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Transportation Commission to discuss national transportation, ferry fares and aviation
Posted
7.10.09
Transportation Commission
Office - PO Box 47308 -
Olympia, WA 98504-7308
(360) 705-7070
Date: July 10, 2009
| Contact: |
Reema
Griffith, Transportation
Commission Executive
Director, 360-705-7070 |
OLYMPIA – U.S. transportation policy, naming of a portion of State Route 529 in Snohomish County, ferry fare adjustments and the state’s aviation plan are among the agenda items for next week’s Washington State Transportation Commission meeting.
The meeting will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, July 14 and 15, at the Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Avenue SE in Olympia, starting both days at 9 a.m. The meeting is open to the public and people wishing to address the Commission may do so during the public comment periods scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday.
Tuesday’s meeting starts with a presentation to the Commission by former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton regarding the Bipartisan Policy Center’s report, “Performance Driven: A New Vision for U.S. Transportation Policy.” The report recommends a new performance-based framework for national transportation policy that is linked to clearly defined transportation goals. The recommended over-arching goals are: Economic growth, national connectivity, metropolitan accessibility, energy security and environmental protection, and safety.
Washington State Department of Transportation’s Ferries Division (WSF) will present to the Commission its draft Tariff 2009 Fare proposal. After a two-year freeze on ferry fares, WSF is proposing a 2.5 percent across-the-board general fare increase. The proposal includes elimination of the tollbooth surcharge, making the in-need organization discount permanent, and allows for reservation deposits on routes with a reservation system. The Commission is the final authority on ferry fares and may adopt the WSF proposal or modify it before it is adopted.
On Wednesday, the Commission will consider a request for the naming of SR 529 as the “Yellow Ribbon Highway.” A section of SR 529 from I-5 in Everett to SR 528 in Marysville would be named Yellow Ribbon Highway to raise awareness of the sacrifices made by U.S. active military personnel and their families residing in Washington. This proposal is supported by the Snohomish County council, City of Everett, City of Marysville, Skagit County and others.
With the conclusion of the Washington State Long-Term Air Transportation Study (LATS), which examined Washington’s commercial and general aviation capacity needs, the Washington Aviation Planning Council submitted its recommendations to the Governor, legislators and regional planning organizations on July 1, 2009. The Commission is developing the 2011 - 2030 Washington Transportation Plan, which is a statewide policy plan. John Sibold, WSDOT Aviation director, will share statewide air transportation issues and explain LATS and the statewide Aviation System Plan. LATS fulfills the statewide aviation planning requirement of the federal government, coordinates statewide aviation planning, and identifies the program needs for public use and state airports (RCW 46.06.060). Included are recommendations for protection and use of existing public-use airports, placement or expansion of airports, and the state’s role in protecting, improving and investing in critical aviation facilities.
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