RAMP 2/3 @ 8AM

AGENDA  -  February 3, 2016

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

8:05     Traffic Avenue Interchange Project                   

             Mayor Dave Enslow, City of Sumner

             Bill Pugh, City of Sumner

     

8:25    Implementing Tacoma’s Road Packages

             Kurtis Kingsolver, City of Tacoma

8:45     Round Robin/Good of the Order

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

Next RAMP Meeting

3/2/16 @ 8AM

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 9/2 @ 8AM

 AGENDA  -  September 2, 2015

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

8:05     Pierce County Impacts of the State Transportation Package

            Jake Fey, State Representative - 27th LD, Transportation Committee Vice-Chair

8:35     Tacoma Roads Ballot Measures

            Marilyn Strickland, Mayor of Tacoma

8:50     Round Robin/Good of the Order

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn 

RAMP is a regional coalition including business, labor, public and private organizations and citizens dedicated to improved mobility in the South Sound andWashington 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 Board Member Don Meyer and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson.  

RAMP 4/1 @ 8AM

AGENDA  -  April 1, 2015

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

  

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

  

8:05     JBLM Traffic Improvements

            Lieutenant Colonel Andy McQuade

  

8:25     Tacoma’s Draft Transportation Master Plan

            Josh Diekmann, City of Tacoma

  

8:50     Round Robin/Good of the Order

            Legislative Update

  

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

Next RAMP Meeting

May 6, 2015

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.  

Special RAMP 7/9/14 @ 8AM

AGENDA  -  July 9, 2014

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

 

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

 

 

8:05     Tacoma Transportation Master Plan

            Dan Grayuski, Fehr & Peers

 

 

8:15     Federal Transportation Policy & Funding

            Janet Kavinoky, Exec. Dir. of Transportation & Infrastructure, U.S. Chamber

 

 

8:55     Round Robin/Good of the Order

 

 

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

 

 

August 6^th RAMP Meeting @ 8AM

Featuring         WSDOT Update on Pierce County Projects

Congressman Smith’s Office on Freight Infrastructure Reinvestment Act

 

 

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.

Tacoma Amtrak Station Relocation

The past few months local officials, concerned citizens, business representatives, and other key stakeholders came together to form a Citizen Advisory Committee and reviewed a proposal by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) that would relocate Tacoma’s Amtrak train station, currently located at 1001 Puyallup Avenue, to the Freighthouse Square mixed –use retail facility at 25-1 East “D” Street.

The relocation of the station is due to the Point Defiance Bypass Project, which will reroute passenger trains to an existing rail line along the west side of I-5 through south Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont.

The Committee developed 25 initial recommendations that were organized into four broad categories consistent with the long-term goals of the Dome District where the current and future station is located. These recommendations were then shortened and prioritized.

The most significant recommendation was related to the “blockage of East “C” and East “D” streets by trains, train-related safety gates, safety arms, or signaling devices that occur when trains are passing in order to improve pedestrian and vehicular north-south circulation throughout the district.”

The Committee noted that WSDOT’s current proposal of relocating the Amtrak train station to Freighthouse Square would result in these streets being blocked for a longer period of time than currently, because of the increased length of the Amtrak trains. Tacoma City Councilman David Boe also pointed out critical safety issues related to this recommendation, since increased wait times may entice impatient drivers and pedestrians to go around safety gates and related devices.

The Committee recommends placing the station platform onto the trestle to the east. The current Tacoma Trestle is a 100 year old, wooden, single-track trestle leading up to Freighthouse Square. The aging trestle needs to be replaced with a new concrete double track structure anyway, adding weight to the Committee’s recommendation to build the platform on the trestle.

In addition, the Committee noted the importance of having the Amtrak station located in Tacoma and the Dome District, creating a transit hub and making it easy for travelers to visit downtown Tacoma, UWT, the Glass Museum, and other key places. 

Other Committee recommendations were related to noise, parking, traffic circulation, urban and station design, and can be found in the City’s website.

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 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"

RAMP 9/5 @ 8AM

Agenda - 9/5/12

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road; 98424

  

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

            John Wolfe, Co-Chair, Port of Tacoma                        

8:05     Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century (MAP-21)

            Charlie Howard, Puget Sound Regional Council

8:20     Federal Transportation Update

            Carl Seip, Senator Cantwell’s Office

8:30     SR 509 to East D Street Slip Ramps

            Jilma Jimenez, BergerABAM

            Tom Rutherford, City of Tacoma

8:45     Round Robin

      

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            Pat McCarthy, Co-Chair, Pierce County

Next RAMP Meeting

Wednesday, October 3^rd - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – The Fabulich Center

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.

Truckers back completion of SR-167

Several trucking companies from around Washington state joined the chorus calling on lawmakers to complete SR 167, a critical freight corridor of state and national significance. Finishing the remaining six miles to SR 167 from its end in Puyallup to the Port industrial area will improve access to the Port of Tacoma. 

Trucking companies expressing their support for the project include Premier Transport, PCC Logistics, Tacoma Transload and D&B Trucking of Tacoma, Tyson Trucking of Eatonville, American Container Transport of Ellensburg, Truck Force of Vancouver and Truck Express of Covington. 

For more information on SR-167, please see: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR167/TacomaToEdgewood/

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

SR 509/East D Street Slip Ramps Open House

From the City of Tacoma:

You’re invited to an open house to learn more about the upcoming State Route 509/East D Street slip ramp project. The open house is scheduled for Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. in Room 405 of the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center (1500 Broadway).

The open house will focus on informing City residents, businesses and property owners in the area about the project features and schedule. The open house will also give participants an opportunity to comment on the preferred design alternative, or two alternatives if a preferred alternative decision has not been made.

The City will lead the design of a street and highway interchange at State Route 509 and East D Street. Once constructed, the interchange will improve freight movement into and from the Port of Tacoma as well as access to businesses on either side of the Thea Foss Waterway and to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail yard.

The project is entering the initial stage of selecting a preferred interchange design alternative and preparing the environmental documentation. Comment cards will be available for meeting participants to provide feedback to the project team. Additional project information is available at www.cityoftacoma.org/SR509.

RAMP 6/6 @ 8AM

Agenda - 6/6/12

The Fabulich Center

3600 Port of Tacoma Road

; 98424

8:00     Welcome & Self-Introductions                                  

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

8:05     SR-520 Bridge & Pierce County

            Julie Meredith, WSDOT

8:20     Puyallup River Bridge Construction

            Chris Larson, City of Tacoma

8:35     Port of Tacoma Strategic Plan Update

            Don Meyer, Port of Tacoma Commissioner

8:45     Round Robin

     

9:00     Closing Remarks & Adjourn

            Pat McCarthy, Co-Chair, Pierce County

           

Next RAMP Meeting

Wednesday, September 5^th - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – The Fabulich Center

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. 

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.

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.

TATS the Second Time

Brown Bag Webinar Canx

The Brown Bag webinar has been cancelled for this Thursday given the lack of participants (there were only three registrants as of yesterday). The presentation will be available on the Port’s web site beginning on Thursday and will be available for viewing over the next few months. Viewers will be able to post questions/comments and receive feedback.