HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-25-2009
~r ;CITY OF AUBURN
CIT'Y OF, TRANSPORTATION, TRANSIT
AND TRAILS COMMITTEE
x~February 25, 2009
WASHINGTON
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Thordarson called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Conference Room,
located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, Washington.
Committee members present were: Vice-Chair John Calnan, Lonnie Tealer, and Michael Pratum.
Also present during the meeting were: Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy, Transportation
Planner Chris Hankins, and Public Works Department Secretary Jennifer Rigsby.
II. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Member Tealer, seconded by Vice-Chair Calnan that the Committee approve
the Transportation, Transit, and Trails Committee minutes for January 28, 2009.
Motion carried 3-0.
III. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION
A. MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION
Chairman Thordarson reported that a lot of the local transportation agencies have been busy
with planning for the Federal Stimulus funds. Thordarson said he is trying to schedule Sound
Transit to meeting with the Committee to discuss the agency's anticipated changes for 2010.
Chairman Thordarson commented on the success of the new Lakeland Hills shuttle service.
Service began with a sixteen-passenger bus and the area is now being serviced with a thirty-
passenger bus. Thordarson stated there were not a lot of riders using the Park and Ride lots,
but rather walking to the stops. The Committee and City staff agreed there is a noticeable
reduction in the number of vehicles parked in Downtown Auburn. The Committee discussed
bus service being added to the West Hill area and the current service offered in Lea Hill.
Director powdy stated, because of the State's decision to move forward with the Alaska Way
Viaduct project, Sound Transit may need to reduce the service they offer to areas outside the
City of Seattle. Dowdy reported King County is trying to introduce a bill in the State Legislature
this year that will allow the County to authorize a Motor Vehicle Excises Tax (MVET). The
MVET revenue will then be used to provide the funds needed to reach Transit NOW's
objectives. Director powdy talked about the SCATBd discussion regarding the proposed bill
with the Committee.
B. PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL (PSRC) FEDERAL STIMULUS PROJECT SELECTION
Director powdy reviewed the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) agenda for the Friday,
February 9, 2009 meeting of the Regional Project Evaluation Committee (RPEC). The primary
action item on the agenda was the PSRC's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
Project Selection.
Transportation, Transit, and Trails Committee Februarv 25, 2009
Director powdy stated forty agencies submitted projects to be considered and Dowdy explained
the process used for scoring and prioritizing the projects to the Committee. The Committee
reviewed the list of projects. Dowdy explained the Transportation Policy Board provided the
RPEC with guidance on how the projects should be scored and the preservation projects that
were submitted were scored differently than other projects on the list. This difference in scoring
made it difficult for any preservation projects to be considered ARRA projects.
The Committee discussed the importance of preservation projects and the preservation of
Auburn's transit and freight routes. Director powdy said the projects that scored the highest
were popular "signature" projects. Dowdy stated the guidance provided by the Transportation
Policy Board deviates from the PSRC's Transportation 2040, which emphasizes the importance
of preservation projects.
Director powdy answered questions asked by Member Tealer regarding the distribution of
federal transit funds.
Director powdy discussed the recommendations made by Mayor Lewis and Deputy Mayor
Singer to the RPEC. The Committee discussed how to gain more support for the funding of
preservation projects.
Dowdy said City staff is scheduled to watch an online presentation regarding the stimulus
package this week.
The Committee reviewed the list of RPEC representatives.
C. PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL (PSRC) PLAN FOR TAKING TRANSPORTATION
2040 THROUGH THE DEIS
Director powdy reported the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is offering to hold
presentations for local communities about Transportation 2040 and the supplemental Draft
Environmental Impact Study (DEIS). Dowdy recommended the Committee work toward getting
the public involved and request a presentation to be attended by all the Valley Cities. The
Committee discussed methods to encourage more citizens to become involved.
D. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION
The Committee was briefed by Director powdy about the status of the proposed Door Tax.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Transportation, Transit, and Trails Committee,
the meeting was adjourned at 10:12 a.m.
Approved this 25t" day of March, 2009.
Roger Thordarson Jennifer Rigsby
Chairman Public Works Department Secretary
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