2010 Ramp Legislative Priorities_final

RAMP Bac kg round RAMP’s mission is to ensure a healthy regional economy associated with the development of an effective, efficient transportation system and the resources to sustain it. RAMP was created to:

2010 Legislative Priorities

1. Educate coalition partners on transportation related investments impacting the South Sound 2. Provide a unified voice to advocate for regionally significant transportation investments that promote the continued economic development of Pierce County and the South Puget Sound RAMP is co-chaired by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Port of Tacoma Executive Director and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO David Graybill.

SR 16 , Photo Courtesy of WSDOT

More information about RAMP, including our on-going policy positions, is available on our blog: www.on-ramp.blogspot.com RAMP meets the 1st Wednesday of every month from 8-9 a.m. at the Port of Tacoma’s Fabulich Center. For more information email [email protected]

A coalition of public and private sector organizations committed to improving transportation mobility in the South Puget Sound and Washington State. REGIONAL ACCESS MOBILITY PARTNERSHIP I-5 Pierce County HOV Lane ground breaking, August 2009 Photo courtesy of WSDOT

www.on-ramp.blogspot.com Phone: 253-627-2175 E-mail: [email protected]

2010 State Leg islative Pr ior ities

On-Going Funding Pr ior ities ⇒

RAMP acknowledges the budget limitations of the 2010 legislative session. To this end, RAMP offers the following transportation priorities to the Washington State Legislature. ⇒

• I-5 HOV lanes- Construct the funded portion of the I-5 HOV system from the King/Pierce County line to SR 512 and SR 16 to I-5 • SR 167- Complete right-of-way procurement for the full width of the SR 167 corridor including HOV lanes ⇒

• Update project scoping for the extension of the I-5 HOV lanes mega project from S. 38th St. to SR 512 • Begin preliminary project scoping for the extension of I-5 HOV lanes from SR 512 to the Pierce/Thurston County line. The addition of HOV lanes through this section of the I-5 corridor will help mitigate congestion related to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Protect project funding as scheduled

All projects funded within Pierce County via the 2003 Nickel package, the 2005 Transportation Partnership package and the 2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act must be completed as originally scheduled. Priority projects include:

Extend SR 167

Continue the progress on the SR 167 mega project by developing a comprehensive approach to fund the extension of SR 167 from Puyallup to SR 509 in Tacoma, similar to the process pursued for the SR 520 bridge replacement program.

Extend I-5 HOV lanes

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Extend SR 167 HOT lanes

Begin preliminary scoping to extend HOV/HOT lanes to the current terminus of SR 167 in Puyallup. ⇒

Improve Local Revenue Sources

Strengthen and expand appropriate revenue sources to meet local transportation needs. ⇒

Support Flood Prevention

Contribute to Pierce County flood prevention plans and implementation efforts to protect primary freight and commute routes.

RAMP continues to identify local, regional, state and federal funding for critical transportation projects. The following projects are on-going regional priorities. ⇒

Build SR 704, Cross-base Highway

RAMP advocates for continued construction of the “Cross-base Highway”, which will provide a critical link between I-5 and the Frederickson employment center. The project will also provide the critical intrabase connector and improved linkages at Thorne Lane and I-5. ⇒ Address I-5 Choke Points RAMP supports funding to reduce congestion chokepoints on I-5 in the vicinity of Joint Base LewisMcChord. ⇒ Fund Light Rail in Pierce County • Extend Sound Transit’s Tacoma LINK light rail to connect neighborhoods with urban centers. RAMP supports completion of an alternatives analysis and identification of funding to build and operate the system and match funds from the Sound Transit 2 $80 million allocation.

Fund the second phase of the SR 167 tolling study. Incorporate conclusions from the first phase of the SR 167 tolling study to identify funds to fill the funding gap for design and construction of the extension.

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Mt. Rainier and Port of Tacoma Photo: Kemer Nelson, courtesy of the Port of Tacoma

RAMP supports initiatives to accelerate extension of the light rail from Sea-Tac Airport to Tacoma Dome Station.