RAMP 1/8/14 @ 8AM

AGENDA  -  January 8, 2014

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

            Pat McCarthy, RAMP Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive

8:05     Maritime Goods Movement Act

            Sean Eagan, Government Affairs Director, Port of Tacoma

8:20     JBLM/I-5 Transportation Package Request

            John Caulfield, City Manager, City of Lakewood

8:40     RAMP Legislative Priorities

            Pat McCarthy, RAMP Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive

8:45     2014 Legislative Session Outlook

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            Tom Pierson, RAMP Co-Chair, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO         

Next RAMP Meeting

February 5, 2014
Fabulich Center; 3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

RAMP is a regional coalition including business, labor, public and private organizations and citizens dedicated to improved mobility in the South Sound and Washington State. Our mission is to ensure a healthy regional economy associated with the development of an effective, efficient transportation system and the resources to sustain it. RAMP is co-chaired by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson.

12/4 RAMP: CANCELLED

CANCELLED: 12/4

 

Next RAMP Meeting: 1/8/14 – Note the special date due to the New Year holiday.

Update on State Legislative Package & Priorities

11/6/13 RAMP 8AM

AGENDA  -  November 6, 2013

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

            Pat McCarthy, RAMP Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive

8:05     Point Defiance Bypass Rail Project

            David Smelser, Cascades High Speed Rail Program Manager

8:20     Sound Transit Updates:

            - Tacoma Trestle Replacement
            - Long Range Planning
            Chelsea Levy, Sound Transit

8:45     State Transportation Package

            Tom Pierson, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO

8:50     Round Robin

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            John Wolfe, RAMP Co-Chair, Port of Tacoma CEO            

Next RAMP Meeting

TBD

RAMP is a regional coalition including business, labor, public and private organizations and citizens dedicated to improved mobility in the South Sound and Washington State.  Our mission is to ensure a healthy regional economy associated with the development of an effective, efficient transportation system and the resources to sustain it. RAMP is co-chaired by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson. 

Senate Transportation Listening Session in Tacoma

Tomorrow, October 9th, the Washington State Senate will be hosting a listening session to hear the Tacoma-Pierce County's thoughts on transportation.

This past legislative session, RAMP partners clearly articulated the need for a transportation package in Olympia to finish uncompleted projects and maintain existing infrastructure.  This was clearly heard by the State House as the passed a transportation package out.  Unfortunately, the State Senate did not hear enough about the importance of critical transportation needs.

Tomorrow you can tell them.

Come urge the Senate Leadership to get the Transportation Revenue Funding Package approved in a November Special Session. This is too critical for our region for us not to be present. We cannot ignore the potential for 80,000 jobs.

State Senate Transportation Listening Session
October 9th, 2013
6:00pm-9:00pm

Evergreen Tacoma Campus
Lyceum Hall
1210 6th Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98405

Please feel free to email SR-167 Completion Coalition  Mike Welch if you plan to attend or have questions.

10/2 RAMP 8AM

 

AGENDA  -  October 2, 2013

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

 

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

            John Wolfe, RAMP Co-Chair, Port of Tacoma CEO

  

8:05     Transportation in Washington

            Lynn Peterson, Secretary of Transportation

            Washington State Department of Transportation

 

8:25     Q&A on Washington Transportation

 

8:45     Round Robin

     

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            Tom Pierson, RAMP Co-Chair, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO

 

Next RAMP Meeting

November 6^th, 2013

Fabulich Center; 3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

 

RAMP is a regional coalition including business, labor, public and private organizations and citizens dedicated to improved mobility in the South Sound and Washington State.  Our mission is to ensure a healthy regional economy associated with the development of an effective, efficient transportation system and the resources to sustain it. RAMP is co-chaired by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson. 

9/4 RAMP 8AM

AGENDA  -  September 4, 2013

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

            Tom Pierson, RAMP Co-Chair, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO

8:05     Future of Transportation in the State Senate

            Senator Randi Becker, 2^nd District
            Senator Steve O’Ban, 28^th District

8:35     New Transportation Package

            Tom Pierson, RAMP Co-Chair, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO         

8:45     Pierce Transit Updates

Justin Leighton, Pierce Transit

8:55     Round Robin

 

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            Pat McCarthy, RAMP Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive

Next RAMP Meeting

October 2^nd, 2013
Fabulich Center; 3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

RAMP is a regional coalition including business, labor, public and private organizations and citizens dedicated to improved mobility in the South Sound and Washington State.  Our mission is to ensure a healthy regional economy associated with the development of an effective, efficient transportation system and the resources to sustain it. RAMP is co-chaired by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson. 

I-5 South 38th Street Exit to Open Early

Good news for Tacoma area motorists—the new I-5 South 38th Street exit is set to open early. Currently, the 38th Street exit, which provides access to the Tacoma Mall and is a part of the I-5/SR 16 Eastbound Nalley Valley project, is closed to traffic. The new ramp, which was originally scheduled to open the end of next month, will now open early due to, “Good weather, detailed planning and rapid progress” (Baker, 2013, para. 2).

In a press release last week, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said the exit could reopen as early as Tuesday, but noted that “a dry night for roadway striping is necessary to tie the new ramp into the highway” (para. 5). The recent rain in the area may briefly postpone the early reopening.

For more updates and information on this project, visit WSDOT’s website.

References

Baker, C. B. (2013). New I-5 exit to South 38th St. opens five weeks early. Olympia, WA: WSDOT.

June RAMP Recap

The Puget Sound Gateway Project was a major theme of June’s RAMP meeting. Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton, John White of WSDOT, and Tom Gut from the City of SeaTac presented, noting how Ports connect statewide, national, and international markets to people, jobs, and the economy.

Creighton, White, and Gut described Washington as “one of the most trade-dependent states in the nation, noting that “In 2010, freight dependent industries shipped $128.8 billion in domestic product and supported nearly 1.5 million freight-dependent jobs in Washington.”
Completing State Route 167 and 509 would expand infrastructure critical to maintaining and growing port business, as well as sustaining and growing Washington State’s freight dependent industries.

Let’s finish what we’ve started and invest in the future!

Funding for 167 Still Alive

Senator Curtis King (R- Yakima), Co-Chairman of the Republican Senate Transportation Committee, prepared a transportation revenue package that allocates $1.53 billion toward completing State Route 167 and 509, a major priority for the Tacoma- Pierce County Chamber. King’s preparation of the package signifies that the resolve to complete 167 is still alive in the legislature and could pass in a second special session.

Additional Pierce County projects King’s transportation package funds include $350 million for I-5 JBLM corridor improvements and $55 million for I-5/ SR 512 Lakewood interchange improvements.

Revenue would be raised by a 10 ½ cent gas tax and an increase in vehicle weight fees.

6/5 RAMP 8AM

AGENDA  -  June 5, 2013

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

            Pat McCarthy, RAMP Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive             

8:05     Federal Transportation Planning and Funding

            Charlie Howard, Puget Sound Regional Council

8:25     Puget Sound Gateway Project: SR-509

John Creighton, Port of Seattle Commissioner

John White, WSDOT

Tom Gut, City of SeaTac

Doug Levy, City of Kent

8:45     Round Robin

            Legislative Update

     

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            Tom Pierson, RAMP Co-Chair, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO

           

Next RAMP Meeting

TBD

Remember to visit On RAMP

The partnership’s blog is at http://on-ramp.blogspot.com/.  New content appears on a regular basis. Guest blog postings are encouraged, contact David Schroedel for details, Davids@tacomachamber.org.

RAMP is a regional coalition including business, labor, public and private organizations and citizens dedicated to improved mobility in the South Sound and Washington State.  Our mission is to ensure a healthy regional economy associated with the development of an effective, efficient transportation system and the resources to sustain it. RAMP is co-chaired by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson. 

RAMP Legislative Priority Gains Big Support Across the State

Groups from across the State of Washington came together yesterday in a strong show of support for the proposed Transportation Investment Package.  Democrats, Republicans and leaders from business, labor, ports and local government were all represented at the rally in Olympia.

The event was emceed by the Mayor of Auburn, Pete Lewis, who introduced speakers including Governor Jay Inslee, Congressman Denny Heck, State Senator Tracy Eide, State Representative Judy Clibborn, State Representative Hans Zeiger and State Representative Dave Upthegrove.  Local government officials also spoke in support of the package, as did representatives from business, labor and local ports.

Congressman Heck summarized the theme of the rally when he stated, “We can’t let politics get in the way of this transportation package. Our state needs a modern infrastructure to compete in the 21st-century global economy. Thousands of family-wage jobs are at stake. The time to act is now.”

In taking a look at the crowd on the steps, Scott Mason President ILWU Local 23 observed that, “Usually you would see just labor, or business.  What I see here are all factions of our statewide economic base turning out to support a single idea; invest in our transportation system now or our State will be quickly outcompeted both domestically and worldwide in the movement of goods around the globe.  There are no more excuses – pass the Transportation Revenue Package this session.”

In Washington State, four out of every ten jobs are trade dependent. It’s for this reason that so many disparate groups came together today to show that there is no time to waste on modernizing our infrastructure for 21st-century global trade. Our leaders in Olympia must act now and vote to approve the Transportation Revenue Package.

Transportation Funding Rally May 20, 2013 Media Coverage

Thursday, May 16:
Business Examiner - http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/May-2013/Pierce-Chamber-to-join-transportation-package-rally/

Seattle Times (Editorial) - http://seattletimes.com/html/editorials/2021001198_edittransportationxml.html

Sunday, May 19:
News Tribune - http://m.thenewstribune.com/newstrib/db_108680/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=1OB7kY3l

Monday, May 20:
News Tribune - http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2013/05/20/morning-update-special-session-day-8-2/

Business Examiner - http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/May-2013/Capital-steps-rally-backs-Transport-funding/

Seattle Times - http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021023827_apwaxgrtransportationrally3rdldwritethru.html?prmid=obinsource

KING 5 - http://www.king5.com/news/politics/Despite-rally-for-transportation-package-I-5-bridge-remains-a-concern-208231511.html

KIRO 7:
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/legislative/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/nXxTb/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLb/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLd/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLX/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLY/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLZ/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLc/

Q13 Fox - http://q13fox.com/2013/05/20/inslee-if-you-want-roads-bridges-repaired-raise-the-gas-tax/#axzz2TwukLMVR

Kitsap Sun -  http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/may/20/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/#axzz2Twtnxz6E

Wenatchee World Online - http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/may/20/inslee-signs-87-billion-transportation-budget/

Spokesman Review -http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2013/may/20/inslee-vetoes-part-transportation-budget/

Westport News - http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Inslee-signs-transportation-budget-4532425.php

Tacoma Amtrak Station Relocation

The past few months local officials, concerned citizens, business representatives, and other key stakeholders came together to form a Citizen Advisory Committee and reviewed a proposal by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) that would relocate Tacoma’s Amtrak train station, currently located at 1001 Puyallup Avenue, to the Freighthouse Square mixed –use retail facility at 25-1 East “D” Street.

The relocation of the station is due to the Point Defiance Bypass Project, which will reroute passenger trains to an existing rail line along the west side of I-5 through south Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont.

The Committee developed 25 initial recommendations that were organized into four broad categories consistent with the long-term goals of the Dome District where the current and future station is located. These recommendations were then shortened and prioritized.

The most significant recommendation was related to the “blockage of East “C” and East “D” streets by trains, train-related safety gates, safety arms, or signaling devices that occur when trains are passing in order to improve pedestrian and vehicular north-south circulation throughout the district.”

The Committee noted that WSDOT’s current proposal of relocating the Amtrak train station to Freighthouse Square would result in these streets being blocked for a longer period of time than currently, because of the increased length of the Amtrak trains. Tacoma City Councilman David Boe also pointed out critical safety issues related to this recommendation, since increased wait times may entice impatient drivers and pedestrians to go around safety gates and related devices.

The Committee recommends placing the station platform onto the trestle to the east. The current Tacoma Trestle is a 100 year old, wooden, single-track trestle leading up to Freighthouse Square. The aging trestle needs to be replaced with a new concrete double track structure anyway, adding weight to the Committee’s recommendation to build the platform on the trestle.

In addition, the Committee noted the importance of having the Amtrak station located in Tacoma and the Dome District, creating a transit hub and making it easy for travelers to visit downtown Tacoma, UWT, the Glass Museum, and other key places. 

Other Committee recommendations were related to noise, parking, traffic circulation, urban and station design, and can be found in the City’s website.

167 Goes All the Way to Washington, D.C.

Momentum continues to build in support of completing State Route 167 as a Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce delegation visited policymakers in the other Washington last week.

Chamber members met with numerous officials, including several members of Congress such as Congressmen Dave Reichert, Adam Smith, and Denny Heck, as well as Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. During the trip Chamber members and policymakers discussed the significance of completing SR 167 on a local, state, and national level.

For more on information on the trip or the project, visit the Port of Tacoma’s blog.

RAMP 5/1 8AM

AGENDA  -  May 1, 2013

La Quinta Inn & Suites

1425 E 27^th St, Tacoma, WA 98421

(off Portland Ave near the Tacoma Dome)

8:00     Welcome, Self-Introductions & RAMP Priorities             

            Tom Pierson, Co-Chair, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO

8:10     SR-167 Redesign

            Brian Ziegler, Public Works Director, Pierce County

8:20     Legislative Update

            Sean Eagan, Government Affairs Director, Port of Tacoma

8:30     The Alaska Link Between Transportation and Development                

            Rachael Petro, President/CEO, Alaska Chamber

            Kara Moriarty, Executive Director, Alaska Oil and Gas Association

            Deantha Crockett, Executive Director, Alaska Miners Association

            Kim Reitmeier, Executive Director, ANCSA Regional Association

            Cory Baggen, Assistant Vice President, Samson Tug & Barge

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            Pat McCarthy, Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive

Next RAMP Meeting

Wednesday, June 5^th @ Fabulich Building

RAMP is a regional coalition including business, labor, public and private organizations and citizens dedicated to improved mobility in the South Sound and Washington State.  Our mission is to ensure a healthy regional economy associated with the development of an effective, efficient transportation system and the resources to sustain it. RAMP is co-chaired by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson. 

RAMP 4/3 @ 8AM

AGENDA  -  April 3, 2013

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

            Pat McCarthy, RAMP Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive             

8:05     Pierce County I-5 HOV Lanes

            Claudia Bingham-Baker, WSDOT

8:25     Sound Transit Tacoma Link Expansion

            Chelsea Levy, Sound Transit

8:45     Round Robin

     

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            John Wolfe, RAMP Co-Chair, Port of Tacoma CEO

           

 Next RAMP Meeting

Wednesday, May 1st –    Regional Transportation Developments

                                         Alternate Location:  La Quinta Inn & Suites

                                                                        1425 E 27^th St, Tacoma, WA 98421

                                                                        (off Portland Ave by the Tacoma Dome)

Remember to visit On RAMP

The partnership’s blog is at http://on-ramp.blogspot.com/.  New content appears on a regular basis. Guest blog postings are encouraged, contact David Schroedel for details, Davids@tacomachamber.org.

RAMP is a regional coalition including business, labor, public and private organizations and citizens dedicated to improved mobility in the South Sound and Washington State.  Our mission is to ensure a healthy regional economy associated with the development of an effective, efficient transportation system and the resources to sustain it. RAMP is co-chaired by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson. 

March RAMP Meeting Recap

On March 6, 2013, 60 people joined RAMP to hear presentations on the Point Defiance Bypass Rail Project and the Washington State House transportation proposal.

The Point Defiance Bypass Project will reroute passenger trains to a rail line along the Westside of I-5 through south Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont, upgrading tracks, laying new tracks, updating safety equipment, and creating a new Amtrak station in Tacoma. This will allow two additional round trips between Seattle and Portland and improve on-time performance. The Federal Road Administration (FRA) recently issued a Finding of No Significance Impact (FONSI), moving the project forward. Construction is set to begin in 2015 and service in 2017.

The 2013 Washington State House transportation package, Connecting Washington, outlines several transportation projects and revenue sources that amount to about $10 billion and 56,000 jobs over ten years. State Route 167 combined with SR 509 are at the top of the project list, although they were slated for significantly less funding than what is required to finish the projects.

Stay tuned to the RAMP blog for next month's meeting on Wednesday, April 3.