MINUTES OF THE METRO COUNCIL

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, November 7 2002

Council Chamber

Present:    Burkholder Burkholder (Chair), Rod Monroe

Absent:    Bill Atherton (Vice Chair)

Chair Burkholder called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m.

1.  CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Chair Burkholder introduced Erik Schutz, a visitor from Belgium, who was here learning about land use and transportation demand management issues, and Jacob Brostoff, a member of 1000 Friends of Oregon who was showing him around the city.

4.  RESOLUTION NO. 02-3237. FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENDORSING THE I-5 TRANSPORTATION AND TRADE STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS

Chair Burkholder noted that the resolution in front of them at this time was the “A” version and included changes suggested by TPAC, which needed to be reviewed.

Kate Deane, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), 123 NW Flanders, Portland, OR 97209, gave a brief PowerPoint presentation reviewing the recommendations from the task force (see hard copy of presentation included with permanent record of this meeting). She explained the bi-state planning project was cosponsored by ODOT and the Washington Department of Transportation, and was led by a 28-member task force whose purpose was to develop a multi-modal plan, including transit, transportation demand and rail. The committee took a year and a half to complete their work, and there was a great deal of public involvement. She summarized the recommendations (see Final Recommendations at a Glance included with the permanent record), talked about Rail Capacity Improvements and the Task Force’s recommendation for a bi-state rail forum to advise regional decision makers (see Rail Capacity Improvements Needed Next 5 to 10 Years in the permanent record), and commented on other recommendations of the Task Force, including the impact and risks of making improvements on regional land uses. (Also included in the permanent record is a map Ms. Deane distributed to the committee, Final Strategic Plan Recommendations).

Andy Cotugno, Planning Director, highlighted the changes the Transportation Policy Advisory Committee (TPAC) recommended for the resolution. He noted the resolution was intended as the omnibus endorsement of the overall package and there would be lots of further work to specify what needs to be done. There was committee discussion regarding the recommended changes and other upcoming work. Councilor Monroe commented that they were right now in the process of expanding the Bi State Transportation Committee into a Bi-State Coordinating Committee so that it would have the authority to make recommendations on the land use implications, etc. He said he was comfortable with the TPAC recommendations and felt they needed flexibility in terms of the actual design of the bridge area from Columbia Blvd. to SR 500. In response to a question from Chair Burkholder, Ms. Deane said it was recommended that one of the three through lanes be designated as an HOV lane. She said establishing an HOV land, particularly in the bridge influence area, would be challenging because of so many on and off ramps. There was committee discussion regarding HOV lanes. Councilor Monroe expressed his strong support of HOV lanes. He commented that Senator Benton and Representative Mielke were both opposed to HOV in any form in Washington state. He said he was continuing to urge them to keep the HOV in Washington until this Delta Park project got off the ground. Chair Burkholder felt adding HOV language to the resolution was sending a signal that we think it is a critical part and we are behind it. Councilor Monroe agreed and felt it would be helpful to the work in Clark County.

Chair Burkholder will carry the resolution to the full council.

5.  RESOLUTION NO. 02-3244, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING AN INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS (ITS) ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY ALTERNATIVES COMMITTEE (TPAC)

Removed from the agenda.

6.  RESOLUTION NO. 02-3245, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING CITIZEN APPOINTMENTS TO THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY ALTERNATIVES COMMITTEE (TPAC) AND THE TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE (TDM)

Chair Burkholder reviewed applicant interviews he and Councilor Monroe had conducted, and other work done on this resolution.

Councilor Monroe said these were good quality applicants who would serve with distinction. He said it was heartening to him to see the quality of applicants and noted that many of the ones who had not bee appointed were well qualified. He was pleased to have a strong voice from Clackamas County on the committee. Chair Burkholder noted that he had asked staff to invited the nominees to the Council meeting for introduction.

7.  TEA-21/REAUTHORIZATION POLICY ISSUES/OPTIONS

Mr. Cotugno noted that Senator Jeffards from Vermont had been the Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that had been writing on the TEA-21 Reauthorization, but changes in the senate after Tuesday’s election would produce changes in policy direction. He said Senator Jeffers had been emphatic about maintaining and enhancing some of the TEA-21 features dealing with flexibility, the role of MPOs, multi-modal emphasis, and making the land use connection. Mr. Cotugno said it was important to continue the discussion about a shorter list of policy and project priorities, but they may not be ready in December to go forward. He reviewed a memo he prepared for discussion at this committee and at JPACT (see memo to JPACT from Andy Cotugno re: TEA-21 Reauthorization Policy Priorities included in permanent record of this meeting) about priorities and said the agenda packet also included information for discussion (Item #7, Regional Discussion Draft Reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21)). He said the biggest issue was funding levels, which were being affected by deficit pressures and increased spending for national security, which added to the budget competition. He said recognizing that they had to maintain the fundamental structure of TEA-21 as the underpinning of how we did business had to be out front as changes in that policy direction would hurt us the most. He suggested that if something in the funding categories was going to be emphasized, it should be ones that potentially produced the most money. He said new starts was clearly on the list. Chair Burkholder asked if Senator Smith had interest in the infrastructure area. Mr. Cotugno said he had been active and involved, but that Senator Wyden was actually on the Environment and Public Works Committee. Mr. Brandman said Senator Smith had also been very active in appropriations, which is different committee and process than the reauthorization. Chair Burkholder asked if our lobbyists would come to discus possibilities and what the line-ups may be. Mr. Brandman said they would be in town November 22 for an all day staff retreat with the local governments and he would pursue whether they could come a day early to meet with interested Metro Councilors. Mr. Cotugno said it is also important to recognize that freight is a bigger component of our economy than typical metropolitan areas. He noted that the Port of Portland is and has been pushing a freight agenda that we should also be involved with. He said it is hard to tell what format that would take.

2.  CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 5, 2002 TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING.

3.  Related Committee Updates (No Action Requested: Information Only)

•  Bi-State Transportation Committee

•  JPACT

•  Southwest Washington RTC Board

•  South Corridor Policy Advisory Group

None.

7A.  COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

None.

ADJOURN

There being no further business to come before the Transportation Committee, Chair Burkholder adjourned the meeting at 11:36 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Cheryl Grant

Council Assistant

Attachments to the Public Record for the

Transportation Committees Meeting of November 7, 2002

Testimony Cards:

None.