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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-1997-022 Transportation Partner Program EPA / Community & Economic DevelopmentRESOLUTION NO. R-97- 2 2 A RESOLUTION to become a Transportation Partner with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and Public Technology, Inc., to take a leadership role in reducing greenhouse -gas emissions from the transportation sector WHEREAS, the City is required by RCW 70.94.521-70.94.551 to implement a plan to reduce commute trips to major employer's worksites within its jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, the City has adopted a Commute Trip Reduction Program in order to encourage use of alternative transportation modes other than the single -occupant vehicle; and WHEREAS, current patterns of travel behavior in many communities increase our dependence on the automobile and are largely responsible for the two percent annual increase in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and growth in greenhouse -gas emissions in the U. S.; and WHEREAS, this dependence on the automobile results in increased pollutant emissions, traffic congestion, the loss of open spaces, and construction of costly new highways and widening of existing roads; and WHEREAS, appropriate use of innovative alternatives to driving alone, such as telecommuting, as well as other strategies - such as innovative market incentives that encourage people to drive less - reduces dependence on the automobile and associated problems; and WHEREAS, the City of Yakima has been identified by Public Technology Inc., as enhancing its jurisdiction's and region's environmental quality, economic health, and sense of community by adopting policies and strategies that encourage innovative alternatives to driving alone; and WHEREAS, the Transportation Partners Program supports community transportation solutions across the country through information services, technical assistance, and recognition; and Public Technology, Inc., provides assistance to cities, counties, and Metropolitan Planning Organizations in developing a local/regional action plan through the program; and WHEREAS, this information, assistance, and recognition come without cost to participating jurisdictions: BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA agrees to become a Transportation Partner with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and Public Technology Inc., and pledges to: 1. Take a leadership role by reducing greenhouse -gas emissions from the transportation sector. 2. Develop/maintain a local action plan to reduce greenhouse -gas emissions throughout the community. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL THIS 4 t Kiay of February ,1997. ATTEST: Lynn Buchanan, Mayor City Clerk January 1, 1997 Prospective Transportation Partner Project Partners Subject: EPA Transportation Partners Program The US Environmental Protection Agency, Public Technology, Inc. and a number of other organizations have embarked on a new program called "Transportation Partners". We invite you to join us as project partners in this exciting partnership. Transportation Partners (TP) is a unique alliance that offers communities the information, technical assistance and public recognition they need to decrease traffic confestion (by reducing VMT) while enhancing mobility, boosting economic growth, and preserving natural resources. In order for EPA to evaluate this new program, we are asking interested prospective Transportation Partner project partners to: Complete the attached TP Partner Profile, especially questions #1, 2, 10 and 14 as soon as possible. Each question should be answered as it relates to a particular project or program within your jurisdiction that helps reduce VMT. Projects that should be considered before answering these questions are (a) community design or land use programs, (b) market incentive programs (i.e. parking pricing), (c) pedestrian and/or bicycle systems, (d) telecommuting and/or telework programs and sustainable intelligent transportation systems such as, Real-time bus location information systems Real-time ride sharing programs Smart cards (mass transit, tolls, parking, congestion pricing) Smart paratransit systems Transit park -ride information systems Electronic road and parking pricing systems Smart goods -movement systems Personal advanced traveler information systems PUBLIC TECHNOLOGY, INC. 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20004-1793 202.626.2400 800.852.4934 FAX 202.626.2498 Princes: on recycled paper If your organization has any previously prepared reports or studies that can help answer the questions that are dletailed in the Partner Profile, please feel free to include them. Please send this information to Mary Key, Public Technology, Inc., 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004-1793. Also, please complete the PTI/EPA, TP questionnaire and model resolution (optional) that were included within the Transportation Partner brochure. If you have any questions about these specific requests or need PTI to send you a Transportation Partners brochure, please feel free to call Mary Key at 202/626-2445 or send her an email at key@pti.nw.dc.us. Sincerely yours, Robert P. Hicks, Jr. Business Director, Transportation Programs Enclosures TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS? Transportation Partners is a cooperative nationwide program of the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency (EPA): a unique alliance that helps communities strike a smart, sustainable transportation balance. Transportation Partners offers communi- ties the information, technical assistance, financial advice, and public recognition they need to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) while enhancing mobility, boost- ing economic growth, and preserving nat- ural resources. To develop and implement innovative trans- portation solutions in communities across the country, Transportation Partners teams with experienced non-government organ- izations (Principal Partners) that support local governments, citizen groups, and busi- nesses (Project Partners). Principal Partners steer communities around the technical, political, and strate- gic roadblocks that impede transportation innovation. They help cities, counties, and others identify what works and why, then translate those good ideas into action. Project Partners are local governments, regional authorities, businesses, and com- munity groups that understand that sound transportation systems make communities economically and environmentally healthy places to live and work. Together, Principal and Project Partners test community design strategies, market incentives, and cutting-edge technologies that curb VMT and reduce air pollution, traffic congestion, and the costs of high- way commuting. A :SPECIAL INVITATION FROM PTI PUBLIC TECHNOLOGY, INC. (PTI), INVITES YOUR CITY, COUNTY, OR METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION TO JOIN TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS Transportation Partners is a cooperative nationwide program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that helps communities strike a smart transportation balance It's a unique alliance that overs coriununrties the information., technical assistance, and public recognition they need to reduce vehicle miles rr.t'.eled (VMT) and slash transportation -related green- house -gas emissions. And slashing the miles people drive does more than clear the air and prevent global \N arming: it also banishes bottlenecks from your streets, bringing business and economic development into your community As a Principal Partner in the Transportation Partner, program, PTI will help local and rc io::sl authorities like yours combine leading-edge transportation and telecommunications technolo- gies --in sustainable intelligent transportation systems and strategies like telecommuring—to chart a cleaner, more mobile, and more prosperous future. Pledge your resources to the goal of a balanced transportation system, and we'll pledge our support. We'll bring technology information to your fingertips, open your eyes to potential funding sources, offer expert technical assistance, and put you in touch with an extensive network of innovation -minded peers. BECOME A PROJECT PARTNER TODAY! WHY JOIN TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS? FIVE REASONS YOUR COMMUNITY CAN'T REFUSE. 1. CLEAR CONGESTION AND BOOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Bottlenecks do more than stop traffic; they also throttle economic growth Since businesses want to stay within easy reach of employees and customers, they tend to flee traffic -ridden downtowns for less congested areas. By joining Transportation Partners. your communi- ty will trade roadblocks for renewal. The VMT- reduction strategies you'll implement as a Project Partner will clear con- gested streets and breathe life into your economy— new tax dollars, new jobs, and revitalized neighbor- hoods. 3. CREATE A LIVABLE COMMUNITY. Your community's qual- m of life depends on a smart tins of transporta- tion choices must what Transportation Partners helps you achieve. Cleaner air, less traffic. and economic opportu- nity are all pieces of the qualin-of-life puzzle Give residents new alternatives to auto dependency—the option to walk, bike, carpool. take a bus or train or telecommute—and your communis will boast a safer, cleaner, more vibrant lifestyle 2. REDUCE POLLUTION AND PREVENT CLIMATE CHANGE. Curb vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in Your commu- nity. and you'll be thinking globally and acting locally. The Climate Change Action Plan targets several sectors, including transportation, for a reduction of U.S. greenhouse -gas emissions to 19)() levels by the year 2000 J arbor dioxide and other greenhouse gases cause global warm- ing, and transportation - 5. TEACH AND LEARN IN A NETWORK OF INNOVATORS. Your community doesn't have to travel the road to better, cleaner transportation alone. Join a dynamic network of governments, businesses, and organizations seeking sound answers to to- day's and tomorrows transportation challenges, and you'll stay on the cutting edge of design, market, and technology strategies that foster liv- able communities. As a Project Partner, your conuriunity will be a living laboratory for sustainable transportation. You'll document and share your findings na- tionally, and you'll learn from others doing the same. You'll also enjoy access to the full range of re- search resources Transportation Partners offers, including the Transportation Action Network (TransAct). an on-line service featuring a library of technical information and case studies, elec- tronic discussions and support, fax -on -demand information, and more related enussions are their fastest-growing source As a Project Partner in EPA'sTransportation Part- ners program, your com- munity can clean the air. reverse our nation's enus- sions spiral, and spare our planet the threats of climate change 4. WIN NATIONAL RECOGNITION. As a Project Partner, your community will recene national recog- nition—from PT1. oth- er Principal Partners, and the EPA—for its contributions to nation- al VMT- and enussions- reduction goals. Each year, Transportation Partners Way to Go' Awards will honor local transportation innovations that reduce vehicle travel, increase choice and effi- ciency, and make communities healthier, more ac- cessible places to live B's spotlighting and publicizing your community's pioneering VMT-reduction efforts. Transportation Partners will inspire others to change. Transportation Partners Partner Profile Yes, it's another form to fill out! We suspect you've answered most of these questions before so it shouldn't be too time consuming. Please try to answer as many questions as possible. The "Project Background" questions are one time only questions while subsequent questions may require periodic updating depending on the status of the project and timeliness of data. If there are time constraints or difficulty in separating out the specific data for a given question, please feel free to send copies of any and all information related to the project. In addition, if any of the questions below are answered in reports or studies, it would be helpful if you could provide specific references and copies. Some information, in any form, is better than none! OBJECTIVE OF PROFILE The information supplied in this profile will provide several key items needed to both enhance the success of the EPA's Transportation Partners Program in lexpanding the number of Project Partners, as well as document the current arid potential effects of the program on 'VMT, greenhouse gas emissions, and other environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Questions of vital importance to the success of this analysis are in bold italics and should be given special consideration in terms of accuracy and completeness of responses. PROJECT BACKGROUND (one time only questions) 1. Describe your project, major milestones, and your schedule (e.g., start, completion, interim dates). 2. How is your project funded? Are you using any of the new funding provisions of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) such as Transportation Enhancements or Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality? Please be as complete as possible so that other partners can learn from your financing techniques. 3. How many transportation projects is your organization involved with and what is your organization's leadership role? 4. Who are the other organizations/local governments involved in the project and what are their roles? Partner Profile - Page 2 October 10, 1996 5. Estimate the number of people that will be affected by your project. 6. What is the projected VMT growth rate (e.g., 2%/yr.) in the area through the year 2000 or beyond? 7. How will your project increase transportation choices, especially for those who are unable to drive because of age or disability and for those who do not own cars? 40 8. How many people live in your city, town, metro area? Would you describe your area as being urban, suburban, small town, or rural? INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE 9. How has the creation and implementation of your project induced institutional change (e.g., changes in the transportation planning process)? Describe how this institutional change may ultimately result in VMT reduction. EFFECTS ON TRAVEL 10. What has been the impact of your project on the following': (If possible, express numbers for 1995, expected in 2000 and expected at project completion if completion date is post -2000. We are aware that some of the projects are new and the data may represent only estimates or goals. Therefore, please clarify the basis for all your estimates. For example, how were the VMT estimates obtained: _before and after traffic counts _estimates on ridership/participation changes and assumed trip length _ projected based on literature on typical impact of similar projects _project goals _ other ) ' Particularly in responding to these questions, providing specific references and copies of existing reports may be extremely useful in terms of complete coverage and saving time gathering and separating data. Partner Profile - Page 3 October 10, 1996 a. Number of vehicle trips reduced per year? b. Number of vehicle miles reduced? c. Average travel speeds? d. Average trip length (induced and avoided)? e. Average commute time? r 11. If your program involves an alternative means of transportation (e.g., rideshare vans, bicycling), what has been the ridership and demand (e.g.,, "changed from 1000-1200, or a 20'x® rise")? 12. Will trucks/commercial truck travel be reduced or just car travel? 13. Has there been any measurable improvement in congestion levels or travel times in the transportation system? OTHER EFFECTS 14. In what other ways has your project affected the environment (e.g., water pollution (runoff) or degradation of sensitive habitats or open space)? 15. Can you quantify/estimate the emissions reductions likely to result from your project for CO, VOC, NO„, PM? BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT ITEM NO. / FOR MEETING OF: February 4,1997 ITEM TITLE: Resolution to participate in Transportation Partner Program with U. S. Environmental Protection Agency SUBMITTED BY: Glenn J. Valenzuela, Director of Community & E Development CONTACT PERSON / TELEPHONE: Glenn J. Valenzuela, 575-6113 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and Public Technology Inc. have made available a program to communities to support transportation solutions through information services, technical assistance, and recognition, at no cost to the participating communities. Participation in this program constitutes a commitment to work with these two organizations to encourage the use of alternatives to the single -occupant vehicle. Participation in this program should supplement and enhance the City's Commute Trip Reduction Program. Resolution X Ordinance_ Contract _ Other (Specify) Funding Source APPROVAL FOR SUBMITTAL: City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt attached Resolution BOARD RECOMMENDATION: COUNCIL ACTION: Resolution adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R-97-22