RAMP 10/3 @ 8AM

Agenda 10/3/12

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

Part I: Candidate Denny Heck

8:00     Welcome, Self-Introductions & RAMP Priorities             

            Pat McCarthy, Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive

8:05     The Future of Transportation in the South Puget Sound Region

            Denny Heck, Candidate for Congress, 10^th CD

8:15     Candidate Heck Q&A

            Pat McCarthy, Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive

Part II: Candidate Dick Muri

8:30     Welcome, Self-Introductions & RAMP Priorities             

            Pat McCarthy, Co-Chair, Pierce County

8:35     The Future of Transportation in the South Puget Sound Region

            Dick Muri, Candidate for Congress, 10^th CD

8:45     Candidate Muri Q&A

            Pat McCarthy, Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            Pat McCarthy, Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive

           

Next RAMP Meeting

Wednesday, November 7^th - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – The Fabulich Center

Topic: Legislative Agenda

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.  

US DOT Creates National Freight Policy Council

At Wednesday's RAMP meeting, Carl Seip from Senator Maria Cantwell's office gave an overview of updates on federal transportation policy.

With MAP-21 passing earlier this year, the federal government established a national freight policy and called for the creation of a National Freight Strategic Plan.  However, until recently, there was no clear body implementing these provisions.

Two weeks before the RAMP meeting, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Senator Cantwell came to Puget Sound to announce the the creation of the Freight Policy Council.  The Council will include leaders on highways, rails, ports, and airports with the goal of bringing all modes together to keep the United States' competitive and increase exports.

The full press release from the US Department of Transportation can be found here: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2012/dot9812.html

RAMP 9/5 Handouts from PSRC and City of Tacoma

Handouts from this morning's RAMP meeting have been uploaded below:

- PSRC's "Decisions on MAP-21 for Washington State"
- PSRC's "FHWA Apportionments - Washington State"
- PSRC's "National Highway System in Central Puget Sound"

- City of Tacoma's "State Route 509 & D Street"

Rail Project Will Improve Flow of Freight

President Barack Obama announced  that a project to improve mainline rail connections near the Port of Tacoma is one of four to be expedited by the federal government. The Point Defiance Bypass in Tacoma will relieve chokepoints near the Port by re-routing passenger rail and improving the flow of cargo to and from the Port. The project has already received $91 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

To better understand how this project improves freight mobility, please see: http://www.portoftacoma.com/govt-affairs

TATS and Pierce Transit at RAMP Today

RAMP attendees were treated to three presentations at RAMP this morning.

For a follow-up on the Update in the service reductions of Pierce Transit by Jessyn Ferrell, Pierce Transit, please go here.

For a follow-up on the final Tideflats Area Transportation Study report and a PPT presentation by Kell McAboy, Planner, Port of Tacoma, go to the links in this sentence.

Attendees were also treated to a briefing by Larry Ehl, Transportation Issues Daily and Allison Camden, Federal Relations Manager,WSDOT on the hoped for federal transportation act. 

• The House bill will have a focus on roads nd will have significant decreases for state budgets. The House bill is expected to create a 35% reduction from previous funding levels.  A Republican press conference is scheduled for tomorrow.
• The Senate's bi-partisan bill, limited to two years, will maintain current funding levels, but still would need $12 billion identified for funding.  Currently there is no proposal on how to make up that funding gap. 

 The next meeting for RAMP is September 7.

RAMP Sets Agenda For July

MEETING NOTICE - July 6, 2011

8:00 Welcome & Self-Introductions
Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive
Tom Pierson, Pres./CEO, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
8:10 Update on Pierce Transit Service Reductions
Jessyn Ferrell, Pierce Transit
8:20 What’s Happening in D.C. with Transportation
Larry Ehl, Transportation Issues Daily and Allison Camden, Federal Relations Manager, WSDOT
8:35 Tideflats Area Transportation Study
Kell McAboy, Senior Planner, Port of Tacoma
8:55 Closing Remarks & Adjourn
John Wolfe, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Tacoma

Next RAMP Meeting
Wednesday, September 7 - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – The Fabulich Center

Remember to visit On RAMP The partnership’s blog is at http://on-ramp.blogspot.com/. New content appears with the opportunity for news and interesting topics. Guest blog postings are encouraged, contact Gary Brackett or 253-682-1720.

RAMP Meets with Legislators

MEETING NOTICE - June 1, 2011
8:00 Welcome & Self-Introductions, Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive

8:05 Legislative Panel: Review of the Session

• Jan Angel, 26th District
• Katrina Asay, 30th District
• Laurie Jinkins, 27th District (tentative)
• Jim Kastama, 25th District (tentative)
• Connie Ladenburg, 29th District
• Jim McCune, 2nd District (tentative)
• Hans Zeiger, 25th District
• Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive (MODERATOR)

8:40 Legislative Update, George Walk, Director, Pierce Co. Government Relations

8:45 2011 Washington-to-Washington, D.C. Conference Report

• Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive
• Rick Talbert, Pierce County Council
• Stan Flemming, Pierce County Council (tentative)
• Jake Fey, Tacoma Council
• Gary Brackett, Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber

8:55 Closing Remarks & Adjourn, John Wolfe, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Tacoma

Visiting Community Delegation

• Bob Buhl, Shelton Mason County Chamber
• Steve Goins, City of Shelton
• John Dobson, Port of Shelton (tentative)
• Michael Mariano, Mariano & Associates

Next RAMP Meeting
Wednesday, July 6th - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – The Fabulich Center

Remember to visit On RAMP The partnership’s blog is at http://on-ramp.blogspot.com/. New content appears with the opportunity for news and interesting topics. Guest blog postings are encouraged, contact Gary Brackett or 253-682-1720.

President Obama announces transportation funding proposal

WSDOT’s Federal Transporation Issues blog reports that yesterday President Obama announced a proposal that includes a $50 billion "upfront investment" in roads, transit, rail and airport runways, and also provides clues about the administration's priorities for the next surface transportation program (such as moving away from earmarking to performance-based funding). It's part of a larger proposal to stimulate the economy and create jobs in the short term. Read more here

Overmatch of States' Dollars for Highways

Air Cargo Compliance Deadline Nears

The Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) will be conducting a Town Hall meeting  to discuss the 100% cargo screening law which will be fully implemented in August, and the Certified Cargo Screening Program’s (CCSP) role in complying with this mandate.

The meeting is on April 7th 9:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. at the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center, 17620 International Boulevard, Seattle, WA‎ 98188.  Anyone is interested in attending,can register here. 


Remember, on August 1st, if cargo is not screened, it will not be transported by passenger aircraft!

If you interested in participating in the CCSP, but cannot attend the Seattle session, they are encouraged to contact Lon Siro, Regional Coordinator, Transportation Security Administration, 503-889-3074.

RAMP Signs Letter Supporting SAFETEA-LU Reauthorization

The Regional Access Mobility Partnership in solidarity with the US Chamber of Commerce, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, hundreds of other local chambers and organizations is urging US Senators and Representatives to reauthorize SAFETEA-LU, the federal transportation legislation.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (MN-08) and Ranking Member John Mica (FL-07), and Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Peter DeFazio (OR-04) and Ranking Member John Duncan (TN-02) introduced legislation to reauthorize the federal highway, public transportation and safety programs, officially kicking off the congressional debate. While the 775 page bill is not perfect, it is a good start with a strong emphasis on reform and accountability.

The letter states:

The time to enact a robust, six-year federal surface transportation program authorization is NOW!

There is a big difference between public investment and public spending. And the American people know it. Unlike much government spending, strategic capital investments in our national highway, bridge and public transportation network provide long-lived assets that return value to American families, businesses and the U.S. economy for current and future generations—value far exceeding their initial cost.

Enactment of a multi-year transportation bill is a unique opportunity to address two major national economic challenges by promoting job creation and incentivizing capital investment. Strategic investments in transportation infrastructure can reduce productivity-robbing, energy wasting, emissions creating traffic congestion. They can also reduce health care costs by reducing motor vehicle crashes caused by inadequate road conditions.

Two, blue-ribbon, bipartisan commissions initiated by the Congress in 2005 have provided a consensus blueprint for action and financing. They call for policy principles we embrace: a surface transportation program that is performance-based, transparent and fully accountable to taxpayers, and user financed. And we heartily agree with their conclusion that sufficient revenue must be raised to fund new capital investments in highway and transit capacity to facilitate the movement of people and freight. These investments are absolutely critical to America’s future economic competitiveness.

We readily acknowledge the political challenges associated with financing the next surface transportation program authorization. But the obvious can no longer be ignored. To that end, we pledge to actively support user fee-based revenue solutions, including an increase in the federal motor fuels tax, necessary to fund a six-year investment bill that meets national transportation needs.

Let’s put America back to work and on the move!

Congress Extends SAFETEA-LU

Thanks fto WSDOT for this update:

On Thursday, Congress passed legislation to extend SAFETEA-LU, and to continue
funding USDOT, through December 18th. The President should sign the bill into
law sometime in the next two days.

The Senate may attempt to pass a 6 month extension of SAFETEA-LU next week. The House Transportation Committee chair continues to oppose that.

For more information on
this and other related topics visit: http://wsdotfederalfunding.blogspot.com/

2010 Federal Transportation Appropriations

The House passed its 2010 transportation spending bill. Here is the draft list of project earmarks for Washington State . The number of earmarks continues to decline compared to previous years.

Highway programs would receive a 1% increase, transit funding would increase 3.3%, safety program funding would increase 1.3%, and aviation funding would increase 3.3 %. High Speed rail funding is penciled in at $4 billion, an increase over the President’s request of $1 billion. However, until Congress replenishes the Highway Trust fund, those spending levels cannot be achieved.