Washington State Transportation Commission – Meeting Agenda – December 17-18, 2019

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WSDOT Headquarters Building
Nisqually Conference Room 1D2
310 Maple Park Avenue SE, Olympia, WA

Please note: All listed times are estimates only and the Commission reserves the right to move agenda items as needed.

 

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Item 1: 9:00 am

Commission Business

  • Approval of October 15 & 16, 2019 meeting summary – Action
  • Approval of November 17 & 18, 2019 meeting summary – Action
  • Commissioner Reports

Item 2: 9:15

Tolling Update

Presenters: Ed Barry, Tolling Director, Washington State Department of Transportation
Pani Saleh, Washington State Department of Transportation
Carl See, Senior Financial Analyst, Washington State Transportation

An update will be given on traffic volumes and revenue for all tolled facilities including the SR 99 tunnel. An overview of the TNB Loan Report will be provided, which will be submitted to the Legislature in January, and will provide an update on the adequacy of the current loan plan.

Tolling Update (pdf 754 kb)
2020 TNB Loan Report Status Update (pdf 202 kb)

Item 3: 10:10

Low Income Toll Study Kickoff

Presenters: Gabor Debreczeni, Senior Economist, WSP USA
Brent Baker, Vice-President, Systems Finance & Economics, WSP USA
Brice Montgomery, Special Assistant to Assistant Secretary, Economic Services Administration, DSHS
Rob Fellows, Toll Planning and Policy Manager, Toll Division, Washington State Department of Transportation

In the 2019 session, the Legislature directed the Commission to conduct a study assessing the possibility of discounted tolls and other programs to assist low-income drivers and provide recommendations for how Washington could implement such programs. The study work plan and schedule will be discussed.

Low Income Toll Study Work Plan (pdf 613 kb)

Break: 11:00

Item 4: 11:15

Uber Seattle Congestion Pricing Study

Presenter: Matthew Kitchen, Senior Policy Advisor, ECONorthwest

Earlier this year, the transportation network company Uber released an analysis of congestion pricing in Seattle produced by ECONorthwest. The lead consultant will report on the analysis, its findings and recommendations.

Seattle Downtown Congestion Pricing (pdf 841 kb)

Lunch: 12:00 pm

Item 5: 1:00

Road Usage Charge Final Report of Findings and Recommendations to the Legislature – Action

Presenters: Jeff Doyle, Partner, D’Artagnan Consulting
Travis Dunn, Managing Partner, D’Artagnan
Ara Swanson, Senior Associate, Enviroissues

  • Review RUC findings and recommendations
  • Public comment on recommendations
  • Review RUC final report outline & content
  • Vote on findings, recommendations, and final report
  • Next Steps

RUC Presentation (pdf 2 mb)

The Commission will take final Action on its findings and recommendations related to a potential road usage charge system. The final report will be submitted to the Governor, Legislature and the Federal Highway Administration in January, 2020. The report will detail the results of the 7-year long assessment of road usage charging and the pilot project that involved over 2000 drivers statewide in a live test of road usage charging.

Break: 3:00

Item 6: 3:15

“The End of Driving: Transportation Systems and Public Policy Planning for Autonomous Vehicles”

Presenter: John Niles, Partner, Grush Niles Strategic

A presentation on the book titled above, co-authored with Bern Grush, will be covered. The authors contend that transportation policymakers need to think harder about the pending effort and effects of shifting 50 percent of private/ manual vehicles, to automated vehicles. The authors urge State and local governments to begin planning now to shape how autonomous vehicles will fit in their communities and address safety issues.

Perspectives on Vehicle Automation (pdf 5 mb)

Item 7: 4:30

Secretary’s Report

Item 8: 4:45

Public Comment

Adjourn: 5:00

Commissioner Dinner – 6:00 pm
Oyster House

 

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Item 9: 8:30 am

Reflections and Recommendations: WSTC Annual Report to the Governor and Legislature – Action

Presenter: Paul Parker, Deputy Director, Washington State Transportation Commission

Commission staff will review draft recommendations and content, and seek approval to finalize the report which will be released in January 2020.

Item 10: 9:30

Puget Sound Regional Council Vision 2050

Presenter: Paul Inghram, Director, Growth Management, AICP, Puget Sound Regional Council

As the Puget Sound region prepares to add more people and more jobs in the coming decades, VISION 2050 will provide a guide for sustaining a healthy environment, thriving communities and a strong economy. PSRC’s Growth Management Policy Board has received and incorporated public comment in a revised Vision 2050 recommended for adoption by the Executive Board in 2020.

PSRC Vision 2050 (pdf 3 mb)

Break: 10:15

Item 11: 10:30

WSDOT Rail Plan

Presenters: Ron Pate, Director, Rail Freight & Port Division, Washington State Department of Transportation
Jason Beloso, Planning Manager, Rail Freight & Port Division, Washington State Department of Transportation

The 2019 Rail System Plan update provides a framework for future passenger and freight rail programs and necessary Actions. It analyzes existing rail systems and identifies trends, and includes an investment plan for infrastructure and equipment.

Rail System Plan Update (pdf 2 mb)

Item 12: 11:15

Public Comment

Adjourn: 11:30

Next Meeting:

January 14 & 15, 2020
Olympia, WA

 


(The Commission reserves the right to take action on any item during the Commission Meeting and may make adjustments to the order of the agenda items as well as the time of adjournment.)

All Transportation Commission and Committee meetings are open to the public.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information

Individuals requiring reasonable accommodations may request written materials in alternate formats, sign language interpreters, physical accessibility accommodations, or other reasonable accommodations by contacting the event sponsor (Commission Office at (360) 705-7070). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact the event sponsor through the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1.

Title VI Notice to Public

It is WSTC’s policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its federally funded programs and activities. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated, may file a complaint with WSDOT’s Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). For additional information regarding Title VI complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations, please contact OEO’s Title VI Coordinator 360-705-7082.