Mobility 2.0 For Puget Sound

Bruce Agnew

With the recent meltdown of the New York City cordon pricing plan, Puget Sound is moving to the forefront of innovative transportation planning -- if our region can get its act together. The success of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, adoption by the Legislature with support from the Governor of a tolling policy for the State Route 520 floating bridge, and the pending State Route 167 HOT lane pilot project combine to fuel possibilities for a strategic pairing of HOT lanes and bus rapid transit in the 405 corridor; in reconfigured I-5 express lanes; and in other critical corridors.

But to implement these and other roads and transit measures will take real money and a single point of accountability, namely a regional transportation decision-making board to plan, prioritize and fund projects. Elected and appointed representatives, covering King, Pierce and Snohomish counties would develop public funding tools for voter approval and - with keen attention to the public interest - would tailor roads and transit funding deals with pension fund investors representing building trades and public employee unions.

The region's private sector business acumen can help solve our mobility challenges. An example is Microsoft, which continues to forge into the transportation field, emphasizing innovation and sustainability. Expansion of Microsoft's popular Connector bus service (pictured above) for employees and the company's emergent in-vehicle Clearflow traffic management system could be part of an important first-phase public-private partnership to deal with Puget Sound road congestion.

USDOT Secretary Mary Peters was clearly impressed with what she heard from Microsoft and other business leaders in her recent visit. By moving to Puget Sound some of the $300-plus million previously earmarked for the Big Apple's failed cordon-pricing project, USDOT could double its $138 million federal Urban Partnership Agreement with our region. The congestion initiative could be expanded to include approaches like those being demonstrated by Microsoft.

Meanwhile, Sound Transit ponders whether it should go out for a public vote in November to fund expansion of regional light rail, following the rejection by voters last fall of a big-ticket light rail and roads measure. The business community, miffed that governance reform was not accomplished in the last Legislature, and worried about a deteriorating economy, is considering advancing a regional transportation governance initiative to consolidate decision-making.

So-called governance reform would foster fresh new approaches to our huge transportation challenges. Taking a page from the software industry and the Web development community, perhaps we should think of the next phase as Mobility 2.0. The idea is to empower the user with new and better tools. Is there really any good reason that new approaches to regional mobility should be set apart from the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the Puget Sound economy? Let's tear down that firewall.

TECHNORATI TAGS: PUGET SOUND, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, PENSION FUNDS, CONGESTION PRICING, HOT LANES, MICROSOFT, CONNECTOR, CLEARFLOW, CARPOOLING, USDOT, MARY PETERS, SR 520, SR 167

Who'll Be The Deciders.....On Puget Sound Transportation?

Matt Rosenberg

Look for a vigorous public debate soon - involving state lawmakers, Gov. Chris Gregoire and a multitude of opinionators - about regional transportation governance for the central Puget Sound region of Snohomish, King, Pierce and Kitsap counties. The aim behind the concept is to consolidate prioritizing, planning and funding of needed roads and transit improvements to combat gridlock; though some skeptics see darker anti-transit motives, and others are concerned their counties will give more in future taxes than they get back in project funding.

Tacoma News-Tribune editorial page editor David Seago reports today at the paper's "Inside The Editorial Page" blog there's one more sign the dialog is gaining momentum as the legislature heads toward beginning its 2008, 60-day "short session" on January 16. At a public meeting Jan. 9 in Tacoma, former state transportation secretary Doug MacDonald and the former co-chair of a state-appointed Puget Sound regional transportation governance study commision, John Stanton, will make their case for that approach to a Tacoma-area business/government alliance which has been opposed. That's the Regional Access Mobility Partnership, or RAMP - their concerns are outlined in this blog post, among others.

Stanton, the former CEO of Western Wireless, with former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, co-chaired the state-appointed study commission which issued a final report concluding regional transportation decision-making was needed for central Puget Sound to leapfrog ahead of political turf battles and funding backlogs, and to create a single point of accountability for the tough decisions on what road and transit projects are best for the region. After the defeat of Proposition 1 last fall, MacDonald went public with an op-ed supporting regional transportation decision-making for Puget Sound.

But perhaps the most significant official to warm to the idea is Gov. Gregoire herself. In an earlier blog post, the TNT's Seago related thoughts the governor shared on the subject during a recent meeting with the paper's editorial board. She said she had planned to introduce her own bill this year but would defer to Democratic majority legislators to advance the initiative.

In today's blog post, Seago writes:

The board would be responsible for planning for all regional transit and highway planning and have the authority to impose taxes for construction. Nine members would be directly elected by voters; six would be appointed. A bill implementing the recommendation cleared the state Senate last year but died in the House. New proposals will be filed when the Legislature reconvenes this month. In the wake of Proposition 1's crushing defeat, the governor is likely to lend her support this year.

Another supporter of regional transportation governance for central Puget Sound is Gregoire's fellow Democrat, State Auditor Brian Sonntag, who is from Tacoma and previously served as Pierce County Auditor. In a state performance audit of current Puget Sound transportation management, outside auditors reporting to Sonntag urged a greater emphasis on congestion reduction, serious consideration of a regional decision-making structure to heighten accountability, and much more. Here is a a TNT op-ed by Sonntag based on the audit's findings; and here is the audit, a multi-faceted look at what the Puget Sound region should do to improve transportation mobility.

The RAMP meeting at which Stanton and MacDonald will argue for Puget Sound regional transportation governance is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Wednesday, January 9 at The Port of Tacoma Business Center, 3600 Port of Tacoma Road (directions here). The meeting is open to the public. RAMP officials say they are expecting a robust conversation.

Although they're coming to it with differing perspectives, kudos to both RAMP and the Governor for advancing the dialog on regional transportation decision-making for Puget Sound.

TECHNORATI TAGS: PUGET SOUND, TRANSPORTATION, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, ROADS, TRANSIT, REGIONAL GOVERNANCE, JOHN STANTON, DOUG MACDONALD, RAMP, TACOMA, PIERCE COUNTY, KING COUNTY, SNOHOMISH COUNTY

Sonntag: Regional Decision-Making Needed On Transportation

Matt Rosenberg

State Auditor Brian Sonntag - whose office recently issued a performance audit of state and regional transportation management - is now urging the legislature to take stock after defeat of the big roads and transit ballot measure, Proposition 1. In a Tacoma News Tribune op-ed, Sonntag urges lawmakers to ensure the state re-establish congestion relief as a top transportation priority; and implement coordinated regional decision-making on transportation in Puget Sound. Sonntag writes:

Clearly, Proposition 1 was not what the public wanted. The first step in moving forward should be to ask citizens about their needs and what they are willing to support......the recent performance audit on traffic congestion in the region should serve as a good starting point for any discussions.....We learned from our extensive citizen outreach that congestion clearly is the primary focus of the public.

...The audit recommends a single agency to oversee transportation planning in the region. It identifies 128 public entities with responsibilities for transportation planning and spending in Puget Sound. This complex mix of agencies is awkward at best. Quite understandably, their interests are narrowly focused. At the same time, congestion knows no boundaries. One organization needs to coordinate the myriad of transportation planning activities and be positioned to decide what is best for the Puget Sound region. Planning for public transit and new lane capacity must be done together instead of independently.

That's one reason that while Cascadia Center supports the King County Council's recent and somewhat controversial move to levy a small property tax increase to help fund several passenger-only ferry routes, we also recommended in our written testimony to the council that a regional interlocal agreement be executed. It would stress pooled resources among different regional foot ferry stakeholders; route coordination; private sector partnerships; and next-generation, low-wake, high-speed foot ferries. The same principle of greater coordination and cooperation applies to the broader roads and transit choices facing the Puget Sound region.

In Cascadia Center's Transportation Action Plan for Puget Sound, we take up tolling, funding partnerships with public employee and labor union pension funds, and more - including regional decision-making on transportation in Western Washington. On that topic, Cascadia recommends in its plan that......

A regional transportation board of directors should:

1) Consolidate current regional transportation agencies;
2) Consist of elected and appointed members;
3) Include an advisory council;
4) Propose transportation projects and funding voters will approve
5) Maintain oversight and accountability on current projects, while continuing to plan for the future.

County borders are increasingly irrelevant. Alter (state) statutes to establish regional transportation decision-making bodies for Central Puget Sound (King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap, Thurston), North Puget Sound (Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan), and Southwest Washington - for the purpose of multi-county transportation project planning and funding. Snohomish could be part of two different regional groups, if it so chooses.

The three regional transportation decision-making bodies would be tasked to coordinate and pool resources with WSDOT for these programs: I-5 enhancements (including cross-Columbia River bridge), freight and passenger rail improvements (coordinated with British Columbia and Oregon), multi-county and special needs transit, and corridor-based technology improvements (i.e. truck parking, diesel emission reduction and alternative fuel/plug-in stations at I-5 highway rest areas).

There should be little lingering doubt about the need for bold steps to fund and manage Puget Sound transportation. Witness the current funding and decision-making stalemates on urgent safety replacements for the State Route 520 floating bridge, and the Alaskan Way Viaduct on State Route 99. Look also at the lack of funding for vital safety improvements to U.S Route 2 in Snohomish County, the crumbling South Park Bridge in Seattle and the Murray Morgan Bridge in Tacoma.

Any new regional transportation ballot measure must start to get the transit part right (preferred modes is a whole 'nother conversation) and focus on completing key road and bridge projects to improve safety and reduce congestion. Knowing that there will be future spending needs beyond any next ballot measure, a long-term financial plan must be produced at the same time, so there's a road map that wary voters can see.

This means that regional tolling - and specifically, congestion pricing - plus innovative financial partnerships with pension fund investors will be essential.

What entity can really pull all the big pieces together, other than a regional transportation board?

TECHNORATI TAGS: BRIAN SONNTAG, PERFORMANCE AUDIT, TRANSPORTATION, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, REGIONAL GOVERNANCE, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, CASCADIA CENTER, WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE, U.S. ROUTE 2, SOUTH PARK BRIDGE, MURRAY MORGAN BRIDGE, ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT, STATE ROUTE 520 FLOATING BRIDGE

State Auditor's Report Details Congestion-Busting Agenda

Bruce Agnew

A report issued yesterday by Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag's office urges the state to more aggressively attack highway congestion, beginning with a formal declaration that congestion is a top transportation policy priority. The Seattle Times reported on the findings today. The transportation performance audit, prepared for Sonntag's office by Talbot, Korvola & Warwick of Portland, goes on to make more than 20 specific policy recommendations. These include urging that the state legislature should:

"empower a single body - either the Department of Transportation or a regional transportation entity for the Puget Sound Region - to allow for a more integrated approach to planning for congestion reduction:"

"choose/identify transportation projects based on congestion reduction rather than other agendas;"

"implement new legislation to facilitate the expansion of road pricing should the department's high-occupancy toll lane pilot project (on S.R. 167) be successful;"

and "review whether new legislation is required for public private partnerships for transportation infrastructure and implement any changes."

The transportation performance audit, authorized under Initiative 900, also recommends the department add new highway lanes.

WSDOT observes in the audit report, correctly, with respect to new highway lanes and other capital-intensive proposals, that new state funding has been hard to secure over the years and much responsibility lies with the legislature.

But as state legislators were recently reminded, state and federal gas tax revenues - a key funding source - aren't a good bet going forward. All the more reason for state lawmakers to explore and ultimately implement the report's recommendations, especially expanding opportunities for public private partnerships, building more HOT lanes, and implementing transportation governance reform to boost investment and accountability.

TECHNORATI TAGS: WASHINGTON STATE, SEATTLE, TOLLING, HOT LANES, TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, BRIAN SONNTAG

Catastrophic Bridge Collapse In Minneapolis Highlights Puget Sound Risks; And Finance Challenges

Matt Rosenberg

The catastrophic collapse yesterday of a worn down, 40-year-old, 1,900-foot-long bridge with a single steel arch at its center, spanning Interstate 35W across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis had as of this morning resulted in four deaths, up to 30 people unaccounted for, and at least 79 more injured - some quite severely. The fatality toll is likely to grow. Very recent maintenance work on the bridge had focused on joints, lights and guardrails, and resurfacing work was being done on it when it failed. The cause of the collapse is unknown and will remain so until an investigation is completed. However, it can come as little comfort that, as the Associated Press notes in a report today from Minneapolis, the feds identified the bridge as "structurally deficient" in 2005. Yet it turns out that term is considered by many officials to be less alarming than it sounds.

The bridge had been inspected by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 2005 and 2006 and no immediate structural problems were noted, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Wednesday. A federal database, however, showed the 40-year-old bridge had been rated as "structurally deficient" in 2005 and possibly in need of replacement, the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune reported citing the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Bridge Inventory. The White House also confirmed the 2005 inspection. White House press secretary Tony Snow said the span rated 50 on a scale of 120 for structural stability. "This doesn't mean there was a risk of failure, but if an inspection report identifies deficiencies, the state is responsible for taking corrective actions," he said.

Jeanne Aamodt, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, said her agency was aware of the 2005 assessment. She noted that many other bridges around the country carry the same designation and declined to say what the agency had done to address the deficiencies.

Lowered expectations for bridge condition standards and repair funding is well-integrated into governmental rubric. In the The Federal Highway Administration's "Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges and Transit: 2006 Conditions and Performance," the report's authors state in Chapter 3 that:

Two terms used to summarize bridge deficiencies are "structurally deficient" and "functionally obsolete." Structural deficiencies are characterized by deteriorated conditions of significant bridge elements and reduced load-carrying capacity. Functional obsolescence is a function of the geometrics of the bridge not meeting current design standards. Neither type of deficiency indicates that a bridge is unsafe.

Got that? "Deteriorated conditions of significant bridge elements and reduced load-carrying capacity" does not indicate that a bridge is unsafe. What a relief!

Call it "defining deterioration down." According to the report, as of 2004, 26.7 percent of the nation's bridges were either "structurally deficient" or "functionally obsolete." It wouldn't do to have one-quarter of our nation's bridges considered unsafe: that would raise the scepter of malignant neglect.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer this morning reports that in a 2005 study, the American Society of Civil Engineers found that 26 percent of Washington state's 3,000 bridges also earned the classification of "structurally deficient" or "functionally obsolete."

Of the state's bridges, (Washingtoon State Department of Transportation chief bridge engineer Jugesh) Kapur said two -- the (Alaskan Way) viaduct and the Evergreen Point Bridge, which crosses Lake Washington as part of state Route 520 -- cause him the most concern. "Those two keep me up at night," he said. Six years ago, engineers determined that a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in the wrong spot could collapse the Evergreen Point Bridge and the viaduct.

....The city and state remain at an impasse over the elevated structure's future and a possible replacement option. A $4 billion-plus initiative is planned to replace the Evergreen Point Bridge. Studies have shown that the bridge wouldn't survive a catastrophic earthquake and could also sink in a windstorm. A review panel -- mostly lawyers and engineers appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire -- has advocated decisive action. "The existing viaduct and bridge will continue to deteriorate and inch closer to catastrophic failure" until a decision is made, panelists wrote in a September report.

Richard Miller, director of roadway structures for Seattle, said Wednesday that several of the city's 180 bridges need to be replaced, most notably the Magnolia Bridge. Miller said the city Transportation Department is reviewing several design options for a new Magnolia Bridge. Construction of a new bridge would likely start no earlier than 2009. Several South Seattle bridges are also in need of repair or improvement, Miller said. The Airport Way South Bridge is being help up by temporary supports, and several other smaller bridges are due to receive seismic retrofits.

WSDOT in April released a YouTube a video simulation of the 44-year-old SR 520 bridge collapsing in an earthquake. The $4.4 billion question is whether political leaders can summon the courage to fully fund the replacement sooner rather than later, something which will require tolling not only on 520 but also I-90.

The national problem of bridge safety carries a daunting price tag. In Chapter 7 of the FWHA 2006 report, the agency warns that merely to keep travel time, operational and crash costs from deteriorated bridges at their current (2004 constant dollar) level through 2024 will cost $78.8 billion; and to actually reduce such infrastructure-related costs in the same time frame would cost $131.7 billion in improvements, including increased local, regional and state user fees or taxes.

In its "Report Card For America's Infrastructure," the ASCE gave our nation a "C" grade for the condition of its bridges, and in that section adds:

Solutions intended to ease the increasing demands on our transportation system and to improve highway conditions, capacity and safety are multifaceted, and do not always mean simply building more roads and bridges. America must change its transportation behavior, increase transportation investment at all levels of government, and make use of the latest technology. Cities and communities should be better planned to reduce dependence on personal vehicles for errands and work commutes, and businesses must encourage more flexible schedules and telecommuting. By 2010, all levels of government should ensure that fewer than 15% of the nation's bridges are classified as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete (itals in original).

As Cascadia Center pointed out in this 2005 Puget Sound Business Journal op-ed, the federal Highway Trust Fund generated via the federal gas tax and additional fees is increasingly insufficient for repairs and improvement of major transportation infrastructure.

Now in Washington state, political and business leaders and policy experts need to join with voters to build trust in transportation system management, funding and decision-making. That means an end to balkanization in transportation governance. That means developing a shared vision of convenient, fast transit options needed to dramatically boost actual transit usage. And that means innovative financing of necessary road and bridge repairs or replacements using tools such system-wide time-variable tolling on major highways, and public-private partnerships.

Let's not wait for one of our bridges to collapse before we get moving.

TECHNORATI TAGS: MINNEAPOLIS, 35W, BRIDGE COLLAPSE, BRIDGE SAFETY, MAINTENANCE, FUNDING, WASHINGTON STATE, EVERGREEN POINT FLOATING BRIDGE, ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT, TOLLING, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

Research Compendium

Matt Rosenberg

Last updated August 25, 2008

The research, it just keeps coming. On this page, we'll compile links to key studies and reports on innovation in transportation.

MANAGING, PLANNING & FUNDING TRANSPORTATION

Cascadia Center Reports

"Lessons In Public-Private Partnerships & Climate Change: What British Columbia Taught California, And What Washington Can Still Learn," 10/07.

"A Tale Of Three Cities: How San Diego, Denver and Vancouver, B.C. Raised Major Regional Funds For Transportation," Doug Hurley, Cascadia Center For Regional Development, 9/06.

"Travel Value Pricing: Better Traffic Operations Management & New Revenue For The Puget Sound Region," John S. Niles, for Cascadia Center, 4/06.

"Transportation Working Group Recommendations," Transportation Working Group, Cascadia Center For Regional Development, 2/15/05.

Transportation Working Group background, members, and resource book.

"An Institutional Conundrum - A Simplified Overview Of Metropolitan Institutional Reform Applied To Transportation In The Puget Sound Region," Deb Eddy, Cascadia Center For Regional Development, 2004.

"How Do We Get There From Here? A Transportation Future For The Puget Sound Region," Bruce Agnew & Bruce Chapman, Cascadia Center For Regional Development, 2003. View the video, as aired on Seattle Channel, 5/20/05.

Other Reports

"Just Pricing: The Distributional Effects Of Congestion Pricing and Sales Taxes," Brian Taylor, UCLA Institute Of Transportation Studies; Lisa Schweitzer, School Of Policy, Planning And Development, University Of Southern California, 5/08

"Transportation For Tomorrow," National Surface Transportation Policy & Revenue Study Commission, 1/08.

"Running On Empty - 2007 Annual Report," Washington Transportation Commission, 12/07.

"Building New Roads Through Public-Private Partnerships: Frequently Asked Questions," Leonard C. Gilroy, Robert W. Poole, Jr., Peter Samuel, Geoffrey Segal, Reason Foundation, 11/07.

"Review Of Congressional Earmarks Within Department Of Transportation Programs," Office Of The Inspector General, U.S. DOT, 9/7/07.

"Case Studies Of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships In The United States," Aecom Consult Team, for U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration, 7/7/07.

"Case Studies Of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships Around The World," Aecom Consult Team, for U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration, 7/7/07.

Draft Vision 2040 Puget Sound Regional Council, 7/07.

"Lake Washington Urban Partnership," Washington State Department of Transportation, 4/30/07.

"Report On SR 520 Bridge Replacement And HOV Project Funding Alternatives," Seattle-Northwest Securities Corporation, Montague DeRose & Associates, LLC, 3/28/07.

"Destination 2030 - Taking An Alternative Route," Washington State Transportation Center/Booz Allen Hamilton (For King County Executive), 3/05/07.

"Overview Of National Strategy To Reduce Congestion On America's Transportation Network," USDOT, 3/07.

"Public-Private Partnerships For Toll Highways," Robert W. Poole, Reason Foundation, Testimony To U.S. House Committee On Transportation & Infrastructure, Subcommittee On Highways & Transit, 2/13/07.

"Report On The Transportation Innnovative Partnerships Program," Washington Transportation Commission, 1/07.

"Regional Transportation Commission Final Report," Regional Transportation Commission (of Puget Sound), 12/31/06.

"Washington Transportation Plan 2007-2026," Washington Transportation Commission, 11/06.

"Reducing Congestion In Atlanta: A Bold New Approach To Mobility," Robert W. Poole, Reason Foundation, 11/06.

"Public-Private Partnerships & The Development Of Transport Infrastructure: Trends On Both Sides Of The Atlantic," Benjamin G. Perez, PB Consult Inc., James W. March, Federal Highway Administration; 9/06.

"Transportation Finance At The Ballot Box: Voters Support Increased Investment & Choice," Center For Transportation Excellence, 8/06.

"Building Roads To Reduce Congestion In America's Cities: How Much & At What Cost?," David Hartgren, M. Gregory Fields & Robert W. Poole, Reason Foundation, 8/06; (WA state congestion analysis, from study).

"Why Mobility Matters," Ted Balaker, Reason Foundation, 8/06.

"Current Toll Road Activity In The U.S.: A Survey & Analysis," Benjamin Pereze, Steve Lockwood, for U.S. DOT, Federal Highway Administration, 8/06.

"Remarks Of Pat Jacobsen - CEO, Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority - To House & Senate Transportation Committees of Washington State Legislature, 1/19/06.

"Traffic Congestion & Reliability: Trends & Advanced Strategies For Congestion Mitigation," Cambridge Systematics & Texas Transportation Institute (for Federal Highway Administration), 9/1/05.

"2005 Urban Mobility Report," Texas Transportation Institute, 2005.

"Unclogging America's Highways - Effective Relief For Highway Bottlenecks," American Highway Users Alliance, 2/04

HUBS, CORRIDORS & GATEWAYS

" Canada: A Macroeconomic Study of the United States' Most Important Trade Partner,"U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Updated 9/15/06

Canadian Embassy State Trade Fact Sheet 2006, Canadian Embassy, 2006.

Canada/U.S. Regional Economies, Canadian-American Border Trade Alliance.

"Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: The Basics," U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Resolution Of The West Coast Corridor Coalition, 11/03.

"From B.C. To B.C. - And Beyond - the Story Of The West Coast Corridor Coalition."

"Spatial Concepts & Cross Border Governance Strategies," Susan E. Clarke, University of Colorado, (presented to EURA Conference On Urban & Spatial Policies), 4/02.

"The Character of Non-Governmental Transborder Organizations In The Cascadia Region of North America," Lawrence Douglas Taylor Hansen, Revista Mexicana De Estudios Canadienses, 2/02.

SURFACE & MARINE TRANSPORTATION

Cascadia Center Reports

"Testimony In Support Of King County Passenger-Only Ferry District," Matt Rosenberg, 11/13/07.

"Alaskan Way Replacement: Alternative Approaches," Ove Arup & Partners, for Cascadia Center, 11/06.

"A New Vision For Developing Transit For Livable Cities." Enrique Penalosa, former
mayor of Bogota, Columbia speaks at a Cascadia Center co-sponsored event on implementation of Bogota's TransMileno Bus Rapid Transit system. Seattle Channel video, 9/27/06.

"Statement of Tom Till to Washington Transportation Commission On Amtrak & Related Issues, Including Availability of Federal Funding," 1/18/06.

Other Reports

"King County Passenger-Only Ferries Project Briefing Paper," IBI Group, for King County Executive, 11/7/07.

Puget Sound Regional Council Passenger-Only Ferry Study, 2007 (ongoing).

Chapter 7, "I-405 Plan: Transit and HOV", in "I-405 Congestion Relief & Bus Rapid Transit Projects - Final Recommendations Report," WSDOT. (See "I-405 BRT Service").

BNSF Corridor Preservation Study, Puget Sound Regional Council, 2/27/07.

Statewide Rail Capacity and System Needs Study, Washington State Transportation Commission, 12/06.

Columbia River Crossing Project Alternatives Page.

Willamette River Ferry Feasibility Study, City Of Portland Department of Transportation, 2006.

Waterborne Transit Policy Study, King County Department of Transportation, August, 2005.

Rich Passage Passenger-Only Ferry Study, Phase I, WSDOT, Federal Transit Administration, 4/05.

"Report Card For America's Infrastructure," American Society Of Civil Engineers, 2005.

TECHNOLOGY & ENERGY

Cascadia Center Reports

Speaker Presentations At Cascadia/Microsoft/Idaho National Laboratory "Beyond Oil: Transforming Transportation" conference, 9/4/08 and 9/5/08, Redmond, Wash. (Topics included electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, renewable energy, traffic management systems and technology, transit. Many of these files are very large and may take several minutes to open/download depending on your internet connection).

9/4/08 Presentations:

Sharon Banks
Scott Belcher
Charlie Botsford
John Clark
June Devoll
Rob Elam
Dick Ford
Jim Francfort
Andy Frank
Arti Gupta
Jerry Hautamaki
Craig Helmann
John Horsley
Cornie Huizenga
Ron Johnston-Rodriguez
Preet Khalsa
Dave Kristick
Felix Kramer
Justin McNew
Paul Minett
Brian Mistele
Tim Murphy
Jack Opiola
Syd Pawlowski
Dick Paylor
Ron Posthuma
Matt Sheldon
Jim Stanton
Ed Stern
Julian Taylor
Michael Weick

9/5/08 Presentations:

Kevin Banister
Rob Bernard
Don Foley
Paul Genoa
KC Golden
Paula Hammond
David Kaplan
Rich Laukhart
Jim Piro
Bill Rogers
Jim Walker
Brian Wynn

"Greening The Highway From Baja To B.C. - A Discussion Brief," Matt Rosenberg, 9/19/07.

"Replacing Oil With Electricity And Biofuels In Transportation: The Convergence Of Technology And Public Policy," Steve Marshall, 8/7/07.

Speaker Presentations at Cascadia-Microsoft "Jump Start To A Secure Clean Energy Future" Conference on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Alternative Fuels, 5/7/07

Roger Duncan, Austin Energy/Plug-In Partners (4.78 MB)
Mark Duvall, Electric Power Research Institute (1.13 MB)
Andrew A. Frank, University of California/Davis (1.33 MB)
K.C. Golden, Climate Solutions (1.81 MB)
David Horner, U.S. Dept. of Transportation (700 KB)
Michael Kintner-Meyer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (1.91 MB)
Felix Kramer, CalCars.org (708 KB)
John M. Miller, Maxwell Technologies (496 KB)
Philip Mote, University of Washington (3.88 MB)
Tim Murphy, Idaho National Laboratory (674 KB)
Vic Parrish, Energy Northwest (494 KB)
Bill Reinert, Toyota USA (2.00 MB)
Bill Rogers, Idaho National Laboratory (1.05 MB)
Greg Rock, Green Car Company (82.9 KB)
Neil Schuster, Intelligent Transportation Society Of America (2.14 MB)
Rogelio Sullivan, U.S. Dept. of Energy (1.08 MB)
John Wellinghoff, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (4.23 MB)
Nick Zielinski, General Motors/Chevy Volt (1.79 MB)

Other Reports

"Basic Research Needs: Catalysis For Energy," (report from U.S. Dept. Of Energy Basic Energy Sciences Workshop), 8/07.

"Environmental Assessment of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles," Electric Power Research Institute, Natural Resources Defense Council, 7/07.

" Joint Science Academies Statement on Growth and Responsibility; Sustainability, Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection, for G8 Summit, 5/07.

"Fourth Assessment Report of Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change," United Nations, 4/07/07.

Annual Energy Outlook 2007 - With Projections To 2030," U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, 2/07.

Impacts Assessment of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles On Electric Utilities and Regional U.S. Power Grids; Michael Kintner-Meyer, Kevin Schneider, Robert Pratt; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 12/06.

"Alternative Fuels Study: A Report To Congress On Policy Options For Increasing The Use Of Alternative Fuels In Transit Vehicles," Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Dept. of Transportation, 12/06.

"Intelligent Transportation Systems Regional Architecture", Puget Sound Regional Council, IBI Group, 8/21/06.

"Future Visions," Washington Transportation Plan Update Process, WSDOT/Washington Transportation Commission, 6/17/05. (See pp. 27-34, "Intelligent Transportation Systems").

GridWise Program Overview, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Technological Basis For GridWise, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Primer On Vehicle-Infrastructure Integration, Intelligent Transportation Society Of America.

TECHNORATI TAGS: TRANSPORTATION, RESEARCH, TRANSPORTATION GOVERNANCE, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, TRANSIT, BUS RAPID TRANSIT, PASSENGER-ONLY FERRIES, TOLLS, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, SEATTLE, PUGET SOUND, CASCADIA, WEST COAST CORRIDOR, FRIEGHT, INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, ALTERNATIVE FUELS, PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Everett Herald: "Don't Bury Streamlined Transportation Planning"

Matt Rosenberg

In an editorial yesterday titled, "Don't Bury Streamlined Transportation Planning," the Everett Herald states it plainly:

If November's joint (roads and transit) vote in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties is to succeed, voters will have to be convinced that they'll get their money's worth. Merging the planning and funding of regional transit and highways - functions currently under the separate wings of Sound Transit, the Puget Sound Regional Council, the Regional Transportation Invesment District and the state Department of Transportion (whew!) - under a single, accountable commission would be a step toward winning voter trust.

One version of such a commission is contained in ESSB 5803, which passed the Senate earlier this month. The House Transportation Committee is considering its own bill, and an amendment to shelve the creation of a new regional body could be introduced as early as today.

Other media supporters of transportation governance reform for Central Puget Sound include the Seattle Times editorial board, Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly, and Seattle Times Sunday columnist (and editorial page editor) James Vesely.

ESSB 5803 stems from the final report of the Regional Transportation Commmission study group tasked last year by the legislature and Governor Chris Gregoire with investigating restructured transportation governance for the region. Headed by former Western Wireless CEO John Stanton and former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, the study group wrote in its final report, issued Dec. 31, 2006:

...the system has to be structurally re-knit at the regional level....Transportation represents an enormous financial challenge to the region....Three interrelated strategies need to be implemented:

• Emply user fees (tolls, fares, parking charges) to manage demand for transportation - these should reduce demand and thus the amount of construction that must be funded.

• Raise more money from a combination of tax increases and user fees.

• Prioritize projects throughout the region and across modes so that the most important projects get built.

The challenge with prioritizing is establishing who is in charge. Today there are 128 agencies that manage aspects of transportation in the four-county region. If 128 parties are theoretically in charge of a problem, we concluded that in fact no one is really in charge.

It is reasonable to wonder whom such arrangements truly benefit. Certainly not taxpayers and commuters. Accountability must be more than just a buzzword.

TECHNORATI TAGS: SEATTLE, PUGET SOUND, TRANSPORTATION, OVERSIGHT, TAXES, ROADS, TRANSIT