Washington State Department of Transportation Looking for Public Input

Editor's Note: The Washington State Department of Transportation issued the following two press releases Friday.

Public comments sought on rural and special needs mobility programs

Two meetings set for early 2012; input could shape state’s role in federal grant process

OLYMPIA – Across the state, federal grant programs make transportation more accessible for low income, disabled, elderly and rural citizens. In order to ensure continued federal support for these services, the state must adhere to its part of the deal: administering the grant programs according to Federal Transit Administration guidelines. And now, the Washington State Department of Transportation is asking for your input in the process.

Early next year, WSDOT will host two meetings and invite the public to comment on amendments to the State Management Plan, which outlines the state’s administrative responsibilities for the grant programs. Anyone interested in how WSDOT selects projects and monitors grantees is encouraged to attend and weigh in on these updates. The two meetings are scheduled for mid-January 2012:

• Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. in Wenatchee (WSDOT North Central Region building, 2830 Euclid Ave, Building B).
• Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m. in Olympia (WSDOT Headquarters, 310 Maple Park Ave, Shaman Conference Room).

Not able to attend a meeting? Submit your comments via email or by phone at 360-705-7926. The draft update will be available online after December 14. All public comments must be received by February 15, 2012.

After considering any comments and making appropriate changes—and once the FTA approves them—WSDOT will post the final document online.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information
Individuals requiring reasonable accommodations may request written materials in alternate formats, sign language interpreters, physical accessibility accommodations or other reasonable accommodations by contacting the event sponsor, Linda Howell, at 360-705-7926, no less than two weeks from the date of the meetings listed above. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact the event sponsor through the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1.

Comments sought on four-year program of transportation projects

OLYMPIA – Curious about what roadway or transit projects have been approved for your community? Perhaps there’s a traffic signal, paving job, transit improvement or bicycle path in your near future. Find out by checking Washington’s draft 2012-2015 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

Editor's Note: If you download the PDF, two projects pertaining to Enumclaw can be found on pages 297 and 298 (or pages 335 and 336 sequentially).

The draft STIP, a listing of federally funded projects as well as regionally significant state and local transportation projects, is now available for review and comment. The Washington State Department of Transportation’s public comment period for the STIP is Friday, Dec. 2, to Monday, Dec. 19.

Approximately 1,000 statewide transportation improvement projects utilizing $1.9 billion in federal funds are included in the 2012-15 STIP. The STIP includes projects such as pavement overlays, roadway widening, bridge replacement or repair, signal systems, safety enhancements, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and transit improvements. WSDOT developed the list in coordination with statewide metropolitan and rural transportation planning organizations to ensure that the proposed projects are consistent with local, regional and state plans.

Projects included in the STIP are funded by a combination of federal, state and local sources. Federal-aid projects must be included in the STIP before the Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration can authorize the expenditure of federal funds.

A new four-year STIP is created every year, and several projects may carry over as they move from design, to right-of-way and finally, to construction. The current 2011-14 STIP can be viewed online; a similar, searchable database of the 2012-15 STIP will be created after review and approval by FHWA and FTA in early 2012.

Written comments can be sent to: Stephanie Tax, WSDOT, P.O. Box 47390, Olympia, WA 98504-7390, email: Taxs@wsdot.wa.gov, or by fax at: 360-705-6822.