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State Transportation Commission to discuss alternative fuels and transportation tolling operations
Posted
10.14.08
Transportation Commission
Office - PO Box 47308 -
Olympia, WA 98504-7308
(360) 705-7070
Date: October 14, 2008
| Contact: |
Reema
Griffith, Transportation
Commission Executive
Director, 360-705-7070 |
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E-mail: transc@wsdot.wa.gov |
OLYMPIA – Next week in Olympia, the Washington State Transportation Commission will hear about two efforts that investigate possible public-private partnerships for new transportation-related facilities. Commissioners will also discuss tolling operations on Washington’s highways, including an update of the State Route (SR) 167 high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes and tolling scenarios for the SR 520 Bridge.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m., Tuesday, October 21, at the Transportation Building, Commission Boardroom, 310 Maple Park Avenue SE, in Olympia. It will continue at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 22, in the same location. Commission meetings are open to the public and persons wishing to address the Commission may do so during the public comment period scheduled on Wednesday at 4:45 p.m.
On Tuesday, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) staff will describe two studies under way: one looks at joint, public-private development opportunities at ferry terminals; and the other examines the feasibility of establishing an alternative fuels distribution network along highway rights-of-way. WSDOT is examining possible joint-development and innovative partnerships with private investors at public ferry terminals that may include retail, office space, restaurant, and other uses. The second study involves an economic feasibility analysis for development of an alternative fuels corridor along I-5. Through the study, WSDOT is exploring opportunities for partnerships with the private sector and other public agencies to establish and promote refueling facilities along the major interstate highways in Washington, particularly along I-5. The Commission is responsible for overseeing the Transportation Innovative Partnerships Program and executing public-private partnership agreements developed under the Program.
During Wednesday’s meeting, WSDOT staff will present an overview of the SR 167 HOT lanes operations to date. The HOT lanes began operating in May 2008, allowing solo drivers to pay an electronic toll to use the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane. Toll rates increase and decrease with the level of congestion to ensure that traffic in the HOT lane flows freely. WSDOT staff will describe the time savings being realized by HOT lane users, the average toll paid by drivers and the number of users over the past five months.
Also on Wednesday, Commissioners will be briefed on the work of the 520 Tolling Implementation Committee. The committee was created by the Legislature to seek opinions from the public on various options related to tolling to help pay for a new SR 520 bridge. Engineers estimate a new 520 bridge could cost between $3.7 and $3.9 billion. Nearly $2 billion in state and federal contributions have been secured. Tolling may be used to help close the funding gap. Four tolling scenarios were created and presented to the public this summer. More than 3,000 comments were received. The committee will present additional scenarios to the public in November, based on the feedback from the first round of public input meetings. The Tolling Implementation Committee will present a report to the Governor and Legislature in January.
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