WHATCOM TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD Wednesday, July 14, 2021, 3:30 p.m. Gordon W. Rogers Conference Room 314 East Champion Street Bellingham, Washington Zoom option: https://zoom.us/j/98603961540 Or join by phone: (253) 215-8782 AGENDA PAGES A. CALL TO ORDER – Chairman Korthuis B. PUBLIC COMMENT Citizens may speak informally to the Board on matters pertinent to its statutory responsibilities and which are not the subject of a public hearing. Each speaker is allowed a maximum of three minutes. C. AGENDA APPROVAL* D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES* 3-4 Meeting of May 12, 2021 E. OLD BUSINESS (if any) F. PUBLIC HEARING 5-6 Amendment No. 21-07 to the 2021 WCOG Transportation Improvement Program 1. Staff Presentation – Lethal Coe 2. Open Public Hearing – Citizens may address the Board on the subject of the hearing for a maximum of three minutes each. 3. Close Public Hearing* 4. Board Discussion and Vote* G. NEW BUSINESS 7-11 1. Public Transportation Safety Targets – Hugh Conroy* 12 2. FFY 2025-26 Surface Transportation Block Grant Awards – Mr. Coe* 13-37 3. Draft WCOG Public Participation Plan – Bob Wilson 4. Other New Business (if any) H. OBLIGATION STATUS UPDATE – Mr. Coe I. PLANNING DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Mr. Conroy 38-40 J. CORRESPONDENCE K. BOARD OPEN FORUM L. ADJOURN * Action item Page 1 Notice to the Public Regarding Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 WCOG hereby gives public notice that it is the policy of the agency to assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, Executive Order 13166 on Limited English Proficiency, and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Title VI requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which WCOG receives federal financial assistance. Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI has a right to file a formal complaint with WCOG. Any such complaint must be in writing and filed with the WCOG Title VI Coordinator within one-hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. Title VI Discrimination Complaint Forms may be obtained from the WCOG at no cost and are available on WCOG’s website. Aviso al Público Sobre Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 Por medio de la presente, el WCOG notifica de manera pública que la política del organismo es garantizar el pleno cumplimiento del Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, la Ley de Recuperación de Derechos Civiles de 1987, el Decreto Presidencial 12898 sobre Justicia Ambiental, el Decreto Presidencial 13166 sobre Dominio Limitado del Idioma Inglés, así como los estatutos y reglamentos relacionados en todos los programas y actividades. De acuerdo con lo estipulado en el Título VI, ningún individuo de los Estados Unidos de América deberá, con fundamento en su raza, color, sexo o nacionalidad, ser excluido de participar en, que se le nieguen los beneficios de, o ser víctima de discriminación en virtud de calquier programa o actividad por el cual el WCOG reciba fondos federales. Toda persona que se considere agraviada por una práctica discriminatoria e ilícita en virtud del Título VI tiene derecho a presentar una denuncia formal ante el WCOG. Cualquier denuncia de este tipo debe presentarse por escrito ante el coordinador del Título VI del WCOG en un period de 180 días naturales a partir de la fecha de la presunta discriminación. El WCOG pone a disposición del público los formularios de denuncia del Título VI de manera gratuita en su página web. Page 2 WHATCOM TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD MINUTES – DRAFT MAY 12, 2021 IN ATTENDANCE (VIA ZOOM): MEMBERS VOTING: Bellingham: Pinky Vargas (1st Vice Chairwoman), Seth Fleetwood; Blaine: Bonnie Onyon; Everson: John Perry; Ferndale: Greg Hansen (2nd Vice Chairman); Lynden: Scott Korthuis (Chairman); Nooksack: Tom Jones; Nooksack Tribe: Ross Cline, Sr.; WSDOT: Jay Drye; WTA: Michael Lilliquist; Whatcom County: Satpal Sidhu EX-OFFICIO: CTAG: Terry Terry; PUD: Atul Deshmane; TTAG: Chris Comeau GUESTS Tom McBride, McBride Public Affairs; Guy Occhiogrosso, Bellingham Regional Chamber; Les Reardanz, WTA STAFF Bob Wilson (Secretary), Hugh Conroy, Melissa Fanucci A. CALL TO ORDER Secretary Wilson determined that a quorum was present, and Chairman Korthuis called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. B. AGENDA APPROVAL APPROVED BY ACCLAMATION C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 7, 2021 MOTION: Mr. Jones moved, Mr. Sidhu seconded, to approve the minutes of the meeting of April 7, 2021, as presented. MOTION PASSED D. NEW BUSINESS 1. Adoption of State Fiscal Year 2021 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Mr. Conroy briefly summarized the draft UPWP and reminded the Board members that it had been reviewed by WSDOT, the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration in April. He then answered questions posed by the members. MOTION: Mr. Sidhu moved, Mr. Lilliquist seconded, to approve the SFY 2021 Unified Planning Work Program, as presented. MOTION PASSED Page 3 2. Other New Business Mr. Drye provided a summary of the 2021 WSDOT construction schedule. E. PLANNING DIRECTOR’S REPORT Mr. Conroy briefed the Board on recent transportation planning activities. F. OBLIGATION STATUS UPDATE Mr. Wilson informed the Board that the region was on track to exceed its Federal Fiscal Year 2021 obligation target by approximately $112,000. G. CORRESPONDENCE A letter from Mr. Wilson supporting the Lummi Nation’s request to Rep. Suzan DelBene for funding for its Kwina Triangle Roundabout project was included in the packet. H. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:16 p.m. Robert H. Wilson, AICP Secretary Page 4 MEMORANDUM To: Whatcom Transportation Policy Board From: Lethal Coe, Senior Planner Date: June 25, 2021 Subject: WCOG 2021 TIP Amendment Amendment #3 (21-07) of the WCOG 2021 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) includes the following: 1. Add new Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) project Purchase Electric Buses and Infrastructure for the purchase of two electric buses and related infrastructure. This project is funded through Washington State Public Transportation – Green Transportation Capital Grants. Formal TIP Amendments require review and resolution from the Policy Board to amend the current TIP and make federal funding accessible. Suggested motion: “Approve Amendment #3 for the Whatcom Council of Governments 2021 Transportation Improvement Program.” Page 5 TIP Amendment #3 (21-07) Table # Agency Project Title Amended Action Added Total Source Funds Cost 1 WTA Purchase Electric Buses and Add new project 2,616,438 2,616,438 State Infrastructure funded No Policy Board Action Required for the following Administrative Modifications Recent Administrative Modifications - administrative modifications are less substantial project changes and are administered by WCOG staff. (All Pending Policy Board Action) Agency Project Modification Administered Total Federal Costs Source WTA Replace Fixed Route Diesel Reduce bus purchase from 9 to 7 4,294,021 5307 Buses-2021 and reduce funding WTA Replace Paratransit Mini Reduce bus purchase from 14 to 1,927,255 5310 Buses 12 and adjust funding source from 5307 to 5310 Page 6 Memo To: Whatcom MPO/RTPO Transportation Policy Board (WTPB) Date: July 6, 2021 From: Hugh Conroy, Director of Planning Subject: Consideration for adoption – Resolution to establish public transportation safety targets. WCOG Policy Board Resolution 21-07-01 This proposed resolution (attached) lays out the background and purpose of this action item. Suggested motion “Adopt Whatcom Transportation Policy Board Resolution No. 21-07-01 Establishing Regional Public Transportation Safety Performance Targets as presented.” Page 7 Whatcom Transportation Policy Board Resolution No. 21-07-1 Establishing Regional Public Transportation Safety Performance Targets Whereas the 2012 federal transportation law Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP- 21) and the resulting planning rule issued in May, 2016 (23 CFR Part 450 Subpart C) require that Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) like the Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG) establish public transit safety performance targets that address performance measures established under the requirement of public transportation providers like the Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) to develop a Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) (49 USC 5329(d)); and Whereas 49 USC 5329(d)(1)(E) specifically requires that PTASPs include performance targets based on the safety performance criteria established by the National Public Transportation Safety Plan (NPTSP) required by 49 USC 5329(b); and Whereas the current NPTSP (January 2017) lists four safety performance measures: Fatalities: total number of reportable fatalities and rate per total vehicle revenue miles by mode. Injuries: total number of reportable injuries and rate per total vehicle revenue miles by mode. Safety events: total number of reportable events and rate per total vehicle revenue miles by mode. System reliability: mean distance between major mechanical failures by mode, and, Whereas 49 CFR 450.306(d)(2)(iii) requires that MPO’s selection of performance targets be coordinated to the maximum extent practicable