RAMP 3/5/14 @ 8AM

AGENDA  -  March 5, 2014

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

 

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

  

8:10     Transportation 2040 Update

            Charlie Howard, Director of Integrated Planning, Puget Sound Regional Council
 

8:30     Port of Tacoma Road Rebuild

            Tom Rutherford, Project Manager, City of Tacoma

8:45     Round Robin/Good of the Order

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

 

Next RAMP Meeting

April 2, 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. 

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. 

Gregoire Releases Transportation Budget Proposal

Today outgoing Governor Chris Gregoire released her final budget proposal for the state legislature, which included a transportation budget proposal.

Gregoire highlighted transportation as “the backbone of our economy,” noting that the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma transport “99.7 percent of the state’s international container traffic.” The proposal also said that transportation projects provide much needed jobs while ensuring reliability for businesses to move goods and employees.

The proposal suggested investing in eight important transportation projects, of which two are located in Pierce County: State Route 167 Tacoma to Puyallup new corridor and Interstate 5/ Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

SR 167 was described as a “critical missing link in the state highway network.” The project was estimated at costing $1.5 billion.

Likewise, I5/ JBLM was noted as being a “critical economic lifeline for Washington and the Pacific Northwest” and a “backbone of connectivity to the ports of Tacoma, Seattle, and Olympia.” This project was cited as costing $820 million.

The proposal, unfortunately, did not include a revenue package that would fund SR 167, I5/ JBLM, or any other transportation project. Instead, Gregoire proposed an excise tax on gasoline and diesel projected at $1 billion to fund K-12 student transportation services, calling into question how these transportation projects so vital to our economy will be funded.

Proposed Trans Package Too Light

Gov. Gregoire's 10-year, $3.7 billion transportation funding proposal  focuses on maintaining and preserving the state's existing transportation system. The package does not include any essential capacity improvement projects, such as completing State Route 167.

Completing the remaining six miles of SR-167 is of critical importance to Pierce County. The project will improve mobility, and spur economic growth and jobs. Learn more.

PIC a TATS in July

PORT-INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE

Meeting Notice
Thursday, July 21
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Chamber offices
Simpson Community Room
950 Pacific Ave., Ste. 300
(NW corner 11th & Pacific Ave.)

TIDEFLATS AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY FINAL REPORT

Presentation by Kell McAboy, Planner, Port of Tacoma

The TATS identifies future transportation needs for the growth of freight-related traffic to and from the Tacoma Tideflats area. The Port partnered with seven stakeholders to complete the study.

The study analyzed existing transportation conditions and identified roads to be examined for potential improvement to keep freight moving. The result is a plan to enhance the economic benefits of the Tacoma Tideflats area, improve roadway traffic circulation and reduce congestion.

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.

iPRMT

Now available for users is the iPRMT PowerPoint shared at the May RAMP meeting.

Scott Boettcher, ORA Special Projects Consultant with the Governor's Office of Regulatory Assistance, was the presenter.  As explained, the iPRMT is the Governor's One Front Door initiative to make the environmental permitting process easier and faster while protecting our natural resources.

The process is a multi-agency effort that incorporates early  project review, mapping, is "wizard driven,", includes messaging and document management as well as "Next Steps" functions. 

RAMP Agenda for May Meeting

Rachel Smith, Sound Transit, "D to M Street Construction Update"

Ron Landon, Program Manager, Olympic Region, WSDOT
"The Region's Project Scoping Program"

Scott Boettcher, ORA Special Project Consultant
"iPRMT: Getting environmental permitting right the first time"

iPRMT is a web-based application developed and hosted by the Governor’s Office of Regulatory Assistance (ORA) with the assistance of the Washington State Association of Counties, the Association of Washington Cities and a multi-agency advisory group and business team. One of the primary purposes of iPRMT is to help applicant develop complete and “ready-for-review” permitting applications. Complete and “ready-for-review” permitting application move through the regulatory decision-making process much more smoothly and predictably and save everyone time and money (agencies and applicants alike). The first permitting application being supported by iPRMT is JARPA (Joint Aquatic Resource Permit). Scott Boettcher will provide a brief overview of iPRMT and take questions. You can read more about iPRMT at http://ora.wa.gov/regulatory/projectreview.asp

George Walk, Dir., Gov't. Relations, Pierce County
"Legislative Report/Project List/Budget Language"

Wednesday, May 4
8:00 a.m.
Fabulich Center
3600 Port of Tacoma Rd., Tacoma 98421

Lincoln Ave Bridge Long Term Detour

LOCATION: Lincoln Avenue bridge in Tacoma

DETAILS: The Tacoma Public Works Department will rehabilitate the Lincoln Avenue Bridge starting in May of this year. This work will require closure of the bridge for 7 months up to one year depending on weather.

DETOUR: During the bridge closure a temporary heavy haul route will use Puyallup Avenue, Pacific Avenue, and SR 509 to cross the Puyallup River. All existing heavy haul routes will remain in place except the Lincoln Ave. Bridge. This temporary route will be removed once the bridge project is complete. A detour map is attached.

MORE DETAILS: You will still need to obtain the proper permits from the City of Tacoma and from the State of Washington.

If you have questions or would like more information about the bridge project, call Dan Soderlind or at (253) 591-5263.

JBLM Growth Plan – Transportation Recommendations presented at RAMP

The goal of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Growth Plan is to promote mutually beneficial relationships between JBLM and surrounding communities, while carefully planning and coordinating facilities and infrastructure to best serve the base and benefit local communities. The final draft of the Plan was released in mid-December and can be downloaded here: http://www.jblm-growth.com/

Dan Penrose from the City of Lakewood and Jon Pascal, a consultant for the Transpo Group presented the transportation-related recommendations in the Growth Plan to RAMP this morning. The recommendations were identified by an expert panel of community members and serve to prioritize transportation-related investments on and around JBLM.

 High priority transportation recommendations include:
1. Improve regional mobility through I-5 improvements

2. Improve regional mobility through HOV and transit improvements

3. Reduce traffic congestion through transportation demand management policies and strategies

4. Reduce military –related impacts on I-5 flow through JBLM gate and on-post transportation improvements, including completing the Joint Base connector

5. Complete the Cross-Base Highway

The News Tribune reported on the plan in late December. You can view it here:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/24/1477246/managing-armys-growing-pains.html

I-5 and Growth at Camp Murray

Most of you have probably followed the developing controversy within the Tillicum community about proposed gate relocation for Washington National Guard's HQ at Camp Murray.

Seemingly a simple question of where to stack the queue turns into a more complex problem when the needful expansion of I-5 is considered. Recently, Lakewood, as lead in the Office of Economic Adjustment funded study of I-5 between (roughly) SR-512 and DuPont, found a necessity to accommodate the employment growth at JBLM to increase capacity and support infrastructure.

That point, among several, is brought home in an open letter by WNG Adjutant General Timothy Lowenberg on the issue pledging to work with (not "rolling over") the installation's neighbors. That's all here in the enclosed letter.

RAMP comments on SR 167 tolling study

The co-chairs of the Regional Access Mobility Partnership (RAMP) have submitted comments to Secretary of Transportation, Paula Hammond in support of tolling on SR 167.

The co-chairs, the Executives of Pierce County, the Port of Tacoma and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber support the use of toll revenues to partially pay for construction cost associated with the extension of SR 167 between Puyallup and the Port of Tacoma.

Read the full letter here.

Construction Impacts Just Ahead

During the period of April 16th to April 23rd there will be construction and possible lane closures on freight routes including I-5; I-405; I-90; SR-16; SR-99; SR-167; SR-518; SR-519; SR-522; and others. Please check the following sites for the construction schedule updates and planned closure information:

King County
Snohomish County
Whatcom/Skagit/Island Counties
Pierce County

For construction in the Tacoma Area, go here.

For additional information on roads in other counties, please visit here. 
Construction for Thurston, and Kitsap Counties.

Road improvements in Frederickson to close 176th St. E

Over the next three years, starting this summer, much of 176th Street E. in Frederickson will be under construction along with a nearby stretch of Canyon Road. The construction projects will result in considerable vehicle and pedestrian improvements including: widening roadways to add lanes, medians, sidewalks, street lights and traffic signals, as well as a new bridge over the railroad tracks just west of Canyon Road.

Once complete, the improvements will be a significant benefit to the community. However, in the meantime construction delays and road closures will be a major inconvenience to the traveling public. Residents and businesses should plan for the following road closures:

Late Summer 2010:
10-day road closure of 176th St E between 38th Ave E and 51st Ave E

Late Summer/Fall 2010:
4-week westbound lane closure of 176th St E between Waller Rd E and 36th Ave E

Spring/Summer 2011:
4-month road closure of 176th St E for new bridge construction


Pierce County is committed to completing the work as quickly and efficiently as possible. The County issued construction bonds to fund these projects simultaneously rather than spreading the work out over multiple years as separate projects, which would have created years of detours and delays rather than a few months of closures.

Residents and businesses should plan ahead for this construction as detour routes will add an average of 30 minutes to trips and upwards of an hour during peak commute time. This may be a good time to form a carpool, work a different shift, or telecommute. Avoiding the detour routes during the morning and afternoon rush will help save time and inconvenience.

For more information Read the project newsletter, visit the project website, or contact project manager, Ramiro Chavez, ramiro.chavez@co.pierce.wa.us, (253) 798-7041.

RAMP’s 2010 State Legislative Priorities

RAMP has developed a list of priorities for the 2010 State Legislature. RAMP’s complete brochure of legislative priorities is available on-line. Coalition partners are encouraged to promote these mutually beneficial projects during the upcoming legislative session.

Key priorities include:

Protect project funding as scheduled
All projects funded within Pierce County via the 2003 Nickel package, the 2005 Transportation Partnership package and the 2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act must be completed as originally scheduled. Priority projects include:

· I-5 HOV lanes- Construct the funded portion of the I-5 HOV system from the King/Pierce County line to SR 512 and SR 16 to I-5
· SR 167- Complete right-of-way procurement for the full width of the SR 167 corridor including HOV lanes

Extend SR 167
Continue the progress on the SR 167 mega project by developing a comprehensive approach to fund the extension of SR 167 from Puyallup to SR 509 in Tacoma, similar to the process pursued for the SR 520 bridge replacement program.

Fund the second phase of the SR 167 tolling study. Incorporate conclusions from the first phase of the SR 167 tolling study to identify funds to fill the funding gap for design and construction of the extension.

Extend I-5 HOV lanes
· Update project scoping for the extension of the I-5 HOV lanes mega project from S. 38th St. to SR 512
· Begin preliminary project scoping for the extension of I-5 HOV lanes from SR 512 to the Pierce/Thurston County line. The addition of HOV lanes through this section of the I-5 corridor will help mitigate congestion related to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Extend SR 167 HOT lanes
Begin preliminary scoping to extend HOV/HOT lanes to the current terminus of SR 167 in Puyallup.

Improve Local Revenue Sources
Strengthen and expand appropriate revenue sources to meet local transportation needs.

Support Flood Prevention
Contribute to Pierce County flood prevention plans and implementation efforts to protect primary freight and commute routes.

Building a Cross-Base Highway

Pierce County's long awaited and continually delayed Cross-Base Highway keeps looking for a solution to a need long overdue. For a project that started with a donation of right-of-way worth millions of dollars by Ft. Lewis, that head start in funding hasn't made much progress against other state-wide projects that keep bumping the Cross-Base Highway.

As Fort Lewis is a work site that has gained 13,000 workers in the last demi-decade and seen a daily increase in thousands of vehicle trips, soldiers taking housing outside the post are continuing to seek housing in Thurston County as closer Pierce County housing is inaccessible via the congestion along the Pacific Ave.-SR 512-I-5 route, located in Parkland-Spanaway. Who hasn't noticed the increase in congestion on I-5 south of the post as soldiers commute back and forth to Thurston County?

But is our challenge so unique that we must create a solution, or is experience available elsewhere. Of course! We are not unique! Others have solved this problem!

Mayor John Cook, City of El Paso, TX and Charles H. "Chuck" Berry, El Paso District Engineer, Texas Department of Transportation, recently shared with nation-wide delegates at the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), Department of Defense , how El Paso responded to the transportation demands of military (job) growth.

El Paso and Texas built a 7.5 miles freeway across Fort Bliss and an airport. This was a $200 million construction project accomplished by a public-private partnership. El Paso and Texas cooperated with the private sector to build and finance this highway (pictured above). Using what they called "pass through tolls," the State of Texas pays to the private sector vendor a toll based on the number of cars that use the highway. For mutual protection, payments will not fall below $10 million nor rise above $12 million.

Today's state (and local) budget climate gives all parties an instant excuse for not spending $10 million in capital expenses each year. But alternatives do exist. For one example the Stimulus Bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, contains the Build America Bonds, which provides a federal subsidy to state and local bonds.

Others have taken notice. Mayor Efrain Valdez, Del Rio, TX, rose from the conference floor to endorse the Texas public-private partnership in road building and announce his city is doing the same thing.

PSRC Releases Opinion Poll on Regional Transportation

The Puget Sound regional Council recently released the findings of a public opinion poll on regional transportation. The poll was conducted to enhance public input for the Transportation 2040 plan. The telephone survey polled 1,200 randomly selected individuals from King (600 respondents), Pierce (200 respondents), Snohomish (200 respondents) and Kitsap (200 respondents) counties.

The survey concluded that Pierce County residents:

· Value maintaining/preserving current transportation system
· Addressing congestion is very important
· Safety is highly important
· More likely to support electronic tolling

More information on Transportation 2040 is available in a previous post: RAMP reviews PSRC's Transporation 2040

Ramp Takes Leap

Last week, the spectrum of funding partners took shovels in hand for the official groundbreaking for the Lincoln Avenue Grade Separation.

Photo: Kathy Tomandl, Port of Tacoma

Nowadays, no ONE builds transportation infrastructure. And last Friday's ceremony demonstrated the collaborative effort that results in success.

As the Port says on their website: Although local in nature, this project offers economic benefits for both Washington state and the nation. Tacoma is a gateway port, and much of the cargo moving through here is bound for inland markets such as Chicago and New York.

Upon completion, the grade separation will significantly improve rail and road efficiency and will also enhance air quality.

Most Popular Pavings - Good Intentions

Paula Hammond, Secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), was featured at today's Transportation Club of Tacoma meeting.

Her presentation could be considered a lament. She recounted her first day of the job, when the Milwaukee bridge collapsed that lead directly to WSDOT's decision to close the Murray Morgan Bridge. Then, she recalled the first (of three) floodings of I-5 that lead to miles of truck-trailers queued with no alternative routes. And, she talked of a funding tie between cents per gallon and a declining gas sales/miles driven both because of consumer behavior changes and recessionary responses. And, let's not even get started on the state's ferries!

She did point to the $10 billion of projects just in the Puget Sound area, with another $5 billion in other parts of the state. Of 391 projects at the beginning, 183 are completed, 82 are under construction and 22 are about to go into construction. For anyone who wants to check up on their particular interest in a project(s), go to their website.

Q's from the audience covered a wide range of topics, but the most popular subject seemed to be SR-167. In response, Hammond noted that the corridor lost its funding proposal with the failure of Proposition 1. Now that transit has passed its expansion measure, the region is left without addressing its road future. The legislature has funded a tolling study for the completion of SR-167, to measure revenue potential and traffic diversions. SR-167 remains a hot topic, not because of the HOT Lanes tolling in the HOV lanes, but because of the new threat to flooding from failures in the Howard Hanson Dam.

All this and more makes one wish for debates of old when road surfaces were evaluated for quieter performance versus cost-effective permanency.

Lincoln Ave. Overpass Breaks Ground- You're invited

Please join Senator Patty Murray and the Port of Tacoma Commission and staff as we “lift” Lincoln Avenue. It took over a decade of workbut thanks to our many transportation partners, the final phase of the Lincoln Avenue Grade Separation will finally begin!

Some people would call this a Groundbreaking, but we call it a Roadraising!

Friday, September 18, 2009
1:00 to 1:45 p.m.

Cookies and beverages served.

From Interstate 5 take the Portland Avenue exit(Northbound Exit #134 or Southbound Exit #135). At Portland Avenue, head north to Lincoln Avenue (0.7 miles).At the light, take a right onto Lincoln Avenue and proceedapproximately 0.4 miles to the parking area.

Please consider flat-soled shoes.

RSVP by email to apeterson@portoftacoma.com