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.

RAMP 3/6 @ 8 AM

AGENDA  -  March 6, 2013

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

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

8:05     Point Defiance Bypass Rail Project

            David Smelser, Cascades High Speed Rail Program Manager

            Carol Lee Roalkvam, WSDOT Environmental Policy Branch Manager

8:25     Washington State Legislature House Transportation Proposal

            Michael Shaw, Lobbyist, Pierce County Government

            Michael Transue, Lobbyist, TPCC

8:45     Round Robin

     

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            Pat McCarthy, Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive

           

Next RAMP Meeting

Wednesday, April 3rd – Details 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. 

Pierce County Legislators Present Transportation Bills in Olympia

Transportation is a hot topic this state legislative session and particularly important to Pierce County legislators.

At a House Transportation Committee hearing yesterday, two different bills were presented by Pierce County legislators. First, House Bill 1485, sponsored by several Pierce County Representatives, such as Rep. Jake Fey (D-Tacoma), Rep. David Sawyer (D-Tacoma), and Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma), seeks to double the vehicle fee limit under a transportation benefit district’s councilmatic authority from $20 to $40.

Last fall, the Tacoma City Council used this authority to increase the car tab fee to the maximum allowed $20. Tacoma City Councilman Ryan Mello testified yesterday that raising the car tab fee limit to $40 is crucial to meet the city’s transportation infrastructure needs. Currently, car tab fees may be raised to up to $100 per vehicle with a public vote of support, $20 without.

Another Pierce County legislator, Rep. Jan Angel (R-Port Orchard) questioned whether or not people could afford to pay additional car tab fees.

Additionally, HB 1865, which would allow the elected, governing body of an area to impose a sales tax of up to 0.9 percent without a public vote of support, was also introduced. According to the bill, the sales tax would be approved by a weighted majority vote of the governing body, if the entire population of the district was represented by elected officials serving on the board and voting on the resolution. This bill would allow entities, such as Pierce Transit, to increase sales taxes without a public vote, but only if changes were made that connect board member votes to corresponding population.

You may recall last fall the Pierce Transit sales tax increase of 0.03 percent was opposed by voters.

For more information on these bills, see The News Tribune.

House Democrats Transportation Revenue Package Leaves 167 Underfunded

On Wednesday, Representative Judy Clibborn (D- Mercer Island), chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee, introduced a transportation revenue package worth $9.8 billion.

Revenue would be generated from several different areas, including a 10 cent increase in the gas tax, a new annual car registration fee at 0.7 percent of the vehicle’s value, $3 million in new bonds, as well as a $25 fee on bicycles sold for $500 or more. There would also be a 0.3 percent increase in the hazardous substance tax, $5 for vehicle tab renewals, and $12 for title transfers.

While the package included resources for the completion of State Route 167, the project was notably underfunded at $1 billion for both SR 167 and SR 509. SR 167 is estimated at costing $1.5 billion to complete, while low estimates for SR 509 aim towards $300 million.

In order for the package to be passed into law, any new taxes would require a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the legislature or simple majorities in both houses followed by a vote of the people.

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.

Transportation Projects, SR 167, Highlight Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Leg Day

On Friday, February 1, 2013 several key area business leaders met with Pierce County legislators for the Tacoma- Pierce County Chamber of Commerce’s first Legislative Advocacy Day of the session.

At the informal luncheon, business leaders and legislators discussed numerous issues, such as healthcare, education, and workforce and economic development. However, the major topic under discussion was transportation, and in particular, the full funding and complete construction of State Route 167, a top priority for the Chamber.

We have previously discussed the history behind the project. Still, it is important to note the project’s state-wide economic significance, the major driver for its completion. The project would not only create much needed jobs, but the completion would also speed up the shipment of freight through the Port of Tacoma, making it quicker, cheaper, and more efficient to transport goods from Eastern Washington and the Kent and Puyallup River valleys to international markets through the Port of Tacoma.

Other high priority projects discussed include the JBLM –I-5 Corridor and the Cross-Base highway.

Notable Pierce County legislators holding positions on the Senate and House Transportation Committees that were in attendance of the luncheon include Sen. Nathan Schlicher (D), Rep. Jan Angel (R), Rep. Linda Kochmar (R), Rep. Hans Zeiger (R), and Rep. Jake Fey (D).

RAMP 2/6 @ 8AM

AGENDA  -  February 6, 2013

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

            Pat McCarthy, Co-Chair, Pierce County Executive             

8:05     Future Transportation Revenue and Needs

            Doug Vaughn, Director of Budget and Financial Analysis, WSDOT

8:25     SR-167 Completion Coalition

            Tim Thompson, Thompson & Smitch Consulting Group

8:45     Round Robin

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            John Wolfe, Co-Chair, Port of Tacoma CEO

           

Next RAMP Meeting

Wednesday, March 6th – Details 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. 

Renewed Energy Toward 167 Completion

The new year rang in new congressmen, state legislatures, and coalitions that aim to apply renewed energy toward old transportation issues: the completion of State Route 167.

Construction on the highway was halted in the 1980s, leaving the final six miles from Puyallup to Tacoma unfinished. Proponents of the project argue that it would create much needed jobs, reduce congestion and pollution, and speed up the shipment of freight through the Port of Tacoma, thereby holding statewide economic importance. The project, which would require construction of dozens of bridges and a complicated interchange with I-5, has a current estimated cost of $1.5 billion.

Many local political, business, and community leaders and organizations have made the completion of SR 167 a top priority, forming the 167 Completion Coalition, aimed at finishing this critical transportation project. The Coalition consists of Congressman Denny Heck (D-10), CEO/ President of the Tacoma- Pierce County Chamber, Tom Pierson, and many others.

The News Tribune cites House Transportation Committee Chairwoman Judy Clibborn as suggesting various methods to raise the money for SR 167, such as gas taxes and tolls, although tolling would likely bring in only a fraction of the cost since drivers can find an alternate route to avoid the toll.  

While it is uncertain how the completion of SR 167 would be funded, it is clear that the project is headed in the right direction.

RAMP 1/2 @ 8AM

Agenda 1/2/13

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

            Tom Pierson, Co-Chair, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber              

8:05     State Legislative Outlook on Transportation

            Bruce Dammeier, 25^th District State Senator

            Laurie Jinkins, 27^th District State Legislator

            Hans Zeiger, 25^th District State Legislator

8:45     Round Robin

 

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

             Pat McCarthy, Co-Chair, Pierce County

Next RAMP Meeting

Wednesday, February 6th – Details 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 CountyExecutive Pat McCarthy, Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe and Tacoma-Pierce CountyChamber 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.

Gregoire Prepares Major Transportation Package

The Tacoma News Tribune reported that outgoing Governor Chris Gregoire is preparing a multi-billion dollar transportation package to be released in a budget proposal next week.

While the article noted a few major projects, it did not mention State Route 167. Gregoire said that while all of the road projects were important, any transportation package will be “dominated by maintenance and operation,” suggesting that the completion of SR-167 may be left out.

SR-167 is the primary freeway connecting the Kent and Puyallup River valleys to the Seattle/ Tacoma/ Bellevue metropolitan area. Construction of the final leg of the freeway from Puyallup to Tacoma halted in the 1980s. Completion of the project, a critical missing link in the state’s highway network, would improve safety while reducing congestion along local roads and freeways in the surrounding area. It would also move freight faster and more economically, connecting the warehouses of the valleys, as well as freeways of Eastern Washington, to the Port of Tacoma. The project would also improve surface water quality and holds other environmental benefits.

Currently, the cost to complete SR-167 is estimated at $1.5 billion. Given the project’s statewide significance, it would be detrimental if the much needed completion of SR-167 were left out of any transportation package. 

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.