Meeting Agenda – September 21-22, 2021 – Washington State Transportation Commission

Spokane Local Meeting

Virtual Meeting Agenda – September 21-22, 2021

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 21, 2021

TVW Live

Item 1: 1:00 p.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Presenter: Roy Jennings, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission

Item 2: 1:05

Mayor’s Welcome

Presenter: Nadine Woodward, Mayor, City of Spokane

Item 3: 1:10

Transportation 101

Presenters: Reema Griffith, Executive Director, Washington State Transportation Commission
Carl See, Deputy Director, Washington State Transportation Commission
Tamara Jones, Senior Policy Analyst Washington State Transportation Commission
Aaron Halbert, Financial Analyst, Washington State Transportation Commission

An overview will be provided on the fiscal and policy framework of the statewide transportation system.

Transportation 101 (pdf 1.9mb)

Item 4: 1:40

Washington State Department of Transportation Regional Overview

Presenter: Mike Gribner, Regional Administrator, Eastern Region, Washington State Department of Transportation

An overview of WSDOT’s Eastern Region, including planned and active projects and maintenance and preservation challenges in Spokane and the surrounding area.

Eastern Region-Overview (pdf 3.7mb)

Item 5: 2:10

Spokane Regional Transportation Issues: The Big Picture

Presenters: Ben Wick, Chair, Board of Directors, Spokane Regional Transportation Council and Mayor, Spokane Valley
Lois Bollenback, Executive Director, Spokane Regional Transportation Council

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) serves as the areas regional Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and is the lead agency for transportation planning in Spokane County. This discussion will focus on the challenges the region faces as well as the opportunities and successes that have been achieved.

Spokane Regional Transportation Council (pdf 630kb)

Break: 2:40

Item 6: 2:50

Spokane County: Transportation Issues, Challenges, and Successes

Presenter: Chad Coles, County Engineer, Spokane County

Spokane County operates and maintains the largest county road system in the State, serving a unique mix of rural and urban environments. The Commission will be briefed on this unique environment and will learn of the associated issues and the strategies the County is using to address them.

Spokane County (pdf 1mb)

Item 7: 3:20

City of Spokane: Transportation Issues, Challenges, and Successes

Presenter: Marlene Feist, Director, Public Works, City of Spokane

The City of Spokane is working to deliver on its 20-year local levy investment. The Commission will be briefed on this investment program, which includes plans for a robust maintenance program that is centered around collaboration with state partners.

City of Spokane (pdf 3.8mb)

Item 8: 3:50

Spokane International Airport: Issues, Challenges, and Successes

Presenter: Larry Krauter, Chief Executive Office, Spokane International Airport

Spokane International Airport plays a vital role in the transportation network, supporting the air cargo and travel needs of the broader region and serving as an economic development engine fueling the region’s growth. The Commission will hear more about how the airport’s capital projects and plans support growth of the regional multimodal freight network, increase demand for air service and drive economic development.

Spokane International Airport (pdf 3mb)

Item 9: 4:30

Connecting Transportation and the Economy

Presenters: Gary Ballew, Vice President of Economic Development Greater Spokane Inc
Lance Beck, President/Chief Executive Officer Greater Spokane Valley Chamber

Economic vitality relies on a strong transportation network. Discussions will focus on how air, highway, and rail networks impact economic development in Spokane County.

Greater Spokane Inc (pdf 1.5mb)
Greater Spokane Valley Chamber (pdf 659kb)

Recess: 5:00

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 – Reconvene Day 2

TVW Live

Item 10: 9:00 a.m.

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Presenter: Roy Jennings, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission

Item 11: 9:05

Public Transit Issues, Challenges, and Successes

Presenter: E. Susan Meyer, Chief Executive Officer, Spokane Transit Authority

As the Spokane Transit Authority (STA) focuses on delivering projects in the voter-approved, 10-year Moving Forward Plan, they are also investing significant resources to maintain a safe and healthy environment for employees and transit riders. The Commission will learn how STA balances these obligations and is changing the way public transportation is planned and delivered.

Item 12: 9:35

Public Development Authorities

Presenters: David Guthrie, Executive Director, Northeast Public Development Authority
Todd Coleman, Executive Director, S3R3 (Western Plains Public Development Authority)
Juliet Sinisterra, Interim Chief Executive Officer, University District Public Development Authority

As an alternative to a “port district,” the City of Spokane and Spokane County have created three, geographically defined Public Development Authorities (PDA) to facilitate sustainable, pro-business/pro-community economic development. The Commission will learn how each of the PDAs approach economic development, based on the needs of their geographic area and their unique transportation demands.

Northeast Public Development Authority (pdf 1.3mb)
S3R3 Western Plains Public Development Authority (pdf 2mb)
University District Public Development Authority (pdf 2.1mb)

Break: 10:15

Item 13: 10:25

Kalispel Tribe of Indians: Transportation Issues, Challenges, and Successes

Presenter: Sev Jones, Senior Manager of Planning, Kalispel Development Company, Kalispel Tribe of Indians

The Kalispel Development Company serves as the real estate development company for the Kalispel Tribe Economic Authority (KTEA). They pursue commercial, industrial, and residential business opportunities both on the Tribe’s property and in surrounding communities. The Commission will learn about the Tribe’s development of Trust land in Spokane County and how that development connects to the local transportation system.

Kalispel Tribe of Indians (pdf 517kb)

Item 14: 10:45

US 395 – North Spokane Corridor (NSC) Project

Moderator: Commissioner Kelly Fukai

Project & Process Overview:

Mike Gribner, Regional Administrator, Eastern Region, Washington State Department of Transportation
Charlene Kay, Regional Planning & Strategic Community Manager, Eastern Region, Washington State Department of Transportation
Dr. Kerry Brooks, Professor, Urban & Regional Planning, Eastern Washington University
Bob Hilmes, Project Engineer, Washington State Department of Transportation

Local Partner Perspectives:

Marlene Feist, Director, Public Works, City of Spokane
Jon Swett, Principal, Shaw Middle School

The North Spokane Corridor (NSC) is a 10.5- mile limited access corridor, linking I-90 on the south, to existing US 2 and US 395 on the north. Over 5.5 miles of the NSC route are completed and open to traffic. WSDOT has engaged in gathering significant public input, including utilizing “placemaking” approaches. This panel will brief the Commission on the project, its impact to the area, and how communities have been involved in the project design and advancement.

US 395 – North Spokane Corridor (pdf 5mb)

Item 15: 12:00 p.m.

Public Comment

Item 16: 12:10

Commission Business

– Reflections and Recommendations
– July Meeting Summary
– August Hearing Summaries – Action
o August 10th – Ferry Hearing
o August 24th – Toll Rates Hearing
– 2022 Commission Meeting Schedule & Locations Discussions
– Annual Report Development

Adjourn: 1:00

Next Meeting:

October 19 & 20, 2021
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 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.