Meeting Agenda – December 14-15, 2021

Eralee Sawtell

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 agenda items, and adjust the time of adjournment as needed.

Tuesday,  December 14, 2021

TVW Meeting Recording

Item 1: 9:00 a.m.

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Presenter: Roy Jennings, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission

Item 2: 9:05

Pantonium: Transforming Public Transit with On-Demand Macrotransit

Presenter: Remi Desa, CEO, Pantonium

A briefing will be provided from Pantonium, who has created an artificially intelligent route optimization software, transforming traditional urban transit services. The software enables the identification of globally optimal routes and schedules in real-time, with dispatching done autonomously to optimize transit fleets.

Pantonium’s On-Demand Transit Platform (pdf 1.4mb)

Item 3: 10:05

Road Usage Charge Update – ACTION

Presenter: Travis Dunn, Vice President, CDM Smith

An overview will be provided on the work completed in 2021 for the Commission’s Road Usage Charge federally funded research program, as well as reviewing the 2022 workplan. Additionally, the Commission will review a draft status report to be submitted to the Legislature in the 2022 session.

WA RUC – Update  (pdf 872kb)

Break: 10:50

Item 4: 11:00

Oregon Road Usage Charge Program

Presenter: Maureen Bock, Chief Innovation Officer, Oregon Department of Transportation

OReGO, the nation’s first Road Usage Charge program, has been in operation since July 1, 2015. The Oregon Dept. of Transportation will provide an update on their program operations and share insights into the future advancement of the program.

RUC and Toll  (pdf 4.6mb)

Lunch: 12:00 p.m.

Item 5: 1:00

Paratransit Service Considerations: Lessons For Recovery Planning, Post COVID-19

Presenters: Andrew L. Dannenberg, M.D. & Master of Public Health, University of Washington
Lamis Abu Ashour, Ph.D. Student, University of Washington
Yiyuan Wang, Ph.D. Student, University of Washington

Paratransit service in the Seattle/ King County region experienced substantially reduced demand, while still requiring equitable and safe services during the pandemic. Graduate students at the University of Washington examined transit agency responses to these challenges during the pandemic, with the goal of informing future service planning during a post-pandemic recovery period, and to prepare for possible future disruptive events. Findings from the study will be shared.

Paratransit Service Considerations  (pdf 1mb)

Item 6: 2:00

Mobility Bill of Rights

Presenters: Anna Zivarts, Director, Disability Mobility Initiative, Disability Rights Washington
Paulo Nunes-Ueno, Transportation & Land-Use Policy Lead, Front and Centered

An overview of the recently created “Mobility Bill of Rights” will be provided. This effort aims to support the overall mission of Disability Rights Washington to bring dignity, equality, and self-determination to people with disabilities, noting access to transportation is consistently a top concern for the disability community.

Mobility Bill of Rights  (pdf 1.5mb)

Item 7: 2:30

WSDOT’s 2021 American Disabilities Act Annual Report

Presenters: Gary Sea, External ADA Program Analyst, Office of Equal Opportunity, Washington State Department of Transportation

WSDOT issued its first American Disabilities Act Annual Transition Plan in 1995. In May 2018, the Federal Highway Administration accepted WSDOT’s updated ADA Transition Plan, which was implemented on October 1, 2018. The Commission will be briefed on the Plan, its current status, and how the plan can relate to and support the Commission’s work.

ADA Annual Report  (pdf 165kb)

Item 8: 3:00

Public Attitudes Towards High-Speed Rail Service in the Northwest

Presenter: Dave Metz, Partner & President, FM3 Research

During the summer of 2021, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) completed a survey of Oregon and Washington voters to assess their attitudes toward a high-speed rail line connecting major cities in the Northwest. The Commission will be briefed on the results of the survey.

Northwest High-Speed Rail Survey Analysis  (pdf 387kb)

Break: 3:30

Item 9: 3:40

Naming the Next Washington State Ferry – ACTION

Presenter: Reema Griffith, Executive Director, Washington State Transportation Commission

The process of building Washington State’s next new ferry – a hybrid-electric Olympic Class 144-car ferry – is underway. The Commission initiated its ferry naming process in July 2021 which included seeking name proposals from the public, gathering public input on the six finalist names via email, and via a survey sent to over 20,000 ferry riders on the Commission’s Ferry Riders Opinion Group (FROG) survey panel. The Commission will review the results of the collective public input and will select the name for the next new ferry.

2021 Ferry Naming – Overview of Public Input  (pdf 335kb)

Item 10: 4:15

Facility Naming Proposal to Designate the Tacoma Rail Station the “Tacoma Dome Station” – ACTION

Presenter: Ron Pate, Director, Rail, Freight, and Ports Division, Washington State Department of Transportation

In 2017, the new Tacoma rail station was completed. This station is part of the largest multi-modal transit hub in the state. WSDOT is requesting the Commission name the facility the “Tacoma Dome Station”. A briefing will be provided and the Commission will act on the request.

Naming Tacoma Amtrak Cascades Station (pdf 457kb)

Recess: 4:30

 

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 – Reconvene Day 2

TVW Meeting Recording

Item 11: 9:00 a.m.

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Presenter: Roy Jennings, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission

Item 12: 9:05

Secretary’s Report

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

Item 13: 9:20

Tolling Facility Performance Update

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

An update will be provided on the traffic and revenue performance of all tolled facilities through June 2021.

Toll Facilities Performance-Update  (pdf 372kb)

Item 14: 9:40

Washington State Ferries Service & Performance Update

Presenters: Nicole McIntosh, Chief of Staff, Washington State Ferries, Washington State Department of Transportation
Rick Singer, Director, Finance & Administration, Washington State Ferries, Washington State Department of Transportation

An update will be provided on Ferry operations, including a review of the recently released work force plan to address crewing shortages. Additionally, an overview of the most recent November 2021 revenue forecast for Washington State Ferries will be covered, providing insights into the future financial performance expectations considering ongoing service challenges.

WSF Service-Update  (pdf 828kb)

Item 15: 10:00

I-405/SR 167 Express Toll Lane Corridor – Interim Financial Plan Report

Presenters: Doug Vaughn, Chief Financial Officer, Washington State Department of Transportation
Robert Woeck, I-405/SR 167 Deputy Program Administrator, Washington State Department of Transportation

In response to the unforeseen impacts created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Legislature directed WSDOT to carry out two studies regarding planned expansion of the I-405/SR 167 Express Toll Lanes. The studies consider possible changes to proposed projects and timelines as well as modifying how the projects are funded and financed. WSDOT will update the Commission on the progress of these studies and address next steps.

I-405/SR167 Express Toll Lane Corridor  (pdf 316kb)

Item 16: 10:30

I-405/ SR 167 Express Toll Lanes – Update on Toll Rate & Policy Setting for the Future Corridor Expansion

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

In 2022 the Commission expects to begin the process of setting toll rates and policies for the future expansion of the I-405/ SR 167 Express Toll Lane system that will operate from Sumner, north to the where I-405/ I-5 connect in Lynwood. The process will consider the existing toll rates and policies for the I-405 Express Toll Lanes and SR 167 HOT lanes currently in operation. A briefing will be provided on the status of preparations for this work, and next steps in 2022.

I-405/SR 167 Express Toll Lanes – Update  (pdf 307kb)

Break: 11:00

Item 17: 11:10

Civil Penalties for Unpaid Tolls

Presenters: Ed Barry, Director, Tolling Division, Washington State Department of Transportation
Patricia Michaud, Operations Manager, Tolling Division Customer Service Center, Washington State Department of Transportation

A briefing will be provided on the current approaches to handling unpaid toll bills, including when a Notice of Civil Penalty is issued, and what circumstances allow for a penalty waiver.

Toll Civil Penalties (pdf 227kb)

Item 18: 11:40

Public Comment

Item 19: 11:50

Commission Business

Presenters: Reema Griffith, Executive Director, Washington State Transportation Commission
Carl See, Deputy Director, Washington State Transportation Commission
Aaron Halbert, Fiscal Analyst, Washington State Transportation Commission

A. Commission Discussion:

– Reflections and Recommendations
– November Meeting Summary

B. Work Session–Review Current Drafts of the Following Draft Reports
      (action to delegate finalization):

– Assessment of Alternative Transportation Funding Sources (Legislative Request) – ACTION
– Commission Annual Report – ACTION
– Commission Annual Tolling Report – ACTION

Alternative Transportation Funding Sources  (pdf 261kb)

Adjourn: 1:00

Next Meeting:

January 19 & 20, 2022
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 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, or national origin, 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.