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