REGION 1 AREA COMMISSION ON TRANSPORTATION (R1ACT) Meeting Summary Feb. 3, 2020, Portland, Oregon REVISED 8/3/200 Attendees: Bill Avison, Steve Callaway, Zack Culver, Jon Davies, Craig Dirksen, Denny Doyle, Markley Drake, Hau Hagedorn, Erick Haynie, Jerry Hinton Brian Hodson, Jess Groves, Theresa Kohlhoff, Sumi Malik, Bill Merchant, Mike Oates, Megan Ramey, Roy Rogers, Paul Savas, Gery Schirado, Pam Treece, Jessica Vega Pederson, Chris Warner, Pia Welch, Rian Windsheimer, Philip Wu Absent: Bernie Bottomley, Doug Kelsey, Jason Snider, Ivo Trummer Welcome, Introductions, and Agenda Review Region 1 ACT (R1ACT) Chair Roy Rogers called the meeting to order and facilitated self- introductions. Rian Windsheimer, ODOT Region 1 Manager, introduced Della Mosier, ODOT Deputy Director of the Urban Mobility Office and Lucinda Broussard, ODOT Tolling Program Manager. Public Comment Chair Rogers invited public comment. Eric Chaney expressed concern regarding increasing costs of living and how tolling could affect those costs. He recognized the need for roadway expansion and encouraged the R1ACT to consider rerouting effects, the financial impacts to poor people, and for tolls to be considered for a vote. Commission Administration - Commissioner Roy Rogers, Chair 1. Action: Approval of meeting summary from December 2 meeting – R1ACT Vice-chair Paul Savas and Mayor Jerry Schirado motioned to approve the December 2 meeting summary and the motion passed. Rose Quarter Cost to Complete Report – Oregon Transportation Chair Bob Van Brocklin, ODOT Rose Quarter Director Megan Channell, Consultant Team Project Manager Mike Baker Bob Van Brocklin, Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) Chair, explained the basis of the Rose Quarter Project outlined in House Bill 2017 (HB 2017) to address congestion and safety. As directed by HB 2017, ODOT completed a cost-to-complete report to update the preliminary estimates provided in 2017. The project is now estimated at $265 to $295 million over the previous cost estimate. The reasons for cost increases include inflation, construction changes, and preliminary engineering costs. R1ACT Meeting Summary February 3, 2020 Page 2 OTC Chair Van Brocklin discussed the state of congestion on Interstate 5 through the Rose Quarter Project area and compared it to other freeway facilities in the state and nation. Funds for the Rose Quarter Project will be available in 2022 and construction could begin in 2023. Cost-to-Complete Report Megan Channell, ODOT Rose Quarter Project Director, provided an overview of the Rose Quarter Cost-to-Complete report and an overview of the project’s needs and benefits. Project benefits include: • Saving 2.5 million hours of delay • Up to 50 percent reduction in crashes • Creating new connections over I-5 • Serving as a catalyst for near-term jobs and future development History of the Project Channell reviewed the project history and how the project team collaboratively engaged the City of Portland and many community advisory groups to evaluate over 70 design concepts. These design concepts informed the development of the current project scope. Channell reviewed the current project scope and that the OTC directed the project team to conduct an independent, third-party consultant assessment of the highway covers. Cost Estimating Mike Baker, Consultant Team Project Manager, described the cost estimate process and noted that the project is transitioning from a planning-level cost estimate process to a design-and- construction cost estimate. Baker outlined the reasons for cost increases, including inflation, construction changes, and preliminary engineering costs. Further project schedule delays will cause increased projects costs from inflation. Megan Channell described ODOT’s funding approach. R1ACT Vice-chair Paul Savas asked whether the cost of the highway covers accommodated buildings. Channell explained that preliminary estimates for covers that would accommodate buildings would be $200 to $500 million. I-5 and Interstate 205 Tolling Program – Mandy Putney, ODOT Region 1 Policy and Development Manager Mandy Putney, ODOT R1 Policy and Development Manager, provided an update on the I-5 and I-205 Tolling Projects (Tolling Projects), including the following topics: • The OTC directed the ODOT to move ahead with developing the Tolling Projects on I-5 and I-205 and to convene an Equity and Mobility Advisory Committee (EMAC). R1ACT Meeting Summary February 3, 2020 Page 3 • The Tolling Projects sequence begins with the I-205 environmental review process while ODOT continues planning and preliminary National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) work on the I-5 Project. • ODOT is convening two technical working groups (the Regional Modeling Group and the Transit/Multimodal Working Group) and will continue to coordinate on pricing projects and studies being conducted by regional partners. • Revenue collected via tolling is subject to Highway Trust Fund conditions. The OTC will set the toll rates as part of a separate effort in the future. OTC Chair Van Brocklin explained the statute within HB 2017 that mandated tolling directive and the resulting Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approvals. Tolling Decision-Making Structure Putney discussed the decision-making structure regarding tolling. OTC is the designated tolling authority in Oregon and will determine tolling policy and set future toll rates. The Tolling Projects team will work with OTC to finalize the Equity Framework and Tolling Projects goals and objectives. The Value Pricing Feasibility Analysis (VFPA) completed extensive public outreach and engagement. The Tolling Projects team will implement a similarly robust outreach and engagement plan with an emphasis on equity and mobility. In addition to the R1ACT, technical working groups, and regional partner agencies will help inform the OTC. Region 1 ACT Role Putney discussed the role the R1ACT will serve on the Tolling Projects. The R1ACT will provide recommendations on a range of alternatives and mobility strategies for OTC’s consideration. The R1ACT will review and comment on the Equity Framework prior to releasing it to the public. Finally, the Tolling Projects team and OTC will rely on the R1ACT to represent the perspectives of their respective constituents and to encourage their communities to participate in outreach and engagement activities. Local Agency and Local Official Engagement Putney summarized the local agency outreach strategy, which includes the following: • Providing briefings to local elected officials as requested by the respective jurisdictions. • Presenting at council meetings with workshops to help jurisdictions think through the Projects. R1ACT Meeting Summary February 3, 2020 Page 4 • Coordinating outreach to specific geographic areas. Incorporating Equity Putney described ODOT’s approach to addressing equity on the Tolling Projects. ODOT’s equity approach is centered on both process and outcome equity and the EMAC will play a critical implementation role. The Tolling Projects have accomplished the following: • Conducted equity training for the Projects staff and developed a draft Equity Framework to guide the implementation of framework. The EMAC will finalize the draft Equity Framework. • Planned targeted engagement activities to engage with and include voices of historically underserved communities. • Contracted with TransForm to provide equity related expertise to the Tolling Projects team. Tolling Projects Milestones Putney discussed the milestones for the Tolling Projects, including the NEPA process for the I- 205 Tolling Project. The Tolling Projects team is currently engaging stakeholders to ensure that there is agreement on the range of alternatives, and purpose and need statement. The final NEPA document will take about 2 years and will be the FHWA’s decision to finalize and move forward. OTC Chair Van Brocklin added: • Tolling is brand new for Oregon. In 2018, ODOT requested permission from the FHWA to toll on I-5 and I-205. The FHWA expects tolling to happen now that it has granted permission. • The EMAC will be made up of experts in equity and mobility and will lend that expertise to the Tolling Projects team to determine what steps and actions to take. • The R1ACT will act as an advisory committee as well as hold public comment sessions. The Tolling Projects team will rely on the R1ACT to be an active partner in this project. • ODOT hired a Tolling Manager, Lucinda Broussard. Lucinda brings with her extensive tolling experience from across the county, including Seattle and Atlanta. Commissioner Pam Treece asked if there is coordination between Get Moving 2020 and the tolling efforts. Putney assured coordination with those projects as Metro determines timelines for the Get Moving 2020 measure. Commissioner Treece wants to ensure the public realizes that the two projects are different. R1ACT Meeting Summary February 3, 2020 Page 5 Mayor Callaway expressed the need for better understanding of why tolls are needed for revenue and how the revenue would be used and if tolls would end by a certain date. Putney responded that there is no timeframe to end tolls. She added that there is not a sustainable revenue source given the declining gas tax revenues. Tolling will address regional traffic congestion and mobility challenges and fund bottleneck relief projects. The State of Oregon is exploring tolling as part of a comprehensive approach to better manage congestion in the tri- county metropolitan area. Mayor Callaway noted that if the gas tax is responsible for declining