Meeting Agenda – May 18-19, 2021 – Washington State Transportation Commission

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, May 18, 2021

TVW Live

Item 1: 9:00 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Presenter: Jerry Litt, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission

Item 2: 9:05

Road Usage Charge (RUC) Forward Drive Project Update

Presenters: Travis Dunn, Partner, Milestone Solutions, LLP
Henry Yates, Principal, Yates Consulting
Allegra Calder, Principal, BERK Consulting
Sherrie Hsu, Senior Associate, BERK Consulting
Zubair Ghafoor, Principal, CDM Smith

The Commission will receive an update on the latest activities of the Forward Drive research project. The update will focus two areas of the project: 1) the status and next steps of the equity analysis effort assessing impacts RUC may have on underserved communities; and 2) the status and next steps of the financial modeling work which aims to measure the long-term sustainability of RUC as a revenue source, considering the impacts various economic factors and markets may have on long-term revenue generation.

Road Usage Charge-Update (pdf 4.3mb)

Break: 11:05

Item 3: 11:15

Autonomous Vehicle Work Group Update

Presenter: Scott Shogan, Vice President, WSP

At the direction of the Legislature, the Commission is leading the Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Work Group who is charged with developing recommended policies and regulations to support the safe operation of AVs on public roadways in the state. This presentation will review possible topics and areas of focus the Work Group could undertake over the remaining three years it has to complete its work.

Autonomous Vehicle Work Group-Update (pdf 933kb)

Lunch: 12:00 p.m.

Item 4: 1:00

I-405 & SR 167 Express Toll Lanes Traffic & Revenue Update

Presenter: Ed Barry, Director, Toll Division, Washington State Department of Transportation

WSDOT will provide the latest update on the performance of the I-405 & SR 167 Express Toll Lanes, as of December 2020.

I-405/SR 167 Express Toll Lanes Traffic Revenue-Update (pdf 1069kb)

Item 5: 1:20

I-405 / SR 167 Express Toll Lane Low-Income Tolling Study Update

Presenters: Gabor Debreczeni, Economic Analysis and Forecasting Manager, WSP USA
Auden Kaehler, Assistant Vice President, WSP USA

At the direction of the Legislature, the Commission is leading a study of potential low-income tolling program options for the I-405/SR 167 Express Toll Lanes corridor. The project team will present information on the analysis of the two options selected by the Commission for further assessment in the study and discuss the draft report and recommendations.

I-405/SR167 Low Income Tolling Study (pdf 905kb)

Break: 2:50

Item 6: 3:00

2021 Washington State Ferries (WSF) Fare Setting Process

Presenter: Ray Deardorf, Senior Planning Manager, Washington State Ferries, Washington State Department of Transportation

Each biennium the Commission adjusts ferry fares in order to comply with and achieve revenue expectations set by the Legislature. WSF staff will provide an overview of WSF’s 2021-23 budget and fare revenue target, review possible fare policy issues to be addressed, and review the next steps and overall fare setting process that will take place between June and August 2021.

2021-23- WSF Fare Setting Development Process (pdf 381kb)

Item 7: 4:00

SR 99 Tunnel Traffic & Revenue Performance Update

Presenter: Tyler Patterson, Systems Manager, Toll Division, Washington State Department of Transportation

WSDOT staff will provide a briefing on the traffic and revenue performance of the SR 99 tunnel, including assessing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the closing of the West Seattle Bridge.

SR99 Tunnel Traffic Revenue Performance-Update (pdf 827kb)

Item 8: 4:20

Toll Rate Setting Preparations

Presenter: Carl See, Deputy Director, Washington State Transportation Commission

In support of meeting financial requirements, the Commission is preparing for toll rate increases on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and the SR 99 tunnel, with an effective date of October 1, 2021, as well as assessing long-term needs to adjust toll rates on the SR 520 bridge in the future to ensure the financial plan for the bridge is sustainable over the life of the debt on the facility. Commission staff will provide an overview and proposal for next steps and the schedule for advancing toll rate adjustments on the facilities.

SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge (pdf 399kb)

Recess: 5:00

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

TVW Live

Item 9: 9:00 a.m.

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Presenter: Jerry Litt, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission

Item 10: 9:05

Secretary’s Report

Presenter: Roger Millar, Secretary, Washington State Department of Transportation

Item 11: 9:20

Integrating Equity into Transportation Decision-Making

Presenter: Talia Jacobson, Senior Planner, Toole Design

The Commission will receive a briefing on ways to address equity in transportation policies, plans, and projects. This presentation will address process equity, outcome equity, and existing data sources that can be used to understand current conditions and assess progress towards desired outcomes.

Equity in Transportation (pdf 995kb)

Item 12: 10:20

Highway Naming Proposal to Designate SR 165 “The Glacier Highway” – ACTION

Presenters: Reema Griffith, Executive Director, Washington State Transportation Commission
Phil Fortunato, Senator, Washington State
Jeff Sellers, Mayor, City of Wilkeson

The 2021-2023 Transportation Budget requests that the Commission name SR 165 “The Glacier Highway” to commemorate the significance of glaciers to the state of Washington.

Item 13: 10:35

Commission Business

– Reflections and Recommendations
– April Meeting Summary

Meeting Planning:

In-Person/Virtual
Invitation to attend the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board’s meeting to be held in Walla Walla in September

– Preparing for the election of the 2021 Commission Officers

Adjourn: 11:15

Next Meeting:

June 15 & 16, 2021
Wenatchee, 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 Commission Office at (360) 705-7070 or transc@wstc.wa.gov. 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 the Washington State Transportation Commission’s (WSTC) 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 360-705-7090.