Virtual Meeting Agenda
Public Notice
The Commission reserves the right to take action on any item on the agenda, make adjustments to the order of the agenda items, and adjust the time of adjournment as needed.
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Item 1: 1:00 p.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Presenter: Jerry Litt, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission
Item 2: 1:05
Mayor’s Welcome
Presenter: Glenn Johnson, Mayor, City of Pullman
Item 3: 1:10
Transportation 101
Presenter: Tamara Jones, Senior Policy Analyst, Washington State Transportation Commission
An overview of the fiscal and policy framework of the statewide transportation system.
Transportation 101 (PDF 1.4 MB)
Item 4: 1:30
Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport
Presenters: Glenn Johnson, Mayor, City of Pullman & Board Chair, Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport
Tony Bean, Executive Director, Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport
Over the last 6 years, the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport has experienced a great deal of growth. This briefing will cover the regional significance, the economic impact, and anticipated additional expansion of the airport.
Pulman-Moscow Regional Airport (pdf 31 MB)
Item 5: 1:55
City of Pullman Transportation Issues, Challenges, and Successes
Presenter: Kevin Gardes, P.E., Public Works Director, City of Pullman
Pullman is a community with small-town comforts and cosmopolitan amenities. Home to world class Washington State University (WSU), Pullman benefits from a diverse and international student population, Pac-12 sporting events as well as cultural and entertainment programs. This creates unique transportation issues. The city will provide an overview of how they are addressing downtown congestion through their master plan, working with residents, businesses, and WSU.
City of Pullman (PDF 1.5 MB )
Break: 2:20
Item 6: 2:30
Pullman Transit
Presenter: Wayne Thompson, Pullman Transit Manager, City of Pullman
Pullman Transit was founded in 1979, and remains one of only three of the state’s 30+ transit agencies to hold city government status (Yakima and Everett being the other two). As a small system serving the city limits of Pullman, it relies heavily on FTA rural transit grant funding, local utility tax revenue, and an annual contract with Washington State University providing for prepaid rides and expanded service. This briefing will provide an overview of Pullman Transit services, address the challenges that have emerged during the pandemic, and share the plans for moving forward.
Pullman Transit (PDF 4.5 MB)
Item 7: 2:50
Washington State University (WSU) Issues, Challenges, and Successes
Presenter: John Shaheen, Director, Transportation Services, Washington State University
WSU has over 20,000 students, offering 98 undergraduate majors, 78 Master’s degree programs, and 65 Doctoral degree programs. This briefing will cover the interconnection and history of the WSU and Pullman Transit partnership, provide an overview of WSU’s travel demand management (TDM) program and review the impacts of COVID-19 on the WSU community.
WSU Transportation Challenges and Opportunities (PDF 241 KB)
Item 8: 3:20
Regional Issues, Challenges, and Successes
Presenter: Shaun Darveshi, Director, Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO)
Transportation needs may look significantly different between urban and rural areas in the region, but safety, preservation, quality of life and economic viability are commonly shared priorities, along with moving agricultural products efficiently and reliably. Regional perspectives will be provided and challenges, issues, and success stories will be discussed. An overview will also be provided of “Palouse 2040”, the regional transportation plan, along with current regional transportation projects.
Palouse RTPO (PDF 888 KB)
Item 9: 3:45
Nez Perce Tribe Issues, Challenges, and Successes
Presenter: Mary Beth Clark, Planning Director, Nez Perce Tribe
Originally, the Nimiipuu people occupied an area that included parts of present-day Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Today, the Nez Perce Tribe is a federally recognized tribal nation with more than 3,500 citizens. This briefing will cover various transportation issues being faced by the Tribe, and their transit services.
Nez Perce Tribe (PDF 656 KB)
Item 10: 4:10
Regional Trails & Non-Motorized Transportation
Presenters: Shaun Darveshi, Director, Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO)
Bobbie Ryder, President, Pullman Civic Trust
Fred Wert, Board Member, Palouse to Cascades Trail Coalition
John Shaheen, Director, Transportation Services, Washington State University
Lowell Kappmeyer, Daily Cycle Commuter, Moscow, ID, to WSU
Trails are an important part of today’s transportation system – providing non-motorized commute options and recreational opportunities. Details will be provided about the trail system in the Pullman regional area, trail projects (both rural and urban), and the role of trails in WSU’s travel management plan.
Palouse Active Transportation Plan 2020 (PDF 256 KB )
Colfax-Albion-Pullman Rail-Trail (PDF 2.3 MB)
Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail (PDF 1 MB)
Regional Trails (PDF 975 KB)
Recess: 4:45
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Item 11: 9:00 a.m.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Presenter: Jerry Litt, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission
Item 12: 9:05
Naming Proposal for SR 902: Gold Star Memorial Highway – ACTION
Presenters: Rudy Lopez, Director, Washington State Veterans Cemetery
Marcus Riccelli, Representative, Washington State House of Representatives
Keirsten Lyons, Washington Fallen Heroes Project
John Lee, Command Sergeant Major, US Army, Retired & Director, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, Retired
The Eastern Washington Veterans Task Force has proposed honoring US Service Members by naming SR 902 the “Gold Star Memorial Highway” as an enduring final tribute to service members and veterans, and acknowledgment to surviving family members that they do not stand alone. The State Veterans Cemetery located in Medical Lake, WA, serves as the final resting place for over 6,000 veterans who have traveled State Route 902 on their last mile. The facility will continue to provide for veterans’ burial needs over the next 90 years and will remain a state and national shrine, into the future.
SR 902 Naming Proposal (PDF 680 KB)
Resolution No. 741 (PDF 15 KB)
Item 13: 9:30
WSDOT Eastern Region Update
Presenters: Mike Gribner, Eastern Region Regional Administrator, Washington State Department Of Transportation
Bob Westby, Transportation Technical Engineer, Rail Freight & Port Division, Washington State Department Of Transportation
Located in Spokane, Wa., the WSDOT Eastern Region serves the counties of Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Whitman, and portions of Franklin County. The economy, our well-being and quality of life is very dependent on the current transportation system that we have. Working together to find ways to continue to maintain the system and provide for improvements in safety related to operations of the system are central to the success continued of many of our towns and cities in the WSDOT Eastern Region.
Eastern Region – Navigating Washington’s Transportation Future (PDF 1.8 MB)
Break: 10:20
Item 14: 10:30
County Issues, Challenges, and Successes
Presenter: W. Mark Storey, PE, Director/County Engineer, Whitman County Public Works
Whitman, Garfield, Columbia, and Asotin Counties as rural counties maintain thousands of centerline miles of roads, gravel roads, and hundreds of bridges and structures, all with limited revenue. There are many challenges trying to maintain a functional road system for the farmers, businesses, and residents of the counties. An overview will be provided on county strategies and successes over the last several years, and possible approaches county road management that may be employed over the coming years.
Whitman County Roads (PDF 2.8 MB)
Item 15: 11:00
Port of Whitman County
Presenters: Joe Poire, Executive Director, Port of Whitman County
Kara Riebold, Chief Operating Officer, Port of Whitman County
The Port of Whitman County is a county wide port district in south east Washington. The Port has on-water and inland facilities, and a general aviation airport. The Port also operates a fiber optic plant that is used by seventeen telecommunication companies to deliver broadband to residents and businesses in Eastern Washington. This presentation will provide an overview of the Port operations, programs, and services.
Port of Whitman County (PDF 766KB)
Item 16: 11:30
Freight Mobility on the Palouse
Presenters: Eric Jessup, Director, Freight Policy Transportation Institute, School of Economic Institute, Washington State University
Kristin Meira, Executive Director, Pacific NW Waterways Association
Panelist will discuss freight mobility, its importance to, and challenges of the region. The federal navigation channel and federal locks on the Columbia and Snake Rivers make it possible to move cargo and people safely, efficiently, and reliably. An overview will be given of some of the top subjects that relate to commerce on the river: federal funding, federal policy, litigation, and the Columbia River Treaty.
Freight Mobility on the Palouse (PDF 3.1 MB)
Columbia Snake River System (PDF 1.5 MB )
Item 17: 12:10 p.m.
Moving Wheat to Market
Presenter: Glenn Squires, Chief Executive Officer, Washington Grain Commission
The Washington Grain Commission (WGC) pursues partnerships in the areas of research, market development and education. Partnerships strengthen the WGC’s position and effectiveness, and enhances their outreach and education efforts on protecting the interests of Eastern Washington wheat farmers. The WGC will provide overview of the critical role of transportation to the industry.
Moving Wheat to Market (PDF 1.6 MB)
Item 18: 12:20
Columbia Pulp
Presenter: John Begley, CEO & Founder, Columbia Pulp, LLC
Columbia Pulp is North America’s first new pulp mill in over 35 years. With 3 locations around the Palouse, Columbia Pulp sources waste straw from a 75-mile radius to produce market-grade pulp for the production of paper products such as food containers, towels and tissues, as well as bio-polymers for a variety of industrial applications. Transportation is vital to Columbia Pulp’s ability to move supplies into their facilities and product out to customers and will address this in their presentation.
Columbia Pulp (PDF 1.3 MB)
Item 19: 12:45
Commission Business
Presenter: Jerry Litt, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission
- Reflections and Recommendations
- Adoption of June 16 and 17th Meeting Summary – ACTION
- Adoption of July 7th Meeting Summary – ACTION
- Adoption of July 15th and 21st Meeting Summary – ACTION
Adjourn: 1:00
Next Meeting:
October 20 & 21, 2020
Olympia, WA – Virtual
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 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.