Meeting Agenda – June 21, 2023

Meeting Agenda – Friday Harbor, Washington

 

San Juan County Council Chambers
55 Second Street
Friday Harbor, WA

 

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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.

Those wishing to offer comments can do so during the public comment period either in-person or virtually, after registration online. To sign up for virtual comment, using the Q&A box found on-screen during the meeting, please indicate your name and that you would like to provide comments. Written comments can also be submitted via email at: transc@wstc.wa.gov.

If you plan to engage in this meeting from your car, we encourage you to do so while parked.

 

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Wednesday, June 21, 2023

TVW Meeting Recording

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Item 1: 9:00 a.m.

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Presenter: Roy Jennings, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission

Item 2: 9:05

Commission Business

• May Meeting Summary – ACTION
• Colman Plaza Naming Resolution – ACTION
• UPDATE: Hood River Bridge Traffic & Revenue Study Final Report
• PUBLIC NOTICE: Naming Proposal for Riffe Lake Overlook
• Commission Representative on PSRC Policy Board – ACTION

Item 3: 9:20

County Council and Mayor Welcome

Presenters: Jane Fuller, Vice Chair, San Juan County Council
Raymond Jackson, Mayor, Friday Harbor

Friday Harbor’s mayor and San Juan County council member will describe their current transportation successes and challenges, providing context for the day’s presentations.

Item 4: 9:40

Transportation Update

Presenters: Reema Griffith, Executive Director, Washington State Transportation Commission
Carl See, Deputy Director, Washington State Transportation Commission
Paula Reeves, 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 Update (pdf 2mb)

Break: 10:05

Item 5: 10:15

San Juan County Transportation Issues: The Big Picture

Presenters: Jane Fuller, Vice Chair, San Juan County Council
Melissa Fanucci, Principal Planner, North Sound Transportation Alliance
Satpal Singh Sidhu, Whatcom County Executive SWISS (Snohomish County, Whatcom County, Island County, Skagit County and San Juan County) Regional Partnership

Information and perspectives will be shared on the increasing importance of regional coordination and transportation planning to the San Juan Islands. The San Juan Islands faces a unique transportation landscape, which will be explored.

North Sound Transportation Alliance (pdf 9mb)

Item 6: 10:45

Transportation and Infrastructure Planning to Build Resiliency for the Future

Presenters: Mike Thomas, County Manager, San Juan County
Colin Huntemer, Public Works Director, San Juan County
Kendra Smith, Director of Environmental Stewardship, San Juan County
Denice Kulseth, Town Administrator, Friday Harbor

Climate change and sea-level rise have implications for the San Juan Islands’ infrastructure, roads and transportation system. Challenges and efforts underway to build resiliency of infrastructure and systems will be discussed.

San Juan County – Planning  (pdf 1.5mb)

Item 7: 11:40

Washington State Department of Transportation Regional Overview

Presenter: Brian Nielsen, Regional Administrator, WSDOT Northwest Region Office

An overview will be provided of WSDOT’s Northwest Region, including planned and active projects, and maintenance in the area.

WSDOT Regional Overview  (pdf 779kb)

Lunch: 12:00 p.m.

Item 8: 12:30

Washington State Ferry Service Restoration Plan

Presenters: Ken Burtness, Ferry Advisory Committee Chair, San Juan County
John Vezina, Director of Planning, Customer and Government Relations, Washington State Ferries

An introduction will be shared on the unique dependence island residents have on the ferry system, which serves as a lifeline to many crucial services on the mainland. WSF will also provide an update on their plans for ferry service restoration throughout the system.

WSF Service Restoration – Update  (pdf 901kb)

Item 9: 1:00

2023/25 Ferry Fares: Presentation of WSF Fare Proposal

Presenters: Todd Lamphere, Director Finance and Administration, Washington State Ferries
Frank Immel and Meg Marshall, Co-Chairs, Ferry Advisory Committee on Tariff
Aaron Halbert, Financial Analyst, Washington State Transportation Commission

WSF staff will provide their fare adjustment recommendations based upon the fare revenue target set by the State Legislature in the recently passed Transportation Budget. WSF and Commission staff will review public input received thus far on possible approaches to fare changes. Members of the Ferry Advisory Committee on Tariff will also provide their thoughts and preferences for possible fare changes, resulting from their recent review process.

WSF Fare Setting-Process  (pdf 342kb)
2023 Ferry Fare Adjustments  (pdf 303kb)

Item 10: 1:45

Public Comment

To comment in person, please place your name on the sign-up in the meeting room. To sign up for virtual public comment, please put your name and interest in the Q&A box found on-screen during the meeting.

Break: 2:15

Item 11: 2:30

Transportation Commission 2023/25 Ferry Fare Proposal – ACTION

The Commission will discuss the recommendations and public comment gathered and will identify their ferry fare proposal for public review and comment.

Item 12: 3:00

The Island Economy: Challenges and Successes

Presenters: Anneliese Vance-Sherman, Regional Economist, Washington Department of Employment Security
Victoria Compton, Executive Director, San Juan Economic Development Council
Todd Nicholson, Executive Director, Port of Friday Harbor

Economic development organizations and government partnerships will discuss the landscape of the island economy, supported by tourism while also maintaining a high quality of life for year-round residents.

San Juan County Labor Market  (pdf 1mb)

Item 13: 3:45

Air & Sea Access to the San Juan Islands

Presenters: Rick Hoffman, Airport Manager, Lopez Port Authority
John Gowey, Director of Operations, Kenmore Air
Josh Jensen, Operations Manager, Island Air Ambulance
Bob Reilly, Executive Director, Island Rides

A showcase of transportation services and planning efforts underway to ensure accessible and environmentally sustainable transportation options for public transportation, inter-island travel, and main land connectivity, both for year-round residents and to support the economically vital tourism industry.

Port of Lopez  (pdf 315kb)
Kenmore Air  (pdf 1.8mb)
Island Rides  (pdf 160kb)

Item 14: 4:45

Commission Business

• Reports and Reflections

Adjourn: 5:00

Commissioner Dinner – 5:30 p.m.

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Thursday, June 22, 2023

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Tour Only – 9:00 a.m.

 

Next Meeting:

July 18 & 19, 2023

WSDOT Headquarters
Nisqually Board Room
310 Maple Park Ave. SE
Olympia, WA

In-person/Hybrid Meeting

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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 Equity and Civil Rights (OECR). For additional information please contact OECR’s Title VI Coordinator 360-705-7090.