Everett Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)

TAC MINUTES May 15, 2014 In attendance: Members Staff Guests Victor Harris Tim Miller, Public Works Keri Moore – Snohomish Health Robert Strickland Paul Roberts, City Council Liaison District J.T. Dray Jeffrey Marks, Public Works Natalie Covate - Tribune William Weber Ryan Sass, Public Works Kris Hausmann Bruce Bosman, Everett Police Tom Norcott Trevor Townsend, Everett Police Edward Koltonowski Richard Tarry, Public Works 8:15 a.m. Victor Harris called the meeting to order.  M/S/P approving the March 2014 meeting minutes. Announcements & Requests to Add Agenda Items  Victor announced that Transit was in training today, so George Baxter would not be present.  Ed Koltonowski requested an update on several items: o Crosswalk flagging program o Flashing Yellow Arrow Left-Turn phasing for Evergreen Way o Powder Gulch trail system Citizen’s Comments  Victor asked Keri Moore of the Snohomish Health District if there were any concerns about transmittable diseases being carried via the County’s mass transit, as there have recently been cases of outbreaks via airlines. Keri responded that she felt there wasn’t much concern of disease transmission within the bus transit system in comparison to the airline industry. Engineering Report  Ryan referenced a letter from FHWA which stated that funding and resources were becoming detached from the PSRC planning documents. There was a sense of “warning” with this letter. This opened up a discussion about the reality of State and Federal funding of transportation projects. Paul Roberts interjected that the Federal Highway Trust Fund is broke, and the State is nearly the same. Tax revenues are currently going toward debt service and not for new projects; new projects and/or maintenance will need new funding.  Ryan updated the committee on the Broadway Bridge project, stating that the City had incorporated WSDOT’s final review plans. Authorization to Call for bids by the Council and updating the funding ordinance will be next. He said bids will go out for ad in June or July with a Fall start for the successful bidder. Demolition of the current bridge is projected to start in January, with a 13 month closure for the completion of the project. Ryan thought the work  in the Fall would be most likely be preparatory, such as building detour routes, with the demolition to begin in January.  Paul asked if the status of the funding was resolved. Ryan explained that there have been several re-iterations with the State, and we will not get everything we asked, but we can cover the difference. The City received $3.49M of the $4.46M requested of additional funding. Ed asked how any construction cost overruns would be handled. Ryan stated that overruns would be handled the same as any other project.  Ryan provided an introductory overview of the Grand Avenue Pedestrian & Utility Bridge. This was a project shelved several years ago after a feasibility study was completed, but was evaluated as a possible solution to help with the Utilities division in creating a passage for a stormwater outfall. It would be a pedestrian bridge that would connect Grand Avenue Park to the Port of Everett. Currently, the City is looking for federal funds to help fund the pedestrian portion of the bridge. It is envisioned to have towers with elevators or lifts. It is currently in the early stages of concept design.  Tim mentioned that there currently isn’t any funding for Evergreen Way Flashing Yellow Arrow (FYA) projects yet but grant funding is being sought. However rebuilding the signal at Pecks & Evergreen will have FYA and it will be constructed this summer.  A discussion about the Powder Mill Gulch path was brought up. Ryan said Parks has been studying the location, and that Boeing has contacted the City about an access point. Police Report  No report. Transit Report  No report. Agenda Item: Item 1: Presentation of 2014-2019 6-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – Richard Tarry  Richard Tarry presented the 2014-2019 6-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). As always this is an unconstrained list of projects. This list TIP list authorizes City staff to find funding, but not actually move into construction. There aren’t any changes on this list when compared to last year, except for those projects that have been completed or deleted.  The list of all potential projects comes to a total of $420 million.  The list showed some items highlighted in yellow. These highlighted items represented completed or removed projects from the previous TIP list, as a way to show movement in the TIP process.  Some discussion ensued as to the list representing where in the design and construction stages projects were at.  There was a motion and approval to recommend approval of the TIP. Item 2: Transportation Benefit Districts (VIDEO)  A video of the April 16th City Council meeting highlighting Paul Roberts’ comments on the concept of Transportation Benefit Districts was played. Paul made it clear that the need to uncover new funding is an issue and not necessarily tied to the City’s SDAT concerns, as the State and Federal funds for transportation related projects are moving toward insolvency; we would still be looking at this issue regardless of the City’s budgets. He talked about moving to a utility-based model for funding. Paul stated that he supports the creation of a TBD as a local tool to address transportation funding.  There was some discussion about what the main drivers are for funding, and the problems being faced. More fuel efficient cars provide less gas tax; and road maintenance costs are also going up, creating a wide gap. Item 3: Video of Lynnwood Link Light Rail Preferred Alternatives  This item was postponed to the June TAC meeting. Item 4: TAC Discussion of Everett Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element, Part III Transportation Goals, Objectives and Policies – Victor Harris  Ryan stated that the TAC can really be of great service here by suggesting revisions to the policy section of the Transportation Element. Bob Strickland recommended that comments be sent to Victor and Tim so they can be compiled. Ryan mentioned that the more the TAC can accomplish for the comprehensive plan by the end of the summer, the better. Some discussion ensued on the objectives of the document as a multi-modal transportation plan. Meeting adjourned at 9:45 am The Next Scheduled Meeting is Thursday June 19, 2014.