wsdot keynote presentation

Whatcom County Active Transportation SummitBellingham, Washington

October 11, 2012

Brian Lagerberg, DirectorPublic Transportation Division, Olympia

A Transportation System for the 21st CenturyThe decade behind us, the road ahead

Todd Carlson, Planning & Engineering Services Mgr.Whatcom/Skagit/Island/San Juan Counties

How we used to deliver transportation projects…build the biggest and the best system the money could buy

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Today declining revenues Today declining revenues and growing demands and growing demands require a new investment require a new investment approachapproach

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p.m. – westbound to Seattle four-lane outer roadway

center roadway – East Link light rail Seattle-Eastside

p.m. - eastbound to Eastside four-lane outer roadway

Homer M. Hadley Bridge Lacey V. Murrow Bridge

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Maintain and keep safeOur highest priority is maintaining and preserving the safe and long-lasting performance of existinginfrastructure, facilities and services. This is the heart of Moving Washington and the target of ourinvestments.

• Safety – Traffic fatalities declined in 2011 giving us the lowest number (458) recorded since 1954.

• Demand – Ferry ridership expected to grow by 3.2 million passengers by 2020. $27 million of freight moves on Washington roadways every hour of every day.

• Growth – Population expected to grow by 1.5 million by 2030. Amtrak Cascades ridership increased more than 50% since 2000.

• Innovation – WSDOT provides greater efficiency and benefits – expedited bridge delivery, concrete pavement dowel bar retrofits and low-cost safety investments that reduce fatalities.

• Challenge – Be more efficient with less, maintain facilities to operate safely and efficiently.

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Operating EfficientlyMaximizing the use of the existing system and using information technology to direct traffic improves system performance. Variable pricing and other traffic management tools generate revenue.

• Intelligent transportation systems

• Real-time congestion maps • Traffic cameras

• Electronic driver message signs • Highway advisory radio

• Active traffic management • Traffic data collectors

• Traffic management centers • Ramp meters

• Road and weather information

• Smarter highways – variable speed limits, lane control

• High occupancy lanes and high occupancy toll lanes

• Tolling

• Incident response

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Manage DemandProviding more travel choices for people and freight improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our system.

• Commute and travel choices

• Rideshare, carpools and vanpools • Commute trip reduction

• Transit systems • Park and ride

• Bike and pedestrian • Special needs transportation

• Flex schedules • Telework

• Travel information

• Website • Traffic cameras

• 511 • Highway advisory radio

• Social media – Twitter • Traffic data collectors

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Add Capacity StrategicallyCompleting critical corridors and strategically adding capacity to key stress points in our over-stressed transportation system clears choke points and bottlenecks; improves reliability and moves more freight and people.

• Project delivery

• SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct • SR 520 Bridge replacement and HOV

• I-405 Corridor • US 395 North Spokane Corridor

• I-90 Snoqualmie Pass • SR 16 Nalley Valley Viaduct

• Pierce County HOV lanes

• Transportation planning

• Highways and local programs coordination

• Construction traffic management to maintain capacity

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Whatcom Active Transportation Summit 2012“The problem we face in Whatcom County is a lack of infrastructure supporting bikes and pedestrians… advocates for smart growth and active transportation infrastructure must be prepared to act.”

Prepared to act:

• What is your vision?

• How do you define the objectives for the corridor?

• What data can you provide to demonstrate system efficiency and effectiveness?

• How does your proposed investment:

• Create transportation linkages

• Support the economy, the environment, our communities

• How does the Moving Washington framework support your vision?

Whidbey Island – “Boat to Bridge” Trail“Eventually, the completed trail will extend from Clinton to Deception Pass. The trail is also part of the Whidbey Scenic Isle Way”

QuestionsContact Information

Brian Lagerberg, DirectorPublic Transportation Divisionlagerbb@wsdot.wa.gov360-705-7878

Todd Carlson, Planning & Engineering Services Mgr.NW Region/Mount Baker Areacarlsot@wsdot.wa.gov360.757.5980