Transportation Infrastructure in WA

A new Association of Washington Business (AWB) transportation report highlights employer concerns about transportation.

Aging infrastructure, bottlenecks at key ports and continued concerns about the financing of future projects are just a few of the top transportation worries for Washington state employers. That’s according to a new report published today by AWB, issued today during AWB’s 2013 Legislative Day in Olympia.

“In many ways, transportation is the lifeblood of our economy. We rely on our bridges, roadways, water, rail and airways to move people, goods and services on a daily basis. Any delays can have big economic impacts for business and our overall competitiveness as a state,” said AWB President Don Brunell.

The report captures the findings of focus groups held with purchasers and suppliers of transportation and logistics services around the state in the fall of 2012. AWB member companies were invited to share their thoughts, ideas and concerns about the economic, regulatory and workforce challenges faced by their industry. Sessions were held in Moses Lake, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Renton, Seattle, Bremerton, Yakima and Mount Vernon.

“Transportation infrastructure is a critical piece in building a strong economy and providing jobs,” said Mike Ennis, AWB government affairs director for transportation policy. “Traffic congestion, choke points, and crumbling roads create risk, drive up costs and act as a drag on the economy. It’s clear from this report and other feedback we’ve received from our members that the current transportation revenue streams are not adequate,” said Ennis.

“This session, we are working closely with lawmakers and other key stakeholders to find solutions that will preserve the projects currently in place and prioritize those next in the queue.”

Among the report’s key findings:

·         Infrastructure Needs: Several transportation projects have been identified in the state that are critical to business growth, including the North South Freeway in Spokane; completion of State Routes 520 in Seattle and 167 in south King and north Pierce counties; and the Columbia River Crossing in Vancouver.

·         Funding: There is a lack of maintenance and operation funding for existing transportation infrastructure and the decline in the purchasing power of gas tax revenue has put new projects in jeopardy.

·         Overregulation: Overregulation for the transportation and logistics industry makes it difficult to provide efficient services to business.

·         Environmental Mitigation: Costs of environmental mitigation studies and programs are redundant leading to increased project costs and long delays in project completion.

·         Port Bottlenecks: Bottlenecks at the Port of Seattle continue to frustrate efforts to get goods to market in a timely manner.

·         Workforce Needs: The combination of an aging workforce and a dwindling pipeline of new workers is threatening the viability of the transportation industry.

To view the report in full, visit the AWB Institute here.

How WA Fares in Congestion Report

The Texas Transportation Institute has just (November 2011) released its annual Congested Corridors Report. 

Unfortunately, Western Washington made almost all the Top 40 hits list!

The Congested Corridors Report (2010 data) includes an analysis of 328 specific (directional) freeway corridors in the U.S.  These corridors account for:

• 6 % of national urban freeway lane-miles
• 36% of urban freeway delay
• 33% of urban freeway truck delay

Each directional, adjacent and upstream segment of roadway that was congested for four hours per week was included in the corridor.  The minimum corridor length was three miles.

The Report measures reliability (how much the problems change day to day), extra travel time, increased fuel consumption and congestion costs. 

The stated purpose of the study is to understand how, when and where congestion occurs – as a tool to understanding what can be done.  Their conclusion:  all the potential congestion-reducing strategies are needed:  capacity and productivity.

Here’s how Washington State ranked against the Top 40 congested highway corridors throughout the nation.

Reliably Unreliable

Unreliability is the most disturbing problem. A predictable transportation system is important to motorists and goods movers. Reliability describes the extra time you add to each trip to ensure you will be on time – when you simply can’t be late. The Federal Highway Administration has been moving towards a greater focus on performance management in its programs. 

Area         Corridor       Endpoints                 Length      Natl Rank

Tacoma     I-5 SB         Exit 128- Exit 120    7.9 mi.         # 40

Congestion Leaders

This category ranks corridors by the annual delay per mile.  Considered are annual gallons of waster fuel and the annual congestion costs associated with fuel and delay.

Area         Corridor       Endpoints                 Length      Natl Rank

Seattle       I-5 SB        Exit 175- Exit 165    8.9 mi.         # 33

Morning Peak

This category shows corridors with the largest delay per mile in the morning peak (6am to 10 am).  It uses the same measures as the Congestion Leaders category, but only measured during the morning peak.

Area         Corridor       Endpoints                 Length      Natl Rank

Seattle      I-5 NB         Exit 161- Exit 164    4.1 mi.         # 35

Afternoon Peak

This is the category for the worst afternoon peaks (3 pm to 7 pm).  Again, it uses the same measures as the Congestion Leaders category, but only for the afternoon hours.

Area         Corridor       Endpoints                 Length      Natl Rank

Seattle       I-405 SB    Exit 14- Exit 10        4.5 mi.         # 21

Lunch Breaks

This is the midday hours congestion category, for the 10 am to 3pm time period.  Again, it uses the same measures at the Congestion Leaders category, but only for this midday time.

Area         Corridor       Endpoints                 Length      Natl Rank

Seattle      I-5 NB         Exit 161- Exit 164    4.1 mi.         # 19

Area         Corridor       Endpoints                 Length      Natl Rank

Seattle       I-5 SB        Exit 175- Exit 165    9.0 mi.         # 22

  

Weekend

This is the rarest category, as weekend congestion is rarely a stop-and-go situation on Saturdays and Sundays.  It’s usually occurring at major shopping areas, sporting venues and other recreational activity centers.   Like before, the measures are the same as for Congestion Leaders, but based on traffic during the weekends.

Area         Corridor       Endpoints                 Length      Natl Rank

Tacoma     I-5 NB        Exit 129- Exit 133    4.2 mi.         # 11

Area         Corridor       Endpoints                 Length      Natl Rank

Seattle       I-5 NB        Exit 161- Exit 164    4.1 mi.         # 29

Trucking

This category includes the amount of daily truck travel on each corridor. While it uses the same measures as the Congestion Leaders category, it is based entirely on truck travel. 

Area         Corridor       Endpoints                 Length      Natl Rank

Seattle       I-5 SB       Exit 175- Exit 165    9.0 mi.         # 37

One-Hit Wonders

Their (last and final) fanciful category includes urban areas that have only one or two corridors included in the Congested Leaders category.  Unfortunately, our area did not make this list.

Avoid Gridlock - Build 167!

Kell McAboy, Planner, Port of Tacoma, briefed the Chamber's Port-Industrial Committee members about the Tacoma Area Transportation Study Final Report.

McAboy noted the SR 167 project was a baseline condition that must be done. Without it, the 2030 planning horizon forecast transportation gridlock. The current cost of SR 167 is estimated at $1.9 billion.  Or, as one wag said, "Just a tunnel short of funding."

The TATS study was done to provide the documentation needed to address future transportation projects. The eight stakeholders* began meeting July 22 to consider prioritization and future action to be taken as a result of this study.

That PowerPoint and other info can be found at this weblink on the Port of Tacoma website.

• Washington State Department of Transportation
• Port of Tacoma
• City of Fife
• City of Tacoma
• SSA Marine
• Pierce County
• Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board
• Marine View Ventures

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.

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.