significance” and chokepoints--including I-5, I-405, SR-167, and the Cross-Base Highway
• 10,000 new park-and-ride stalls
• New HOV lanes
• Bike lanes, sidewalks, better connections
• Major freight routes improved

RAMP participants are encouraged to let Sound Transit and the RTID know if they're on the right track before a final Roads & Transit ballot is adopted for voter consideration in November:

• Monday, March 5th
• 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
• Washington State History Museum
  1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma
  

WSDOT Combining Passenger, Freight Rail Offices

Submitted by Paul Ellis

WSDOT Secretary Doug MacDonald has announced the promotion of Barb Ivanov, who has led the Freight Strategy and Policy Division since 2004, to director of the new Freight Systems Division. WSDOT is combining its passenger and freight rail offices.

Scott Witt, WSDOT multimodal manager, assumes the title of “State Rail and Marine Director” leading the newly combined passenger and freight rail offices.

“Governor Gregoire has directed and other freight interests groups have advocated for a more robust statewide freight program for planning and coordination,” says Paula Hammond, WSDOT chief of staff. “And we believe combining resources in a single location will increase coordination for our rail programs and lead us to a more focused relationship with Washington’s freight industry,” she adds.

The Washington Transportation Commission’s Statewide Rail Capacity and Systems Needs Study released in 2006 included a recommendation that “the state should designate a single entity to coordinate and direct the State’s participation in the preservation and improvement of the rail transportation system.”

Washington’s ports have suggested that WSDOT combine its rail functions into a single division so the state could place a greater focus on the rail system’s capacity to respond to increased demand for container movement and port access issues. In addition, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Rail Road and Union Pacific railroad will have a single point of contact at WSDOT for both business coordination and strategic planning and partnership opportunities.

Paul Ellis is lead staff for RAMP; an employee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Ellis led the Pierce County Transportation Advisory Committee (PCTAC), the community's largest transportation planning effort.