Meeting Agenda – October 17-18, 2023

Eralee Sawtell

Meeting Agenda – Olympia, Washington

 

WSDOT Headquarters Building
Nisqually Board Room 1D2
310 Maple Park Avenue SE
Olympia, WA

Meetings are webcast live on TVW

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.

 

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

TVW Meeting Recording

Item 1: 9:00 a.m.

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Presenter: Debbie Young, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission

Item 2: 9:05

Statewide Maintenance Needs and Challenges

Presenters: Pasco Bakotich, P.E., Director, Maintenance Operations, Washington State Department of Transportation
Jay Drye, Director, Local Programs, Washington State Department of Transportation
Billy Hetherington, President, Good Roads and Political Director, LIUNA! Local 242
Jane Wall, Executive Director, County Road Administration Board

Washington State owns a multimodal transportation system that would cost over $200 billion to replace today, making it critically important that we maintain what we have and protect the investments we have made. The State Department of Transportation estimates the unfunded need for preservation and maintenance to be at $11 billion over the next 10 years. The Washington State Transportation Commission will host an expert panel that will speak to the maintenance challenges we are facing statewide, the growing risk of falling behind even further, and opportunities to correct the course we are on.

WSDOT Preservation & Maintenance Challenges  (pdf 1.7mb)
WSDOT Local Programs  (411kb)
Maintenance Challenges and Opportunities for County Roads  (pdf 1.8mb)

Item 3: 10.30

Secretary’s Report

Presenter: Amy Scarton, Deputy Secretary, Washington State Department of Transportation

An update will be provided on Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) activities.

Break: 10:45

Item 4: 11:00

NextGen Highways – Efficient Energy Transmission Development

Presenter:  Matt Prorok, Senior Policy Manager, Energy Systems, Great Plains Institute

The opportunity to co-locate new energy transmission corridors on primary transportation corridors and support future transportation electrification will be discussed along with examples of work underway across the US.

NextGen Highways  (pdf 2.9mb)

Lunch: 12 p.m.

Item 5: 1:00

Transforming the Heavy-Duty Transportation Sector

Presenter:  Michael Ganny, Manager, Grants & Proposals, WattEV

With transportation causing nearly 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, WattEV is taking a total solution approach by increasing electric trucking and the charging infrastructure that will keep those trucks hauling freight. The Commission will hear about their efforts to create an ecosystem that addresses and supports the needs of the trucking sector if it is to transition to electric as its primary fuel source.

WattEV Transition to Zero-Emission Transportation  (pdf 3.5mb)

Item 6: 1:45

SR 167 Master Plan Update

Presenter:  April Delchamps, Planning Manager, Washington State Department of Transportation

Rapid population and employment growth have resulted in substantial congestion in the SR 167 corridor, negatively impacting mobility for people who drive, deliver freight, walk, bike, or roll. In June 2023 the Washington State Department of Transportation completed the multimodal SR 167 Master Plan to address solutions. The Commission will be briefed on the study’s recommended projects and strategies, along with the feedback gathered.

SR 167 Master Plan – Update  (pdf 1.9mb)

Break: 2:30

Item 7: 2:45

I-405 / SR 167 ETL Tolling Scenarios – ACTION

Presenters:  Carl See, Deputy Director, Washington State Transportation Commission
Ed Barry, Director of Tolling, Washington State Department of Transportation

The Commission is examining options to support traffic management and funding needs for the I-405/SR 167 express toll lanes corridor. The Commission will discuss potential changes to toll rates for the express toll lanes on I-405 and SR 167 and will consider a possible rate-setting process that could begin as soon as December 2023. The Commission will also begin discussions around possible toll policy changes for the I-405 / SR 167 express toll lanes corridor that would be implemented in 2025 when the next section of the express toll lane system is complete between Bellevue and Renton, which is planned for summer 2025.

I-405 / SR167 Express Toll Lanes Rate Setting Considerations  (pdf 248kb)
I-405 / SR167 ETLs Corridor Program Update  (pdf 331kb)

Item 8: 3:45

Driving Washington’s Future: Connecting Regional and Statewide Planning

Presenters:  Lois Bollenback, Executive Director, Spokane Regional Transportation Council
Marc Daily, Executive Director, Thurston Regional Planning Council
Matt Ransom, Executive Director, Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council
Thera Black, PRTPO Coordination, Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization

Metropolitan and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations around the state vary by size, area, and needs, and strive to increase public understanding and engagement in planning for the future of regional transportation. This panel will discuss the current planning successes and challenges and identify opportunities to advance regional planning in Washington.

Connecting Regional & Statewide Planning  (pdf 4.1mb)

Recess: 5:00

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 – Reconvene Day 2

TVW Meeting Recording

Item 9: 9:00 a.m.

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Presenter: Debbie Young, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission

Item 10: 9:05

Commission Business

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

  • September Meeting Summary
  • 2024 Commission Meeting Schedule – ACTION
  • Route Jurisdiction Transfer Moratorium – ACTION
  • Appoint Commissioners to the I-5 Bridge Bi-State Tolling Committee – ACTION
  • Special Meeting – November 13: Review possible I-405/SR 167 Toll Rate changes – ACTION
  • Annual Report Work Session
  • Tolling Report Work Session

Item 11: 10:15

Naming SR 411 the “Cowlitz County Deputy Sheriff Justin DeRosier Memorial Highway” – ACTION

Presenters: State Representative Ed Orcutt, 20th District, Washington State House of Representatives
Sheriff Brad Thurman, Cowlitz County
Katie DeRosier, Family

Based upon direction from the 2023 Legislature who passed House Joint Memorial 4001, the Commission will consider this naming request from the Legislature and local sponsors.

State Route 411 – Naming  (pdf 2mb)

Item 12: 10:45

Final Findings – 2023 Route Jurisdiction Transfer Requests: Cities of Ridgefield and Snoqualmie – ACTION

Presenters:  Paula Reeves, Senior Policy Analyst, Washington State Transportation Commission
Ashley Probart, Executive Director, Transportation Improvement Board
Greg Armstrong, Project Engineer, Transportation Improvement Board

The Transportation Commission receives and reviews route jurisdiction transfer requests from cities, counties, or the Department of Transportation requesting additions or deletions from the state highway system. The Commission has two RJT requests before it for consideration.

  • The City of Snoqualmie is requesting a transfer of the Snoqualmie Parkway, between the terminus of SR 18 at I-90 and SR 202/Railroad Ave., to the State of Washington.
  • The City of Ridgefield is requesting a transfer of SR 501 from the State of Washington to the City of Ridgefield.

The results of an independent engineering review of each request will be presented, and the Commission will consider action to advance them to the Legislature for codification in Law.

Route Jurisdiction Transfer Requests  (pdf 630kb)

Item 13: 11:30

Kickoff of the Legislatively Directed Advanced Transportation Technologies Study

Presenter:  Craig Baxter, Project Manager, CDM Smith

The Legislature, in the 2023-25 Transportation Budget (ESHB 1125), directed the Washington State Transportation Commission to carry out a study assessing approaches to increasing safety and compliance of HOV lanes, ETLs, tolled facilities, and construction zones, facilitated by advanced technologies. CDM Smith has been selected as the Commission’s vendor to assist in carrying out the study and will provide an introduction and timeline for the project.

Advanced Transportation Technologies Study  (pdf 519kb)

Item 14: 11:50

Kickoff of the Washington Transportation Plan Update & West Coast Transportation Network Scoping Effort

Presenter:  Jonathan Overman, Senior Associate, Cambridge Systematics

The Washington State Transportation Commission is required in state law (RCW 47.01.071) to update the Washington Transportation Plan every four years. The 2023 Legislature provided funding to carry out the update, and also provided direction to carry out a scoping effort to determine how a future West Coast Transportation Network Plan could be developed between the three west coast states. Both directives will be carried out with the support of a consultant team from Cambridge Systematics, who will introduce project and schedule.

Washington Transportation Plan Update  (pdf 490kb)

Item 15: 12:10 p.m.

Kickoff of the Legislatively Directed Statewide Route Jurisdiction Study

Presenter:  Rob Fellows, Project Manager, WSP USA

The 2023-25 Transportation Budget directs the Washington State Transportation Commission to conduct a route jurisdiction study aimed at assessing the current state highway system to determine if changes are needed in jurisdictional assignment. WSP USA has been selected as the Commission’s vendor to assist in carrying out the study and will provide a project overview and timeline.

Statewide Route Jurisdiction Study  (pdf 591kb)

Item 16: 12:30

Public Comment

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

Item 17: 12:45

Commission Business

  • Reflections and Recommendations

Adjourn: 1:00

 

Next Meeting:

Pasco, WA
November 14-15, 2023

 

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.