How are potential Sound Transit projects evaluated?
It all starts with the project template – a document that summarizes the potential costs and benefits of a given station, corridor, or program so that stakeholders can compare the nearly 100 individual projects that are candidates for the ST3 system plan.
The project template process is nothing new, but the templates themselves have gotten a MAJOR upgrade since ST2. Transportation Choices led the a coalition of social justice, housing, active transportation, environmental, and smart growth organizations to make this happen. Working collaboratively with Sound Transit staff for nearly a year, we helped shape the measures that will result in a more transparent and comprehensive approach to transit planning.
On November 5, 2015, at an Executive Committee meeting, Sound Transit staff presented to the Board the new and improved draft templates. The templates will give Board members and the general public a better picture of the potential for each project to meet Sound Transit’s goals, especially around:
- pedestrian and bicycle access;
- transit integration;
- TOD potential;
- social equity; and
- environmental impacts
Frontloading this kind of analysis should make it easier to select the best projects, resulting in a system plan that can be championed by electeds and advocates alike, ultimately garnering strong support at the ballot in November 2016.
The project templates are key – but not the only – components of building a sustainable, reliable, and just high-capacity transit system. TCC and its partner organizations will continue to work with Sound Transit staff to develop and refine strong policies that support expanding light rail to areas where it will serve the most people, with the greatest potential for TOD, easy nonmotorized access and seamless integration with other transit services.
Check out the new templates here:
ST3 sample blank project template
See how far we’ve come:
ST2 sample blank project template
What’s next?
Stay tuned. On December 4th, Sound Transit staff will present completed templates for the approximately 100 individual projects from the ST3 candidate project list. The draft system plan, drawing from this analysis, will be published in Spring of 2016, with a final system plan ready to go by June of next year.
Check out additional coverage from Seattle Transit Blog.
Senate
Returning Senators Steve Hobbs (44th) — Chair Rebecca Saldaña (37th) — Vice Chair Marko Liias (21st) Freshmen Senators Mona Das (47th) Joe Nguyen (34th) Emily Randall (26th)House
Returning Representatives Jake Fey (27th) — Chair Sharon Wylie (49th) — 1st Vice Chair Vandana Slatter (48th) — 2nd Vice Chair Javier Valdez (46th) — 2nd Vice Chair Beth Doglio (22nd) Mia Gregerson (33rd) Shelley Kloba (1st) Mike Pellicciotti (30th) Marcus Riccelli (3rd) Freshmen Representatives Debra Entenman (47th) Jared Mead (44th) Bill Ramos (5th) Sharon Shewmake (42nd)Hot issues for 2019
A cleaner transportation system
After the defeat of I-1631 at the ballot box, environmental, climate and social justice advocates, as well as electeds, are pursuing legislative options to build a cleaner, healthier state. Policies like a low-carbon fuel standard, a Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, or a legislated fee on carbon are already circulating as potential options for legislators to champion.
House Transportation Chair Jake Fey has stated an intention to pass a “green transportation” bill. In December he pulled together a variety of transportation, utility and industry stakeholders to discuss ideas. TCC will look to ensure this effort supports growing transit, transit electrification, and uses an equity lens.
A more just environment
With many strong progressive legislators, including new legislators of color, there is momentum to advance equity policies at the state level. Representative Mia Gregerson is leading the charge, with a bill that would create a new Office of Equity within the Office of the Governor to improve state services and improve outcomes across issues like health, education, and environment.
Senator Saldaña, along with our partners at Front & Centered, are specifically targeting environmental justice with a bill that would create a governing council to embed environmental justice principles into state agencies, including transportation. From the placement of roads and highways, to how stormwater is managed, the transportation sector has significant environmental impacts that disproportionately impact some communities over others — this bill is taking a step to recognize and correct for this.
A new transportation package
Finally, legislators and advocates will begin discussions around a new transportation package. The State’s last transportation package, Connecting Washington, passed in 2015. How to create a cleaner transportation system will continue to be a key theme of discussions around a new transportation package. TCC will look to grow investments for the multimodal account, which funds transit, walking and biking projects, and important grant programs like Safe Routes to School and special needs transit.
Budget negotiations
The State of Washington passes a new budget every two years, and this is a budget year. In late 2018, TCC advocated for increased investment in the State’s Commute Trip Reduction program, active transportation, and I-5 corridor planning. Governor Jay Inslee released his initial budget in December, reflecting several of our asks. The legislature will now take up budget deliberations, with opportunities to advocate for additional investments and policy direction. TCC’s top-of-mind is to ensure any work or planning involving new technologies (like autonomous and connected vehicles) studies the impacts on health and safety.
Our priorities
In addition to engaging in the big discussions around environment, equity, and funding this session, we’ll be supporting several other bills to help keep transit moving and better manage our current system:
- Bolstering High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) enforcement through increased penalties, in order to maximize efficiency of these lanes and ensure reliable trips for transit and carpools
- Expanding traffic camera statutes to include automatic enforcement of bus lanes and crosswalks (especially important for the Seattle Squeeze)
- Authorizing tolls on 405 and 167 to help manage congestion, improve transit reliability, and raise revenue for facility improvements
See our full list of priorities here. Download our priorities one-pager here.
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Stay engaged
Here are ways to stay engaged and participate in our state’s policy-making process.
- TCC Bill Tracker.The bills we are closely tracking along with status updates and actions.
- Sign up for our Action Alerts.Be the first to know when a bill is at risk and take action to keep our transportation moving.
