2007-2026 Washington Transportation Plan (WTP)
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Washington Transportation Plan 2007 - 2026 Washington’s transportation system should serve our citizens’ safety and mobility, the state’s economic productivity, our communities’ livability and our ecosystem’s viability. Washington State Transportation Commission From left to right: Bob Distler*, San Juan County; Elmira Forner, Vice Chair, Chelan County; Richard Ford, Chair, King County; Reema Griffi th, Executive Director; Dale Stedman*,WTP Team Leader, Spokane County; Edward Barnes, Clark County; Dan O’Neal*, Mason County; and Carol Moser*, Benton County. * Washington Transportation Plan Team Member Douglas B. MacDonald, Secretary of Transportation Paula J. Hammond, P.E., Chief of Staff WSDOT ensures full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by prohibiting discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin or sex in the provision of benefi ts and services result- ing from its federally assisted programs and activities. For questions regard- ing WSDOT’s Title VI Program, you may contact the Department’s Title VI Coordinator at (360) 705-7098. Materials can be provided in alternative formats: large print, Braille, cassette tape, or on computer disk for people with disabilities by calling the Offi ce of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at (360) 705-7097. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact OEO through the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1. STATE OF WASHINGTON TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION Transportation Building, PO Box 47308, Olympia, Washington 98504-7308 • (360) 705-7070 Fax: (360) 705-6802 • E-Mail: [email protected] • http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/commission November 14, 2006 The Honorable Christine Gregoire Office of the Governor PO Box 40002 Olympia, WA 98504-0002 The Honorable Members Washington State Senate PO Box 40482 Olympia, WA 98504-0482 The Honorable Members Washington State House of Representatives PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 Dear Governor Gregoire, Senators, and Representatives: The Transportation Commission is pleased to present the newly updated 2007-2026 Washington Transportation Plan (WTP). This document outlines transportation goals and objectives for the entire state, not just for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). It is designed to: • Offer policy guidance for all jurisdictions statewide on matters related to the transportation system over the next 20 years. • Provide a data-driven guide to transportation priorities that reflect input gathered from many entities, organizations, and citizens across the state, as well as from deliberations by the Transportation Commission. • Identify the top transportation investment priorities for the entire state in the areas of: (1) Preservation; (2) Safety; (3) Economic Vitality; (4) Mobility; and (5) Environmental Quality and Health. Based in part on the Governor’s Priorities of Government, this plan is the product of a collaborative effort of more than two years between the Transportation Commission and WSDOT. Together, we conducted an unprecedented level of outreach with governmental entities, organizations, and the general public across the state. The transportation budget proposal the Transportation Commission submitted to the 2005 Legislature, funded through the Transportation Partnership Act, was based on early data and stakeholder input from the initial phases of plan development. The Honorable Christine Gregoire Members, Washington State Legislature November 14, 2006 Page 2 Transportation Commission members, accompanied by WSDOT staff, personally met with each of the fourteen Regional Transportation Planning Organizations and sought public comment at fifteen public outreach events throughout the state. With the plan incorporating many comments from citizens and organizations statewide, the outreach process proved to be valuable for both the Transportation Commission, WSDOT, and the general public. Given the recent changes in transportation governance, the Transportation Commission views this plan as a transitional effort, bridging its past role with its revised mission to formulate future plans and visions for transportation. The Transportation Commission will spend the next two years furthering the evolution of this plan; culminating in an amended version in time for the 2009 legislative session and budget deliberations, as required under statute. As we move forward, our hope is that the current WTP update provides useful policy guidance in prioritizing the 2007 - 2009 budget and concurrent policy deliberations. We believe the data and information contained in this plan provide a guide that can be used to test specific policy and fiscal proposals brought forward for your consideration. Please feel free to contact myself or our Executive Director, Reema Griffith, at 360-705-7070, if you have questions or comments. Sincerely, Richard Ford, Chairman Washington State Transportation Commission prepared for Governor Christine Gregoire and the Washington State Legislature November 14, 2006 Washington Transportation Plan 2007-2026 by The Washington State Transportation Commission and the Washington State Department of Transportation The Washington Transportation Plan 2007-2026 The Washington Transportation Plan 2007-2026 Table of Contents Executive Summary i I. Introduction 1 II. The Plan for the Future A. Plan Framework—Orientation to the plan 5 B. The Challenge—Inventory and assessment of existing conditions and projections 9 for the future C. Transportation Investments Underway—The Governor’s and Legislature’s 49 top priorities that are already funded and being implemented to meet critical transportation needs D. Unfunded High Priorities—The highest priorities as determined by the Washington 69 Transportation Commission E. Remaining Unfunded Priorities—Additional investment priorities as determined by 77 the Washington Transportation Commission F. Policy Recommendations—Actions for filling gaps in existing policy direction 81 G. Measuring Progress—Today’s performance measures and statewide system 97 performance measurement for the future III. Focus on Transportation—Important Issues Influencing Washington’s Future A. Funding and Financing 109 B. Transportation Policy Studies and Plans 122 C. Governance and Partnerships 130 D. Transportation and Land Use 133 IV. Additional Information A. Glossary 139 B. Maps 157 C. Acknowledgements 159 The Washington Transportation Plan 2007-2026 The Washington Transportation Plan 2007-2026 Executive Summary Washngton State’s transportaton system connects us to our famles, frends, neghbors, jobs, and communtes. Transportaton s also the key to economc development, connectng busnesses wth customers and supplers. Washngton ctzens lve and work n the most trade-dependent state n the country, and our transportaton system lnks Washngton to the global economy. Ths complex nfrastructure network supports a varety of modes, from ferres and hghways, to trans, buses, and barges. Indvduals, busnesses and governments—from countes and ctes to ports, transt agences, and trbal natons—all own and operate parts of our state’s transportaton system. Local streets, roads, and sdewalks are the startng and endng ponts of most trps. 20-Year Transportation Vision Washington’s transportation system should serve our citizens’ safety and mobility, the state’s economic productivity, our communities’ livability, and our ecosystem’s viability. Movng away from the hstorcal practce of usng gas tax revenue and attemptng to buld our way out of congeston, ths 20-year plan warns that as we grow, we must choose strateges to manage growth and strategcally nvest to better move people and goods. Usng current nformaton and data, the Washngton Transportaton Plan dentfies a combned need of $67 bllon of transportaton nvestments, both funded and unfunded. These nvestments over the next 20 years wll buld our state’s economy, meet ctzen’s socal and recreatonal needs, and enhance personal health and safety. Even after the recent sgnficant transportaton nfrastructure nvestments supported by voters, the Governor, and the Leg slature, ths plan projects an estmated $38 bllon shortfall n meetng the dentfied $67 b llon need (2005 dollars). Gven the sze of ths unmet need, the WTP bulds on three key findngs to dentfy nvestment gudelnes that set prortes for future spendng and mprovements statewde. The core prncple of the nvestment gudelnes s that the exstng system cannot be allowed to deterorate. Investment n our exstng transportaton facltes s the cornerstone for mproved safety, economc vtalty, moblty, and personal and envronmental health. We must buld on the strong safety record we have acheved by makng strategc nvestments on publc roadways. Policy: A principle or course of action chosen to guide decision making. Plan: A method or scheme for achieving or doing something. The Washington Transportation Plan 2007-2026 Executive Summary Ths plan also sets the stage for ncorporatng more Funding and Investment Strategy data and a more flexble, adaptve approach toward Current fundng for the 20-year WTP perod provdes projectng and meetng future needs. Over the last year, almost $29 bllon dollars for transportaton nvestment. major changes unfoldng n the global economy have The 2003 (Nckel) fundng package rases $4.7 bllon sgnficantly rased constructon costs and gas prces, over 10 years and the 2005 Transportaton Partnershp causng changes n travel and purchasng decsons. Early Act rases $9 bllon over 16 years. Despte ths reactons by ndvduals, busnesses, and governments sgnficant nvestment, ths Plan projects nearly