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NW OregonArea Commission on Transportation
February 3, 2005
Chisholm Senior Center
Seaside, OR
The meeting was called to order by Lylla Gaebel, Chair. The following members and guests attended:
- Constance Beaumont – ODOT TGM
- Rita Bernhard – Columbia County Commissioner
- Clark Berry – Washington County
- Paul Christianson – ODOT Region 2
- Mark Ellsworth – Governor’s Economic Revitalization Team
- Lylla Gaebel – Clatsop County Commission
- Mark Gervasi – City of Tillamook
- Valerie Grigg Devis – ODOT Region 2
- Jim Heikkila – Clatsop Co Private Sector
- Dick Hellberg – City of Warrenton
- Onno Husing – OCZMA
- Dan Knoll – ODOT Region 2
- Mark Labhart – Tillamook County Commission
- Don Larson – City of Seaside
- Rosemary Lohrke – Columbia County private sector
- Don McDaniel – Port of Astoria
- Charlotte Mendenhall – Sunset Empire Trans District
- Mitch Mitchum – City of Astoria
- Heather Ornelas – Tillamook Transit District
- Shawn Reiersgaard – Tillamook County Creamery
- Charlie Sciscione – ODOT Region 1
- Stephanie Scordia – Seaside Signal
- Aaron Suko – Tillamook County Roads
- Christy Vail – EDC of Tillamook County
- Lonny Welter – Columbia County Roads
- Tim Wilson – ODOT Region 1
1. Welcome and Introductions: Members introduced themselves.
2. NWACT Minutes/Public Comment/Legislative Comment
· December 2, 2004 minutes. Approved unanimously with the note to fix a couple typos. (Bernhard/Lohrke)
· Public comment – None
· Legislative comment – District 31 has selected a new State Representative, Brad Witt, formerly a union lobbyist. Betsy Johnson, the prior representative was appointed to State Senator filling the slot vacated by Joan Dukes. The region’s is well represented as both Senator Johnson and Representative Boone sit on their respective Transportation Committees. Heather spoke to the House Transportation Committee and reported they seem very interested in addressing the State’s transportation issues.
- Seaside Pac-Dooley project – Lylla read an ODOT press release on the project which said the project funds will remain committed pending outcome of the May vote. Don Larson thanked NWACT for its support of the project. Local businesses have also indicated their support for the project, and will be working on a campaign getting out the “yes” vote.
- Region 1 – Tim provided a list of Transportation Enhancement projects for Region 1. There are 32 applications totaling $21 million in requests for $7 million in funding. Three of the projects are within the NWACT region: Glenco interchange – Moved up to 2005 Developmental STIP so can be scheduled with other Washington County road projects occurring at the same time; Staley’s Junction – Currently scheduled for 2009, but may get moved up to 2007, so work can be done at same time as the work on the new State Park; and Clatskanie – 3 projects for 2007 STIP, one of which is the Van St turn lane to Port Westward. Also, 3 bridges are being replaced in the Mist area.
- Region 2 – Valerie reported on her, Shirley’s and Mark Labhart’s testimony before the OTC on the Hyw 101/South Tillamook pullouts between Beaver and Hebo. The project was ranked 6 of 12, with funding decisions made in the next 4 – 6 months. Mark thanked Valerie for developing excellent talking points about the project.
Valerie also reported that work is continuing on the Freight Route Analysis. Hwy 6 has been added and appears will be staying on as a designated freight route. Hwy 101’s highway designation is still under review.
Paul Christianson reported that on February 8th and 10th, Region 2 will be conducting project scoping trips in Clatsop and Tillamook counties. Those interested in participating were encouraged to contact the Region 2 office in Astoria.
Lewis and Clark update – The Fort to Sea groundbreaking will be April 5th, with the culvert under Hwy 101 to be completed by June 30th. Variable Message Signs (VSMs) will be going up for Ft Clatsop with visitor travel information.
3. Charter and Bylaws
NWACT received very positive comments from OTC regarding our Charter and Bylaws, one commission member voiced appreciation for the public involvement graphic describing how NWACT connects with constituents and the public. Valerie provided folders including NWACT’s Charter, Bylaws, Public Information Plan, and 2005 Work Plan to all members. Big thanks to Valerie. Bylaws can be changed, and members were encouraged to note down changes and in a couple of months the bylaws can be updated if needed.
Chart of all member slots was handed out. Next meeting Board training. New and empty slots need to be filled. Important to look at what is expected of Board members as listed in bylaws.
4. Election of Officers
Chair Gaebel presented the slate of officers announced at the December meeting: Chair – Lylla, Vice-Chair – Shirley, 2nd Vice-Chair – Rita. Opened elections to other nomination of others – no nominations. Unanimous vote. (Berry/Gervasi)
5. Transportation Growth Management Program
Partnership ODOT and DLCD and funded by federal government. Promotes transportation choices (walking, vehicle, transit), cooperation between land use planning and transportation, and transportation efficient development – development that builds in multiple transportation options and/or need for transportation.
Two options for funding:
· Grants to local governments, approximately $5 million is available. Eligible projects – planning for transportation and land use construction, updating TSPs, complying with a State planning rule, street scapes/downtown revitalization plans, measures that implement TSP goals, in-fill and redevelopment strategies. Timeline – Early Jan, pre-apps sent out by ODOT to every local government. Basically just a short description of project to enable the program to put the applicant in touch with the right representative to draft a complete application. Due Feb 17. Final applications due May 23. Successful applications announced in July, with August for developing contracts. 12 percent match required, with some waivers for needy communities. Projects must have a transportation relationship, can’t just be land use planning. No construction projects. Must have local support. Are competitive, so important to get assistance. Tillamook just got their TSP updated.
· Community Assistance Programs. Direct assistance regarding code updating, outreach, and quick response projects. No timeline on these programs. This Quick Response projects are site specific, perhaps where there may be local conflict needing resolution so the project can go forward.
Valerie will be assessing whether potential applications will want to have another growth management workshop or if applicants prefer one-on-one assistance. Rural communities can apply under their county’s TSP. $75,00 to $100,000 is the typical grant size.
6. OregonTransportation Plan Update
Onno Husing, Director of the Oregon Coastal Zone Management Assn and member of the steering committee updating the OTP spoke and reviewed the work done to date. Merges land use and transportation. Highway Plan is one component of the OTP. Been meeting every month. Sets policy for the next twenty years of transportation investment. Originally expected updating would be just a minor tweaking, but once got into reviewing the OTP, began to realize that the global economy occurring in the last decade has meant a major overhaul was in order. The 1992 OTP has very little about global economies and transportation systems. One of the major themes coming out of the update is to have some type of accelerated system for moving projects forward quickly that have significant impacts on improving local economies.
The other major theme is multi-modal – projects that really enhance multi-modal capacity will score high. Transit is being addressed, recognizing that rural transit will not use the same model as urban transit. The update will support having ACTs throughout the State. Also, managing transportation capacity, rather than always increasing capacity: metered ramps, incidence response, signage, one-way lane closures. Expect could increase capacity by 8% to 15%. In the later stages of development are transportation growth modeling using GIS and projecting future transportation congestion points. The OTP essentially provides overall direction to the ACTs. Trends driving this: aging demographics, living longer, larger globalization issues. Asking for initial feedback by March 1, as the different themes emerge. Draft updated OTP will come be out this Summer, with public outreach in the Fall.
Currently, modeling is being done on Hwy 101 that will be completed this Summer which will show future transportation.
NWACT feedback: Pleased to see how transit will be addressed between and within rural communities, particularly as Greyhound has pulled out. Similarly, the need for transit for seniors both for transportation within their communities and to and from urban areas. With energy shortages looming in the future, important to look at other forms of transportation such as rail. The OTP will be looking at sustainable transportation solutions, which then also links to the Governor’s Connect Oregon program. Sent comments to Valerie – Region 2 and Tim – Region 1.
7. Regional Transit Sub-Committee Report
Heather reported on committee – itemized services, service gaps, and existing action plans for addressing needs, marketing, inter-city transit, and operations communications. Currently in the works: Clatsop, Tillamook and Metro West are meeting to look at feasibility of running fixed routes to Portland, SCAT looking at upgrading radios through a grant program, cooperative service purchases, coordinating services between counties, preventative maintenance grants, joint submission of grants for joint service provision between jurisdictions.
Word has gotten around that this sub-committee has been meeting, and now people are contacting the group with additional input. Plan to have more of these forums and move them throughout the region. Heather agreed to continue to chair the sub-committee and continue the work with McDaniel, Mendenhall, Rita, Janet Wright. NWACT will be able to support by publicizing that these forums are being held.
8. NWACT Reponse to 2006 – 2009 STIP
Region 1, two open houses were held – North Plains (10 responses) and St Helens (23 responses). NWACT needs to acknowledge each individual who provided a comment, and note that their comments are being forwarded onto the OTC. When ranking STIP will review the comments to see if any of them are related to the projects being ranked.
9. Local Jurisdiction Transportation Updates
· Sunset Empire – Working on day use area between Maritime Museum and Transit Center. Looking at fuel dock vouchers for Medicaid transportation.
· Mark Ellsworth – Governor’s ERT – NWACT and other ACTs are important to the State and are relied upon for input on regional transportation needs and issues.
· Tillamook Transit – 40% increase in ridership. New union contract. Bumping with the Tillamook Saturday Marketing for the same space as a Transit Center, but it is getting worked out.
· City of Astoria – Relooking at Astoria Bypass.
· Shawn – Working with Mark and Heather on Transit center. Light at Latimer and Hwy 101 is going forward.
· City of Tillamook – The City received approximately $250,000 planning funds for parking and other transportation improvements, working on annexation, moving Safeway back into downtown which will connect with Tillamook Transit.
· Tillamook County – Mark Labhart will be replacing Tim Josi on NWACT. Thanked ODOT for improvements to Hwy 101 in south County.
· Jim Heikkila – Looking at involving some other private sector interests in NWACT
· Washington County – Disappointed NWACT wasn’t able to make meeting, down to 1 meeting during the year.
· EDCTC – Christy Vail is the new director replacing Karen Viehoever. Used to be with OED and in same building with Tillamook Transit.
· Columbia County – Port Westward is going forward, and transportation improvements both funded by ODOT and the County have started. No word yet on being designated a NASCAR site, although a lot of work would need to be done. Scappoose-Vernonia Hwy and Hwy 30 improvement is done and looks and works well. New industry coming into Scappoose Airport. Biggest issue for the county is having funding for maintenance, let alone capital improvements.
· Warrenton – Train from Portland to Astoria is still very slow, so thus it is not a viable transportation option. Without improved truck traffic through Astoria and throughout North Coast, won’t be able to really expand non-tourism jobs, and thus expand the economy. Special events continue to plug the coastal highways and travel between Portland and coastal communities. The Warrenton Parkway, which is on the developmental STIP, will allow access to the airport and the industrial park where businesses can grow. Now that water supply to the airport is getting resolved, that area will be opened up to business development.
10. Next Meeting
Next ACT meeting will be March 3 at Tillamook Transit.
Recorded: Mary McArthur, Staff
Lylla Gaebel, Chair
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