WHATCOM TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD

AGENDA

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2014

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

WCOG CONFERENCE ROOM

314 E. CHAMPION STREET

BELLINGHAM, WA

PAGE

A. CALL TO ORDER/INTRODUCTIONS

B. PUBLIC COMMENT Citizens may speak on subjects not scheduled for

public hearing. EACH SPEAKER IS ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF

THREE MINUTES.

C. AGENDA APPROVAL – ACTION ITEM

D. MINUTES 1 – 5 D.1 Minutes from July 9, 2014 – ACTION ITEM

E. OLD BUSINESS

F. NEW BUSINESS 6 – 8 F.1 Coordinated Access & Human Services

& Document Transportation Plan Update/Project Prioritization

– ACTION ITEM

9 F.2 Surface Transportation Program Reallocation –

ACTION ITEM

G. PUBLIC HEARINGS Public Hearing Open – During this period of time

citizens may speak to the Board on the subject

scheduled for public hearing. EACH SPEAKER IS ALLOWED

A MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES

10 – 11 G.1 Public Hearing to Amend the 2014 Transportation

Improvement Program – ACTION ITEM

12 & G.2 Public Hearing to Adopt the 2015 Transportation

Document Improvement Program – ACTION ITEM

H. BOARD OPEN FORUM

I. ADJOURN

Persons with disabilities or Limited English Proficiency needing

special accommodation for this meeting, please contact the WCOG office

at (360) 676-6974, 314 E. Champion Street, Bellingham, 98225, at least

six (6) days prior to this meeting to receive assistance. Para

asistencia en español, por favor llame al (360) 676-6974.

WHATCOM TRANPORTATION

POLICY BOARD

MINUTES

JULY 9, 2014

ATTENDANCE

BOARD MEMBERS: Scott Korthuis, Barry Buchanan, Jack Louws, John

Perry, Harry Robinson, Jim Jorgensen Tom Jones

Kelli Linville Roxanne Murphy Mel Hansen Gary

Jensen Bob Bromley Todd Harrison Steve Swan Kathy

Berg Chris Comeau Doug Ericksen

GUESTS: Amy Scarton, Todd Carlson, Tom Parker, Pete

Stark, Maureen McCarthy, Tim Ellis, Ted Carlson,

Brian Heinrich, Ethan Gill

STAFF: Bob Wilson, Hugh Conroy, Lethal Coe III, Leslye

O’Shaughnessy, Ron Cubellis, Susan Horst

A. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 3:45 pm and

introductions were made.

B. PUBLIC COMMENT

None received.

C. AGENDA APPROVAL

MOTION: Buchanan moved, Korthuis seconded, to approve the

agenda as presented.

MOTION PASSED

D. MINUTES

MOTION: Korthuis moved, Jones seconded, to approve the

minutes from May 14, 2014.

MOTION PASSED

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WTPB Minutes

July 9, 2014

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E. OLD BUSINESS

E.1 Surface Transportation Program (STP) Allocation for

Whatcom Smart Trips

The subcommittee (not unanimously) is recommending the

Board approve funding the Whatcom Smart Trips program with

Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds up to $150,000

for 2 years. Whatcom Transportation Authority is being

asked to contribute $50,000 each year. If their board

approves this funding the STP funds would be reduced to

$100,000 for 2 years.

MOTION: Louws moved, Buchanan seconded, to adopt the

funding allocation of up to $150,000 of STP funds for up

to 2 years budget years 2015 and 2016.

Discussion:

Wilson distributed a letter from Lummi Nation opposing

funding this program with STP funds.

Jensen stated that he thinks this is a great program but

small cities do beg for pennies and it’s hard for him to

agree with this proposal when he is going to his citizens

asking for a one cent tax.

Berg reported that the CTAG voted and unanimously approved

recommending funding the program with STP funds for up to 2

years.

MOTION PASSED (Korthuis, Robinson, Jones, Jensen nay)

F. PUBLIC HEARING

F.1 Amend the 2014 Whatcom Transportation Improvement

Program

Coe distributed an addendum to Amendment #3 that was

included in the packet. The addendum was to include the

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WTPB Minutes

July 9, 2014

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up to $150,000 for 2 years funding for the Whatcom Smart

Trips program from STP funds.

The other amendments are:

1. Add International Mobility & Trade Corridor program’s Dynamic Border Management project. FHWA funds of

$150,000 to WCOG. The 20 percent match will be paid to

WCOG by the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation.

2. Amend the Alabama Street Corridor Multimodal Safety Improvements project to match the revised scope of work

as of June 2014. The project requires no federal funding

changes.

Public Hearing Opened at 4:07

Public Comment:

None received.

MOTION: Korthuis moved, Robinson seconded, to close the

public hearing.

MOTION PASSED

Public Hearing closed at 4:08

MOTION: Buchanan moved, Louws seconded, to approve

Amendment #3 to the 2014 Whatcom Transportation Improvement

Program.

MOTION PASSED

G. NEW BUSINESS

G.1 WSDOT Strategic Plan

Amy Scarton, WSDOT Assistant Secretary for Community &

Economic Development, gave a presentation on the WSDOT

Strategic Plan. Scarton’s position is a new position that

was created by WSDOT Secretary of Transportation Peterson

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WTPB Minutes

July 9, 2014

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to engage communities. Scarton distributed the strategic

plan and briefly reviewed the goals.

G.2 Regional & Statewide Transportation Funding Needs

The board in March asked that Wilson invite the Whatcom

County legislative representatives to attend this meeting

to hear and discuss transportation funding needs.

Ericksen asked that Whatcom County to be prepared to have

projects for funding. He would like to focus on three

project areas to ask for funds: mega projects on state

routes, mini-mega projects (local) that would decrease the

impact on the I-5 system and other projects. WCOG would

prioritize these lists and local elected would push for

them in Olympia. These lists give our legislators

something unified in hand to fight for if there is a

transportation funding package approved. He would like the

lists by mid-fall. Wilson stated that the Full Council

will come up with the lists in September.

Scarton suggested that when developing the list if we can

state the performance goal it would help WSDOT.

Ericksen also asked that the WCOG form an alliance with the

Chamber and the Whatcom Business Alliance to assist in

carrying the lists forward. He also would like transit

projects included in the lists.

H. CORRESPONDENCE

Wilson stated that the correspondence was included the

packet.

I. BOARD OPEN FORUM

Louws mentioned the compact round-about projects on Slater

Road. There is approximately $300,000 needed for the

project. This is an interim fix for the problems on this

road.

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WTPB Minutes

July 9, 2014

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J. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 4:56 pm.

Robert Bromley Robert H. Wilson, AICP

Chair Executive Director

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FOR ACTION MEMORANDUM To: Whatcom Transportation Policy Board From: Mary Anderson, Transportation Planner II Date: October 2, 2014 Subject: 2014 Update of the Employment Access and Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan RECOMMENDED ACTION Staff recommends approval of the 2014 Update to the Employment Access and Coordinated Human Services (EACH) Transportation Plan and the prioritized list of projects. BACKGROUND MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century) requires that agencies receiving funding from Federal Transit Administration human services programs must certify that the projects to be funded have been selected in the context of a locally developed, coordinated public transit/human services transportation plan. WCOG’s Employment Access and Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan fulfills that requirement. Staff assembled a stakeholder group in early 2014 to facilitate the required periodic update of the plan and the prioritized list of projects contained within. The intended beneficiaries of the projects are individuals that do not drive due to age, income or disability. The following are extracts from the plan and the project list as scored by the stakeholder group. DEMOGRAPHIC DATA Demographic data about these special needs residents was compiled County wide and for each jurisdiction, when available. Some key findings include:

• 15.8% of Whatcom County residents live below the poverty line ($11,490 for an individual or $23,550 for a family of four)

• 20.6% of children under five live below the poverty line • 31.6% of Whatcom County residents are under age 16 or over age 65 • 16% of Whatcom County residents have a disability • 90% of the general population owns a car, compared to 61% of human service clients • By 2025 20% of Bellingham residents will be over the age of 65

Nursing,

Convalescent or Retirement

Senior Low Income

Adult Family Homes

Public Housing

HUD Housing Vouchers

Affordable Housing

Total Facilities

Bellingham 21 10 9 9 12 22 83 Lynden 5 0 9 0 0 1 15 Ferndale 3 0 7 0 0 1 11 Blaine 1 0 3 3 0 1 8 Sumas 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 Everson 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Custer 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Nooksack 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

Total 30 10 31 12 12 27 122 % within .25 miles of a bus stop

87% 100% 52%

100% 100% 100%

Table 18: Housing Facilities by type and jurisdiction

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Figure 2: Percentage of Residents Under 16 and over 65 years old. Data from the 2010 Census.

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PROJECT LIST Transportation needs and gaps were identified by the EACH stakeholder group. A project ranking criteria was developed and approved by the stakeholder group. Eight projects were submitted by stakeholder agencies for ranking. Projects are ranked locally and assigned a point value relative to rank. The Top four projects are A projects and the next four projects are B projects. A projects are given a higher priority when scored by WSDOT. Agencies apply direct to WSDOT where projects are ranked again using the same system. The two sets of points are added together and projects are prioritized statewide. These projects are eligible for funding through WSDOT’s Public Transportation Consolidated Grant Program. The funding is not filtered through WCOG. Project Name Short Project

Description Cost Estimate (biennium)

Lead Agency Total Project Score

Project Rank

Expanded 72x Service

Add two weekday runs and one Saturday run to Kendall on the 72x.

$230,840 Nooksack Indian Tribe & WTA

859 A – 1

Eastern Whatcom County Community Connector

Add a route from Van Zandt to Everson.

$280,280 Nooksack Indian Tribe & WTA

841 A – 2

Lummi Transit Operation

Maintain Lummi Transit Service which serves the Lummi Reservation and runs to Ferndale.

$543,000 Lummi Nation 820 A – 3

Mobility Management & Travel Training

Education and outreach to seniors and youth on how to use transit. Teach specialized transit riders how to use Fixed Route.

$150,000 Whatcom Council of Governments & WTA

811 A – 4

Eastern Whatcom County Community Connector Vehicle Purchase (Capital)

Vehicle purchase for the Eastern Whatcom County Community Connector route.

$240,000 Nooksack Indian Tribe & WTA

807 B – 5

Lummi Nation Bus Stops (Capital)

Install bus shelters and benches on the Lummi Reservation.

$60,000 Lummi Nation 803 B – 6

Phase II SR 547 non-motorized connection

Build a sidewalk from Kendall Elementary School to the junction of SR 547 and SR 542.

$80,000 - $120,000

Mount Baker School District

753 B – 7

Van for Mobile Food Bank Services to Increase Food Access and Security

Vehicle purchase to deliver food to home bound residents and to take residents to food bank.

$50,000 Foothills Food Bank

747 B – 8

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Memo

To: Whatcom MPO/RTPO Transportation Policy Board (WTPB) Date: October 1, 2014 From: Hugh Conroy, Director of Planning Subject: Surface Transportation Program (STP) – Ferndale request to transfer remaining funds.

Introduction: The City of Ferndale is requesting to transfer STP funds that remain from its recently completed Thornton Street project to its ongoing Church Road Improvement Project. This transfer requires approval of the WTPB.

Background: In June of 2012 the WTPB awarded $800,000 to the Thornton Street project. This project was completed and $57,541 of STP funding remains. Ferndale’s Church Road Improvement Project is also a recipient of WTPB-awarded STP funds; $1,980,000 from the October 2013 selection process.

Request: The City of Ferndale would like to transfer the remaining $57,541 to the Church Road project.

Transportation Technical Advisory Group (TTAG) recommendation: The City of Ferndale briefed the Whatcom TTAG at its September 25 meeting and asked for a recommendation to the Policy Board. TTAG unanimously approved a recommendation which follows as the suggested motion. TTAG members also suggested that this memo note that STP fund transfers as currently requested by Ferndale have been approved previously for other jurisdictions.

Suggested motion: “Approve the City of Ferndale’s request to transfer the $57,541 of remaining STP funds from the Thornton Street project to the Church Road Improvement Project.”

TIP Amendment: This STP project scope change, if approved, will require an amendment to WCOG’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – a separate agenda item.

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MEMORANDUM To: Transportation Policy Board From: Lethal Coe, Transportation Planner II Date: September 24, 2014 Subject: WCOG 2014 TIP Amendments and Administrative Modifications

Amendment #4 (1410) of the 2014 WCOG Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) includes the following changes: Item #1 removes Right-of-Way and Construction phases of SR 11/Tributary to Chuckanut Creek fish passage project. The project has been shelved by WSDOT. PE phase reduced to actual expenditures. Items #2-3 adds two new WSDOT Highway Safety Improvement Program projects to install rumblestrips that reduces the risk of crossover and run off the road incidents.

Item #4 moves Surface Transportation Program funds from Ferndale’s Thornton St – Maureen to Vista to Church Road Improvement Project. Item #5-7 adds three new WSDOT Surface Transportation Program chip seal overlay projects to extend the life of existing pavement.

Item #8 adds new WSDOT Highway Safety Improvement Program project to install wide edge lanes along SR 548 from Grandview Rd to Dakota Creek Bridge. Item #9 adds preliminary engineering into WSDOT’s fish passage project. Item #10 adds Whatcom County’s Lummi Island Dolphin and Breakwater Replacement project, a ferry terminal facility project funded by FHWA’s Ferry Boat Program. Formal TIP Amendments require review and resolution from the Policy Board to amend the current TIP and make federal funding accessible. Administrative Modifications are less substantial project changes than amendments and are administered by WCOG staff. ACTION REQUESTED: Approve Amendment #4 (1410) to the Whatcom Council of Governments 2014 Transportation Improvement Program.

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Amendment and Administrative Modifications Table October 8, 2014

Item # Agency Project Name STIP Change Action Added Funds Total

Project Cost Federal Source

1 WSDOT SR 11/Tributary to Chuckanut Creek - Fish Passage Amendment Remove ROW and CN phases. $0 $79,428

Surface Transportation Program

2 WSDOT SR 544/SR539 to Everson - Rumblestrip Installation New Add rumblestrip project $403,554 $403,554 Highway Safety Improvement Program

3 WSDOT SR 9/Bowen Rd Vic. To Sumas Ave Vic. - Rumblestrip Installation New Add rumblestrip project $174,131 $174,131 Highway Safety Improvement Program

4 Ferndale Church Road Improvement Project, Main to Heather Amendment Add STP funds $66,521 $4,066,521 Surface Transportation Program

5 WSDOT Whatcom County BST New Add chip seal project $217,536 $217,536 Surface Transportation Program

6 WSDOT SR 548/I-5 to North Star Rd - BST New Add chip seal project $73,360 $73,360 Surface Transportation Program

7 WSDOT SR 548/Grandview Rd to 4th St - BST New Add chip seal project $92,224 $92,224 Surface Transportation Program

8 WSDOT SR 548/Grandview Rd to Dakota Creek Bridge - Wide Edge Lanes New Add Wide Edge Lines project $89,080 $89,080 Highway Safety Improvement Program

9 WSDOT SR 548/Unnamed Creek to Drayton Harbor - Fish Passage Amendment Add Preliminary Engineering $143,079 $1,420,025 Surface Transportation Program

10 Whatcom Lummi Island Dolphin and Breakwater Replacement New Add Preliminary Engineering $50,000 $1,750,000 Ferry Boat Program

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MEMORANDUM To: Whatcom Transportation Policy Board From: Lethal Coe, Transportation Planner II Date: September 24, 2014 Subject: WCOG 2015 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Adoption

Each year we prepare a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to meet our 4-year federal

requirement as the Metropolitan Planning Organization and 6-year state requirement as the Regional

Transportation Planning Organization.

The WCOG 2014-2019 TIP enclosed with this packet is a draft pending your approval. It has been

prepared using the city, county, transit and state six-year programs. The draft also includes the

Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) previously

awarded.

Formal adoption of your TIP requires a public hearing. The portion of your October 8th, meeting

dedicated to discussion of the TIP has been advertised in the WCOG newspaper of record (Bellingham

Herald) as a public hearing. I will be present to answer any questions about the WCOG TIP process.

Please review the attached draft WCOG Transportation Improvement Program. I will be seeking

approval of the TIP on the 8th.

SUGGESTED MOTION: “Approve the 2015 Transportation Improvement Program.”

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