Transportation Commission Office – PO Box 47308 – Olympia, WA 98504-7308
360-705-7070
Date: February 9, 2017
Contact: Reema Griffith, WSTC Executive Director, 360-705-7070
Road-rail conflicts, oil shipments by railroad tank car and pipeline, and initial results from the 2017 Voice of Washington State (VOWS) survey will be discussed when the state Transportation Commission meets next week in Olympia.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, and Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Ave. SE, on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. The meeting is open to the public and persons wishing to speak to the commission may do so during the public comment period at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday and at 11 a.m., Thursday.
The Commission will hear the results from the VOWS survey at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. Over 8,300 Washington residents participated in a January 2017 survey gathering input on a variety of transportation needs, priorities, and funding approaches. The morning agenda also includes briefings on federal transportation developments and the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) low cost enhancement program.
Wednesday afternoon includes updates on several tolling topics, including an update on SR 520 tolling revenue and traffic management performance. Last year, the commission adopted a 5 percent rate increase to take effect this July 1, and this month’s update will help inform if the planned increase will be sufficient.
Later Wednesday afternoon, state transportation agencies that provide grants to cities, counties, and ports, will share their fiscal and policy priorities for the 2017–19 biennium. The Commission will receive briefings on two topics frequently raised when it meets in local communities: conflicts at road-rail grade crossings and the safety of crude oil rail transport. Joint Transportation Committee staff will share results from its report on road-rail conflicts and Department of Ecology staff will report new data on oil shipments by rail and by pipeline.
Thursday’s briefings will begin with an update on the challenges and successes of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, created 18 months ago by the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma. WSDOT will provide a briefing on its annual corridor capacity report that compares current and past congestion in specific urban corridors around the state. The report found increased congestion on many major corridors throughout the state due to increased population, an improving economy, and lower gas prices, but also noted higher transit ridership. The meeting concludes with discussion of a proposal for a comprehensive evaluation of the Growth Management Act and collaborative development of a road map to the state’s future.
For more information about the commission and a complete meeting agenda, visit: wstc.wa.gov
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information
Accommodation requests for people with disabilities can be made by contacting the WSDOT Diversity/ADA Affairs team at wsdotada@wsdot.wa.gov or by calling toll-free, 855-362-4ADA (4232). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request by calling the Washington State Relay at 711.
Title VI Statement to Public
It is WSDOT’s 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 federally funded 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.