WTP 2035 DRAFT STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS

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1 INTRODUCTION This Working Paper presents draft strategies and actions to be considered for inclusion in the draft Washington Transportation Plan It includes reference to the existing WTP 2030 strategies and actions, and attempts to update those to reflect new issues and emerging themes that have been uncovered thus far in development of the updated WTP While WTP 2030 presented strategies and actions organized around the six transportation policy goals defined in RCW , this paper presents the actions according to nine emerging themes or issues that have presented during the research and outreach phase of the current update effort. This has been done to more directly link the newly-recommended actions to issues that have been raised by participants in the planning effort and/or reported in other policy documents published since WTP 2030 was released. As reported in the recent Vision and Goals Update (May 20, 2014), a review of recent Washington State policy and planning documents reveals that most of the priorities from WTP 2030 remain important today. At the state level these include: Preservation and Maintenance, Safety, Energy efficiency and conservation, Environmental protection, and Freight mobility, among others. At the regional level, as at the state level, system preservation and maintenance is again the most commonly cited top priority, and economic development and freight mobility are also important. Most notably, however, public transit is more often raised as a top priority at the regional level. Sustainable funding for all of these programs, in particular system preservation and transit service, is raised repeatedly. As the WTP update process moved from background research to outreach via the Advisory Group and regional Roundtable listening sessions, however, the dialog evolved from a recitation of last year s ills to a predominant group of consistent issues and themes. These focused more on opportunities to take advantage of changing socioeconomic and demographic trends, and include: Improved safety and security for all transportation modes and users, on the complete system including state, local and Tribal infrastructure Economic vitality supported by efficient freight and passenger mobility Jurisdictional and modal inter-connectivity to reduce obstacles to multimodal travel and increase the number of realistic travel choices for any given trip Review Draft Page 1

2 Equity of mobility and accessibility to all user groups, as well as equitable impact of any new funding strategies. Environmental sustainability, including reduction of system impacts to the state s natural environment and reduced contribution to the broader problem of GHG emissions An overarching strategic approach to transportation funding and investment that provides a stable, long term revenue stream which in turn allows a cost-effective, proactive approach to system maintenance, preservation and eventual rehabilitation or replacement of critical infrastructure, including transit vehicles and ferries Improved integration of land use policy in the state transportation planning process, and clear linkages between WTP 2035 and the state s Growth Management Act Anticipation and accommodation of Washington s changing demographic and socioeconomic picture, with all of its implications for changing travel patterns and preferences Preparation for impacts and benefits of evolving technology through more rapid adoption of innovative technologies and direct support for applied research and development for costeffective proposals to address future transportation needs These emerging themes do bear some resemblance to the foundational themes and strategic drivers from WTP 2030, suggesting that transportation policy in Washington is evolving gradually in response to internal and external events, rather than dramatically or rapidly. Table 1, beginning on the following page, lists these nine emerging themes for WTP 2035 and suggests new strategies and actions that should be considered to supplement those in WTP Existing strategies carried over from WTP 2030 appear in black. A small number of new strategies appear in red; and a longer list of new actions appears in the far right column, also in red. The table also identifies the relevant Washington transportation policy goal that is addressed by the actions. These recommended actions represent a work in progress, and new actions are being developed as the project team continues to work with the results of stakeholder outreach and the Needs Analysis. A companion spreadsheet file to this working paper includes Table 1, listing the WTP 2035 draft new strategies and actions, as well as existing strategies and actions from WTP These are provided in spreadsheet format so that reviewers can make comments or suggested changes directly on the tables if desired. Review Draft Page 2

3 Table 1. WTP 2035 Draft Strategies and Actions 1) Improved safety and security Road safety Safety Rail Safety Safety Disaster preparedness Safety Foster Implementation of Comprehensive Safety Strategies Across All Jurisdictions and Transportation Modes Foster Implementation of Comprehensive Safety Strategies Across All Jurisdictions and Transportation Modes Encourage Inter-Agency Collaboration and Cooperation on Emergency Preparedness and Response Strengthen intermediate driver license laws to reduce young driver collisions and increase high-visibility enforcement campaigns and targeted rumble strip program to reduce distracted-driver collisions Continue to invest in grade separations and rail crossing safety measures in areas with large volumes of cross traffic Proactively anticipate and mitigate or eliminate conditions that worsen the risk or outcome of future natural and man-made disasters, through vulnerability and risk assessments of existing infrastructure. Review Draft Page 3

4 2) Economic vitality supported by efficient freight and passenger mobility Congestion Mitigation Economy Improve Washington s Economic Competitiveness Aviation Strategy Economy Invest in the State's Aviation System Aviation Strategy Economy Develop a statewide strategy for protecting and maintaining base levels of commercial air service at Washington's smaller airports. Invest in strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of congestion on the economy, the environment, and human health, including travel demand management and transportation system management Include analysis of economic benefits in prioritization of funding for Washington airport improvement projects Aviation Division should work with commercial airline companies to secure longer term commitments for service to smaller primary commercial service airports. Freight Last Mile Economy Support the Coordinated, Connected, and Efficient Movement of Freight and Goods Promote strategies that address the "last mile" of freight connectivity, including prioritizing key connections to sea ports and airports and exploring new ways to minimize impact of goods movement on local communities, through load consolidation, delivery time regulations, and urban distribution centers Review Draft Page 4

5 3) Jurisdictional and modal inter-connectivity Integration of modes Mobility Provide options for all users Mobility Improve Connectivity to Facilitate Travel Across Modes and Communities Support Mobility Options to Help Communities Meet the Public s Travel Need Break down traditional modal silos at state and regional planning agencies to accommodate new modes which may not fit with existing modal definitions, such as bus rapid transit and electric bikes, and to promote inter-modal transportation connections that allow for trip chaining Increase number of travel options for users of all abilities, by prioritizing "complete streets" projects and first/last mile connections to transit Review Draft Page 5

6 4) Equity in Planning Support of all users Mobility Relevance to all jurisdictions Stewardship Support Transportation for Special Needs Populations Develop a single, statewide plan that is supported by all jurisdictional levels and relevant to all regions Engage lower income, immigrant, and youth populations in the transportation planning process to better understand the unique needs, and as they are most impacted by service cuts, agencies should ensure the needs of transit-dependent populations are adequately met. Ensure that statewide transportation planning adequately meet the needs of local jurisdictions, by coordinating with the regional and local plan process to ensure a bottom up approach and allowing for local flexibility Tribal Transportation Needs Stewardship Address Tribal Transportation Needs with particular attention to supporting economic development through improved mobility and access for tribal lands RTPOs should engage Tribes to encourage coordination with Tribal Councils and support plans for increasing access, mobility, and safety on tribal lands Rural needs Mobility Rural needs Mobility Improve access to services for rural populations Accommodate mobility needs of farm and other rural populations Identify most vulnerable populations in areas not well served by public transportation and work with transit and human services providers to improve access to essential medial and social services. Support rural jurisdictions in local actions to accommodate mobility of farm equipment and other off-highway vehicles Review Draft Page 6

7 5) Environmental sustainability Improve transportation sector energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions Environment Accelerate Clean Transportation Options Evaluate a full spectrum of policies to reduce transportation GHG emissions through vehicle and fuel technology, system management and operations, land use, transportation options, and pricing strategies, and identify both nearand longer-term actions appropriate for statelevel implementation. (E.g., incentives for fuel efficient vehicles, electric and low-carbon fueling infrastructure investments, congestion pricing, carbon tax.) Minimize transportation impact on wildlife habitat and aquatic resources Environment Manage The Transportation System To Foster Environmental Sustainability Eliminate or improve culverts and other transportation infrastructure barriers to fish and wildlife migration and to improve habitat access Review Draft Page 7

8 6) Sustainable Funding Strategic funding strategy Funding equity Declining motor fuel tax revenues for transportation funding Increased demand on system (rise in freight volumes, transit ridership) Preservation Preservation Preservation Performance-based planning Stewardship Performance-based planning Stewardship Create Strategic Approach to Funding Sustainability Create Strategic Approach to Funding Sustainability Create Strategic Approach to Funding Sustainability Continue to Implement Performance Measures to Ensure Accountability Ensure that the WTP is meaningful and has an impact on transportation investment decisions and outcomes Develop a new statewide strategy for funding transportation that articulates the economic and social benefits of the transportation system, more clearly defines the role of state in funding non-highway modes, and provides funding options that are flexible and equitable, balancing user-pay with ability-to-pay approaches Explore funding opportunities that are not affected by decreases in motor fuel consumption, including further expansion of toll roads and high occupancy toll lanes, congestion pricing strategies, employeefunded transportation options, road usage charges, and joint development or valuecapture strategies Link or index new funding strategies to a growth metric so that total transportation funding grows as freight volumes, transit ridership, and total population continue to grow Utilize performance-based transportation planning, with clearly defined goals, indicators, and accountability for implementation and expenditures Produce Annual Report to the Legislature reporting on implementation status of each WTP2035 Strategy, noting the degree to which both state and regional programming documents (TIP) fund projects and programs that support WTP Policy Goals and Strategies. Cost-effective investment choices Stewardship Improve cost-effectiveness of all transportation infrastructure investments Apply concepts of right-sizing and practical design to ensure that transportation capital improvements are cost-effective and appropriately sized and designed for the situation Review Draft Page 8

9 7) Improved integration of land use and transportation policy Land Use Stewardship Public health Stewardship Strengthen the Integration Between Land Use and Transportation Decision-making Consider public health impacts in Transportation Decision-making Promote transportation investments that align with the Growth Management Act, including supporting local efforts to reduce sprawl, to encourage development in urban areas, and by providing more multi-modal transportation options Include representatives from the public health field in transportation planning so that direct and indirect health impacts are considered, that there is more connectivity to health services, that Human Service Plans are considered in the transportation planning process, and that transportation systems encourage increased physical activity Housing/TOD Stewardship Consider housing and transit-oriented development in Transportation Decisionmaking Promote transit oriented development at a state level and local level through policies and incentives for market-rate and affordable housing located near high-quality transit Review Draft Page 9

10 8) Changing demographic and socioeconomic picture Change in Mode Mobility Active transportation is popular mode choice Mobility Aging population Mobility Aging population Safety Increased number of new users 9) Evolving Technology Safety Technological changes Stewardship Support Mobility Options to Help Communities Meet the Public s Travel Need Support Mobility Options to Help Communities Meet the Public s Travel Need Anticipate and accommodate mobility needs of aging population Anticipate and accommodate mobility needs of aging population Foster Implementation of Comprehensive Safety Strategies Across All Jurisdictions and Transportation Modes Transportation policies should encourage and not inhibit the adoption of innovative technologies Future travel demand projection methodologies should more accurately reflect the factors that are causing current shift to alternative modes, non-motorized in particular, and to include the implications of such shifts in scenario planning or other regional planning exercises Ensure that project prioritization process for the transportation improvement program includes objective project evaluation metrics that incorporate the costs and benefits of nonmotorized travel Develop and regularly update Coordinated Human Serives Transporation Plans to ensure baseline mobility needs of elderly are met Track annual trends in 'Older Driver (75+) Involved' crashes and implement additonal mitigation actions if numbers increase with Engineer bicycle and pedestrian facilities to accommodate future growth in these modes and plan for capacity constraints. Local DOTs should consider the tradeoffs of fullyseparated versus shared-use spaces Anticipate and plan for changes in technology that affect how people and goods are transported, such as autonomous vehicles, the emergence of the "share economy," and mobile device applications Review Draft Page 10