Recap: Pwx 2019 in Seattle

FALL 2019

RECAP: PWX 2019 IN SEATTLE

Inside: Looking at Transportation | Crossing the Cascades – Part Two

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FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 3 Issaquah’s Rainier Boulevard LID Transportation Architecture Aviation Landscape Architecture Urban Design Land Surveying Construction Management Traffic Engineering Transportation Planning Public Involvement Town Visioning Stormwater Utilities

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2019 OFFICERS President Lorelei Williams, PE Vice President Donald J. Huling, PE Secretary Scott Sawyer, PE Treasurer Lauren Behm Past President Scott Egger, PE Features: 2019–2020 Directors Bob Desgrosellier Thanh Jeffers PWX 2019 Conference Recap...... 11 Scott Rood A look at some of the highlights from PWX 2019 held in Seattle in September at the Molly Toy Washington State Convention Center. 2018–2019 Directors Hackathon: The New Problem-Solving Format...... 14 Janice Fahning, PE PWX 2019 debuted a new problem-solving format – borrowed from the tech arena – Dan Ford, PE to public works: The Hackathon. Erik Martin, PE Jesse Thomsen, PE PWX ROADeo Round-up...... 15 Magazine Co-Editor Highlights of the APWA National ROADeo at PWX. The condensed course was comprised Leah LaCivita of two events: the balls event and the cylinder event.

Chapter Delegate Peter DeBoldt, PE Measuring Differently: What’s the Value of Our Public Space?...... 17 Alternate Chapter Delegate Recently, there’s been a marked shift in the way we evaluate the performance of Mike Clark, PE transportation right of way. Gone are the days when the value of these spaces was

measured solely based on vehicle throughput.

Bus Rapid Transit: Leveraging Interagency Partnerships to Maximize Lasting Public Benefit...... 19 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is increasingly serving a key role in connecting communities and Published by: helping people move comfortably between their destinations with increased speed and reliability. A flexible and cost-effective transit solution, at its core, BRT offers high-quality, fast, frequent, and reliable service.

Tel: (866) 985-9780 Fax: (866) 985-9799 Departments: Email: [email protected] www.kelmanonline.com President’s Message...... 7 Managing Editor: Monique Doyle, [email protected] Association News...... 8 Design/Layout: Ask MRSC...... 25 Dia Chea History...... 26 Marketing Manager: Darrell Harris, [email protected] Ostrowski’s New Outlook...... 30 Advertising Coordinator: Stefanie Hagidiakow

All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in This document is printed on paper certified to the whole or in part without the express standards of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®). consent of the publisher.

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6 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Lorelei Williams, 2019 Chapter President Public Works at the Center of It All

ello APWA members! By the time sewage is expeditiously taken from our aware of the “not if, but when” of a major you are reading this message, we homes for us not to concern ourselves earthquake in our region. We have people H will be through the joys of summer with again, and our roads and bridges are and resources dedicated to emergency vacation and sunshine in the Pacific safe to travel. Just this morning – a quiet management and planning for this event, Northwest, heading into a new school year July morning since I write these messages specifically. For now, I merely want to call and preparing for the end of 2019. a few months ahead of publishing the attention to how critical our efforts to Have you been working and living with magazine – I awoke to an urgent text seismically enhance or retrofit our existing an intention? Did you find yours? I can only from my sister: “Are you all OK?” She was infrastructure is, and to acknowledge in hope that an intentional approach has helped asking because she was getting reports at advance the fact that it will take all of us, as each of you keep focused on what truly her home in Oregon about an earthquake a community, to support our systems and our matters to you. centered near Monroe, WA. This time I people when this event does happen. Public In the work we do every day we have was able to say: “Yes, all is well.” This works is at the center of it all. goals, deadlines, and deliverables. Most of earthquake occurred only a matter of days Remember every day how important you are the time we are looking toward the future; after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake rocked to the success of public works. And remember a future that is dependent on some basic Ridgecrest, California. to thank each other for being part of this assumptions – that we have clean and easily As public works professionals in the tireless and impressive community of public accessible drinking water, garbage and Pacific Northwest, we are all acutely servants, consultants, and contractors.

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FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 7 ASSOCIATION NEWS Washington State Chapter APWA 2019/20 Calendar of Events BOARD RETREAT & MEETING 2018 NWPI CLASSES December 5–6, 2019 January 29–31, 2020 Public Works Essentials Spokane Campbell’s Resort, Lake Chelan December 10–13, 2019 PWX: THE BEST SHOW IN PUBLIC WORKS March 3–6, 2020 http://www.apwa.net April 15, 2020 Vancouver Hilton, Vancouver Developing Leaders August 30 – September 2, 2020 May 5–8, 2020 New Orleans, LA October 7, 2020 The Davenport Grand Hotel, Spokane TRAINING August 31 – September 1, 2021 http://washington.apwa.net St. Louis, MO COMMITTEE SUMMIT TBD Purchasing and Contracting CHAPTER CONFERENCES 2020 Essentials Workshops apwawaconf.com PUBLIC WORKS WEEK 9:30 am to 3:30 pm Spring: April 14–17 May 17–23, 2020 October 29, 2019 Vancouver Hilton Spokane PUBLIC WORKS INSTITUTE Fall: October 6–9 Call John Ostrowski at 360-573-7594 or Davenport Grand Hotel – Spokane October 30, 2019 email him ([email protected]) Walla Walla For all Chapter Conferences, please NWPI classes are held at the Holiday Inn contact the following for the specialty areas: November 14, 2019 in Issaquah. Maximum class size is 40 White Salmon students. Cost is $500 per workshop per Being a sponsor? student and includes breakfast and lunch Contact Molly Toy, [email protected] CM COMMITTEE on all four days. Inspector Training Workshop Being an exhibitor? 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Contact Jana Roy at 206-622-0222

Being a speaker? November 14–15, 2019 Contact Jon Davies 206-505-3400 or Redmond [email protected]

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8 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 ASSOCIATION NEWS New and Returning Members May 2019 through September 2019

Tim Abbe, Principal, Laura Emily Herman, Admin Regulations Clayton Lee Rawlings, Engineering Tech Natural Systems Design Analyst, WA State Dept. of Labor III, Benton County WA Gary C. Allen, Chief Surveyor, & Industries Steve Roark, Director Development, City of Tacoma Catherine Hovell, T.Y. Lin International WSDOT Meqdam N. Almaroof, Engineer I, Mike Hrachovec, Principal, Ivory Sar, Public Works Maintenance Lead, City of Shoreline Natural Systems Design City of Seatac Amy Anderson, PE, City of Tacoma Thomas Martin Hubert, Student, Kobree Schneidmiller, Senior Associate Don Bache, Cascade Pole Site Manager, Washington State University Engineer, City of Shelton Port of Olympia Shawn Hutchings, Bucher Municipal Cedar Simmons, Parametrix Logan Bahr, Advocate, Association of Rachel Jamison, Planning Public Works Gursimran Singh, Associate Civil Washington Cities Environmental Director, Port of Olympia Engineer, City of Shelton Jennifer Bailey, Associate Engineer, Jeanne Justice, PE, MOC Asst Public Ashley Smith, Engineer Technician III, City of Everett Works Director, City of Redmond City of Lacey Brian Bartle, Deputy Director, Jason Kashani, City of Lacey Jessica S. Soward, PE, SE, Principal, City of Bellevue Stacie Kelsey, Asst LPE, WSDOT Sargent Engineers Inc. Lee Becker, Fleet Manager, Brooke Kilts, Public Works Admin Audrie Starsy, Surface Water Program Spokane County Manager, City of Shelton Manager, City of Newcastle Ginger Yvette Benner, Fleet Analyst, Nate Kincaid, City of Bellingham Christopher N. Story, Project Manager, Spokane County Public Works Darian Kis-Young, EIT, King County City of Tacoma Rebecca Borker, Asset Manager, Basel T. Kitmitto, Project Manager, Ian Sutton, Parametrix City of Bellevue City of Tacoma Dara t’Sas, Director of Marketing, BCRA Jim Bridges, City Engineer, Jessica D. Knickerbocker, Engineering Carla Talich City of Oak Harbor Manager, City of Tacoma Barb Tope, Environmental Project Rose M. Chisholm, Student, Justin Knox, PE, Civil Engineer, Manager, Port of Olympia University of Washington City of Lacey Tracy Trunk, Clark County Chris Christopher, WSDOT Gina Loring, Associate Engineer, Andy Basile Tuchscherer, Operations Michael L. Clark, Project Director, City of Everett Manager, Sammamish Plateau Water Vanir Construction Management Juel D. Lugo, Principal, LILT Hallie Tuck, Public Works Director, Puna Clarke, City of Lacey Rodney Mann, Manager of Street City of Connell Harvey L. Coffman Department, City of Spokane Marcus W. Vassey, Associate Engineer, Jeff Coleman, Drinking Water Operations Erik C. Martin, Principal, City of Tacoma Supervisor, City of Olympia Sargent Engineers Inc. Robert Victor, PE, Senior Project Manager, Nicholas L. Correll, Engineer, Brice Maryman, MIG | SvR Perteet Inc. City of Tacoma Mike McGee, Public Works Maintenance Brian C. Wang, Engineer, City of Tacoma Christina Curtis, Associate Engineer, Supervisor, Pierce County Public Works Desmond Weaver, Infrastructure City of Everett & Utilities Manager, City of Maple Valley Matt Durheim Jason Mings, Street Interim Supervisor, Todd Wentworth, Wood E & IS Karl Enyeart, Engineer, City of Longview City of Walla Walla Paul Wilhelm, CAD Supervisor, Zachary J. Evans, Engineer II, Pierce C. Nelles, Student, City of Everett City of Shoreline North Central College Michael Williams, SW Reg Local Programs Ken Ewalt, Manager, Seattle DOT Todd Nestegard, Project Manager, Engineer, WSDOT Rob Feller, Civil Engineer, Port of Olympia Tim Wilson, Water Resources Manager, City of Port Angeles Lance Newkirk, Utility & Operations Thurston County Public Works Archie Ferguson, Fleet Manager, Manager, City of Shoreline Scott A. Woerman, Client Services City of Kirkland Cadie Olsen, Sustainability Director, Director, Landau Associates Inc. Ann Fowler, Civil Engineer, City of Renton City of Spokane Steve M. Worley, Public Works Director, James Frost, City of Wenatchee Gordon Peterson, Fleet Management, City of Pasco Danika Globokar, Senior Stormwater Process/Inventory Control, Pavel Yanushev, Utility Engineer, Project Engineer, City of Sammamish City of Kirkland Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Stevan Gorcester, Performance Plane LLC John Phillips, Parametrix John Zeman, Division Manager, Craig Gregory, Director of Public Works, Marc Pitzen, City of Issaquah Forsgren Associates City of Shelton Ivona Radivojsa-Kininmonth, Engineer, City of Longview

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10 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 RECAP: PWX 2019 in SEATTLE

PWX BY THE NUMBERS AWARDS PWX Seattle had the highest number Thank You to the The national APWA awards given out of registrations – 2,175 – since 2007, PWX Planning Committee to recipients at PWX Seattle had been which should be a badge of pride for officially announced earlier in the year. both the PWX Planning Committee and We would like to recognize the Our Chapter had a particularly fruitful the Washington APWA Chapter. Held in following members of the PWX year thanks to the amazing work Seattle from September 7–11, the national Committee. being accomplished by our members. conference marked four years’ worth of A particular acknowledgement of the planning by the Chapter. The Chapter Co-Chairs: Peter De Boldt, Chapter’s benefit to members was the managed several events, in addition to Perteet | Mike Terrell, WSP bestowment of the PACE award to the their PWX fundraising responsibilities, Finance: Tina Nelson, Kitsap County Washington Chapter for the fourth year including the Get Acquainted Party Promotions: Molly Toy, HW Lochner | in a row, and our eighth win in the last (attended by more than 2,000 people), Becky Kniveton, Jacobs ten years. as well as the Board Welcome Social, Exhibits: Jim Rioux, City of Olympia International Reception, ROADeo, Golf Volunteers: Hillary Stibbard, City of CHAPTER PACE AWARDS: Tournament, and several other sporting Bellevue | Katherine Claeys, Top Ten Public Leaders of the Year – events. In addition, the Chapter was City of Redmond Crystal Donner PE, Perteet responsible for recruiting and managing ROADeo: Erik Martin, Lewis County | Exceptional Performance 500+ volunteers who filled over 740 Lane McAllister, Thurston County |Don Award for Diversity – Kandace Thomas, volunteer shifts. The Chapter is grateful to Bitterman, City of Wenatchee Pierce County the full membership for your support and Sporting Events: Casey Nelson, City Three National Project of the Year especially to the Planning Committee for of Mercer Island | Derek Mayo, City of Awards Two National ROADeo their countless hours of work. The Chapter Ellensburg | Jeff Brauns, City of Newcastle Winners – 2nd and 3rd Place also recognizes our top sponsors: WSP, Golf: Dan Ireland, SCJ Alliance Two Graduates of the Emerging AECOM, and WSDOT. Fundraising: Scott Sawyer, SCJ Alliance | Leaders Academy – Christopher M. Genesee Adkins, HDR Inc. Piercy, Kitsap County and J. Tyler Christian, Full Registrations: 2,175 Get Acquainted Party: Kris Purrier, City of Monroe (highest since 2007) HWA GeoSciences Inc. Jennings Randolph International Number of People Attended: 5,500 International Reception: Tina Nelson, Fellowship Award Winner – Exhibit Square Footage: 79,800SF Kitsap County Nora Daley-Peng, City of Shoreline Exhibitors: 384 Hospitality: Cheryl Paston, Accreditation – City of Tacoma Speakers from the WA Chapter: 46 City of Sammamish ROADeo Contestants: 70+ (25 from Futures Program: Lauren Behm, WA Chapter) Skillings Connolly, Inc. Golf Attendees: 70+ Workshops: Ryan Tuomisto, Assoc. APWA Gives Back: 500 care kits Earth Sciences, Inc. | Caroline Barlow, for Facing Homelessness, assembled Seattle Utilities in one hour Volunteers: 500+ (740 volunteer shifts) Golden Hard Hat for Most Volunteers: Seattle Public Utilities with 61 people Futures Program for Students: 35+ students

FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 11 12 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 NATIONAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR SPOTLIGHT

CONGRATULATIONS TO NATIONAL WINNER: YESLER WAY BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION HISTORICAL | $5–25 MILLION

Agency: Seattle Department dimensions so the team could analyze the utilities improvements, improving the stormwater of Transportation bridge after it was deconstructed. The drainage system, providing new sewer lines, Primary Contractor: IMCO historical elements were then cleaned, and switching lighting to energy-efficient LEDs. General Construction repaired, adapted, and, in some cases, The new bridge also includes streetlight poles Primary Consultant: HDR refabricated entirely before being returned designed so overhead power lines can be to the bridge. The team also made critical added for a future electric bus expansion. Overview: Originally built in 1910, the Yesler Way Bridge is one of Seattle’s Scope Included: oldest permanent steel roadway and • Public access was maintained for the majority of the project original streetcar bridges. Yesler Way • To preserve historical elements, multiple 3D scans were performed so the bridge remains the anchor for the city’s historic could be analyzed after it was deconstructed. downtown – it connects residents, Features Included: commuters, and workers in the area. A • Project located in three historic districts. major east/west arterial connection, the • Zero lost time injuries. bridge carries more than 6,000 vehicles daily, including seven local and regional Results: bus routes, and has unique, historic design Completed within approved schedule extensions, the project overcame significant elements. But crumbling abutment walls, challenges throughout design and construction. And despite unforeseen conditions, seismic vulnerability, outdated design the project was completed within the estimates and timeframe approved by the City. standards, and the risk of catastrophic collapse from vehicle impacts meant that the bridge critically needed safety and accessibility improvements. Most construction was completed with public access maintained. This effort TRANSPORTATION required shifting traffic between the east MARINE INFRASTRUCTURE and west sides of 4th Avenue for bridge HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY WATER/WASTEWATER TREATMENT abutment construction. IMCO worked INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS closely with the Seattle Police Department DESIGN-BUILD to coordinate the lane and sidewalk shifts and temporary roadway closures. To assist in the preservation of historical elements, the IMCO project team performed multiple 3D scans of the facia girders IMCOCONSTRUCTION.COM and cladding, obtaining accurate digital

FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 13 HACKATHON: THE NEW PROBLEM-SOLVING FORMAT By Juel Lugo, LILT

PWX Seattle introduced a new problem-solving format to named “Care B & C,” picked availability of housing units as their primary public works: The Hackathon. Borrowed from the tech arena, focus. The idea takes aim at including everyday homeowners, those the sprint-like event (usually held over a day) assembles looking to make a little extra and contribute to society, into the solution multiple small teams in one physical location to work on a toward housing availability. Homeowners would agree to let a consortium larger problem. consisting of existing homeless nonprofits, service providers, HUD, and In the case of PWX the topic was homelessness and the public works, put a small housing unit or “tiny house” in their backyard. participants volunteered to spend one day working toward In return, the homeowner would receive a HUD housing voucher, which viable solutions to homelessness that would be presented and could be redeemed for cash, as well as an estimated $200 in rental judged at the end of the day. The strong focus on a limited income from the occupant. The team cited recent advances in 3-D timeframe is one of the hallmarks of Hackathons, as is the printed tiny homes and estimated that with a modest investment of inclusion of a broad spectrum of people with input on a $1 million, 250 units could be printed. Even factoring in default on some specific topic. payments, the team estimated that the return on these units would At PWX Seattle, five teams with participants from every easily pay for itself in under three years. While the solution has some region of the country spent Sunday learning about homelessness obvious pitfalls – such as where to get the initial investment and how to from MIG/SvR, Facing Homelessness Seattle, and San Francisco mitigate neighbors’ fears – the judges, including Sara Vander Zanden, Public Works. On Monday they began group discussions that Executive Director of Facing Homelessness, thought that the solution were guided through a process by a moderator. One segment had real merit. included a “question burst” where teams had an allotted In the debrief teams expressed excitement at being able to work on a time to come up with only questions as a way to deepen their problem that affected them both personally and professionally. There was inspection of homelessness. The groups were then given three a collective relief in being able to bring a solution to the table rather than hours to brainstorm original solutions. just applying a bandaid to the problem. Many of the teams were highly The team that won was judged as presenting an original invested in the outcomes and stated that they’d be looking for ways in idea with highest potential to be accomplished. Their idea, aptly their own jurisdictions to continue the work.

14 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 PWX ROADEO ROUND-UP

On the drizzly morning of September 9, more than 70 competitors converged next to T-Mobile Park to compete in the APWA National ROADeo at PWX Seattle. The condensed course was comprised of two events: the balls event and the cylinder event. In the balls event, competitors used the bucket of their excavator to scoop up six balls of all different sizes, ranging from tennis ball to basketball, into a garbage can. Each ball was balanced on top of a traffic cone and all were randomly spaced through the course. In the cylinder event, competitors weaved a cylinder hanging from their excavator bucket through a specific path between traffic cones spaced 16 inches apart. The smaller course also meant that competitors had the added pressure of being very close to a large crowd of people intently watching their every move. Washington Chapter members Scott Hiam and Dan Weissenfluh, both from Clark County Public Works, took second and third places respectively. First place was taken by Matthew Bishop of Charleston County, North Carolina. The Chapter thanks Erik Martin, Lewis County, Lane McAllister, Thurston County, Kenny Price, Clark County, and countless others for an amazing ROADeo. The Chapter ROADeo will resume next year on October 8, 2020 with the Fall Conference in Spokane. For the full rankings list, visit http://bit.ly/2019Roadeo.

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FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 15 CIVIL STRUCTURAL SURVEY

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MEASURING DIFFERENTLY: By Kendra Breiland and WHAT’S THE VALUE OF OUR PUBLIC SPACE? Sarah Saviskas, Fehr & Peers

In recent years, there’s been a marked shift services, deliveries due to e-commerce, in the way we evaluate the performance micromobility options (car share, bike of transportation right-of-way. Gone are share, scooters), electric vehicle charging the days when the value of these spaces stations, and activation in the form of was measured solely based on vehicle parklets and streetscape. Thus, the ways throughput. Agencies like the Washington that we measure the performance of these State Department of Transportation spaces should expand accordingly. (WSDOT) and the Seattle Department of At the local level, the City of Seattle’s Transportation (SDOT), and organizations Public Life Program is working to like APWA, the Institute of Transportation quantify what produces vibrant, active, Engineers (ITE), and the National and well-used public spaces. Recognizing Association of City Transportation Officials that streets and sidewalks full of social (NACTO) are recognizing a much broader and commercial activity have the power set of objectives. Key examples include to improve a city’s health, prosperity, and WSDOT’s Practical Solutions Performance happiness, SDOT collaborated with the Framework, which measures economic Gehl Institute, City of San Francisco, and For the US 2 Upper Wenatchee Valley Transportation vitality, preservation, safety, mobility, Copenhagen Municipality to develop a Study has leveraged a variety of innovative data sources, including drone footage, to better environment, and stewardship, and SDOT’s Public Life Data Protocol. This program understand modal interactions along the corridor. Public Life Program, which is focused on establishes a common methodology for providing vibrant, active, and well-used evaluating the vibrancy of public spaces public spaces. across different cities and regions. SDOT What you measure is what you get. has leveraged this data protocol to This year, WSDOT is piloting key aspects conduct public life studies at the citywide of the Practical Solutions Performance scale (over 100 block faces studied in 38 Framework in each of its regions. This neighborhoods) and at the neighborhood includes the US 2 Upper Wenatchee Valley scale, measuring the number of people Transportation Study in North Central using public spaces and the types of Region, the Discovery Corridor Adaptive activities they are engaged in. The results Infrastructure Needs Analysis in the of the public life studies are displayed Southwest Region, and the West Plains visually through an interactive dashboard Subarea Transportation Management Plan and provide SDOT with people-centered in the Eastern Region. These test cases are data to make investment decisions, applying innovative, “big data” sources evaluate designs and interventions, and CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT PRACTITIONERS GUIDE such as StreetLight and Sugar Access to understand what makes a successful public better understand metrics like reliability, space. SDOT hopes that other cities and 1 Curbside Management Practitioners Guide LINGER FACTOR BY NEIGHBORHOOD pedestrian and bicycle accessibility, and communities throughout Washington system resiliency, which have historically can use this new process to collect their been overlooked by more traditional own public life data and utilize it to create transportation planning studies. better public spaces for the communities At the national level, the Institute they serve. of Transportation Engineers released a Communities all around the country Curbside Management Practitioners are wrestling with how to keep up with Guide to guide local jurisdictions on emerging transportation technologies. how to inventory, assess, enhance, Shared micromobility services like and prioritize curb spaces to meet the electric scooters and electric bikes are multimodal demands at the curb in a safe rapidly changing how people travel around and efficient way. This guide recognizes cities, and that pace of change is only that the way we use our transportation accelerating. While shared micromobility right-of-way is expanding from more offers many potential benefits, such as traditional uses (such as on-street parking, reducing car trips and lowering carbon bike and pedestrian infrastructure, transit emissions, it carries new challenges, stops, and emergency responder access) including lack of regulation, diminished SDOT’s Public Life Study looked at the ratio of to uses that have only recently emerged ADA sidewalk accessibility, and safely people staying still to people observed moving or are increasing rapidly, including managing multiple transportation modes through the study areas (“linger factor”). drop offs/pick-ups from ride hailing on limited sidewalk space. To address these

PUBLIC LIFE STUDY - 2018 SUMMARY REPORT | 17

FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 17 TRANSPORTATION

concerns and take advantage equity, and communications as they relate to of potential benefits, several micromobility. Data is one way that agencies cities around the country can quantify the benefits of micromobility. have created micromobility Requiring that service providers provide policies that provide data helps agencies to understand not only direction on how shared how micromobility services are operating mobility operators must but also how the presence of micromobilty operate in their city. modes might influence the function of other Currently, there are three transportation systems by highlighting where main resources that provide people are going for short trips, where guidance on what these the activity centers are, and where there is policies should include: demand for transportation services. NACTO’s Guidelines for the It’s a brave new world in managing our Regulation and Management transportation rights-of-way. While the of Shared Active Transportation, competition for this space has grown with Remix’s Micromobility Policy e-commerce, app-enabled modes, and Survey, and Transportation for changing perspectives about the best use of America’s Shared Mobility the curb zone, the ways that we can evaluate Playbook. These offer guidance and effectively plan its uses are also growing. on topics like parking, It’s an exciting time to be a transportation service area and distribution, professional or a data scientist and the maintenance, safety, fleet caps, distinctions between these two fields are fees and pricing, data sharing, shrinking every day.

It’s a brave new world in managing “our transportation rights-of-way.

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BUS RAPID TRANSIT: LANDSLIDE LEVERAGING INTERAGENCY PARTNERSHIPS RESPONSE TO MAXIMIZE LASTING PUBLIC BENEFIT AHEAD

By Stephanie Forman, PE, Forman Consulting Services and Brett Pool, HDR

LANDSLIDE RESPONSE AND STABILIZATION SERVICES Landau Associates has engineered the stabilization and restoration of some of the best-known road and slope failures in the Northwest, including slides and failures arising from major storm events and projects in slide-prone areas throughout Washington. Our rapid response services assist agencies with decisions regarding reopening roadways and access.

Across the country, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is In step with this trend, over increasingly serving a key role in connecting the past decade numerous transit communities and helping people move agencies throughout Washington comfortably between their destinations with have adopted BRT service into their increased speed and reliability. A flexible and toolkit of options to better meet the ENVIRONMENTAL SITE GEOTECHNICAL cost-effective transit solution, at its core, needs of their riders. To successfully MANAGEMENT AND ENGINEERING BRT is characterized by its delivery of high- plan and implement these projects, ENGINEERING WATER RESOURCES quality, fast, frequent, and reliable service these transit agencies partner closely ENVIRONMENTAL AIR AND NOISE through the implementation of design with the jurisdictions that their BRT PERMITTING AND features strategically aimed at reducing the corridors traverse. Through partnering, COMPLIANCE STORMWATER top causes for bus delay. These techniques many transit agencies in the State of include implementing transit signal priority Washington have developed successful WASHINGTON EDMONDS SEATTLE at intersections, enhancing passenger relationships with local agencies that TACOMA QUINCY OLYMPIA boarding efficiency, and modifying stop have resulted in each agency better SPOKANE OREGON PORTLAND spacing; all while operating in either realizing their vision and maximizing dedicated lanes or mixed-use traffic. their limited funds. (800) 552-5957 www.landauinc.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 22.

FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 19

TRANSPORTATION

One trailblazer providing a strong King County Metro (Metro) has also example of how to partner successfully demonstrated a record of success with local agencies when it comes to in leveraging the support of local delivering BRT service in Washington agency partners to help maximize State is Community Transit. In 2009, the lasting public benefit the agency opened Washington’s first provided by the routes within BRT route, the Swift Blue Line, the first their expanding RapidRide route of their Swift BRT system. Last BRT system. Currently, spring, they further expanded this system Metro operates RapidRide significantly with the opening of the on six routes and continues Swift Green Line. Community Transit’s to expand throughout King process of implementing BRT service County, including plans for started with the organization engaging seven additional routes by 2027. 37 different local agencies to identify When transforming existing transit priority corridors in their long-range corridors into multimodal BRT plan to operate BRT service on. Their corridors, Metro strives to blend the partnership included working together to needs of the local agencies with their ensure that the identified routes serviced own ridership needs and demands for areas that could meet Swift BRT’s target BRT service. To do this, Metro partners ridership levels. In turn, local agencies with local jurisdictions to develop a have responded by changing station-area desired package of project improvements zoning to higher-density, mixed-use that benefit both the cities and Metro. By land use, as well as by allowing the combining the improvements in this way, BRT stations to qualify as developer Metro’s BRT corridors are, in turn, more frontage improvements. attractive for grant funding. For example,

Luminaires, Smart Systems, Controls & Poles Roadway, Sports, Industrial & Area Lighting Specialist Small 'Smart' Cell LED Roadway Illumination Standards Controls as part of Metro’s RapidRide H Line, the agency Lighting Poles collaborated with the cities of White Center and Traffic Signal Poles Burien to add wider sidewalks and landscape Small Cell Standards buffers to increase pedestrian access. They also Nostalgic added transit priority benefits, such as queue Contemporary jumps and transit-only lanes in key locations of High Mast Towers the corridor. Combined, this package of project LED Sports Lighting benefits yielded an additional $10M in Regional Systems Mobility Grant funding. SeaTac Lighting & Controls, LLC As important new pieces of a municipality’s 15455 53rd Ave S | Tukwila, WA 98188 O: 206.575.6865 www.seataclighting.com multimodal transportation systems, BRT infrastructure must be knit into a city’s urban fabric in a way that appropriately provides reliable and accessible service, integrates with each city’s traffic system, and keeps safety as a top priority. These projects often also present impacts to local agencies’ right-of-way and long-range plans that necessitate a heightened level of coordination that is distinct from traditional bus service. By embracing interagency coordination, many transit agencies are finding creative ways to navigate challenges and leverage the synergies between agencies’ goals to deliver better public benefit.

22 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 FCS GROUP: Effective public sector financial, management and economic solutions

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FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 23 Interactive Edition available online

With print and electronic communication operating hand-in-hand you can take advantage of the fact that our magazines are also available online in a highly interactive format.

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RECAP: PWX 2019 IN SEATTLE

Inside: Looking at Transportation | Crossing the Cascades – Part Two

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FALL 2019 A user-friendly, interactive format that includes: 1. Beautiful reading experience - presenting a beautiful digital edition that looks and feels like a real book; from flipping through the pages, realistic page turn sounds and even spine shading all adding to a highly engaging reader experience. RECAP: PWX 2019 IN SEATTLE 2. A share feature to share the digital publication amongst

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2601 Fourth Avenue, Suite 800, Seattle, WA 98121-1280 friends and colleagues via social networks including Facebook and Twitter or via email. 3. Active hyper-links to all websites and emails contained in the publication. 4. Active links to the specific stories from the front cover and contents page. 5. Active links to advertiser websites from their ads. 6. Searchable and zoomable content. 7. The ability to add notes and bookmarks. 8. And more... FREE to print advertisers! www.washington.apwa.net

24 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 RIPPLES ASK MRSC

MRSC is a research nonprofit that offers local government staff free, one-on-one guidance with legal and policy consultants. Below are inquiry responses the MRSC Public Works Consultant. If you work for a city, county, or contracted special purpose district, Ask MRSC by calling 800-977-6553 or emailing [email protected].

Questions Concerning Unions & Collective Bargaining

Q: Have the courts determined which document takes Q: Our current Clerk is a member of Teamsters and precedence in a conflict between personnel rules and is retiring soon. Does the fact that she elected union policies and a union contract? For instance, if the city’s coverage determine that a new employee will also have to personnel rules say one thing but the union contract says be in a union? something different, which is applicable? A: Employees cannot be forced to join a union and are not A: MRSC believes the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has automatic members by virtue of being hired into the position. Until priority over a directly conflicting personnel policy. There may the recent Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME, people be terms and specific language in the CBA about such potential who chose not to join the union that represented their bargaining conflicts. Likewise, the city’s Personnel Policy may have terms unit could be compelled to pay for receiving the benefits of that about compliance with applicable CBAs. bargaining, called “agency fees.” After the decision, that is no Chapter 41.56 RCW is the Public Employees Collective longer the case. Bargaining Act. Regarding the courts, there are several cases Following the Janus ruling, unions bargain on behalf all the about the priority of collective bargaining but not one specifically employees that meet the definition of the certified bargaining about priority over all personnel policies. For example, in Spokane unit, regardless of whether the new employee chooses to join the and Spokane Police Guild v. Spokane Civil Service Commission, union or pay for the representation. 98 Wn. App. 541 (1999) the court held that which is bargained during a collective bargaining agreement will prevail over any Q: May police officers request collective bargaining for a inconsistent civil service rule. In Rose v. Erickson, 106 Wn.2d police department? 420 (1986) the court found the legislature did not intend the procedures of chapter 41.14 RCW (civil service) to supplant chapter A: If the officers are wanting to get collective bargaining, this 41.56 RCW (collective bargaining); the legislature intended that suggests that they want to form a union, which they may do. Per chapter 41.56 RCW prevail. RCW 41.56.040, or the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Depending on the circumstances you are considering, the city Act, public employees have the right to organize and designate may need to bargain with the union about a particular personnel representatives without interference, meaning management does policy if there is a conflict with the CBA. We recommend you not have the option to disallow union activities. consult with your city attorney and, perhaps, a labor attorney. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (www.waspc.org) offers resources related to collective bargaining Q: Must a job opening for an agency staff position be and law enforcement as does the Washington State Public posted to the public prior to hiring? Employment Relations Commission (perc.wa.gov).

A: There is no requirement to advertise an open position publicly. A position that is covered by a collective bargaining agreement may require internal posting of the position first. If there is no labor contract associated with this position, it is up to the organization whether to post externally; but it should be posted internally at the very least.

FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 25 HISTORY

Crossing the Cascades: From Wagons to Winnebagos – Part Two

n the Summer issue of Washington State commerce began to decline in the early Even though many of us associate State Public Works magazine, we focused on 1800s when European and American Route 2 with Everett or Snohomish County, Ihow the Naches/Chinook/White Pass traders began to monopolize trade. the last 28 miles up the west side of the and the Snoqualmie Pass were developed. mountain are in King County, in the vicinity These are two of the four paved highway Stevens Pass of the town of Skykomish. As early as 1912, crossings of the Cascade Mountains. In Prior to and during the days of the King County planned and began construction this issue, we look at the history of Stevens Washington Territory (1853–1889), the of a road towards the summit from the Pass and the North Cascades Highway. existence of Stevens Pass as a thoroughfare west, and the county essentially completed was unknown. It appears the first non- construction of the road in 1917. However, Native American Trails: native person to discover the pass was World War I and financial constraints delayed Leading the Way John Frank Stevens. In 1890, Stevens the first car trip over the summit for five For thousands of years Native Americans was conducting a survey for the Great years, until July 11, 1925, when several cars used at least six of the seven natural passes Northern Railway when he located the made the trip, along with much fanfare. crossing the Cascades for an extensive pass, which he determined to be the best Chelan County (on the east side) and system of trade. Native Americans would route for a railway crossing of the North Snohomish and King County (on the west) travel the steep paths in single file, by Cascades. As a reward for his success, the all used the original Great Northern Railway foot and on horseback, using temporary owner of Great Northern Railway, James J. right-of-way over the crest of the Cascades camps of cedar mat shelters to move from Hill (the “Empire Builder”), named the pass until abandoning this route once the first place to place as needed. This intertribal in Stevens’ honor. Cascade Tunnel opened in 1900.

Source: The First Crossing of The North Cascades, by Source: The First Crossing of The North Cascades, by Alexander Ross (NW Press) Alexander Ross (NW Press)

26 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 Crossing the Cascades: Source: The First Crossing of The North Cascades, by Alexander Ross (NW Press) The ski area at Stevens pass was developed during the 1930s, as were the ski facilities at Snoqualmie Pass. This added From Wagons to Winnebagos – Part Two to the traffic on State Route 2, but also did not result in any major improvements. The route has had several designations, from Permanent State Highway 15 to US 10, MDS SERIES before settling at State Route 2 in 1946. COMBINATION DUMP SPREADERS When the United States began the Interstate Highway program in 1956, GET YEAR ROUND PERFORMANCE Washington Senator Warren Magnuson FROM YOUR WHOLE FLEET tried to add a Stevens Pass tunnel to the system. While the roadway is four lanes wide going over the summit, the remainder of MDS MEDIUM DUTY the route – from Peshastin to Snohomish CLASS 8 TRUCKS – is still a two-lane road with passing MDS

lanes, traffic signals, lower posted speeds NEW CLASS 4 – 7 TRUCKS ﬁrst in class with a fully electric drive option through towns, and, most recently, a roundabout or two. It has been identified by the Washington State Department of Transportation as a route needing numerous safety improvements, including a center barrier in the Snohomish to Monroe segment, due to increased, year-round traffic.

North Cascades Highway/SR 20 In the first documented North Cascades crossing by a European, fur trader Alexander Ross leaves Fort Okanagan on July 22, 1814, and using Cascade Pass he 304 FULL ELECTRIC* AVAILABLE OPTIONAL gets as far as present-day Sedro Woolley STAINLESS or HYDRAULIC with CONVEYOR PRE-WET by August 5, 1814. Ross described STEEL DRIVE or AUGER** SYSTEMS the area as a “gloomy forest almost BODIES impervious with fall as well as standing timber. A more difficult route to travel never fell to man’s lot.” He struggled over *Electric Drive only available on Medium Duty MDS the crest and once on the west side, was **Auger Feed only available on larger model MDS NOTHING WORKS LIKE A DOGG. blown away by one of the Skagit’s freak windstorms. His guide fled in terror and when Ross reached the site that would AS SEEN AT: become Sedro Woolley, he turned around and limped home in a surly, disappointed mood. So pessimistic was the report on his travels that no serious attempt was made

Buyers_October2019_WashingtonStatePublicWorks.indd 1 9/27/2019 9:24:27 AM FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 27 HISTORY

at establishing a full-scale trade route using Cascade Pass until decades later. In the 1870s, at least two route surveys were done, but actual construction did not start until 20 years later in 1896, when the state hired a foremen and laborers to construct a 40-foot-wide road. The end result was suitable only for pack horses to travel along and no wagons ever traversed this early road. In addition, it flooded out in 1897. It took 80 years to finally connect the east and west parts of the state over the North Cascades. Extensive and persistent promotion by the North Cascades Highway Association in the 1950s and the creation of the North Cascades National Park in 1968 led to the completion of the State Route 20 North Cascades Highway (SR 20) in 1972. Amidst fanfare, music provided by the Concrete High School Band, and ribbon cutting, SR 20 was officially opened on September 2, 1972, connecting western to eastern Washington via Washington Pass.

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FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 29 strowski’s Outlook22

e talk a lot in public works money that government is able to take When he calls public works projects about good designs and saving away from its citizens. I’ve often said that charming, it’s clear that he means that W money and efficiency and the I viewed my job as a public works director they are not. What struck me was how environment. But there’s something we as that of someone who took money away blithely he made the comment, as if it don’t talk about much. There are two from his citizens as gently as possible. would be clear to any reader what he philosophical questions that will probably Whether you do it smooth or you do it meant. I think he was right, and I think be discussed until the earth shrivels up in rough doesn’t matter. The whole process that most people wouldn’t associate some future millennium. The questions creates an interesting dynamic that results beauty with public works projects. You’re are: What is Truth and What is Beauty? in trying to get as much done as possible probably thinking they’re wrong because In our own mechanical way, we’ve with as little money as possible. we have all those awards we give out been discussing the “what is truth?” As I said, we talk about that a lot. every year for all those great projects, and question for a long time in public works. However, we very seldom talk about most of them got their awards because We think that the laws of physics are an beauty. I recently read a national editorial they looked great. immutable truth that we deal with every by Rich Lowry that made me realize the However, there are a lot of public day in our jobs. Gravity isn’t just a good consequences of that avoidance. He was works facilities that have been around for idea, it’s the law. complaining about ugly ballparks. Here’s years that look like they were designed Some people think that public works what he said: “Ballparks went from by East Germans. We all know the look: are created by waving a magic wand delightfully peculiar structures shoehorned cold, austere concrete slabs and walls. The but we know better. Ludwig Von Mises into city streets to monochromatic US Interstate Highway System is a great probably said it best when he said that multiuse facilities with all the charm of example of this. Most urban freeways public works aren’t created by waving public-works projects before rediscovering are very functional but not very pretty. a magic wand, they’re created with the the old forms.” Since so many people spend so much

30 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 time driving in concrete troughs, it’s not the tank. I thought we were being pretty There’s another problem that pits our surprising that they associate ugly with classy, and I thought that the old forest efficiency goals against the beauty goals we public works projects. green tanks were ugly. We started to don’t have yet. When I worked for the City Some of this is due to austere paint one of our towers white and of Olympia, we had a great water and sewer designs and some of it is due to lack of everyone who lived close by said, “Make superintendent who told me he wanted me maintainability. A few years ago I thought it green because then it will blend in with to not design anything with steel that had about putting together a slide show of a the trees and become almost invisible.” to be painted. He wanted either concrete or variety of roadway medians that had nice I guess that’s why they call the color aluminum. What he really wanted was less to brick or faux-brick surfaces when built, “forest green.” maintain. One side of him probably recognized only to look more like a weed patch not too many years later. That sort of thing happens all over the place. I remember when the freeway around Olympia and Lacey was first refurbished several years ago. The plantings were glorious. I didn’t check to see if they’d won some kind of design award but they should have. When I first saw it, everything was in bloom and I was surprised how Difference much had been spent on making my drive Clarity of expectations more pleasant. It really softened up the Effective communication Accountability whole look of things. When I drive through Collaboration and teamwork that same spot today I wonder whatever Initiative and creativity happened to all that beauty. It now looks Trust like any other stretch of highway. It doesn’t look terrible, it looks kind of natural, even Our difference is reflected in these six commitments and though it’s not, but it’s kind of gray, even though it’s green. the seriousness with which we make them. So why does this happen? I think it happens because we glory in new projects and get awards for producing them. We Clarity of expectations don’t get awards for good maintenance, Confirming understanding of critical success factors initially and regularly and further, we don’t get awards for keeping things beautiful. Effective communication I have a partial solution: We need to Listening attentively and speaking with candor and respect start giving out awards for beautiful public works. No brand-new projects would Accountability be eligible. The award recipients would Overcoming challenges and delivering on commitments have to have been around for at least five Collaboration and teamwork years and look just as good as the day they were built. It might be hard to get Working together seamlessly to develop solutions someone to judge the contestants because Initiative and creativity we like objective criteria for making our judgments. Beauty is a subjective thing Proactively anticipating needs and applying creative alternatives and most of us don’t consider ourselves Trust experts when it comes to beauty. I know I tended to worry about that Developing authentic relationships and a profound understanding subjectivity when I was a public works of our clients’ desired outcomes director. Whenever we painted something, I told people that my measure of success would be that nobody noticed. I took that WASHINGTON stance because I’ve seen too many cases Bellevue • Everett • Olympia • Spokane • Tacoma • Woodinville of citizen uprisings over new paint jobs Arizona • California • Colorado • Idaho • Mississippi • New York • Oregon on public facilities. I even broke my own New Mexico • South Carolina • Texas • Utah rule and wanted to have all our water www.deainc.com towers painted white with a crisp city logo tastefully portrayed on the side of

FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 31 OSTROWSKI’S OUTLOOK

“We’re probably a long way from there being a common opinion that public works are truly charming, but somebody has to do something and giving out awards is an easy way to start.”

that his approach had a better chance well maintained. That didn’t result in start – I’d be happy to help anyone who of not being ugly than steel with peeling beauty breaking out everywhere, but wants to work on that. paint. You’ll notice I didn’t say a better those arterials carried a lot of traffic and Whether you agree with me or not, chance of being pretty: Concrete and were still nice to look at. Of course, when remember that you can state your aluminum is still gray and still looks like it I was in college, I helped bring the East position in future articles by sending me would fit in better in East Germany. German style freeways to Milwaukee. an email at [email protected] and I’ll By the way, that East German criticism So, there’s a lot to overcome if we put you on the mailing list for advance isn’t a knock against all things German. want to change the perception of public copies of future Outlooks. I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and works. We’re probably a long way from I’ve lost contact with several people I remember the boulevards on major there being a common opinion that on my mailing list for a variety of arterials looking great. That was partly public works are truly charming, but reasons. If you’re one of those people due to the German ethic that said somebody has to do something and and want to get back on my mailing list, everything had to be neat and clean and giving out awards is an easy way to let me know.

32 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 OSTROWSKI’S OUTLOOK

Reader Responses

Michael Ronda and cheapest maintenance is to chop out sparse and uninhabited. It is typically • I think it would be a stronger piece if half the plants as they grow in (or not closer to a blank canvas than a finished you kept your question to a single one replace them as they die) and abandon the installation. At their newest, all they (“What is beauty?” Another option is irrigation system as soon as possible once tend to be is “very shiny,” “manicured,” “What is the cost of beauty?” or more the plants get established. If someone runs even “sanitized.” We want our projects appropriately, “What is the cost of over a tree or drives through a planter strip to mellow like a fine wine and get better ugly?”). You spend only the first couple and smashes twenty shrubs, it’s “cheapest” with age. The good projects do this. The of paragraphs on the “What is truth” to pull them out by their roots and leave ones that just get built and then ignored question and even that discussion doesn’t a hole in the landscaping. Typically, when (either through bad design or no effort really seem to stay on topic. Most of O&M has to justify budgets that cover to provide sufficient maintenance your article is really focused on the variable costs that can’t be predicted on a budgets) are the ones that tend to look beauty question, and I agree with you year-to-year basis, they lose these budgets Eastern European within 10 years. that PW facilities could use a lot of help in as soon as they are not “needed.” Then • One PW project that I would hold out that respect. when someone comes forward with a cost as a really great design was the I-90 • I would add a corollary to the comment that wasn’t anticipated by the lean budget, corridor over Mercer Island. Even though about the dynamic of “... trying to get they are told they don’t have the funding you are driving through a trench much as much done as possible with as little so they can’t make the repair. That’s what of the time, the landscaping and the money as possible.” The true dynamic is drives us to the East German/third-world horizontal relief of most of the walls actually “trying to get as much done as look over time. make it seem less so. The retaining walls possible with as little money as possible • We have public money to spend on art, have a columnar texture that mimics while working in a straightjacket with but I seldom see it used effectively in most a volcanic rock formation or a South a multitude of different bosses who all of our PW facilities. If we are lucky, we American temple. They keep “building think their solution is the right one and it might get a custom paint job on a retaining more things,” which kind of destroys should have been obvious from the very wall (which can be miserable to maintain) the natural feel, but it’s one of the beginning.” I know this is a little negative or maybe we can partner with an artist best designs I’ve ever seen for being for the tone of your article but that is in residence and have the community essentially a concrete retaining wall probably a truer representation of how design and paint a mural (which has project between a bridge and a tunnel. public works functions. no maintenance budget). Some of the • Another good inclusion of art in our • I can give my opinion on what causes most enlightened public art seems to be transportation infrastructure is the East German to look like it does over time concentrated in our parks (generally concrete leaf insets in the Highlands as well. It is the same reason that you in our children’s play structures) or Drive overpasses over I-90 as you pass have that same look in most third-world in the occasional public statue (my through Issaquah. It is still a big concrete countries. Our public figures don’t give neighborhood in West Seattle has each wall but at least it has some whimsy enough weight/credit to the maintenance of these), but those items are hardly ever in it. aspect of our facilities. They don’t fund managed by or incorporated into our public • One that I wouldn’t hold up as a good designs that look to the full lifecycle of a works budgets. example are the retaining walls along facility, they don’t fund the maintenance • We manage our design and construction the south edge of I-5 in Tacoma. It may adequately and they create systems budgets based on what people who have been easy to build using the same that seldom allow for PW maintenance control the purse strings want to spend wall panel forms, but it just looks garish. workers to take possession and pride the money on. If you put together a grant It may eventually be embraced as “so in keeping things looking neat, clean, fund scoring system that awards points ugly it eventually grows character” but I and well maintained. In the worst-case and dollars for incorporating full lifecycle won’t hold my breath. scenario, the best-looking facilities art, landscaping, or “character” into • If we want to go beyond tuning our become the first target for budget cuts our facilities, you will get more of these funding mechanisms for lifecycle costs or just as soon as money gets tight because features in our PW projects. giving “five-year-later” awards, maybe “we can’t afford to keep things looking • I like the award for the five-year, post- we can start a trend to have a “post this nice.” The O&M staff just keep construction idea but I would argue that five-year ribbon cutting ceremony.” That getting told to do more with less. The you seem to be setting the bar too low. The seems to be the only time most of our fastest way to do more with less is to measure of a great project should be that it elected’s pay attention to what we build make everything a flat wall and paint looks better than the day it was completed. (unless it falls). It is true that we only it battleship gray. If you put thousands A great project looks more established and improve what we focus our attention on, of plants into a project and don’t fund more inviting five years post construction. so maybe the start is to focus attention the landscape maintenance, the fastest At physical completion everything is still on the right thing (or at the right time).

FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 33 OSTROWSKI’S OUTLOOK

Brian Ziegler, PE I seriously doubt that awards are a motivator for public works designs. Consultants might shoot for recognition after the fact, but plaques and accolades don’t really drive government decision makers these days. The factors that do drive decision makers (e.g., efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, tenure in office) tend to run contrary to superfluous beauty enhancements. I was part of that Olympia freeway design you mentioned. At the time, the engineers complained about the landscaping budget. Fortunately, the program management folks pointed to the 90/10 federal participation, then most of the budget howling subsided. Except for all the ivy, it’s an easy landscape to maintain too. More “mature” landscapes have less demands, kind of like more “mature” engineers.

Bob Moorhead, PE Retired, Tumwater, WA I think you are right, that the “beauty” part of public works faded in the Interstate era. Look at the towers of the Brooklyn Bridge (1883) or the Golden Gate Bridge (1937) and compare them to the Verrazano- Narrows Bridge (1964). Perhaps funding and cost are the greatest contributors to the plainness of public works facilities in the last 70 years. Service. Perhaps a public (or elected officials’) Integrity. attitude that public works need be only utilitarian is to blame. In today’s Collaboration. world, some public agencies “set aside 1% for art” in public works projects, but then create and place the art separately from the bridge, the maintenance center, or the water Bellevue | Bellingham | Tri-Cities | Olympia treatment plant. I guess if it is only you and me doing the judging and giving out the beauty awards for public works projects, it can be easily accomplished. If we want to involve one or a dozen or a thousand other personal points of view, it might take quite a bit longer.

www.skillings.com Bold Creative Responsive

34 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 OSTROWSKI’S OUTLOOK

Bill Wright A very thought-provoking article. I had not given aesthetics much concern in my road projects beyond embossed walls and plantings. Wastewater projects... well, who would see or care? You raise some good points, and the lack of commitment and funding for maintenance is a real problem. However... “form follows function”... right? After chewing on this for a few days, I have to say I don’t share your level of concern. Public works agencies do what they can within their budget to make the projects look “OK.” I don’t believe the public would want us to spend any more to make roadway projects look significantly better. However, bridges are a different matter, since they are visible for miles and are iconic for a town. With the range of structural reinforced concrete options available, there is really no excuse for an ugly steel truss bridge anymore... and don’t get me started on the taggers!

Jason Van Gilder, PE Applied Professional Services, Inc Excellent article with very insightful thoughts about beauty and design in “A Full Service Utility Locating Company” the world of public works. I had the opportunity to lead a tank painting project that turned out incredible. It was beautiful and served as a focal Design & Customer Owned Utility Locating | Storm, Sewer point of community pride. It is the & Conduits | Air/Vacuum Utility Potholing | Ground splash screen on my phone, and one of the projects I’m most proud to be Penetrating Radar | Coring associated with. I have hope that we are advancing in the design of inviting and esthetically pleasing spaces, particularly at local levels. We can also point to the beautiful bridge designs like the new Tacoma Narrows. Here in Sumner we have two bridges under construction. One is very utilitarian, intended to relieve a bottleneck over a freeway. The other is a prominent component of our Main Street business district that was built with pedestrian views over the river, decorative side rails, a sound system, and catenary lighting. One bridge is about moving vehicles into and out of the city while the other is a focal point of our community. I am glad we can accomplish both projects. The word that keeps coming to mind around this subject is “utility.” The word is a noun, identifying the services offered by public entities. As an adjective, the word implies usefulness and practicality over wwwapslocatescom appearance. This seems right. Most of the time we focus on the usefulness 425.888.2590 of our service but when our intention steveapslocatescom is to draw people in, we public works professionals can do very well (those of us in the Puget Sound just don’t want our freeways to draw any more people in). “Relationships with our customers is what we value most”

FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 35 OSTROWSKI’S OUTLOOK

John Milne Good thoughtful article on some things – truth and beauty – that engineers rarely discuss, but probably should. I might suggest, though, adding in something about matching “form” with “function.” That seems to me to link up your two objectives quite well. My own favorite bridge – the Forth Railway Bridge in Scotland – is, I think, a beautiful piece of engineering for that reason (see images). I also recommend a short detour to West Germany next time you’re in Europe – I do like their roads a lot.

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36 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 Our concern for the environment is more than just talk

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Washington State Public Works would not be possible without the advertising support of the following organizations. Please think of them when you require a product or service. We have tried to make it easier for you to contact these suppliers by including their telephone numbers and websites. You can also visit the electronic version at washington.apwa.net to access direct links.

COMPANY PAGE PHONE WEBSITE Albina Asphalt 16 360-816-8072 www.albina.com American Highway Products Ltd. 39 888-272-2397 www.ahp1.com Applied Professional Services, Inc. 35 425-888-2590 www.apslocates.com Aspect Consulting LLC 23 206-328-7443 www.aspectconsulting.com Associated Earth Sciences, Inc. 16 425-827-7701 www.aesgeo.com Best Management Products, Inc. 4 800-504-8008 www.bmpinc.com Buyers Products Company 27 440-974-8888 www.buyersproducts.com Coast Pavement Services 28 503-227-4515 www.coastpavementservices.com CPH Consultants 6 425-285-2390 www.cphconsultants.com CUES, Inc. 20-21 800-327-7791 www.cuesinc.com David Evans & Associates 31 425-519-6500 www.deainc.com FCS GROUP 23 425-867-1802 www.fcsgroup.com Freightliner Northwest 6 800-523-8014 www.freightlinernorthwest.com Gray & Osborne 29 206-284-0860 www.g-o.com HHPR 10 503-221-1131 www.hhpr.com IMCO General Construction 13 360-671-3936 www.imcoconstruction.com KPFF Consulting Engineers 7 206-622-5822 www.kpff.com KPG 4 206-286-1640 www.kpg.com Lakeside Industries 3 425-313-2681 www.lakesideind.com Landau Associates 19 800-552-5957 www.landauinc.com Lochner 8 425-454-3160 www.hwlochner.com Murraysmith 3 425-252-9003 www.murraysmith.us Northwest Playground Equipment 10 800-726-0031 www.nwplayground.com Otak, Inc. 30 425-822-4446 www.otak.com Owen Equipment 10 800-422-2059 www.owenequipment.com PACE Engineers, Inc. 29 425-827-2014 www.paceengrs.com Papé Machinery 2 541-681-5376 www.pape.com Parametrix 36 253 863-5128 www.parametrix.com SeaTac Lighting & Controls, LLC 22 206-575-6865 www.seataclighting.com Shannon & Wilson, Inc. 23 206-632-8020 www.shannonwilson.com Skillings Connolly, Inc. 34 360-491-3399 www.skillings.com Special Asphalt Products, Inc. 18 800-953-6490 www.specialasphalt.com Stantec 29 425-869-9448 www.stantec.com TCF Architecture, PLLC 16 253-572-3993 www.tcfarchitecture.com Tetra Tech 23 206-883-9300 www.tetratech.com The Fab Shop 39 253-568-9124 www.thefabshop.com The Watershed Company 15 425-822-5242 www.watershedco.com Traffic Safety Supply Company 40 800-547-8518 www.tssco.com TranTech Engineering, LLC 34 425-453-5545 www.trantecheng.com Universal Field Services 29 425-673-5559 www.ufsrw.com Wilson Engineering 16 360-733-6100 www.wilsonengineering.com

To reach public works professionals through Washington State PUBLIC WORKS magazine and its targeted readership, contact Darrell to discuss your company’s promotional plans.

DARRELL HARRIS Phone: 1-877-985-9793 [email protected]

38 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks FALL 2019 Featuring these quality brands and many more:

Swaploader.com HendersonProducts.com Washington State 10315 16th Street E, Edgewood, WA 98372 n PHONE 253-568-9124 n FAX 253-568-9173 Contract Contract 01117 www.thefabshop.com Contract 080818-HPI Hooklift Hoists, Dump Bodies, Muni Bodies, Snow Plows, Wings, Underbody Scrapers, Spreaders, Liquid Systems, Specialty Vehicles, Flatbeds, Service Bodies, Utility Vans & Trailers, Truck Accessories, etc.

theth PIVOTEDP TURNBUCKLE Manhole Riser SAFETY RAMPS The Most Efficient ELIMINATE and Powerful Expanding Vehicle Damage Claims Riser on the Market. • • PIVOTEDP TURNBUCKLE 3 • Material Cost for Cold Patch • FFor Easy Adjustment! Riser heights /4” and up in all diameters. • Labor and Disposal Costs • 1” diametric variance and DOT approved in most states. INCLINED RISER also available. RAISE & TILT the manhole cover. Made in the USA

Catch Basin & I.D. Locator aallowsll Sewer Lid Seal Kit Rubber Adjusting EZ Lift willwi unseat, Valve Box Risers forfof r easyeasy locationlocatio of eliminateseliminates Ring protectsprotects lilift,ft anandd seset down a reducereduce ccostsosts aandnd common utilities lid vibration and sub-structuresub-structure,, manhole cover in streamline adjustments and aids in reduces moisture eliminates noise one smooth identifying striping penetration and vibration motion ROAD SURFACE

MILLED SAFETYS SURFACE RAMPR

FALL 2019 WASHINGTON STATE PublicWorks 39 #27 traffic supply fp

The finest in intelligent warning devices for Washington roadways Available under DES contract #04616

Traffic Safety Supply Company 800.547.8518 | [email protected] | tssco.com