Pierce County comments on draft Transportation 2040

Collectively stakeholders in Pierce County continue to advocate in the Puget Sound Region for equitable geographic distribution of transportation dollars and strategic roadway and transit investments that aid the growth of economic opportunities in Pierce County.

Here are the comments on the draft Transportion 2040 plan from:

Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

City of Tacoma

Pierce County

Economic Development Board of Pierce County

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.

Pierce County Projects to be Included in T2040 Plan

This Thursday (11/12/09) the PSRC Transportation Policy Board will recommend the Transportation 2040 Proposed Preferred Alternative to the PSRC’s Executive Board.

The Pierce County projects to be included in the constrained portion of the plan can be viewed here. These projects include extending SR 167 to the Port of Tacoma, extending the SR 167 HOT lanes to the current terminus in Puyallup and building SR 704 the Cross-base Highway.

More information on the T2040 process is available in the previous post: RAMP reviews PSRC's Transporation 2040.

Pierce County Community Celebrates Cross Base

Congressman Adam Smith, Representatives Becker and Campbell, County Executive Pat McCarthy and representatives from the offices of Governor Gregoire and Congressman Norm Dicks, among others were on hand yesterday to celebrate the completion of Project 1 of SR 704, the Cross Base Highway.













The ribbon cutting for Project 1 celebrates the completion of a project nearly 20-years in the making- the first phase of a planned six-mile, multi-lane highway stretching across the Fort Lewis and McChord military bases between SR7 and I-5. Project 1 widened a three-quarter mile stretch of Spanaway Loop to five lanes, added dual right-turn lanes from Spanaway Loop Road to southbound SR7 and dual left-turn lanes from northbound SR 7 to Spanaway Loop Road.

The remaining three Cross Base Highway projects will be completed as funding becomes available. Once completed, the new limited access highway will improve access for residents and freight in South Pierce County.

Crossbase Highway- Project 1 Complete!

Please join WSDOT Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond and County Executive Pat McCarthy in celebrating the completion of Project 1 of the Cross-Base Highway – Spanaway Loop Road to SR 7.

When: 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009

Where: The cul-de-sac at the end of 175th Court, Spanaway WA

Project 1 connects Spanaway Loop Road to SR 7, drastically improving safety and mobility. A new dual right-turn lane from Spanaway Loop Road to southbound SR 7 is already easing back-ups and improving safety during peak travel times.

The SR 704 Cross-base Highway is divided into five independent projects. Construction on Project 1, Spanaway Loop Rd to SR 7, began in July 2008. The four remaining projects are in the design phase. Go to http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR704/CrossBase/ for more information.

Directions to the event:

From SR 512, take the second exit to south SR 7/Pacific Avenue.

Travel south on SR 7/Pacific Avenue for 4.4 miles.

Turn right at 174th Street South

Turn left at 4th Avenue South

Turn right on 176th Street south and follow the noise wall to the end of the cul-de-sac.

Please RSVP to Lisa Copeland, WSDOT Communications, (360) 357-2789 or copelal@wsdot.wa.gov.

WSDOT Breaks Ground on First Segment of Crossbase Highway

On Wednesday, July 30, WSDOT broke ground on Project 1, the first segment of the overall SR 704, Cross Base Highway in Pierce County.

Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond, County Executive John Ladenburg and many others were on hand to celebrate this milestone.

Project 1 will be built for $7.35 million and connect Spanaway Loop Road to SR 7, drastically improving safety and mobility. A new dual right-turn lane from Spanaway Loop Road to southbound SR 7 will ease back-ups during peak travel times. The project is scheduled to wrap up in June 2009.

The remaining SR 704 projects will be completed as funding becomes available. The planned six-mile, multi-lane highway stretches east to west between Fort Lewis and McChord military bases, and connects SR 7 to I-5. The new corridor will provide congestion relief and reduced delays on I-5, SR 512, SR 7 and county roads.

House Funds 520 - Shorts Pierce

The Association of Washington Business, among a report on other legislative action and business issues, reported the action by the Washington State House of Representatives for its transportation budget proposal.

The House approved a transportation budget with $2 billion of the $4.38 billion cost of replacing the State Route 520 bridge with a more modern, six-lane successor. Users of the bridge could pay tolls as early as 2009 to cover the remainder of the project’s funding. Under that budget, however, other highway projects face delays, including the highway crossing Fort Lewis between Frederickson and Lakewood, the extension of Highway 167 from the Port of Tacoma to Puyallup, and a Highway 509 link from Interstate 5 to Sea-Tac International Airport.

Relevant links: HB 2878, sponsored by Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island. Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600.

The Rich Get Richer

Now comes the time when Pierce County reaps its unjust rewards.

The failure of Proposition One last fall can be fairly laid to the feet of King County politicos who either lead or passively allowed action to defeat an opportunity for regionally coordinated road and transit planning and improvements.

Now, that example of regional leadership is being rewarded by the legislative transportation budget. The House transportation budget HB 2878 clearly takes money from Pierce County and gives it to the 520 bridge project. Examples:

• While the Governor's budget proposed $300 million for SR-167, the House budget, HB 2878, cuts that to $114.720 million. Other funds were supposed to come from an anticipated container tax, which thankfully appears to be dead.
• The Port of Tacoma interchange with Interstate 5 has been delayed.
• The SR-704 Cross-Base Highway has been FURTHER delayed.

The regional perspective seems lost on most newspapers. Both the Seattle Times and the Seattle PI focused on the potential for early tolls on the 520 bridge and gave no attention to where the subsidy came from. Only The News Tribune examined the source of the massive flow of funds to the King County project.

As an aside, some $40 million has been earmarked for the Murray Morgan Bridge from the Puyallup's land claims settlement fund. This is understood to be in addition to any monies from the proposed 0.2% increase in the sales tax to be apportioned from the state's share of sales tax monies.

Need for Cross-Base Highway Aired by KIRO

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News South Sound Bureau Chief Richard Thompson produced a balanced piece on the Cross-Base Highway that aired this past Wednesday evening. Entitled "Supporters, Opponents At Odds Over Cross-Base Highway," the brief report included clips featuring RAMP Co-Chair John Ladenburg and coalition staff.

KIRO's viewers were presented with the following information:

• Supporters say the project would ease congestion and help business in Pierce County;
• Opponents say it will threaten wildlife and destroy an already fragile ecosystem on Fort Lewis;
• Commuters will be happy to learn construction will soon begin on the project's first phase;
• The project will never be finished unless voters approve another $400 million to finish the job.

The report also announced that RAMP is considering a new transportation package for Pierce County voters that would include the Cross-Base Highway--pursued separately, teamed up again with King and Snohomish counties, or working with Thurston and Kitsap counties.

Ladenburg Reiterates Top-Level Support for SR-704

Submitted by Paul Ellis

At this month's RAMP meeting (earlier today), Pierce County Executive and RAMP Co-Chair John Ladenburg reiterated the crucial importance of SR-704--the Cross-Base Highway--in the Roads & Transit package.

"If the Regional Transportation Investment District proposes a package that leaves out Cross-Base," Ladenburg told RAMP participants, "then I'll publicly come out against passage of the ballot issue." Rumors have been circulating that some members of the RTID Board are soft on the project and may propose its omission during their meeting tomorrow morning.

Participants also heard that an economic analysis of the SR-704 project--like those conducted for SR-167 and the Alaskan Way Viaduct--has been completed and will be released by WSDOT next week.

Paul Ellis is lead staff for RAMP; an employee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Ellis led the Pierce County Transportation Advisory Committee (PCTAC), the community's largest transportation planning effort.