Title
Public Hearing on the Transportation Improvement Program
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Hold a Public Hearing on the 2025-2030 Transportation Improvement Program.
Report
Issue:
Whether to hold a Public Hearing on the 2025-2030 Transportation Improvement Program.
Staff Contact:
Joey Jones, P.E., Transportation Project Engineer, Public Works, 360.753.8307
Presenter(s):
Joey Jones, P.E., Transportation Project Engineer
Background and Analysis:
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) requires local governments to outline their specific transportation needs in a six-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Cities must identify projects in the TIP to receive state and federal funding. The TIP also shows secured grant funds.
City staff update the TIP each year so that all transportation programs identified in the Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) are in the TIP. Because they reflect the same projects and programs, the TIP is presented to the City Council for adoption alongside the CFP in the fall of each year. The City then submits the TIP to WSDOT in July.
Attached is a form with project information that is submitted to WSDOT. Also attached is a table that simplifies the information in a summary format.
The TIP projects are organized as follows:
1. Individual projects that have pending or confirmed grant funds. These are projects 1-3 in the attached summary table.
2. Annual transportation programs. These programs include multiple planned projects within specific categories that correspond with CFP programs. Funding for these projects may include future grants, along with other sources of revenue. The programs are:
• Bicycle Improvements
• Intersection Improvements
• Street Repair and Reconstruction
• Major Street Reconstruction
• Sidewalks and Pathways
• Access and Safety Improvements
3. Parks Plan projects with a transportation function from the 2002 Parks, Arts and Recreation Plan. These are shown in the TIP because they have been awarded or are candidates for grant funds.
Adoption of the TIP by City Council is scheduled for December 5, 2023.
Climate Analysis:
In the Thurston Region, transportation-related emissions are the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels in transportation is essential to lessening our impact on the climate. We can do that by replacing gas-powered vehicle trips with trips made by walking, biking and transit. Projects in the TIP are drawn from the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) and make those modes more safe and inviting.
Projects in the TIP will help us achieve the following strategies:
• T2. Increase the efficiency of the transportation system. TIP projects will retrofit and repair our streets to make walking, biking and transit more safe and inviting.
• T4. Increase the use of public transit. TIP projects help make transit more inviting for more people through better access to bus stops. Changes to signals and street design to prioritize the movement of buses. Resurfacing projects will maintain and repair pavement condition for buses to operate efficiently and comfortably.
• T5. Increase the use of active forms of travel, such as walking and biking. TIP projects add enhanced bike lanes, bike corridors, sidewalks, enhanced crosswalks, and pathways to our streets to better serve people walking and biking.
Equity Analysis:
Our current street system is oriented around the car. TIP projects will help make our transportation system fairer by changing our streets to better serve people who cannot, or choose not to, drive.
TIP projects will make it easier to walk, bike, and ride the bus. Projects are drawn from the TMP which prioritized projects near common destinations, such as schools, bus routes, stores, and large employment centers.
Making it easier to get around without a car is a significant step towards achieving greater equity in our community.
• 10 percent of households in Olympia do not have a car. Our street system is often not accessible for people who don’t drive. The projects in the TIP will better serve people in these households.
• Olympia has a poverty rate of 14.7 percent. The TIP projects serve those who cannot afford a car or those who are economically burdened by owning a car.
• People with disabilities are often unable to drive, and those with disabilities that are under the age of 65 make up 9.2 percent of our population.
• Seniors who need to stop driving face challenges navigating our streets. Similarly, children cannot drive, and often lack the judgement to negotiate streets that are oriented to cars.
When the streets are not changed to make them better for walking, biking and transit, people who don’t or cannot drive face limited opportunities - reduced access to jobs, services, and social connections.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The 2025-2030 TIP is posted on the City’s website along with information about this public hearing. A notice of this public hearing was sent out through Olympia’s E-news distribution on October 2. Notice of the public hearing was also sent to Intercity Transit, WSDOT, Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC), the cities of Lacey and Tumwater, Thurston County, the City’s Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), and the Olympia Planning Commission (OPC).
Financial Impact:
There is no financial impact of, or obligation associated with, adoption the TIP. The TIP reflects the Preliminary 2024-2029 Capital Facilities Plan.
Options:
1. Hold a public hearing on the 2025-2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Council is scheduled to adopt a Resolution approving the 2025-2030 TIP on December 5, 2023. The City will meet state law for updating the TIP annually and be eligible for future grant funding.
2. Do not hold a public hearing regarding the 2025-2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) at this time. A Public Hearing will need to be held prior to July 2024 when the TIP is due to WSDOT.
3. Hold a public hearing at a later date.
Attachments:
Transportation Improvement Program Project Summary 2025-2030
Transportation Improvement Program WSDOT Technical Report 2025-2030