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RAMP Meets with Legislators

MEETING NOTICE - June 1, 2011
8:00 Welcome & Self-Introductions, Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive

8:05 Legislative Panel: Review of the Session

• Jan Angel, 26th District
• Katrina Asay, 30th District
• Laurie Jinkins, 27th District (tentative)
• Jim Kastama, 25th District (tentative)
• Connie Ladenburg, 29th District
• Jim McCune, 2nd District (tentative)
• Hans Zeiger, 25th District
• Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive (MODERATOR)

8:40 Legislative Update, George Walk, Director, Pierce Co. Government Relations

8:45 2011 Washington-to-Washington, D.C. Conference Report

• Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive
• Rick Talbert, Pierce County Council
• Stan Flemming, Pierce County Council (tentative)
• Jake Fey, Tacoma Council
• Gary Brackett, Tacoma-Pierce Co. Chamber

8:55 Closing Remarks & Adjourn, John Wolfe, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Tacoma

Visiting Community Delegation

• Bob Buhl, Shelton Mason County Chamber
• Steve Goins, City of Shelton
• John Dobson, Port of Shelton (tentative)
• Michael Mariano, Mariano & Associates

Next RAMP Meeting
Wednesday, July 6th - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – The Fabulich Center

Remember to visit On RAMP The partnership’s blog is at http://on-ramp.blogspot.com/. New content appears with the opportunity for news and interesting topics. Guest blog postings are encouraged, contact Gary Brackett or 253-682-1720.

RAMP Agenda for May Meeting

Rachel Smith, Sound Transit, "D to M Street Construction Update"

Ron Landon, Program Manager, Olympic Region, WSDOT
"The Region's Project Scoping Program"

Scott Boettcher, ORA Special Project Consultant
"iPRMT: Getting environmental permitting right the first time"

iPRMT is a web-based application developed and hosted by the Governor’s Office of Regulatory Assistance (ORA) with the assistance of the Washington State Association of Counties, the Association of Washington Cities and a multi-agency advisory group and business team. One of the primary purposes of iPRMT is to help applicant develop complete and “ready-for-review” permitting applications. Complete and “ready-for-review” permitting application move through the regulatory decision-making process much more smoothly and predictably and save everyone time and money (agencies and applicants alike). The first permitting application being supported by iPRMT is JARPA (Joint Aquatic Resource Permit). Scott Boettcher will provide a brief overview of iPRMT and take questions. You can read more about iPRMT at http://ora.wa.gov/regulatory/projectreview.asp

George Walk, Dir., Gov't. Relations, Pierce County
"Legislative Report/Project List/Budget Language"

Wednesday, May 4
8:00 a.m.
Fabulich Center
3600 Port of Tacoma Rd., Tacoma 98421

Sound Transit Plans Open Houses

In January, Sound Transit will host a series of open houses in South Sound communities to present information on the Sounder Station Access Planning Study. The agency is conducting the study to identify potential improvements in the ways commuters access its Sounder stations.

Possible improvements the agency is studying include increased parking, pedestrian sidewalks, crosswalks and bridges, bicycle commute options, and transit facility enhancements.

Open houses will include:

• A description of Sound Transit service areas, transit routes, 2011 budget, and the Sound Transit 2 program

• Objectives of and timeline for the Sounder Station Access Planning Study

• Overview of existing station access issues and discussion of potential solutions

• Informal Q & A and public comment

All events take place from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Tacoma - Tuesday, Jan. 18

University of Washington -Tacoma
Jane Russell Commons
1918 Pacific Avenue

Sumner - Wednesday, Jan. 19
Sumner School
High School Commons
1707 Main St.

Puyallup - Thursday, Jan. 20
Puyallup City Hall: Chamber Hall
333 South Meridian

Lakewood – Tuesday, Jan. 25
Lakewood Boys & Girls Club
10402 Kline St SW

Kent - Wednesday, Jan. 26
Kent Senior Activity Center
600 E. Smith Street

Auburn - Thursday, Jan. 27
Auburn City Hall: Council Chamber
25 W. Main Street

The Station Access Study is part of the ST2 regional transit funding package that voters approved in November 2008. The study is planned through 2011.

TATS the Second Time

Brown Bag Webinar Canx

The Brown Bag webinar has been cancelled for this Thursday given the lack of participants (there were only three registrants as of yesterday). The presentation will be available on the Port’s web site beginning on Thursday and will be available for viewing over the next few months. Viewers will be able to post questions/comments and receive feedback.

TATS Brown Bag

TATS (Tideflats Area Transportation Study), begins its public involvement opportunities with a Brown Bag Luncheon on Sept. 9 (see enclosed flyer). 

The TATS will examine conditions and ideitify roads to potential improvement to keep freight moving. This study is most important to the success of our economy as the port-industrial area is the heart of our economy. 

Please note that if you are unable to attend, the event will be hosted via the web.  For details on the webinar contact Kell McAboy. 

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Air Cargo Compliance Deadline Nears

The Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) will be conducting a Town Hall meeting  to discuss the 100% cargo screening law which will be fully implemented in August, and the Certified Cargo Screening Program’s (CCSP) role in complying with this mandate.

The meeting is on April 7th 9:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. at the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center, 17620 International Boulevard, Seattle, WA‎ 98188.  Anyone is interested in attending,can register here. 


Remember, on August 1st, if cargo is not screened, it will not be transported by passenger aircraft!

If you interested in participating in the CCSP, but cannot attend the Seattle session, they are encouraged to contact Lon Siro, Regional Coordinator, Transportation Security Administration, 503-889-3074.

Air Cargo Compliance Deadline Nears

A law requiring the screening of 100% of items transported on passenger aircraft will become effective this coming August. The deadline of August 1, 2010 is Congressionally mandated.

There are regional town hall meetings and monthly Webinars to provide information regarding the 100% cargo screening mandate (and the Certified Cargo Screening Program) and to answer questions from shippers and freight forwarders.

The Non-Sensitive Security Information (SSI) version of the TSA Air Cargo ScreeningTechnology List Version 2.0 has been posted online.

This list indicates the technologies that can be used by air carriers, indirect air carriers, independent cargo screening facilities, and shippers in the Certified Cargo Screening Program to screen for domestic and outbound (of the U.S.) air cargo.

The next free webinar of the series on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 1:00 p.m. EST, titled: “Is package integrity critical to your business?” features TSA’s Marc Rossi, Certified Cargo Screening (CCSP) Program Branch Chief and guest speaker Brad Elrod, Senior Manager of Global Logistics Security, Pfizer, Inc.

There will be a series of webinars occuring monthly through June. If you haven’t registered for one of the free webinars or road shows, please visit this site.  The next TSA Town Hall in Seattle will be April 7-8, 2010. Visit here to register.

Information regarding CCSP is now directly available via the TSA website. To access TSA’s CCSP, use this address.

For further information, you may contact Lon Siro, Regional Coordinator (PCSA)- Pacific Northwest and North Central Plains, Certified Cargo Screening Program.

Draft Freight Policy Up for Comments

This Friday, 9:00 a.m., PSRC Conference Room, the Regional Freight Mobility Roundtable will be holding a work session to seek input and feedback on the Draft Regional Freight Strategy.

If you are planning on attending the work session, please take some time to review the draft document available at this link prior to Friday’s meeting. There will be a limited number of full copies available for reference at the meeting.

Comments and feedback on the draft Regional Freight Strategy should be received by Friday, January 15 to ensure consideration in the final version that will be incorporated into the long range transportation plan, Transportation 2040, when it is adopted in spring of 2010.  Contact person:  Sean Ardussi, Senior Planner,
Puget Sound Regional Council.

RAMP Meeting Highlights Winter Flood Preparations

In light of last year’s winter storms that resulted in miles of road closures and thousands of dollars of lost revenue, Pierce County and WSDOT are planning for the worst case scenario this year. Flooding of the Puyallup, Carbon, White and Nisqually Rivers is a constant concern of the adjacent communities. Pierce County’s Surface Water Management Division developed a map describing the impacts of 100 year flood events, which have been occurring more frequently.

Flooding of the Puyallup River is of particular concern to the Port of Tacoma, the cities of Sumner and Fife and the thousands of commuters and freight service companies that depend on I-5 access daily. Pierce County estimates that the levies on the lower Puyallup River require $150 million in capital investments. The potential financial impact of Puyallup flooding is estimated to cost the community $1.3 billion.

In response, Pierce County has established the Puyallup River Basin Executive Taskforce. The aim of the taskforce, comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, is to develop a plan and a funding strategy to minimize the impacts flooding along the Puyallup River.

Similarly, WSDOT has developed solutions to two major flooding problems in Pierce County. In Sumner, along Traffice Ave. near by storm water pipes were retrofitted to more effectively drain roadway run off. Near SR. 161 the banks of the Mashel River were armored to prevent erosion and minimize flooding.

Candidates Appear at Transportation Forum

You’re invited!

Tacoma Mayoral/City Council Candidates’ Transportation and Land-Use Forum

On Thursday, October 1st, please join an exciting group of co-hosting organizations for a lively evening debate as we pose questions about transportation and land-use to the Tacoma City Council and Mayoral candidates.

When: Thursday, Oct 1st, 6:30-8:30 p.m.*
Where: Carwein Auditorium, Keystone Building - UWT

Event Co-Hosts:
Transportation Choices Coalition, The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, University of Washington Urban Studies Program, Futurewise, Cascade Bicycle Club, Tacoma Wheelman’s Bicycle Club, Tacoma Sun, Cascade Land Conservancy, Exit 133.

* Approximately two weeks after this event until election day, the Forum will be available for 24-hour viewing on Click! Cable TV’s local section of On Demand.