Transportation Commission Office – PO Box 47308 – Olympia, WA 98504-7308, 360-705-7070
Date: January 8, 2020
Contact: Reema Griffith, Transportation Commission Executive Director, 360-705-7070
OLYMPIA – Transportation organizations and agencies representing cities, counties, ports, transit and the state will discuss their priorities for the 2020 legislative session and the year ahead during next week’s Transportation Commission meeting in Olympia. Other agenda items address technology in transportation – from the operation of autonomous vehicles to development of electric aircraft.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. both Tuesday, Jan. 14, and Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Ave. SE, on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. This meeting is open to the public and persons wishing to speak to the commission may do so during public comment periods at the end of each day.
On Tuesday, attorney Michele Radosevich will give a presentation on model legislation developed by the Uniform Law Commission for states to enact regarding the operation of autonomous vehicles. Ms. Radosevich, the president-elect of the Washington State Bar Association and a member of the drafting committee, will explain the purpose and scope of the draft law.
Next, the commission will receive briefings from transportation organizations and agencies on their priorities for the 2020 legislative session and coming year. The commission is tasked with providing transportation policy recommendations to the Legislature and governor, and these briefings keep the commission apprised of emerging priorities for all levels of government with transportation responsibilities.
Staff from the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Toll Division will report to the commission on the sufficiency of current and projected tolling revenue to meet financial requirements for the state’s tolled facilities. Commission staff will then brief commissioners on whether a loan provided in the 2019-21 transportation budget is adequate to avoid a toll rate increase for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge this year.
Tuesday’s final presentation is a report on transit coordination work in the central Puget Sound region. Consistent with the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Regional Transportation Plan, the nine public transportation agencies in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties are planning for significant expansion of the transit system over the next several years.
Wednesday morning WSDOT and the three state agencies that provide transportation grants to cities, counties, and to improve freight movement, will discuss their agencies’ legislative and budget priorities and goals for 2020.
The meeting concludes with two presentations on aviation. First, WSDOT’s Aviation Division will report on a study underway to evaluate the potential for using electric aircraft in passenger air service. Then, the commission will receive a briefing on the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission created by the 2019 legislature to develop recommendations to meet the state’s critical aviation system capacity needs. In addition to recommending a new primary commercial aviation facility by Jan. 1, 2022, the CACC will recommend additional ways to accommodate capacity needs at other facilities.
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.