REPORT
TO SHASTA COUNTY RTPA
|
SUBJECT |
|
MEETING DATE |
ITEM NUMBER |
|
Consider Authorizing the Chairman to Sign a Resolution
Endorsing Western COG (Councils of
Government) and MPO Agencies to Mutually Work Together Toward the Creation of
a West Coast Transportation Corridor System Coalition |
10/21/03 |
3-6 |
|
RECOMMENDATION
It
is recommended that the Agency authorize the Chair to sign the attached
resolution, which would indicate the Agency’s support to work in partnership
with State, Federal and private sector leaders, to develop principles,
priorities and methods for the implementation of a multi-state efficient trade,
travel and energy corridor system.
DISCUSSION
For
several years transportation planners in the Seattle area and in the San Diego
area have been faced with the daunting task of how to deal with increasing
freight volumes coming across the Canadian and Mexican border
respectively. With the passage of the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and with increases in Pacific Rim
trade, truck traffic, as you are aware, has increased substantially on
Interstate 5 as well as on other major freight routes. Although I-5 generally operates
satisfactorily now, congestion will continue to increase. The regional traffic model predicts that sections
of I-5 will reach Level of Service F during the busy hour by the year 2020.
As
a reaction to this situation, a coalition comprised of the state departments of
transportation of Washington, Oregon and California, as well as all of the
Regional Transportation Planning Agencies along these corridors are attempting
to form a coalition specifically oriented to North-South corridor improvements.
In
addition to Interstate 5, this would include State Route 99 and State Route 97,
in California, as well as Interstate 10, East of Los Angeles. Adoption of the staff recommendation would
lead to more active participation in developing this coalition. At this point, the stated intent of the
coalition would be to develop proposals for Federal earmarks in the next
federal reauthorization, which would occur in 2009. It is expected that the work of this coalition would be completed
by 2007 so that it would be appropriately positioned to secure as large an
earmark as possible for mega projects along this corridor.
Obviously,
needs in the major metropolitan areas will be addressed first, but eventually
it will lead to evaluating and assessing improvements along the entire
corridor, including those areas in Shasta County. One of our region’s
priorities will be to expand Interstate 5 to six lanes. Given the meager resources available
locally, it will require participation from State and Federal sources to make
this expansion possible. It is possible
that participation in a coalition such as this, while not guaranteeing funding,
would