Regional Transportation Plan for
Klickitat County, Washington
November 2018
Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County, Washington
Klickitat County, Washington
Published: November 2018
Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council
Street Address Mailing Address1300 Franklin Street
Vancouver, WA 98660 P.O. Box 1366
Vancouver, WA 98666‐1366
Phone: 564‐397‐6067
https://www.rtc.wa.gov
Clark County
Skamania County
Klickitat County
City of Vancouver
City of Camas
City of Washougal
City of Battle Ground
City of Ridgefield
City of La Center
Town of Yacolt
City of Stevenson
City of North Bonneville
City of White Salmon
City of Bingen
City of Goldendale
C‐TRAN
Washington DOT
Port of Vancouver
Port of Camas‐Washougal
Port of Ridgefield
Port of Skamania County
Port of Klickitat
Metro
Oregon DOT
14th Legislative District
17th Legislative District
18th Legislative District
20th Legislative District
49th Legislative District
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Preparation of this Report was funded by grants from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and local funds from RTC member jurisdictions.
RTC Respects Civil Rights RTC operates its programs without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age or disability in accordance with applicable laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and RCW 49.60. To request additional information on RTC’s Title VI nondiscrimination requirements, or if any person believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI or other applicable law and would like to file a complaint, contact us at 564.397.6067 TTY 711 or email [email protected].
Persons who do not speak or read English well may request language assistance, oral interpretation and/or written translation, at no cost. Contact RTC at 564.397.6067 TTY 711 or email [email protected].
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 ADA Coordinator, Mark Harrington at 546‐397‐5207 TTY 711, with two weeks advance notice.
Introduction iii
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction: RTP Vision, Purpose and Goals .......................................................... 1
Vision ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1Purpose ................................................................................................................................................................... 1Goals ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Management Plan for the Columbia River National Scenic Area ..................................................................... 3SR‐14 Corridor Management Plan ................................................................................................................... 3
Transportation Strategy .......................................................................................................................................... 3Guidelines and Principles ........................................................................................................................................ 3Scope ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4Transportation Issues Addressed in RTP ................................................................................................................. 5Statutory Requirements ......................................................................................................................................... 6
State ................................................................................................................................................................. 6Intergovernmental Coordination ............................................................................................................................ 9
Klickitat County Transportation Policy Committee ........................................................................................ 10Bi‐State Coordination ..................................................................................................................................... 11
Klickitat County Regional Transportation Plan: Work Plan ................................................................................... 11Outline of RTP Chapters ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Chapter 2: Land Use, Growth and Transportation .................................................................. 13Land Use and Transportation ............................................................................................................................... 13Growth and Development .................................................................................................................................... 14
Growth in Klickitat County ............................................................................................................................. 15General Land Uses in Klickitat County .................................................................................................................. 16Planned Land Use ................................................................................................................................................. 16Population and Employment Forecast.................................................................................................................. 17Demographic and Travel Trends ........................................................................................................................... 18
Chapter 3: Identification of Regional Transportation Needs .................................................. 21Current Functional Classification of the Regional Roadway System .................................................................... 21
Rural Principal Arterials .................................................................................................................................. 22Rural Minor Arterials ...................................................................................................................................... 22Rural Major Collector Roads .......................................................................................................................... 22Rural Minor Collector Roads .......................................................................................................................... 22Rural Local Roads ........................................................................................................................................... 23
Designation of the RTP Regional Transportation System ..................................................................................... 23All State Transportation Facilities and Services ............................................................................................. 23All Local Principal Arterials ............................................................................................................................. 24All Other Transportation Facilities and Services Considered Necessary to Complete the Regional Transportation Plan ....................................................................................................................................... 24Enhancements ............................................................................................................................................... 28
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Growth in Traffic Volumes .................................................................................................................................... 28Future Travel Demand .......................................................................................................................................... 28Levels of Service .................................................................................................................................................... 29Level of Service Standards .................................................................................................................................... 30Capacity Analysis .................................................................................................................................................. 30Safety Analysis ...................................................................................................................................................... 31
Washington State Department Unstable Slopes ........................................................................................... 32Tunnels ........................................................................................................................................................... 33Trucks ............................................................................................................................................................. 33Recreational Parking ...................................................................................................................................... 33
Preservation and Maintenance Need ................................................................................................................... 34Hood River Bridge Replacement ........................................................................................................................... 34SR‐14 Bingen/White Salmon Circulation Study .................................................................................................... 35Enhancement Need .............................................................................................................................................. 35Economic Development Need .............................................................................................................................. 35Emerging Technology ........................................................................................................................................... 36
Chapter 4: Financial Plan ....................................................................................................... 37Overview ............................................................................................................................................................... 37Challenges and Accomplishments ........................................................................................................................ 37Revenue Sources ................................................................................................................................................... 38
Federal Funding ............................................................................................................................................. 38State Funding ................................................................................................................................................. 39Local Funding ................................................................................................................................................. 41Transit Revenues ............................................................................................................................................ 42
Revenue Assumptions .......................................................................................................................................... 42Cost Assumptions ................................................................................................................................................. 43Balancing Revenue and Cost ................................................................................................................................. 44
Chapter 5: System Improvement and Strategy Plan ............................................................... 47Overview ............................................................................................................................................................... 47Maintenance and Preservation ............................................................................................................................ 47Improvements ...................................................................................................................................................... 48Illustrative ............................................................................................................................................................. 48Miscellaneous Strategies and Solutions ............................................................................................................... 49
Bridge Deficiencies ......................................................................................................................................... 49Safety Deficiencies ......................................................................................................................................... 49Economic Development and Freight Transportation Deficiencies ................................................................. 49Non‐Motorized Transportation Deficiencies ................................................................................................. 50Transit Deficiencies ........................................................................................................................................ 50
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................ 50
Chapter 6: Performance Monitoring ...................................................................................... 53
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................... 53Safety .................................................................................................................................................................... 53Capacity Analysis .................................................................................................................................................. 53Preservation and Maintenance ............................................................................................................................ 53Special Studies ...................................................................................................................................................... 54
Chapter 7: Plan Development and Implementation ............................................................... 55Public Involvement in Regional Transportation Planning Process ........................................................................ 55RTP Implementation ............................................................................................................................................. 55RTP Update Process .............................................................................................................................................. 55
Glossary ................................................................................................................................ 57
List of Figures Figure 1‐1: Map of Klickitat County Location .......................................................................................................... 5Figure 1‐2: Agency Structure ................................................................................................................................ 10Figure 1‐3: RTP Process ......................................................................................................................................... 12Figure 2‐1: Land Use/Transportation Cycle .......................................................................................................... 13Figure 2‐2: Population Housing and Employment Growth ................................................................................... 15Figure 2‐3: Population, Housing, and Employment Forecast ............................................................................... 17Figure 4‐1: Transportation Revenue and Cost ...................................................................................................... 45
List of Tables Table 2‐1: Klickitat Work Flow by County ............................................................................................................. 19Table 2‐2: Work Travel Mode ............................................................................................................................... 20Table 3‐1: Klickitat County Public Railroad Crossings ........................................................................................... 28Table 3‐2: Traffic Volumes 2004 to 2017 .............................................................................................................. 28Table 3‐3: Deficient Capacity Segment ................................................................................................................. 31Table 3‐4: Klickitat County Fatality and Serious Injury Factors, 2014‐2016 ......................................................... 32Table 3‐5: Priority Unstable Slope Project along SR 14 ........................................................................................ 33Table 4‐1: Projected Revenue ............................................................................................................................... 43Table 4‐2: Projected Cost ...................................................................................................................................... 44Table 5‐1: Klickitat County Transportation Improvement Projects ...................................................................... 51Table 5‐2: Illustrative Needs ................................................................................................................................. 51
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Klickitat County Transportation Policy Committee
Policy/Mission Statement TheCommitteesupportstheimprovementofsafetyandefficiencyoftheregionaltransportationsysteminKlickitatCounty.
TheCommitteesupportstransportationplanningandprojectdevelopmentthataddressestheimprovementofpublicsafetyalongtheregionaltransportationsystem.
TheCommitteesupportstheidentificationof“corridorsegments”throughouttheKlickitatCountyregion,whichshouldbethefocusoftransportationimprovement,enhancement,multimodal,andmobilityfunding.
TheCommitteesupportsthecoordinationbetweenagenciesinidentifyingandaddressing,whenpractical,theneedsofamultimodaltransportationsystem.
Klickitat County Member Jurisdictions KlickitatCountyCityofBingenCityofGoldendaleCityofWhiteSalmonPortofKlickitatWashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation
Klickitat County Transportation Policy Committee Members JimSizemore Commissioner,KlickitatCountyBettyBarnes Mayor,CityofBingenLarryBellamy Administrator,CityofGoldendaleDavidPoucher Mayor,CityofWhiteSalmonMarcThornsbury Director,PortofKlickitatBartGernhart ActingSWRegionAdministrator,WSDOT
Staff (Member Agency and Coordinating Agencies) MichaelWilliams WSDOT,SWRegionDevinReck WSDOT,SWRegionGordonKelsey KlickitatCounty,PublicWorksSharonCarter KlickitatCounty,SeniorServicesDavidSpratt CityofBingenKevinEnglish CityofWhiteSalmonKarlEnyeart CityofGoldendaleKathyFitzpatrick Mid‐ColumbiaEconomicDevelopmentDistrictMichaelMcElwee PortofHoodRiverMattRansom RegionalTransportationCouncilDaleRobins RegionalTransportationCouncil
Chapter 1: Introduction: RTP Vision, Purpose and Goals 1
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Chapter 1: Introduction: RTP Vision, Purpose and Goals
TheRegionalTransportationPlan(RTP)forKlickitatCountyistheregion’sprincipaltransportationplanningdocument.ItrepresentsaregionaltransportationplanforKlickitatCountyareadevelopedthroughacoordinatedprocessbetweenlocaljurisdictionsinordertodevelopregionalsolutionstotransportationneeds.ThefirstRTPforKlickitatCountywasadoptedinApril1995.ThisupdatetotheKlickitatCountyRTPwilluse2040asthehorizonyearandincorporatethelatestavailabledata.TheRTPisintendedtobeaplantomeetthetransportationneedsoverthenext20yearsbyimplementingaregionaltransportationplanningprocess.Thisintroductorychapterpresentsthevision,purpose,goals,scope,statutoryrequirements,anddecision‐makingprocessinvolvedindevelopmentoftheRTPforKlickitatCounty.
Vision TheRTPisacollectiveefforttoaddressthedevelopmentofasaferegionaltransportationsystemthatwillsupportplannedeconomicgrowthandmaintaintheregion’sruralqualityoflife.
Purpose TheRTPidentifiesfutureregionaltransportationsystemneedsandoutlinestransportationplansandimprovementsnecessarytomaintainadequatemobilityandsafetywithinandthroughouttheKlickitatCountyregion.Theregionmustplanforafutureregionaltransportationsystemthatadequatelyservesthepopulation,employment,andvisitorgrowthprojectedforKlickitatCounty.TheRTP’sgoals,objectives,andpolicieswillguidethevariousjurisdictionsandagenciesinvolvedinplanningandprogrammingoftransportationprojectsthroughoutKlickitatCounty.
Goals ThefollowinggoalswereusedtoguidethedevelopmentoftheKlickitatCountyRegionalTransportationPlan:
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Preservation:Maintainandpreservetheexistingregionaltransportationsystem.
SafetyandSecurity:Provideasafeandsecuretransportationsystem.
Economy:Provideatransportationsystemthatfosterseconomicdevelopment.
Finance:Provideforthedevelopmentofatransportationsystemthatefficientlyusesfinancialresources.
AccessibilityandMobility:Provideanintegratedandcoordinatedtransportationsystemthatincludesavarietyofmobilityoptions.
Environment:Provideatransportationsystemthatissensitivetothequalityoftheenvironmentandnaturalresources.
VisionandValues:Provideforviableandlivablelocalcommunities.
ManagementandOperations:Maximizeefficientmanagementandoperationofthetransportationsystem.
ThereisconsistencybetweenthegeneralRTPgoalsandthepoliciesestablishedbylocaljurisdictionsandagenciesaspartoftheirlocalcomprehensiveplanningprocess.TheRegionalTransportationPlan(RTP)forKlickitatCounty,whereapplicable,willalsoconsiderthegoalsestablishedintheManagementPlanfortheColumbiaRiverGorgeNationalScenicAreaandotherlong‐rangeplans.
Chapter 1: Introduction: RTP Vision, Purpose and Goals 3
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Management Plan for the Columbia River National Scenic Area
Providetransportationfacilitiesthatmeettheneedsofthetravelingpublicandimplementthisplan’srecreationgoalsandobjectiveswhileprotectingscenic,natural,cultural,andrecreationresources.
Promotealternativemodesoftransportationtoimprovesafetyandenjoymentofthetravelingpublicandtohelpalleviatefuturetrafficdemand.
EnsurethatareplacementColumbiaRiverBridgebetweentheHoodRiverandBingen/WhiteSalmonUrbanAreasprovidesforregionaltransportationandpublicsafetyneedswhilebeingconsistentwithbothpurposesoftheScenicAreaAct.
SR‐14 Corridor Management Plan
ImprovesafetyalongSR‐14withrespectfortheprotectionandenhancementofresources.
Enhancetheeconomyofcommunitiesalongthehighway.
DesignHighway14asanationalattractionbyprotectingandenhancingscenic,natural,cultural,andrecreationresourceswithinthehighwaycorridor,withrespecttolocalresidences,andbusiness.
ManagetheSR‐14Corridorinthemostefficientandeffectivemannerpossible.
Transportation Strategy TheRegionalTransportationPlanforKlickitatCountyistheregion’stransportationstrategy.
Guidelines and Principles In1994,theStateLegislaturepassedSubstituteHouseBill1928.ThislegislationrequiresRTPO’stoestablishGuidelinesandPrinciplesthatprovidedirectionforthedevelopmentofthetransportationelementsofcomprehensiveplans.Thefollowingrepresenttheseguidelinesandprinciples:
Identifyadequateareasforfuturecommercial,retail,andindustrialeconomicgrowth.Coordinateidentifiedeconomicgrowthareaswithanefficienttransportationsystem.
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Identifyadequatelandforresidentialdevelopmentanddensitywithinurbanareasthatiscoordinatedwiththetransportationsystem.
Provideatransportationsystemthatsupportstheeconomicvitalityoftheregion,andprovidesforlong‐termfreightmobilityneedsandportaccess.
Providearangeofnon‐motorizedopportunitieswithintheregionaltransportationsystem.
Worktowardthedevelopmentofacoresystemofall‐weatherroadsforfreighttravel.
Encouragereducingtherelianceonthesingleoccupantvehiclebyprovidingothermodesoftransportation.
Encouragepresentandfuturerailroadrightofwaytobeutilizedfortransportationpurposes.
Enhanceintermodalfreightconnections.
Scope TheRTPforKlickitatCountytakestheyear2040asitshorizonyear.Traveldemandfortheregionisforecastforthisfutureyearandimprovementstothetransportationsystemarerecommendedbasedontheprojecteddemand.
TheareacoveredbytheRTPisthewholeofKlickitatCounty.KlickitatCountyissituatedalongthenorthernbankoftheColumbiaRiverinsouth‐centralWashington.TheCountyliesonthesoutheastflankofMountAdams.Onthenorth,thecountyborderstheSimcoeHillsandcontainspartoftheYakamaIndianReservation.(SeeFigure1‐1).
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Figure 1‐1: Map of Klickitat County Location
People and freight move throughout the regional transportation system withoutconsiderationforcity,county,andstateboundaries.Sincetransportationproblemsextend beyond jurisdictional boundaries, the RTP must analyze the futuretransportationneedsfortheentireregionwhilecreatingacooperativeframeworkforcoordinatingtheindividualactionsofvariousjurisdictions.
Transportation Issues Addressed in RTP
Transportationsystemmaintenance,preservation,andsafety.
Developmentofcorridorstoimproveeconomicdevelopmentpotential.
AccessibilityacrosstheColumbiaRiverintermsofcapacity,economicdevelopment,corridorlocation,andconnectingroadways.
Federal,state,local,andprivatesourcesofrevenuefortransportationprojects.
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Accesstoports,airports,intermodaltransportationfacilities,majorfreightdistributionroutes,andrecreationareas.
Theneedtorelieveandpreventcongestionfromoccurringwhereitdoesnotyetoccur.
Theneedtoimprovecorridorswithsafetyproblems,includingfreightcorridors.
Theneedtoprovideamultimodaltransportationsystem;includingpedestrian,bicycle,bus,truck,rail,marine,andauto.
Theneedtoprovideenhancements(signs,viewpoints,kiosk,etc.),toassistvisitors.
Statutory Requirements
State
WithinWashingtonState,RegionalTransportationPlansareexpectedtobeconsistentwiththepolicyframeworkandobjectivesdescribedinthetransportationplanforWashingtonState.ThemostrecentWashingtonTransportationPlan,2035,wasdevelopedbytheWashingtonTransportationCommissionandadoptedinJanuary2015.WashingtonTransportationPlanPhase2–Implementation2017‐2040wasapprovedinApril2018.
TheWashingtonTransportationPlan2035isbasedonthefollowingtransportationpolicygoalsestablishedbytheLegislature:
EconomicVitality:Topromoteanddeveloptransportationsystemsthatstimulate,support,andenhancethemovementofpeopleandgoodstoensureaprosperouseconomy;
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Preservation:Tomaintain,preserve,andextendthelifeandutilityofpriorinvestmentsintransportationsystemsandservices;
Safety:Toprovideforandimprovethesafetyandsecurityoftransportationcustomersandthetransportationsystem;
Mobility:ToimprovethepredictablemovementofgoodsandpeoplethroughoutWashingtonState;
Environment:ToenhanceWashington’squalityoflifethroughtransportationinvestmentsthatpromoteenergyconservation,enhancehealthycommunities,andprotecttheenvironment;and
Stewardship:Tocontinuouslyimprovethequality,effectiveness,andefficiencyofthetransportationsystem.
TheWashingtonStateHighwaySystemPlan(HSP)istheelementofWashington’sTransportationPlan(WTP)thataddressescurrentandforecaststatehighwayneeds.TheHSPincludesacomprehensiveassessmentofexistingandprojected20‐yeardeficienciesonthestate’shighwaysystem.Italsolistspotentialsolutionsthataddressthesedeficiencies.TheHSPisupdatedperiodicallywitheachversionbuildingonthelast.Thedocumentcoversallissuesrelatedtothestate’shighwaysystem.The2007‐2026versionoftheHSPtakestheWTP’sinvestmentguidelines,andidentifiesthehighwaysystemneeds,strategiesandperformancemeasurementsassociatedwiththeguidelines.
WSDOT'sCorridorSketchInitiativeisasetofplanningactivitiesthatengagestheagency'spartnerstodeterminethecontextandperformanceofstatehighwaycorridorsandidentifieshigh‐levelstrategiesforaddressingperformancegaps.Theinitiativecomplementsandsupportsregionalplanningprocessesaroundthestate.
Inaddition,WSDOThascompletedanumberofModelPlansincludingplansforAviation,Bicycle&Pedestrians,Ferry,Freight,Rail,PublicTransportation,andUltra‐HighSpeedGroundTransportation.
RecentWSDOTplansaredocumentedonWSDOT’sPlanningsectionwebsite.
Washington State’s Regional Transportation Planning Program
WashingtonState'sGrowthManagementAct,enactedin1990,approvedtheRegionalTransportationPlanningProgramwhichcreatedaformalmechanismforlocalgovernmentsandthestatetocoordinatetransportationplanningforregionaltransportationfacilities.TheGrowthManagementAct(GMA)authorizedthecreationofRegionalTransportationPlanningOrganizations(RTPOs)byunitsoflocalgovernment.SouthwestWashingtonRegionalTransportationCouncil(RTC)is
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thedesignatedRTPOforthethree‐countyareaofClark,Skamania,andKlickitat.In1994,furtherstatelegislationclarifiedthedutiesoftheRTPOoutlinedintheGMAandfurtherdefinedRTPOplanningstandards.
ThedutiesoftheRTPO,asoutlinedintheGMAandSHB1928,include:
Designationoftheregionaltransportationsystem.
DevelopmentofasixyearregionalTransportationImprovementProgram(TIP),includingregionallysignificantprojects.TheTIPmustincludeafinancialplan.
DevelopmentofaRegionalTransportationPlan(RTP),toincludearegionaltransportationstrategy,identificationofexistingandplannedfacilitiesandprograms,LevelofServicestandards,afinancialplan,assessmentofregionaldevelopmentpatternsandcapitalinvestmentusingaregionaltransportationapproach.TheconceptofleastcostplanningistobeusedindevelopmentoftheRTP.TheRTPmustbereviewedatleasteverytwoyearstoensurethatitiscurrent.
EstablishguidelinesandprinciplesfordevelopmentandevaluationofthetransportationelementsofGMAlocalcomprehensiveplans.
DeveloparegionalLevelofService(LOS)standardfortheregionalsystemasrequiredbytheLOSBill.
TheRegionalTransportationPlanningProgramisdesignedtobeintegratedwith,andaugment,thefederallyrequiredMetropolitanPlanningOrganization(MPO)program.TheRegionalTransportationPlanningProgramextendstransportationplanningbytheRTPO’storuralareasnotcoveredbythefederalprogram.TheRegionalTransportationPlanningProgramisalsointendedtotieinandbeconsistentwithlocalcomprehensiveplanning.
Theregionaltransportationplanningprocessshould:
Guidetheimprovementoftheregionaltransportationsystem.
Useregionallyconsistenttechnicalmethodsanddata.
Considerenvironmentalimpacts.
Ensureearlyandcontinuouspublicinvolvement.
Beconsistentwiththelocalcomprehensiveplanningprocess.
Beanongoingprocess.
Incorporatemultimodalplanningactivities.
Addressmajorcapacityexpansionandoperationalimprovementstotheregionaltransportationsystem.
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Beapartnership,includingfederal,state,andlocalgovernments,specialdistricts,privatesector,generalpublic,andothersduringconception,technicalanalysis,policydevelopment,anddecision‐making.
TocomplywithStatestandards,theRTPshallincludethefollowingcomponents:
Descriptionofthedesignatedregionaltransportationsystem.
Regionaltransportationgoals,policies,andstrategy.
Regionallandusestrategy.Existingandproposedlandusesdefinedonlocalandregionalcomprehensivelanduseplansdeterminetheregionaldevelopmentstrategy.
Identificationofregionaltransportationneeds.Aninventoryofexistingregionaltransportationfacilitiesandservices,identificationofcurrentdeficiencies,andforecastoffuturetraveldemandwillbecarriedout.
DevelopmentofLOSstandardsconsistentwithHouseBill1487.
Developmentoffinancialplanfornecessarytransportationsystemimprovements.
Regionaltransportationsystemimprovementandstrategyplan.Specificfacilityorserviceimprovementswillbeidentifiedandprioritiesdetermined.
Establishmentofaperformancemonitoringprogram.Theperformanceofthetransportationsystemwillbemonitoredovertime.Themonitoringmethodology,datacollection,andanalysistechniquestobeusedwillbeoutlined.
PlansforimplementationoftheRTP.
Intergovernmental Coordination InordertomaketheRTPnotonlyaPlantoprovidecarefullythought‐outsolutionstotransportationissuesandproblemsbutalsoaPlanthatalljurisdictionscanimplement,aregionaltransportationplanningcommitteestructurehasbeenestablished.Consistentwiththe1990GMAlegislation,athree‐countyRTCBoardofDirectorshasbeenestablishedtoservetheRTPOregion.IndividualCountyCommitteesandBoardsalsoplayapartintheregionaltransportationdecision‐making.TheKlickitatCountyTransportationPolicyCommitteecontinuestoguideKlickitatCountyregionaltransportationpolicy.Theroleof,andrepresentationon,theRTCBoardofDirectorsandindividualCountyPolicyCommitteesisdescribedintheBylawsofSouthwestWashingtonRegionalTransportationCouncil(lastamendedDecember2017)andInterlocalAgreementforEstablishmentofthe
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
SouthwestWashingtonRegionalTransportationCouncil.TheregionaltransportationcommitteestructureisoutlinedinFigure1‐2.
Figure 1‐2: Agency Structure
Klickitat County Transportation Policy Committee
TheKlickitatCountyTransportationPolicyCommitteewasestablishedtoprovideafocusforKlickitatCountyregionaltransportationissuesandpolicies.ItiscomposedofrepresentativesofWashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation(WSDOT),KlickitatCounty,CityofBingen,CityofGoldendale,CityofWhiteSalmon,andthePortofKlickitat.
TheKlickitatCountyTransportationPolicyCommitteecarriesoutregionaltransportationplanningactivitieswithinKlickitatCounty.Otheragenciesandorganizationsarewelcometoparticipateasnon‐votingmembersofthecommittee.Otherlocal/regionalagenciesandorganization(e.g.ColumbiaRiverGorgeCommission,U.S.ForestService,Mid‐ColumbiaEconomicDevelopmentDistrict,andPortofHoodRiver)arewelcometoparticipateasnon‐votingmembersofthecommittee.
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Bi‐State Coordination
KlickitatCountyislocatedontheWashingtonsideoftheColumbiaRiverGorgeRegionandbi‐statetravelissignificantwithinthisregion.OregonandWashingtonjurisdictionsintheregionhaveahistoryofcoordinatingtheirtransportationandlanduseplans.Theseplanningeffortsensurethatregionallysignificantaspectsofthetransportationsystemareconsideredwithinabi‐statecontext.
RTCrepresentativesparticipateinbi‐statetransportationopportunitieswithOregonrepresentatives.ThisincludestheGorgeTransLinkgroup,bi‐statestudies,andotherbi‐stateopportunities.Inaddition,RTCwelcomesparticipationofOregonrepresentativesintheKlickitatCountytransportationplanningprocess.CoordinationbetweenWashingtonandOregononbi‐statetransportationneedswillcontinuethroughtheregionaltransportationplanningprocess.
Klickitat County Regional Transportation Plan: Work Plan AsafirststepinpreparationoftheKlickitatCountyRTP,aworkplanwasdeveloped.(SeeFigure1‐3).TheworkplanoutlinesmajortaskstobecoveredinthedevelopmentoftheRTP.TheRTPisdesignedasabenchmarkplantomeetRTPOelementsrequiredbythe1990GMAlegislationandSHB1928legislationof1994.
Outline of RTP Chapters Chapter1: Introduction:RTPVision,Purpose,andGoals.TheRTPisintroducedanditsgeneralgoals,policies,statutoryauthority,andpurposearedescribed.TheRTPprocessisoutlinedaswellasregionaltransportationcommitteestructureandintergovernmentalcooperationandcoordinationoftheRTP.
Chapter2: RegionalLandUseandGrowth.KlickitatCounty’sdemographicdata,developmenttrends,andregionaldevelopmentstrategyarediscussed.Existingandfuturelandusesanddevelopmentpatternsareidentified.
Chapter3: IdentificationofRegionalTransportationNeeds.Theregionaltransportationsystemisdesignatedanddefined.Thecharacteristicsandpatternsoftoday’sandfutureregionaltraveldemand,today’stransportationproblemlocations,andfutureregionalneedsaredescribed.Needscriteriasuchasaccessibility,levelsofservice,andsafetyareoutlined.
Chapter4: FinancialPlan.Revenuesourcesareidentifiedanddescribed,andaplanforfinancingtransportationsystemimprovementsispresented.
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Chapter5: SystemImprovementandStrategyPlan.Recommendationsfordevelopmentoftheregionaltransportationsystemaremade.Regionaltransportationgoalsandpoliciesarereviewed.
Chapter6: PerformanceMonitoring.Performancemonitoringmeasuresaredescribed.MonitoringtheRTP’sconsistencywiththestatetransportationplan,localtransportationplans,landuseregulations,andregionaldemographicprojectionsareoutlined.
Chapter7: PlanDevelopmentandImplementation.ProvisionsfortheimplementationofthepublicindevelopmentoftheRTParedescribed.Provisionsfortheimplementationofregionaltransportationgoals,policies,andactionsestablishedbytheRTParedescribed.TheRTPreviewandamendmentprocessisoutlinedshouldchangingpolicies,financialconditions,orgrowthpatternswarrantamendmentofthePlan.TherequiredbiennialupdateoftheRTPisdescribed.
Figure 1‐3: RTP Process
Feedback
Feedback
RTP Vision, Purpose and Goals
MobilityEnvironmentalImpacts
CostsStateTransportationPlan
RegionalTransportationPlanningProgram
Implementation and MonitoringTransportationCommitteesRTCBoardofDirectorsMemberAgencies
Plan Recommendations and Adoption
SystemConceptHighway/Transit/Non‐MotorizedModes
AirQualityDemand/SystemManagement
Financing
Land Use and GrowthDevelopmentStrategyExistingLandUsePlannedLandUse
FuturePopulationandEmploymentForecast
Analysis of Needs and AlternativesRegionalTransportationSystem
TravelDemandAnalysis/EvaluationofAlternatives
FinancingOptions
Chapter 2: Land Use, Growth and Transportation 13
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Chapter 2: Land Use, Growth and Transportation
Land Use and Transportation Transportationplanningisaboutmeetingthetraveldemandsofpeopleandgoods.Thetransportationsystemmustconnectpeopletojobsandservicesandconnectfreightandgoodstomarketsandconsumers.Indevelopingaregionaltransportationplan,thefundamentalrelationshipbetweentransportationandlandusemustberecognized,andtheeffectthatlanduseandgrowthhaveontransportationmustbetakenintoconsideration.TheLandUse/TransportationcycleisillustratedinFigure2‐1.
Figure 2‐1: Land Use/Transportation Cycle
Thelinkagebetweenlanduseandtransportationisacomplexissue,butonasimplelevel,thelinkagecanbethoughtofasworkingintwoways:
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
1. Thespatialdistributionandtypeoflanduseactivityinfluenceboththedemandfortravelandtravelcharacteristics.Differenttypesoflandusegenerateandattractdifferingtrafficrates;forexample,retaillanduseswillgeneratemoretripsthanresidentiallanduses.
2. Improvingaccessbyexpandingthetransportationsystemallowsforthedevelopmentoflandthatwasformerlyinaccessible.
Landuseandtransportationareinter‐linkedbecauselanduseactivitieslargelydeterminetraveldemandanddesire.Whendifferentlandusesaresegmentedorsegregated,lengthoftripstendstoincrease.Forexample,peoplehavetotravelbetweentheirhomesandtheirworkplaces.Tomeetmobilityneeds,theselongertripsusuallyhavetobeservedbytheautomobile,thusreducingtheuseoftransportationalternatives,suchaswalkingortransit.
Growth and Development Sustainedeconomicdevelopmentandgrowthwithinaregionisdesirablebecauseoftheeconomicbenefitsthatincreasedemploymentandalargertaxbasecanbring.However,whilegrowthcancontributetothehealthofaregion’seconomy,itcanalsohavenegativeimpacts.Unmanaged,fastratesofgrowthcanhaveasevereimpactontheabilityofacommunitytoprovideneededinfrastructureandservices.
Theneedtomaintaineconomicviabilityandatthesametime,qualityoflife,isachallenge.Elementsthatcontributetoadesirablequalityoflifeincludejobopportunities,affordablehousing,ahealthyenvironmentwithcleanair,andrecreationalopportunities.Anefficient,safetransportationsystemcontributestothequalityoflifeforresidentsofaregionandcanactasanattractorforeconomicdevelopment.Conversely,atransportationsystemdependentondeterioratingandoutmodedfacilitiescanbeaninhibitortotheefficient,safemovementofpeopleandgoods.
Chapter 2: Land Use, Growth and Transportation 15
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Growth in Klickitat County
KlickitatCountyhasseenmoderategrowthinthelastfewdecades.TheU.S.CensusBureau,WashingtonState’sOfficeofFinancialManagement(OFM),andBureauofEconomicAnalysis(BEA)providedthefollowingdata.BEAemploymentincludesallwageandsalariedjobsaswellasproprietorsjobsthatincludessoleproprietor,self‐employed,andfarmemployment.
Aftersignificantgrowthintheearly2000’s,theUnitedStatesexperiencedasignificantrecessionbeginninginlate2007.Thisrecessionimpactedregionalpopulationandemploymentgrowthforapproximately5years.
Between1990and2010thepopulationofthecountyincreasedby22%from16,616to20,318,whilethenumberofhousingunitsincreasedby35%from7,238to9,786.TheincreaseinBEAemploymentwas39%from7,508in1990to10,430in2010(seeFigure2‐2).Muchofthegrowthoccurredbetween1990and2007,whilegrowthslowedbetween2007and2010.By2016,thecountypopulationhadincreasedto21,270people,with10,432housingunitsand10,775jobs.
Figure 2‐2: Population Housing and Employment Growth
KlickitatCountyhasseenalargeincreaseinrecreationactivitydueinparttotheColumbiaRiverGorgeNationalScenicAreaandavarietyofotherrecreationalopportunities.Thegrowthinrecreationactivitiesseeninthecountyinthelastfewdecadeshasincreaseddemandsontheregionaltransportationsystem.
Developmentofatransportationpolicyplanmustconsiderhowtoplanforatransportationsystemthatcansupportincreasesintraveldemandcausedbygrowthinpopulation,employment,andrecreationalactivity.Atthesametime,thissystemhastobeaffordableandminimizeenvironmentalimpactstomaintainthe
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Chapter 2: Land Use, Growth and Transportation 16
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
qualityoflife.Asafe,efficienttransportationsystemcanworktoenhanceeconomicdevelopmentwithinaregion.
General Land Uses in Klickitat County KlickitatCountyisaruralcountylocatedinsouthcentralWashington.Approximatelytwo‐thirdsofKlickitatCountyresidentsliveinunincorporatedareas.ThethreeincorporatedpopulationcentersarelocatedinGoldendaleinthecentralpartofthecountyandinBingenandWhiteSalmoninthesouthwestcornerofthecounty.Thecountyis84mileslongandvariesbetween13and29mileswide.Thetotalareaofthecountyis1,904squaremiles.KlickitatCountyranks16thinsizeamongWashington’s39countiesand29thinpopulation.
Klickitat County’s economic base is tied to agriculture, timber and forestry, the Roosevelt Regional Landfill, aerospace and high technology, and wind power with a significant percentage of its work force in agriculture and manufacturing. In recent years, growth has been concentrated around the White Salmon/Bingen and Dallesport areas.
Theprovisionofpublicfacilitiesandservices,includingtransportation,isaprincipaldeterminantoflandusepatterns.LandusepatternsinKlickitatCountyhaveevolvedlargelyasaresultofitsresidents’dependenceontheautomobile.AlookatlanduseforKlickitatCountyindicatesthatresidentialdevelopmenthasoccurredmainlyalongstatehighwaysandmajorruralarterials.
Planned Land Use Comprehensiveplansarethemeansbywhichlocaljurisdictionscanplanfortheirfuturegrowthanddevelopment;theycanprovideaprocessforanticipatingandinfluencingtheorderlyandcoordinateddevelopmentofland.WithinWashingtonState,planningauthorityisdelegatedbythestatetolocalgovernmentsinRCW
36.70A,35.63and35A.63.Comprehensiveplansarerequiredtohavealanduseelementshowingthegeneraldistributionandlocationoflandforvarioususes,aswellasacirculationelementshowingthestreetsystemandtransportationroutes.KlickitatCountyandincorporatedcitiesofBingen,Goldendale,andWhiteSalmonallhavecurrentlyadoptedcomprehensiveplans.
Chapter 2: Land Use, Growth and Transportation 17
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
TheColumbiaRiverGorgeCommissionhasadoptedandisadministeringaColumbiaRiverGorgeManagementPlanpursuanttotherequirementsoftheNationalScenicAreaAct.WithintheColumbiaRiverGorgeNationalScenicArea,futureresidentialandcommercialdevelopmentisencouragedtooccurintheUrbanAreas,butthereisallowanceforsomeresidentialdevelopmentoutsidetheurbanareas.Inaddition,therearetwofederallydesignatedWildandScenicRiversegmentsthathaveadoptedmanagementplansareadministeredbytheForestService.
Population and Employment Forecast TheWashingtonStateOfficeofFinancialManagement(OFM)developspopulationforecastsforallcountiesintheStateofWashington.Theirforecastcontainsalow,medium,andhighestimate.The2017forecastdevelopedbyOFMfor2040populationinKlickitatCountyrangesfromalowof17,583toahighof26,954.ForthepurposeoftheRegionalTransportationPlan,amedium‐highforecastof24,442willbeused.The2040forecastrepresentsa20%or4,124increaseinpopulationfrom2010to2040.
HousingandemploymentforecastsforKlickitatCountyweredevelopedbyRTCbasedonOFMpopulationforecastandhistoricaltrends.Estimated2040housingis12,094units.The2040forecastrepresentsa24%or2,308increaseinhousingunitsfrom2010to2040.Estimated2040employmentis13,138.This2040forecastrepresentsa21%or2,131increaseinemploymentfrom2010to2040(seeFigure2‐3).
Figure 2‐3: Population, Housing, and Employment Forecast
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Chapter 2: Land Use, Growth and Transportation 18
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Demographic and Travel Trends
Growthinpopulationandemployment,development,andresultinglandusepatternstogetherwithitsdistributionallaffecttraveldemand.However,otherdemographicfactorsalsoinfluencetraveldemand.Thesefactorsincludehouseholdsize,workforceparticipation,employmentpatterns,andvehicleownership.
Householdsizeisonedemographicfactorsthatinfluenceslanduseanddemandfortransportationservices.Between1970and2010therewasatrendtowardsmallerhouseholdsizeinKlickitatCountyduetomoresingle‐personhouseholdsandsmallerfamilysize.Theaveragenumberofpersonsperhousingunitwas2.60in1970,buthadfallento2.08by2010.The2040forecastis2.02personsperhousingunit.
Thefuturepopulationisexpectedtobecomeolderwithahigherproportionofthetotalpopulationhavingdisabilities.Itisestimatedbetween2010and2040personsovertheageof65willincreasefrom18%ofthepopulationtoapproximately34%ofthepopulation.In2016,thosewithadisabilitymadeupapproximately19%oftheCountypopulationandthisisexpectedtoincreasetoover20%infutureyears.Withanagingpopulationandagrowingnumberofindividualswithdisabilities,futuredemandandtraveltrendsareexpectedtochange.
Anotherdemographictrendthataffectstraveldemandistheincreaseintwo‐workerhouseholds.Typically,thetwoworkersinthehouseholdeachuseanautotogettowork,usetheautoforworkpurposeswhileatwork,useittorunerrandsatlunchtimeandbeforeorafterwork,andiftheyhaveafamily,totaketheirchildrentoactivities.Allresultinpeople’sincreasedrelianceontheautomobilethatpeopleconsidertheirmostconvenienttransportationmode.
Employmentpatternshavealsobeenchanging,witharelativedeclineseeninthetraditionalindustrialortimberjobsandanincreaseinservicesectoremployment.Withmoderntechnology,therehasalsobeenarapidgrowthinworkerswhoareabletoworkathome.Inaddition,thereisatrendforasignificantnumberof
KlickitatCountyresidentstobeemployedinothercounties.The2010Censusshowsthat30.8%ofthecountyresidentsworkedoutsideofKlickitatCounty.Table2‐1showsdataofthoselivingand/orworkinginKlickitatCounty.
Chapter 2: Land Use, Growth and Transportation 19
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Table 2‐1: Klickitat Work Flow by County
Place of Residence Place of Work 2000 2000
Percent 2010 2010
Percent 2000‐2010 Change
Klickitat County Klickitat County 5,632 73.5% 5,340 69.2% ‐292
Hood River Co., OR 688 9.0% 625 8.1% ‐63
Wasco Co., OR 680 8.9% 945 12.3% 265
Skamania Co., WA 147 1.9% 340 4.4% 193
Yakima Co., WA 104 1.4% 50 0.6% ‐54
Sherman Co., OR 73 1.0% 65 0.8% ‐8
Benton Co., WA 44 0.6% 10 0.1% ‐34
Other Washington 137 1.8% 153 2.0% 16
Other Oregon 109 1.4% 154 2.0% 45
Other 50 0.6% 32 0.4% ‐18
Klickitat Co. Employed Workforce 7,664 7,714 50
Klickitat County Klickitat County 5,632 84.8% 5,340 80.3% ‐292
Hood River Co., OR 167 2.5% 255 3.8% 88
Wasco Co., OR 399 6.0% 245 3.7% ‐154
Skamania Co., WA 205 3.1% 340 5.1% 135
Yakima Co., WA 82 1.2% 35 0.5% ‐47
Other Washington 65 1.0% 259 3.9% 194
Other Oregon 92 1.4% 84 1.3% ‐8
Other 2 0.0% 92 1.4% 90
Employment within Klickitat County 6,644 6,650 6
TraveldemandhasalsogrownasthenumberofpassengervehiclesinKlickitatCountyhasincreasedinthepastfewdecades.Aspopulationhasincreased,therehasbeenanincreaseinthenumberofvehiclesregisteredinKlickitatCountyaddingtothedemandsputonthetransportationsystem.In2010,therewere13,127registeredpassengervehicleswith69.3%oftheKlickitatCountyhouseholdshavingtwoormorevehiclesavailable.Therelationshipbetweenlanduseandtransportationshouldbecarefullyconsideredwhendevelopingavisionforfuturegrowthandfuturegrowthpatterns.
ThereareseveraltrendsthataffectseasonaltraveldemandwithinKlickitatCounty.First,isthetrendofadditionalretiredresidentswholiveinKlickitatCounty,butspendtheirwintersinawarmerclimate.Theseresidentsaddtothelocaltrafficfromspringtofall.Second,istheincreasedpopularityoftheColumbiaRiverGorgeareaasarecreationalattractor.SinceitsdesignationasaNationalScenicArea,summertrafficvolumeshaverapidlyincreased.
Table2‐2alsoprovidesinformationthatcompares2000and2010CensusJourneytoWorkdata.Thisdatadisplaysseveraltrendsimpactingthecommutertraveltimes.First,thedatashowsthatcommutetimeshavedecreasedbyover2minutes.Second,theuseofdrivealone,bicycleorwalk,andworkfromhomehaveincreased.
Chapter 2: Land Use, Growth and Transportation 20
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Third,therehasbeenasignificantdeclineinthenumberofpeoplewhocarpoolontheirjourneytowork.
Table 2‐2: Work Travel Mode
Klickitat County 2000 2000
Percent 2010 2010
Percent 2000‐2010
Growth
2000‐2010 Percent Change
2010 WA State
Percent
Drive Alone 5,505 71.8% 5,810 75.3% 305 5.5% 72.3%
Carpool 1,182 15.4% 854 11.1% ‐328 ‐27.7% 11.6%
Transit 51 0.7% 14 0.2% ‐37 ‐72.5% 5.6%
Bicycle or Walked 363 4.7% 465 6.0% 102 28.1% 4.3%
Motorcycle/Other 90 1.2% 65 0.7% ‐25 ‐27.8% 1.2%
Worked at Home 473 6.2% 525 6.8% 52 11.0% 5.1%
Totals 6,285 100.0% 7,666 100.0% 1,380 22.0% 100.0%
Mean Travel Time to Work (minutes) 21.9 n/a 19.5 n/a ‐2.4 n/a 25.4
Chapter 3: Identification of Regional Transportation Needs 21
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Chapter 3: Identification of Regional Transportation Needs
Current Functional Classification of the Regional Roadway System Functionalclassificationisthegroupingofhighways,roads,andstreetsbythecharacterofservicetheyprovide.Comprehensivetransportationplanningusesfunctionalclassificationtodeterminehowtravelcanbechannelizedwithinthenetworkinalogicalandefficientmanner.Afunctionalclassificationdefinesthemajorrolethataroadorstreetserveswithinthetotalexistingandfutureroadwaynetwork.Insimpleterms,highways,streets,androadsfunctionasarterials,collectors,orlocalaccess.Arterialsprovidethehighestdegreeofmobilityandlimitedaccesstolocalproperty.Collectorsgenerallyprovideequalemphasisuponmobilityandlandaccess.Localroadsandstreetsemphasizelandaccessinlieuofmobility.
TheWashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation(WSDOT)hastheprimaryresponsibilityfordevelopingandupdatingthehighwayfunctionalclassificationsystem.Theyworkcooperativelywithlocalandregionalagenciesindevelopingandupdatingthefunctionalclassificationsystem.TheFederalFunctionalClassificationsystemforKlickitatCountyroadshasbeencompletedandresultedinacountywideuniformclassificationsystem.Generally,facilitiesclassifiedasMajorCollectororaboveinruralareasareeligibleforfederalfunding.FurtherinformationonthefunctionalclassificationofroadscanbefoundonWSDOT’swebsite.Astatewidemapofthefederalfunctionalclassificationisavailable,allowingthezoomingintoKlickitatCountyandCitydetail.
ISTEAalsorequiredthatroadsbedesignatedasNationalHighwaySystem(NHS)facilities.CongressapprovedtheNHSSystemwithpassageoftheNationalHighwaySystemDesignationActof1995.InKlickitatCounty,theHoodRiverBridge,SR‐97,andSR‐14(betweentheSkamaniaCountylineandSR‐97)aredesignatedasNHSfacilities.
In1999,thestatelegislatureadoptedHighwaysofStatewideSignificance,fulfillingarequirementofHouseBill1487passedin1998.InKlickitat,SR‐97andSR‐14
Chapter 3: Identification of Regional Transportation Needs 22
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
(betweentheSkamaniaCountylineandSR‐97)aredesignatedasHighwaysofStatewideSignificance.
Adescriptionoftheruralfunctionalclassificationcategoriesfollows:
Rural Principal Arterials
Ruralprincipalarterialsaresub‐dividedintotwosets(1)interstatefacilitiesand(2)otherprincipalarterials.Ruralprincipalarterialsservecorridormovementshavingtriplengthandtraveldensitycharacteristicsofstatewideorinterstatetravel.Theyconsistofaconnectedruralnetworkofcontinuousroutes.
Rural Minor Arterials
Inconjunctionwiththeprincipalarterials,theruralminorarterialsformaruralnetworkwhichlinkcitiesandlargertownstogetherwithothermajortrafficgenerators.Theprincipalarterialsandruralminorarterialsarespacedatsuchintervalsthatalldevelopedareasofthestatearewithinareasonabledistanceofanarterialhighway.Minorarterialsshouldbeexpectedtoprovideforrelativelyhighoveralltravelspeedswithminimuminterferencetothroughmovement.
Rural Major Collector Roads
Ruralmajorcollectorsprovideservicetolargertownsnotdirectlyservedbythehighersystemsandtoothertrafficgeneratorsofequivalentimportance.Ruralmajorcollectorsservethemoreimportanttravelcorridorswithinthecounty.
Rural Minor Collector Roads
Ruralminorcollectorsarespacedatintervals,consistentwithpopulationdensity,tocollecttrafficfromlocalroadsandprovidedevelopedareaswithreasonable
Chapter 3: Identification of Regional Transportation Needs 23
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
distancetoacollectorroad.Ruralminorcollectorsprovideservicetotheremainingsmallercommunitiesandlinkthelocallyimportanttrafficgeneratorswithsurroundingruralareas.
Rural Local Roads
Localstreetsprovidedirectaccesstoabuttinglandandaccesstothehigherclassificationfacilities.Theyofferthelowestlevelofmobility.Theyarenotintendedtocarrythroughtraffic;however,theydomakeupalargepercentageofthetotalstreetmileage.
Designation of the RTP Regional Transportation System Consistentwiththestate’sRegionalTransportationPlanningProgramPlanningStandards,theRTPregionaltransportationsystemhasbeendesignatedtoinclude:
1. Allstatetransportationfacilitiesandservices(includingstatehighways).
2. Alllocalprincipalarterials(thedefinitionofruralprincipalarterialscanbethesameasusedforfederalclassificationorberegionallydetermined).
3. Allothertransportationfacilitiesandservices,includingairports,transitservicesandfacilities,roadways,bridges,railfacilities,marinetransportationfacilities,etc.thattheRTPOconsidersnecessarytocompletetheregionalplan.
4. Anytransportationfacilityorservicethatisregionallyneededorimpactsplacesintheplan,asdeterminedbytheRTPO.
AdetaileddescriptionofthedesignatedRTPRegionalTransportationSystemfollows:
All State Transportation Facilities and Services
InKlickitatCountythiscategoryincludesthefollowingStateRoutes:SR‐14,SR‐35,SR‐97,SR‐141,SR‐141Spur,SR‐142,andSR‐197.
SR‐14providesthemaineast‐westaccessfromtheSkamania/KlickitatCountylinetosouth‐eastBenton/KlickitatCountylinealongthenorthbankoftheColumbiaRiver.Thefacilityhasonelaneineachdirectionandextends88.76milesthroughKlickitatCountybetweenSkamaniaCountyandBentonCountylines.
SR‐35willprovideafuturelinkacrosstheColumbiaRivertoOregonintheBingen/WhiteSalmonarea.CurrentlytheHoodRiverBridgeisservingasthislink.
Chapter 3: Identification of Regional Transportation Needs 24
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
SR‐97providesthemainsouth‐centralaccessfromtheColumbiaRiver(Oregon)tonorth‐centralYakima/KlickitatCountyline,throughGoldendalethecountyseat.Thefacilityhasonelaneineachdirectionandextends33.52milesthroughKlickitatCountybetweentheStateofOregonandYakimaCountyline.
SR‐141providesnorthandsouthaccessfromBingentotheSkamania/KlickitatCountylinenearTroutLake.Thefacilityhasonelaneineachdirectionandextends29.19milesfromSR‐14toitsendattheSkamania/KlickitatCountyline.
SR‐141SpurprovidesnorthandsouthaccessfromSR‐14neartheKlickitat/SkamaniaCountylinetoSR‐141northwestofWhiteSalmon.Thefacilityhasonelaneineachdirectionandextends2.16miles.
SR‐142providesaccessfromLyletoGoldendale.Thefacilityhasonelaneineachdirectionandextends35.29milesfromSR‐14(Lyle)toSR‐97(Goldendale).
SR‐197providesnorthandsouthaccessfromTheDalles,Oregon,acrosstheColumbiaRivertoSR‐14.Thefacilityhasonelaneineachdirectionandextends3.18milesfromtheColumbiaRivertoSR‐14nearDallesport,Washington.
All Local Principal Arterials
InadditiontoStateRoutes,theonlyotherruralprincipalarterialinKlickitatCountyistheHoodRiverBridge.
TheHoodRiverBridgehasaverticalliftspanandcrossestheColumbiaRiverbetweenHoodRiver,OregonandWhiteSalmon,Washington.ItconnectsInterstate84/U.S.Route30ontheOregonsidewithWashingtonStateRoute14.Thefacilityhasonesubstandardlaneineachdirectionandisapproximatelyonemilelong.
All Other Transportation Facilities and Services Considered Necessary to Complete the Regional Transportation Plan
Theseincludetransitservicesandfacilities,roadways,railfacilities,airports,marinetransportationfacilities,etc.
Rural Major Collectors
Alllocalmajorcollectorsaredesignatedaspartoftheregionaltransportationsystem.MajorcollectorsincludesuchfacilitiesasMapleSt.,N.MainSt.,DockGradeRd.,DewaltDrive,EstesAv.,AlderdaleRd.,McKinleySpringsRd.,RooseveltGrade/EastRd.,BickletonHwy.,BZ‐GlenwoodHwy.,GlenwoodHwy.,TroutLakeHwy./SunnysideRd./WarnerRd.,SnowdenRd.,CanyonRd.,CentervilleHwy.,
Chapter 3: Identification of Regional Transportation Needs 25
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
DallesportRd.,NWLoopRd.,SouthColumbusAv.,HorseshoeBendRd./SimcoeMtn.Rd,Mt.AdamsRd,W.DarlandRd.,RailroadAv.,S.RooseveltSt.,SimcoeDr.,andOldHwy8.
Port Facilities
KlickitatCountyhasonePortDistrict,theKlickitatCountyPortDistrict#1.ThisPortDistrictisnotacountywideportdistrict,butdoesincludemostofwesternKlickitatCounty.TheportdistrictdoesexcludethecountyseatofGoldendale.ThePortofKlickitatownsandoperatestwobusiness/industrialparkswithinthecounty.First,theporthas142acresofcommercial/recreational/lightindustrialzonedproperty,whichfrontstheColumbiaRiveratRiverMile172,locatedtothesouthoftheCityofBingen.Thisbusinessparkincludesapproximately55acresofdevelopableproperty,30acresoflakeandwetland,a18acreboatbasin,andaboatlaunchandparkarea.Secondly,theporthasa660acreindustrialparkatDallesport.Theparkisservedbyallutilities,rail,andabargedockfacility.ThepropertyislocatedontheColumbiaRiveratRiverMile192,upriverfromTheDallesDam,andisadjacenttoSR‐197,onemilefromInterstate84inOregon,andonemilefromtheDallesportregionalairport.
TheregionaltransportationsystemincludesimportantPortroads,suchasMarinaWay,LarchSt.,BingenPointWay,DockRd.,DowRd.,andParallelAv.ThiswouldalsoincludethenewrailroadundercrossingthatWSDOTplanstoconstructin2020betweenSR‐14andMarinaWaytoimproveaccesstoBingenPoint.
Airport Facilities
TherearetwopublicairfieldscurrentlyoperatinginKlickitatCounty.TheairfieldsarelocatedinGoldendaleandDallesport.TheairfieldinDallesport(TheColumbiaGorgeregionalAirport)isco‐ownedandoperatedbytheCityofTheDalles(Oregon)andKlickitatCounty.TheColumbiaGorgeRegionalAirportalsoincludesabusinesspark.TheGoldendaleMunicipalAirportisacityownedairportwithrunwayandtiedownarea.
Inadditiontopublicairfields,thereareseveralprivatelandingstripsinKlickitatCounty.ThenearestregionalairportwithdomesticandinternationalpassengerandfreightserviceisthePortlandInternationalAirport(PDX).PDXislocatedinPortland,Oregon,approximately70mileswestoftheBingen/WhiteSalmonarea.
Bridges
AllpublicbridgesincludingColumbiaRiverbridgesaredesignatedaspartoftheregionaltransportationsystem.Allbridgesareimportanttothemovementofpeopleand
Chapter 3: Identification of Regional Transportation Needs 26
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
goodswithintheregion.OfgreatimportancearethosebridgesthatcrosstheColumbiaRiver.
TherearethreebridgesinKlickitatCountycrossingtheColumbiaRiverbetweenWashingtonandOregon,connectingSR‐14toInterstate84.TheHoodRiverBridgeisatwolanedtollbridgeownedandmaintainedbythePortofHoodRiver,connectingHoodRiver,OregontoBingen/WhiteSalmon,Washington.TheSR‐197BridgeisatwolanedbridgeconnectingTheDalles,OregontoDallesport,Washington.TheSR‐197BridgeismaintainedbyODOT.TheSR‐97BridgeisatwolanedbridgeconnectingBiggsJunction,Oregon,andMaryhill,Washington.TheSR‐97BridgeismaintainedbyWSDOT.
Inaddition,theWashingtonStateLegislaturedesignatedanSR‐35corridorinthe1997legislativesession.TheSR‐35corridorwillprovideafuturelinkacrosstheColumbiaRivertoOregonintheBingen/WhiteSalmonarea.ADraftEnvironmentalImpactStatementforafuturerivercrossingintheSR‐35corridorwascompletedin2004,aTypeSizeandLocationStudywascompletedin2011,andaFinalEnvironmentalImpactStatementwillbethenextstepintheprojectdevelopmentprocess.
Columbia River
Historically,theColumbiaRiverhasalwaysbeenanimportanttransportationcorridortoKlickitatCounty.TheColumbiaRiver,asatransportationcorridor,isusedtodaytomovegoodsbybargeandpeoplebyboat.TourboatsalsovisittheColumbiaRiveranddockwithintheregion.
Chapter 3: Identification of Regional Transportation Needs 27
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Public Transportation
KlickitatCountySeniorServicesrunsMt.AdamsTransit.Mt.AdamsTransitoperatesageneraldemandresponsepublictransportationsysteminKlickitatCounty.Serviceincludesbothbusesandvolunteerdrivers.
Although,thedial‐a‐rideserviceprovidespreferencetoseniorsandpersonswithdisabilities,allCountyresidentsareeligible.Themajorityofsystemtripsareformedical,socialservices,shopping,andeducationalopportunities.Mt.AdamsTransportationgoestoallareasofKlickitatCounty,TheDalles,andHoodRiveronaregularbasis.Mt.AdamsTransportationoftengoestothePortland/VancouverandYakimaregionsformedicalservices.
Beginninginthesummerof2018Mt.AdamsTransitwillstarttwonewweekdayfixedbusroutesthatwillrunfromapproximately7amto7pm.OneroutewillconnectWhiteSalmonandBingentoHoodRiver,OregonandtheotherroutewillconnectGoldendaletoTheDalles,Oregon.TheWhiteSalmonroutewillconnecttoboththeHoodRiverCityRouteandtotheColumbiaGorgeExpressroute.TheseconnectionswillprovideKlickitatCountyresidentswithservicearoundtheCityofHoodRiver(ColumbiaAreaTransit)andtoCascadeLocks,MultnomahFalls,RoosterRockStatePark,andPortlandGatewayTransitCenter(ColumbiaGorgeExpress.
GrantsthroughtheWashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportationareessentialinmaintainingtheexistingservice.In1998,thevotersofKlickitatrejected,byasmallmargin,anincreaseinsalestaxtofundaPublicTransportationBenefitArea(PTBA).
Mt.AdamsTransitparticipateswithGorgeTransLinkcoalition.TheGorgeTransLinkisanallianceoftransportationprovidersofferingpublictransportationservicesthroughouttheMid‐ColumbiaRiverGorgeareaaswellastodestinations,suchasPortlandandVancouver.ThegoalofthiscoordinationeffortistoimproveinterconnectivitybetweenthevarioustransitprovidersintheMid‐ColumbiaRiverRegioninbothOregonandWashington.
Rail Facilities
ThereisonemainraillineinuseinKlickitatCountywhichprovidesfreightandpassengerservice.BurlingtonNorthernSantaFeRailroad(BNSF)ownstherailline.TheBNSFVancouver/EasternWashingtonlinehasonetrackingoodconditionwithapproximately60trainsoperatingonthemdaily.WithinKlickitatCounty,therearevitaltransfersiteslocatedatBingen,Dallesport,Roosevelt,andWishram.AMTRAKalsohasanagreementwithBNSFtooperatepassengerserviceonthefreightcarrier’sraillines.Sevendaysaweek,theAMTRAKEmpireBuildertravelsthroughKlickitatCountybotheastandwestbetweenPortland,OregonandChicago,Illinois,withstopsinBingenandWishram.
Alongthemainrailline,therearesevenpublicandnumerousprivateat‐graderailroadcrossingsinKlickitatCounty.Thepublicat‐graderailroadcrossingsarelistedinTable3‐1.
Chapter 3: Identification of Regional Transportation Needs 28
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Table 3‐1: Klickitat County Public Railroad Crossings
Road Warning System
Dock Grade (White Salmon) Warning Lights and Drawbars
Walnut St. (Bingen) Warning Lights (Soon to be upgraded)
Maple St. (Bingen) Warning Lights and Drawbars
Old Ferry Rd. (Dallesport) Warning Lights
Horsethief Park Stop Sign
Avery Rd. Warning Lights
Stonehenge Rd. (Maryhill) Warning Light and Drawbars
Enhancements
Transportationenhancementsaredesignedaspartoftheregionaltransportationsystem.Enhancementsincludefacilitiesforbicyclesandpedestrians,scenicvistas,thematicsignage,reststops,touristinformation,androadsidebeautificationalongtheregionalroadnetwork.
Growth in Traffic Volumes Asaresultofsocio‐economicanddemographicchangesdescribedinChapter2,KlickitatCountyhasseenanincreaseintrafficvolumesinrecentyears,especiallyaroundthecommunitiesofBingen/WhiteSalmonandDallesport.WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportationcompilestrafficcountdataalongStateRoutes.ExamplesofgrowthintrafficvolumesatselectedlocationsalongStateRoutesinKlickitatCountyarelistedinTable3‐2:
Table 3‐2: Traffic Volumes 2004 to 2017
Location Leg 2004
Volumes 2017
Volumes % Increase
SR‐14 at SR‐141 Spur E 6,600 8,400 27%
SR‐14 at Hood River Br. E 8,300 12,000 45%
SR‐14 at SR‐97 E 4,700 4,700 0%
SR‐14 at Benton Co. Ln. W 830 1,100 32%
SR‐197 at Columbia Rv. N 5,300 7,200 36%
SR‐97 at Columbia Rv. N 5,100 5,400 6%
SR‐97 at Goldendale N 4,800 5,200 8%
Future Travel Demand FutureautotraveldemandwasforecastedfortheKlickitatCountyregionbasedonhistorictrends,netchangesinlanduseandactivitylevels,applyingappropriate
Chapter 3: Identification of Regional Transportation Needs 29
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
trafficgenerationrates,andthenusingtripdistributioninformationtodeterminethedirectionoftravel.
TheRTPnetworkisconsideredtobethesametransportationnetworkasexiststoday.Itisusedonlyasabasecasescenarioforforecastingfuturetraveldemandandpotentialtrafficvolumesonroadsegmentsanddoesnotconstitutearecommendednetwork.TrafficvolumescoulddiffersignificantlyfromthosethatresultfromthefuturetripassignmentontotheRTPnetworkifsignificantchangestothepopulation,landuse,ortransportationsystemoccur.
BurlingtonNorthernSantaFeoperatestheeast‐westrailroadroutealongtheWashingtonsideoftheColumbiaRiverGorgeandthroughKlickitatCounty.Thisrouteiscurrentlyexperiencingcapacityconstraintsandwillcontinuetointhefuturewithoutsomekindofexpansion.Withamoderateincreaseinpopulation,KlickitatCountyhasadequateairportfacilities.TheColumbiaRiversystemisanimportanttransportationcorridorforthemovementofgoods.Inordertomeetthetraveldemandassociatedwiththiscorridor,itwillbeessentialtopreserveappropriatechanneldepthsandwidthsforshippingandtomaintaincurrentlockhandlingcapacity.Walkingandbicyclingareintegralpartsofthetransportationsystem.Peoplewalkandbikeforvarioustrips.Walkingandbicyclingtripsareusuallyshortanddemandisgreaterinurbanareas.However,thereisademandforbicyclingfacilitiesalongmajorcorridorsandroutes.Publictransitisanimportantaspectofthetransportationsystem,especiallyforthosewithlimitedincome,elderly,anddisabled.Withanagingpopulationandpercapitaincomelowerthanthestateaverage,thedemandforpublictransitislikelytoincreaseinKlickitatCounty.
Levels of Service Levelsofservicestandardsrepresenttheminimumperformanceleveldesiredfortransportationfacilitiesandserviceswithintheregion.Theyareusedasagaugeforevaluatingthequalityofserviceonthetransportationsystemandcanbedescribedbytraveltimes,travelspeed,freedomtomaneuver,trafficinterruptions,comfort,convenience,andsafety.TheselevelsofservicearedesignatedAthroughF,frombesttoworst.LevelofserviceEdescribesconditionsapproachingandatcapacity.Foruninterruptedflowconditions,thefollowingdefinitions1apply:
LevelofServiceAdescribesfreeflowconditions,withlowvolumesandhighspeeds.Thegenerallevelofcomfortandconvenienceprovidedtothemotorist,passenger,orpedestrianisexcellent.
LevelofServiceBisintherangeofstableflowbutthepresenceofotherusersinthetrafficstreambeginstobenoticeable.Freedomtoselectdesiredspeedsisrelativelyunaffected,butthereisaslightdeclineinthefreedomtomaneuverwiththetrafficstreamfromLevelofServiceA.
1 From Highway Capacity Manual
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LevelofServiceCisstillintherangeofstableflow,butmarksthebeginningoftherangeofflowinwhichtheoperationofindividualusersbecomessignificantlyaffectedbyinteractionswithothersinthetrafficstream.Thegenerallevelofcomfortandconveniencedeclinesnoticeablyatthislevel.
LevelofServiceDrepresentshigh‐density,butstableflow.Speedandfreedomtomaneuverareseverelyrestricted,andthedriverorpedestrianexperiencesagenerallypoorlevelofcomfortandconvenience.
LevelofServiceErepresentsoperatingconditionsatornearthecapacitylevel.Allspeedsarereducedtoalow,butrelativelyuniformvalue.Comfortandconveniencelevelsareextremelypooranddriverorpedestrianfrustrationisgenerallyhigh.
LevelofServiceFdescribesforcedorbreakdownflow.Theseconditionsusuallyresultfromqueuesofvehiclesbackingupfromarestrictiondownstream.Operationswithinthequeuearecharacterizedbystop‐and‐gowaves,andtheyareextremelyunstable.
Level of Service Standards In1998,theWashingtonStateLegislaturepassedtheLevelofService(LOS)Bill.TheBillsetnewrequirementsrelatingtotransportationandgrowthmanagementplanning.Theintentofthelegislationwastoenhancethecoordinationofplanningeffortsandplanconsistencyatthelocal,regional,andstatelevel.Thekeyapplicableelementsinclude:
HighwaysofStatewideSignificance:TheStatemustgivehigherprioritytocorrectingidentifieddeficienciesontransportationfacilitiesofstatewidesignificance.DesignationofHighwaysofStatewideSignificance(HSS)wascompletedin1999.InKlickitatCounty,theHSSsystemincludesSR‐97andSR‐14,betweentheSkamaniaCountylineandSR‐97.WSDOThasestablishedanLOS‘C’forruralHSSfacilitieslikeSR‐14.
Non‐HighwaysofStatewideSignificance:Non‐HSSstatehighways,otherwiseknownasHighwaysofRegionalSignificance,inKlickitatCountyincludetheremainingportionofSR‐14,SR‐141,SR‐142,andSR‐197.TheRTPOhasestablishedanLOS‘C’forruralnon‐HSS.
Capacity Analysis TheHighwayCapacityManualmethodologywasusedtoanalyzeroadwaylevelofservicewithintheKlickitatCountyRegionbasedonP.M.peakhourtraffic.Inaddition,thereareseverallocationswithcapacitydeficienciesassociatedwithsubstandardcurvesandsteepgrades,whichcreateaparticularproblemonsome
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facilitiesduetothemixoftrucks,recreationalvehicles,andautos.DeficientsegmentsassociatedwithcapacityareincludedinTable3‐3.
Table 3‐3: Deficient Capacity Segment
Road Mile Post Deficient Capacity Segment LOS
SR‐14 65.95‐66.96 Bingen C
SR‐14 100.2‐101.44 SR‐14 Maryhill Spur to SR‐97 C
Hood River
Bridge
Columbia
River
Hood River Bridge: between SR‐14 and I‐84 C
SR‐97 0.00‐12.67 Biggs Rapid Bridge to End Climbing Lane C
SR‐97 20.29‐27.16 Allen Creek Road to Ski Lodge Road C
SR‐97 30.80‐31.44 Satus Creek Bridge Vicinity C
Safety Analysis Improvingsafetyforallmodesoftransportationiscriticaltoimprovingqualityoflifeandimprovingaccessforallthecitizensoftheregion.WashingtonState’sStrategicHighwaySafetyPlan,TargetZero,establishesastatewidepolicyofzerofatalitiesandzerodisablinginjurycollisionsby2030.TargetZero,helpstoassessthesafetyneedsstatewide,encouragingandpromotinggoodsafetypracticesinthedesignandoperationofthetransportationsystem,aswellaspromotingsafetybysystemusers.TargetZerosetsstate‐widepriorities,providesaresourceforpotentialstrategies,andmonitorsoutcomeatastatewidelevel.
StatewidetrafficsafetyprioritieswereusedtodisplayKlickitatCountyfatalityandseriousinjurydata.Table3‐4showstheKlickitatCountyFatalityandSeriousInjuryFactorsbystatewideprioritiesbetweenyears2014‐2016.Sincemorethanonefactoriscommonlyinvolvedinmostcollisions,thefatalitiesandseriousinjuriesby
factordonotmatchthetotalsatthebottomofthetable.TheTotalsatthebottomofthetablerepresenttheactualnumberoffatalities(16)andseriousinjuries(58)overthethreeyearperiod.
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Table 3‐4: Klickitat County Fatality and Serious Injury Factors, 2014‐2016
Fatalities Serious Injuries
# of People % of Total # of People % of Total
Priority Level One
Run Off the Road 5 71.4% 24 61.5%
Impaired Driver Involved 2 28.6% 11 28.2%
Distracted Driver Involved 1 14.3% 9 23.1%
Speeding Involved 1 14.3% 9 23.1%
Intersection Related 1 14.3% 4 10.3%
Young Driver Involved 0 0.0% 9 23.1%
Priority Level Two
Unrestrained Vehicle Occupants 2 28.6% 8 20.5%
Motorcyclist 1 14.3% 4 10.3%
Unlicensed Driver Involved 1 14.3% 0 0.0%
Opposite Direction Multi‐vehicle 0 0.0% 5 12.8%
Pedestrian 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Priority Level Three
Older Driver 75+ Involved 2 28.6% 4 10.3%
Heavy Truck Involved 1 14.3% 5 12.8%
Drowsy Driver Involved 0 0.0% 5 12.8%
Bicyclist 0 0.0% 1 2.6%
Wildlife 0 0.0% 1 2.6%
Vehicle‐Train 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Work Zone 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
School Bus Involve 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
Total 16 58
WashingtonStateStrategicSafetyPlan,TargetZero,includesspecificobjectivesandstrategiestohelpreducetrafficfatalitiesandseriousinjuriesforeachoftheprimaryfactors. Within Klickitat County, the focus should be on implementing strategiesthataddressthehighestprioritizingfactors.
Washington State Department Unstable Slopes
WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation(WSDOT)begantheirUnstableSlopeManagementSystemin1993.Thismanagementsystemincorporatedanumericalslopehazardratingsystem.Theratingsystemutilizesamatrixevaluatingelevencategories.In2004anenvironmentalassessmentofSR‐14
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unstableslopeswascompleted.Ofthesitesinvestigated,3priorityprojectswereidentifiedinKlickitatCounty.PriorityprojectshadanUnstableSlopeManagementSystemratinggreaterthan200.Thosewithratingsabove300totalpointsrepresentarelativelyhighhazardslope.ABenefittoCost(B/C)Ratioisthenusedtodetermineprojectpriority.Table3‐5liststhepriorityprojectsalongSR‐14inKlickitatCounty.
Table 3‐5: Priority Unstable Slope Project along SR 14
Road Mile Post Rating B/C Ratio Improvement
SR‐14 68.75‐69.10 429 Remove debris/Euromesh/Reslope
SR‐14 73.18‐73.87 303 3.61 Rockfall ditch
SR‐14 77.31‐77.67 525 2.03 Scaling/Fence/Euromesh
Tunnels
TherearetwotunnelsalongSR‐14inKlickitatCounty,nearLyle.Thesetunnelshavea24footpavementwidth,noshoulders,lighting,orbicyclewarningsystem.Thetunnelsarearchedwithacenterclearanceseveralfeethigherthanthe13.5footclearanceattheouteredgeofthepavement.Trucks,especiallythoseunfamiliarwiththetunnels,frequentlystraddlethecenterlinecreatingadangeroussituation.
Trucks
Interstate84(I‐84)andStateRoute14(SR‐14)areparalleleast/westhighwaystravelingthroughthesouthernportionoftheKlickitatregion.I‐84isa4‐laneInterstatefacilitylocatedinOregonandSR‐14isarural2‐laneStateHighwaylocatedinWashington.Bothroutesarepublicroutesthatareopentoalllegaltrucks.Asaruralhighway,SR‐14islessconducivetothroughtrucktrafficbecauseofsharpcurves,steepgrades,andheightrestrictions.ThroughtrucktrafficshouldbeencouragedtouseI‐84toincreasemobilityandsafety.
TheOregonDepartmentofTransportationestimatesa4‐5%avoidanceoftheOregonWeightMileTaxstate‐wide.However,a1997SR‐14TruckSurveyfoundthat8%to13%ofthetrucksonSR‐14maybeavoidingtheOregonWeightMiletax.AslongasWashingtonandOregonStateshavedifferenttrucktaxationmethods,sometruckerswillchoosetouseSR‐14tolowertheiroverallcosts.
Recreational Parking
Thegrowthinrecreationhascreatedaparkingcapacityissueatpopularrecreationalsites,whichoftenleadstoillegalparkingandsafetyissuesonthetransportationsystem.
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Preservation and Maintenance Need Ofoverwhelmingimportanceintheplanningfortheregionaltransportationsystemistheneedtomaintainandpreservetheexistingsysteminordertoprotecttheheavyinvestmentsalreadymadeinthesystem.TheRTPsupportsprojectsprogrammedintheTransportationImprovementProgramtomaintainandpreservetheregionaltransportationsystem.
WashingtonStatehasdevelopedaBridgeManagementSystem,aproceduretovisuallysurveybridgeconditions.Thissystemisintendedtoassistwiththeprioritizationofbridgereplacementandmaintenance.ProjectswithimmediateneedsareprogrammedintotheStateorlocalSix‐YearTransportationImprovementProgram.Thereareseveralbridgesindeterioratingcondition,orofsubstandardwidththatneedtobereplacedwithinthenext20years.TheHoodRiverBridgeisregularlyinspectedbytheOregonDepartmentofTransportation.MaintenanceandrepairsaremadebythePortofHoodRiver,whoownsthebridge.
APavementManagementSystemhasbeendevelopedforpavementconditiononallstateroadfacilities.Thissystemisintendedtoassistwiththeprioritizationofpavementpreservationandtorespondtorecentlyobservedconditionsandpredictprobablefutureconditions.WSDOTandlocaljurisdictionsvisuallyinspectpavementconditionsoffacilitiestodetermineneededmaintenanceandpreservation.ProjectsthathavereachedaconditionthatwarrantsrehabilitationareprogrammedintotheStateandlocalTransportationImprovementPrograms.
BurlingtonNorthernSantaFeRailroadmaintainstheBNSFmainraillinethroughKlickitatCounty.ThePortofHoodRivermaintainstheHoodRiverBridge.TheGoldendaleandTheDallesmunicipalairportsareoperatedandmaintainedbytheCityofGoldendaleandKlickitatCounty/CityofTheDalles,respectively.UnderthedirectionoftheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,theColumbiaRiverismaintained.LocaljurisdictionsandWSDOTmaintainbicycleandpedestrianfacilities.
TheRegionalTransportationplansupportsadditionaltransportationdollarsforthepreservationandmaintenanceoftheregionaltransportationsystem.
Hood River Bridge Replacement
TheHoodRiverBridgewasoriginallybuiltin1924andisoneofthreebridgestraversingtheColumbiaRiverintheColumbiaRiverGorgeNationalScenicArea.ThebridgeconnectsthecommunitiesofWhiteSalmonandBingen,Washington,withHoodRiver,Oregon.
TransportationagenciesfromWashingtonandOregonhavebeenevaluatingtheneedtoreplacethebridgesince1998.In2004,afeasibilityanddraftenvironmentalimpactstatementwerecompleted.In2011aType,Size,andLocationStudywascompleted.
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Thepreferredbridgealignmentislocateddirectlywestoftheexistingbridge.ThebridgewouldtieintotheexistingbridgeaccessroadontheOregonsideandwithanewintersectionatSR‐14.Thepreferredbridgealternativewouldbeatwolaneconcretesegmentalboxgirderbridge,withshouldersandamultiusepathway.Thenewbridgewouldnotneedaliftspan.
In2018,theregionalpartnerswillbegintheworktocompleteaFinalEnvironmentalImpactStatementforthereplacementoftheHoodRiverBridge.
SR‐14 Bingen/White Salmon Circulation Study In2017,SR14fromSR141AlttoalocationjusteastoftheeasternBingencitylimitswasstudiedtoidentifytransportationneedswithinthecorridor.TheStudyrecommendedpedestrian,intersection,andotherhighwayimprovementswhichcouldimprovetheoperationsandfunctionalityofSR‐14throughtheCitiesofBingenandWhiteSalmon.ThefinalStudyreportandrecommendationscanbefoundonRTC’swebsite.
Enhancement Need Thereisaneedtodevelopandimprovefacilitiesforbicycles,pedestrians,scenicvistas,restareas,thematicsignage,roadsidebeautification,recreationalparkingandotherenhancementswithinKlickitatCounty.TheRegionalTransportationPlansupportscosteffectiveenhancementstothetransportationsystem.
Economic Development Need Theprosperityofaregionisdependentontheprovisionoftransportationinfrastructuretosupporteconomicdevelopment.Themovementofgoodsbyhighway,rail,water,andairareessentialtotheeconomyofKlickitatCounty.
TheRTPsupportsthedevelopmentofanall‐weatherroadnetworkforthemovementofpeopleandgoodswithintheregion.Thisall‐weatherroadnetworkshouldincludeallfacilitiesfunctionallyclassifiedasmajorcollectorsandabove.Thisall‐weatherroadnetworkwillprovidethetransportationinfrastructurenecessaryforthemovementofgoodstomarket,andwillstrengthenthelocaleconomy.
TheRTPsupportsthereplacementoftheHoodRiverBridge.TheHoodRiverBridgeisamajortransportationcorridorprovidingaccessbetweensouthwestKlickitatCountyandHoodRiver,Oregon.TheHoodRiverBridgeprovidestheprincipleaccessforsouthwestKlickitatCountytoemployment,services,andgoods.Thisfacilityisimportantforthemovementoflocalgoods(fruitandtimber)tomarket.Thisfacilityisessentialtotheregionsdiversificationbyprovidingaccessand
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
employmentopportunitiesrelatedtothetourism/recreationalsector.Theexistingfacilityisnarrowandinadequatetohandlethedemandsoftheregion.Thefacilityisagingandwilllikelyneedtobereplacedwithinthenext15‐20years.ThelocaleconomydependsheavilyontheHoodRiverBridge,ensuringanadequatereplacementfacilityisahighpriorityfortheregion.
TheRTPsupportsimprovedaccesstoportfacilitiessuchasBingenPointandDallesportIndustrialPark.ThiswouldalsoincludethenewrailroadundercrossingthatWSDOTplanstoconstructin2020toimproveaccesstoBingenPoint.
TheRTPsupportsimprovementstothetransportationsystemthatwillgiveprimeconsiderationtoeconomicdevelopmentandthesafe,efficientmovementofpeopleandfreight.Specifically,freightproducedbyormaterialnecessaryfortheoperationofbusinessesandindustrieswithinKlickitatCounty.
Emerging Technology
Emergingtechnologyisageneraltermthatisusedtodescribedevelopmentsintransportationtechnology.Thiscouldincludeawiderangeoftechnologysuchasautomatedvehicles,connectedvehicles,carsharing,carhailing,travelerinformation,automatedtolls,andsmartcities.
Technologyisalreadybeginningtotransformthewaypeoplemove.Individualsareincreasinglyusingsmartphoneapplicationstohelpthemmaketraveldecisions.Ridesharingandhailingservicesarebecomingincreasinglypopularthroughouttheworld.Vehiclesafetytechnologyisbeingdevelopedtoensurethesafetyandsecurityofautomobiles.Thesetechnologychangesarelikelytohavesignificantimplicationsonhowpeopletravelinthefuture.
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Chapter 4: Financial Plan
Overview PotentialtransportationimprovementprojectsproposedinthisPlanareintendedtomeettheRTPgoalsandpolicyobjectiveasoutlinedinChapterOne.Thesegoalsandpoliciesincludemakingthemostefficientuseofandenhancingtheexistingtransportationsystem.
Theavailabilityoffederal,state,andlocalmoneyswillhaveasignificantimpactontheabilitytofundproposedprojects.Thischapterdescribesrevenuesourcesanddiscusseschangestorevenuesourcesasaresultoffederalandstatelegislation.Theprojectionoffundingabilityisbasedonhistoricalfundinglevels.TheabilityoftheprojectedfundingtomeetRTPcostsisdetermined.
Transportationhastraditionallybeenfundedby“userfees”.Today,themajortaxsourcestofundtransportationarethegastax,vehiclelicenses,permits,andfees.Gastaxisimposedatthefederallevel($0.184pergallon)andattheStatelevel($0.494pergallon)andisdevotedtoroadwaypurposes.
Challenges and Accomplishments TheRTPfacesconsiderablechallengesforfundingthetransportationsystemintothefuture.Overthelastdecadefewerdollarshavebeenspentonthetransportationsystemastransportationrevenueshavedeclined.Asthetransportationsystemages,thecostofpreservingandmaintainingtheexistingtransportationsystemhasincreased.Thereisaneedtohaveapublicdiscussiononhowtransportationcostwillbepaidforinthefuture
TheRTPwaslastadoptedin2014;sincethattime,anumberofimprovementshavebeencompletedorwillsoonbecompletedalongtheregionalsystemwithinKlickitatCounty.Thecompletedimprovementsincludethereconstructionofseveralregionallysignificantcountyroads,safetyprojects,transportationenhancementsprojects,andthemaintenanceandpreservationprojects.
Inaddition,theBingenPointAccessprojectwasfundedthroughthe2015ConnectingWashingtonFundingPackage,andwillbeconstructedin2020.ThisprojectwillconstructaroundaboutonSR‐14atElmSt.whichwillprovideaccessundertheBNSFrailroadtrackstoaccessE.MarinaWaywithinthePort.
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Plannedfuturetransportationimprovementswillcontinuetomaintainandenhancetheexistingtransportationsystem.WithoutadditionalrevenuetherewillbelimitedopportunitiestoimprovetheKlickitatCountyregionaltransportationsystem.
Revenue Sources
Federal Funding
Thefederalgastaxandothertransportationfeesandtaxesarethemajorfederalrevenuesourcesfortransportationfunding.OnDecember4,2015,PresidentObamasignedintolawtheFixingAmerica’sSurfaceTransportation(FAST)Act.TheFASTActisthefirstfederallawinoveradecadetoprovidelong‐termfundingcertaintyforsurfacetransportationinfrastructureplanningandinvestment.TheFASTActauthorizes$305billionoverfiscalyears2016through2020forhighway,highwayandmotorvehiclesafety,publictransportation,motorcarriersafety,hazardousmaterialssafety,rail,andresearch,technology,andstatisticsprograms.Inaddition,theFASTActincludesanumberofprovisionsdesignedtoimprovefreightmovementinsupportofnationalgoals.
TheFASTActauthorizesasingleamounteachyearforalltheapportionedhighwayprogramscombined.ThatamountisapportionedamongtheStates,andtheneachState’sapportionmentisdividedamongtheindividualapportionedprograms.PartofWashingtonState’sapportionmentisthenallocatedtoregionssuchasKlickitatCounty,whoselectslocaltransportationprojectsforfunding.ThefollowingisabriefdescriptionofmajorFASTActfundingprograms:
Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA)
TheFASTActestablishestheNationallySignificantFreightandHighwayProjectsprogramtoprovidenationallycompetitivegrantstonationallyandregionallysignificantfreightandhighwayprojects.TheActrequiresthataminimumof25%oftheINFRAgrantsgotoprojectsinruralareas.TheActalsostatesthatprojectsinanationalscenicareaareeligibleforINFRAgrant.TheUSDepartmentofTransportationselectsprojectsforfunding.
National Highway Performance Program (NHPP)
TheFASTActcontinuestheNationalHighwayPerformanceProgram,whichwasestablishedunderMAP‐21.TheNHPPprovidessupporttoensurethatinvestmentsoffederal‐aidfundsinhighwayconstructionaredirectedtosupportprogresstowardtheachievementofperformancetargetsestablishedwithinastate’sassetmanagementplans.WSDOTselectsprojectsforfunding.
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
TheFASTActcontinuestheHighwaySafetyImprovementProgram(HSIP)toachieveasignificantreductionintrafficfatalitiesandseriousinjuriesonallpublicroads,includingnon‐State‐ownedpublicroadsandroadsontriballands.TheHSIPrequiresadata‐driven,strategicapproachtoimprovinghighwaysafetyonallpublicroadsthatfocusesonperformances.WSDOTselectsprojectsforfunding.
Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG)
TheFASTActconvertsthelong‐standingSurfaceTransportationProgram(STP)intotheSurfaceTransportationBlockGrant(STBG)ProgramacknowledgingthatthisprogramhasthemostflexibleeligibilitiesamongalltheFederal‐aidHighwayprogramsandaligningtheprogram’snamewithhowFHWAhashistoricallyadministeredit.TheSTBGpromotesflexibilityinStateandlocaltransportationdecisionsandprovidesflexiblefundingtobestaddressStateandlocaltransportationneeds.
STBG‐Rural (STP‐Rural):FormulaallocationforprojectsoutsidetheUrbanAreaboundary.TheCountyselectsprojects.
STBG‐State (STP‐State):FormulaallocationtotheWashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation,foruseonStatehighwayprojects.TheStateselectsprojects.
Transportation Alternatives (TA):TheFASTActreplacedtheTransportationAlternativesProgram(TAP)ProgramwithasetasideoftheSurfaceTransportationBlockGrant(STBG)Program.Theseset‐asidefundsincludeallprojectsandactivitiesthatwerepreviouslyeligibleunderTAP.RTCselectsprojectsfortheRTPOregion.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
CDBGfundsareadministeredbytheDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment(HUD).Fundscanbeusedforpublicfacilities,economicdevelopment,housing,andcomprehensiveprojectswhichbenefitlowandmoderateincomehouseholds.Projectsareselectedbythecounty.
Federal Lands Highways:
TheFederalLandsHighwaysProgramprovidesfundsforprojectsthatimproveaccesswithinfederallands.
State Funding
TheStateGasTaxistheprimaryStatesourceofhighwaymaintenanceandarterialconstructionfunds:
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
TheWashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportationadministersstateandfederalfundedstatehighwayprojects.Statetransportationrevenuesaredividedintoseparateprograms.Thebudgetfortheseprogramsisdeterminedbythestatelegislature.WSDOTthenprioritizesprojectsanddetermineswhichprojectscanbeconstructedwithinthebudgetofeachprogram.
WSDOT Grant Programs
WSDOTadministersmanytransportationrelatedgrantsthatareavailabletolocalagencies.However,mostoftheseprogramsaredependentonthelegislatureallocatingfundingandcanvaryfromyeartoyear.
Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) Programs
TheWashingtonStateLegislaturecreatedtheTransportationImprovementBoard(TIB)tofosterstateinvestmentinqualitylocaltransportationprojects.TheTIBdistributesgrantfunding,whichcomesfromtherevenuegeneratedbythreecentsofthestatewidegastax,tocitiesandurbancountiesforfundingtransportationprojects.TheTIBidentifiesandfundsthehighestrankingtransportationprojectsbasedoncriteriaestablishedbytheBoardforeachprogram.
Small City Arterial Program (SCAP):Fundingprovidedtopreserveandimprovethearterialroadwaysystemforcitiesunder5,000population.Alocalmatchof5%orgreaterisrequired;ajurisdictionwithapopulationunder500needs0%localmatch.
Small City Pavement Preservation Program (SCPPP):Providesfundingforrehabilitationandmaintenanceofthesmallcityroadwaysystem.
Relight Washington:ProvidesfundingforcitiesconvertingtomoreenergyefficientLEDstreetlights.
Complete Streets:Thisprogramfundslocalgovernmentarterialretrofitstoimprovesafeaccessforallusers:pedestrians,bicyclists,motorists,publictransportationusers,andtruckdrivers.
Federal Match:Fundingprovidedtomeetthelocalmatchofsomefederallyfundedprojectsinsmallcities(populationunder5,000).TheTransportationImprovementBoardfundsaremadeavailablefollowingapprovaloffederalfunds.
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
County Road Administration Board (CRAB)
TheCountyRoadAdministrationBoard(CRAB)wascreatedbytheLegislaturein1965toprovidestatutoryoversightofWashington’sthirty‐ninecountyroaddepartments.CRABmanagestwograntprogramstoassistcountiesinmeetingtheirtransportationneeds.
Rural Arterial Program (RAP):Thisisastatefundforfinancingarterialroadimprovementsinruralareas.RAPfundscannotbeusedforright‐of‐way.Projectsareratedbyfivecriteria.ProjectsareselectedbytheCountyRoadAdministrationBoard.
County Arterial Preservation Program (CAPP):Fundingisprovidedforthepreservationofexistingpavedcountyarterials.FundingisprovidedtocountiesasdirectallocationbasedonpavedarteriallanemilesbytheCountyRoadAdministrationBoard.
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO)
TheRCOmanagesninegrantprograms,includingthelargestparkgrantprograminthestateofWashington.RTOcreatesandmaintainsopportunitiesforrecreation,protectsthebestofthestate’swildlands,andcontributestothestate’sefforttorecoversalmonfromthebrinkofextinction.
Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB):
CERBwasestablishedbythelegislaturetomakeloansand/orgrantsforpublicfacilities,includingroads,whichwillstimulateinvestmentandjobopportunities,reduceunemployment,andfostereconomicdevelopment.TheCommunityEconomicRevitalizationBoardselectsprojects.
Local Funding
Localrevenuecomesfromavarietyofsourcessuchasgastax,propertytax,salestax,permits,fees,andprivatedevelopment.
Local Gas Tax Revenue
Thisisthedistributionofthestategasolinetaxtothecitiesandcountiesbasedoneachjurisdiction’spopulation.
Road Improvement District (RID)
RID’scanbeformedandfundedbypropertiesbenefitingfromanimprovement.Theyareusuallyformedattherequestofpropertyowners.Localgovernmentwillbuildtheprojectusingrevenuebondsfromtheroadimprovementdistrict.
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Frontage Improvement Agreements
Developmentsareoftenrequiredtoconstructfrontageimprovementsasaconditionoftheirdevelopment.Incaseswherethedevelopmentabutsaproposedroadimprovementproject,itmaybebeneficialforthedevelopertopaylocalgovernmentfortheirshareofthefrontageimprovementandforlocalgovernmenttoconstructtheimprovementaspartoftheoverallcapitalproject.
Transit Revenues
Revenuesourcesthathavebeendescribedpreviouslyaregenerallyintendedforroadwayimprovements.Thetransitsystemisgenerallyfundedbyfareboxproceeds,federalandstategrants,Medicaid,andotherlocalfunds.
Fare Box
PatronsoftheMountAdamsTransportationServicepayafaretousetheservice.Thefarerevenuespayforaportionoftheoperatingcost.
Consolidated State and Federal Grants
TheWashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportationisresponsiblefordistributingavarietyofstateandfederalgrantsforpublictransportationprograms.WSDOTcreatedaconsolidatedapplicationprocessthatisusedforbothstateandfederalpublictransportationgrants.Applicantsonlyneedtosubmittheirproposalsfortransitfundingeverytwoyears.
Medicaid
EligiblemedicaltripsarefundedbyMedicaid.
Local Funds
SeniorTransportationisfundedinpartbytheSouthwestAgencyonAgingandKlickitatCounty.Inaddition,UnitedWayprovidesadditionalpublictransitfunding.
Revenue Assumptions SHB1928requirestheRTPbe‘fiscallyconstrained’or“includeafinancialplandemonstratinghowtheregionaltransportationplancanbeimplemented,indicatingresourcesfrompublicandprivatesourcesthatarereasonablyexpectedtobemadeavailabletocarryouttheplan,andrecommendinganyinnovativefinancingtechniquestofinanceneededfacilities,services,andprograms.”Theremustbeabalancebetweenforecastrevenuesandcostsofidentifiedtransportationsystemimprovements.Withlimitedrevenuesavailableforfundingtransportationimprovements,themostcost‐effectivetransportationsolutionsmustbeidentified
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
andselected.ThefollowingoutlinestheassumptionsandmethodologyusedfortheRTPrevenueforecast.
WSDOTprovidedhistoricaldatafortransportationrevenuesforyears2003through2014(12‐yearperiod).
Totaltransportationrevenuewasestimatedfora22‐yearperiodthrough2040,usingthefollowingapproach:1)calculatedannualKlickitatCountytransportationrevenueforyears2003‐2014;2)increasedannualrevenueby10%toreflectagrowingeconomy;3)multipliedtransportationrevenueby85%toreflecttherevenueavailablefortheregionaltransportationsystem;4)multipliedaverageannualregionaltransportationrevenueby22years;5)Add$22millionfromtheConnectingWashingtonstatewidetransportationfundingpackage;6)Added$22millionfromafuturestatewidetransportationpackage.
TheregionalrevenueestimateaccountsforthetrendthatKlickitatCountyreceivesa$1.42returnforeverydollarcontributedbyKlickitatCountyresidents.
Included$22millionfromthe2015ConnectingWashingtonTransportationPackage.
Assumedtheequivalentofanewstatewidetransportationfundingpackageof10centspergallon.WithKlickitatCountyreceivingapproximately$25milliondollarsoverthe22‐yearperiod.
TheRTPassumesrevenuesandcostsin2015dollars.
Table4‐1containsprojectedtransportationrevenuesfortheregionaltransportationsystem.Basedonthisestimate,theKlickitatCountyregionwouldhaveapproximately$238.9millionintransportationrevenueavailableoverthenext22years.
Table 4‐1: Projected Revenue
Revenues Annual Average 22 Year Forecast
Transportation Revenue $9,312,000 $204,854,000
2015 Connecting Washington $1,000,000 $22,000,000
New State Revenue Package $1,136,000 $25,000,000
TOTAL $11,448,000 $249,854,000
Cost Assumptions Thefollowingoutlinestheassumptionsandmethodologyusedtoestimatecosts:
WSDOTprovidedhistoricaldatafortransportationexpendituresforyears2005through2014(10‐yearperiod).
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Futuremaintenanceandpreservationcostswerebasedontrendsfromyears2005‐2014.Thefullmaintenanceandpreservationneedissignificantlyhigherthantheavailablecost.
Costfortransportationimprovementsarebasedonplanninglevelcostestimates.
Costforothermodessuchasrail,air,andriverareassumedtobemetoutsideoftheRTP.
Table4‐2containsprojectedtransportationcostfortheregionaltransportationsystem.Basedonthisestimate,theKlickitatCountyregionwouldhave$183.8millioninmaintenanceandpreservationcost,$66.1millioninimprovementcost,and$242.7millioninillustrativeneedscostoverthenext22years.
Table 4‐2: Projected Cost
Cost Type 22‐Year Forecast
Maintenance & Preservation $183,800,000
Improvement Projects $66,100,000
Illustrative Needs $245,700,000
Balancing Revenue and Cost The“fiscallyconstrained”testfocusesonassuringthatthereisareasonableexpectationthatrevenueswillbeavailabletoprovideforthetransportationimprovementsidentifiedintheRTP.Basedontherevenueassumptionsdescribedinthischapter,thereareinsufficientresourceswithintheregiontomeetthemaintenance,preservation,andimprovementneedsoftheregionaltransportationsystem.Ifadditionalresourcesarenotobtained,therewillbeinadequatefundsforallofthetransportationimprovementneeds.ThefundingandcostdifferenceisillustratedinFigure5‐1.TomeetthefinancialconstraintsoftheRTP,someimprovementneedshavebeenmovedtoanillustrativelist.
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Figure 4‐1: Transportation Revenue and Cost
$183.8 $66.1 $245.7
$249.9
0 100 200 300 400 500
Costs
Revenues
Millions of Dollars
Maintenance and Preservation
Improvement Projects
Illustrative Needs
Transportation Revenue
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Chapter 5: System Improvement and Strategy Plan 47
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Chapter 5: System Improvement and Strategy Plan
Overview Thischaptersummarizesthesolutionsandstrategiesneededtoprovideanadequatelevelofregionalmobilityoverthenext20years.Awiderangeofsolutionsandstrategiesareneededtomeettheregionaltraveldemand.Therearestrategiestoaddressthetraveldemandsideaswellastransportationsystemsupplysideandstrategiestoincreasetheefficiencyoftheexistingregionaltransportationsystemaswellasstrategiestoprovideforasafertransportationsystem.ThesolutionsandstrategiesoutlinedinthischapterwillprovideKlickitatCountyresidentswithawell‐maintained,structurallysound,saferegionaltransportationsystem.Indevelopingabalancedregionaltransportationsystem,itisnotonlycapacityandsafetydeficienciesthatmustbeaddressedbutalsopreservationandmaintenanceoftheexistingregionaltransportationsystem.Thischapterconcludeswithaprioritizedlistoftransportationsystemimprovements.
ThesolutionsandstrategiesfortheKlickitatCountyregionaltransportationsystemhavebeendividedintosubheadings.Maintenanceisthedailyoperationsthatkeepthetransportationsystemsafe,clean,andefficient.Preservationisaninvestmentthatprolongsthelifeofthetransportationsystem.Improvementsaremodificationsthatincreasethesafety,mobility,andeffectivenessofthetransportationsystem.Miscellaneousincludesspecificimprovementswhichmaybeincludedunderoneoftheothersubheadingsoristiedtoaspecificfundingsource,thusnocostestimateisprovidedforthesestrategies.Illustrativeincludesadditionaltransportationprojectsthathavebeenidentifiedandcurrentlylacksourcesoffunding.
Maintenance and Preservation Ofprimeimportanceintheplanningfortheregionaltransportationsystemistheneedtomaintainandpreservetheexistingtransportationsystem.
Maintenancewilladdresstheday‐to‐dayactivitiesneededtokeepthetransportationsystemingoodworkingorder;dailyoperationsthatkeepthesystemsafe,clean,reliableandefficient.Suchactivitiesincludefillingpotholes,repairing
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bridges,repairingdrainageditches,repairingguardrails,replacingdamagedsigns,plowingsnow,removingrocks,andefficientlyoperatingtrafficsignals.Preservationcanprolongthelifeoftheexistingtransportationsystemthroughsuchprojectsasrepavingroads,rehabilitatingbridges,androckfallprotection.
TheWashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation(WSDOT)andlocaljurisdictionsmonitortheconditionandoperationoftheexistingsystemandprogramprojectstomaintainandpreservethesystem.TheRTPsupportstheroutine,regularly‐scheduled,andnecessarymaintenanceandpreservationworkidentifiedbylocalandstateagencies.TheRTPsupportsmaintenanceandpreservationbeinggivenhighpriorityintheprogrammingoftransportationfunds.Theestimated22yearpublicmaintenanceandpreservationexpenditurefortheregionaltransportationsystemis$183.8million.Thisdoesnotreflectthefullmaintenanceandpreservationneed.
Improvements Inaddition,theRegionalTransportationPlanrecommendstransportationimprovementsneededtoprovideanadequatelevelofsafetyandregional.Improvementsshouldberelatedtoanidentifieddeficiency,asidentifiedinChapter3(safety,capacity,economicdevelopment,non‐motorizedmode,andbridge).Improvementswouldincludeaddinglanes,removingadangerouscurves,intersectionimprovements,gradeseparation,addingtransportationenhancements,improvingsightdistance,addingaclimbinglane,realignmentofaroadway,andaddingalternativemodesoftransportation.Theestimated22yearimprovementcostis$66.1million.
Illustrative Projectsthataddressanidentifieddeficiency,butdonothaveidentifiedrevenue,arecontainedintheIllustrativeProjectslist.Theseprojectsareconsidered“financiallyunconstrained,”becauseestimatedresourceswouldnotcoverprojectcosts.
TheIllustrativeProjectshave“conceptualimprovements”indicatedandestimatedcostsidentified.Theseconceptualimprovementswillnotbecomecommittedprojectsuntilfurtherstudyiscompleted;includingmovingthroughtheregionaltransportationplanningprocessandpotentialrevenuehasbeenidentified.Inmanycases,theIllustrativeprojectswillrequirefurtherstudyoffeasiblealternatives.Theestimated22yearimprovementcostis$245.7million.
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Miscellaneous Strategies and Solutions TheRTPsupportsstrategiesforbridges,safety,economicdevelopment,non‐motorizedmodes,andtransitthatwillsupportthemobilityofpeopleandgoodswithinKlickitatCounty.
Bridge Deficiencies
Maintenance,preservation,andreplacementprojectsrequiredonbridgesareidentifiedthroughtheBridgeManagementSystem(BMS)administeredbyWSDOT.
Theregionhasidentifiedthelong‐termneedtoreplacethefunctionallyobsoleteHoodRiverBridge.Theregionmustcontinuetoworkcollaborativelyonthislong‐termneed.
Safety Deficiencies
Accidentsandtheirnumber,location,andtypearemonitoredbyWSDOTandlocaljurisdictions.Ifthereisdeemedtobeasafetydeficiency,thencountermeasuresareconsideredandcorrectiveactiontaken.
Economic Development and Freight Transportation Deficiencies
Theprosperityofaregionisdependentontheprovisionoftransportationinfrastructuretosupporteconomicdevelopment.EconomicdevelopmentemergedasaprimeevaluationcriterionforprioritizingprojectsfortheRegionalTransportationPlan.
WSDOThasadoptedaStatewideFreightandGoodsTransportationSystem,whichcategorizeshighwaysandlocalroadsaccordingtothetonnageoffreighttheycarry.WashingtonStatealsocreatedtheFreightMobilityStrategicInvestmentBoard(FMSIB)withamissiontocreateacomprehensiveandcoordinatedstateprogramtofacilitatefreightmovementbetweenandamonglocal,national,andinternationalmarketsthatenhancestradeopportunities.
TheWashingtonStateLegislaturehasdefinedthepurposeofthestate’sfreightrailprogramandplanningactivitiesandestablishedacomprehensivefreightrailpolicy.ThispolicydirectsWSDOTtomaintainandimprovethestatefreightrailsystemthroughbetterfreightrailplanning,bettercooperationtopreserveraillines,andincreasedfinancialassistancefromthestate.
WashingtonandOregonhaveidentifiedthedeepeningofthelowerColumbiaRiverchannelto43feetasessentialforthemovementoffreight.Thisimprovementwillhelpkeeptheregioneconomicallycompetitiveinthefuture.
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Non‐Motorized Transportation Deficiencies
Thedevelopmentofnon‐motorizedtransportationmodesisastrategythatwillmaximizethecapacityoftheexistingtransportationsysteminurbanareas.Reducedrelianceonautomobilesislargelydependentonthedevelopmentofadequatesidewalksandbikeways.Pedestrianandbicycleneedsaremostappropriatelyidentifiedatthelocallevel.
Transportationdemandmanagement(TDM)strategiestoreducevehicletripsontheregionaltransportationsystemcanincludeuseoftransit,carpooling,vanpooling,workingofflex‐hoursand/orcompressedworkweek,andworkingfromhomewithuseofcommunicationstechnology.
Transportationsystemmanagement(TSM)isalsoastrategytomaximizetheefficiencyoftheexistingtransportationsystem.TSMmeasuresincludeawiderangeofstrategies,mostofwhicharerelatedtotheuseofintelligenttransportationsystems.Theseincludeincidentresponseprograms,programstomonitortravelconditions(weather/congestion),variablemessagesignagetoalertmotoristoftravelconditions,andIntelligentVehicle/HighwaySystems.OtherTSMelementsincludeminorcapitalupgradessuchaschannelizationatintersections.
Transit Deficiencies
Transitisimportantinmeetingthemobilityneedsofthetransitdependent;thoseunabletodriveautomobilesbecauseofage,infirmity,disability,orlowincome.Transitcanalsomeetthemobilityneedsforcommutetripstoandfromemploymentcenters.
Conclusion TheRTPprovidesforstrategiesandsolutionstomeetregionaltraveldemandandtodevelopabalancedregionaltransportationsystemoverthe22‐yearplanningperiod.ProjectsareidentifiedintheRTPandthenprogrammedinthelocalTransportationImprovementProgram.Table5‐1providesalistingofneededimprovementsfortheregionaltransportationsystem.Thistableincludesalistofprojectsforwhichregionalneedhasbeenidentifiedandforwhichthereisstrongregionalcommitment.Thelistfocusesonsafetyimprovementssincethesearetheprojectsthataremostreadilyneeded.Thelistalsoidentifiesawiderangeoftransportationsystemimprovementsthatwillcontributetothedevelopmentofabalancedregionaltransportationsystem.
Aprioritizationprocesshelpstheregiontomakemosteffectiveuseoflimitedtransportationfundingtomeettransportationsystemimprovementneeds.TheprojectslistedinTable5‐1wereprioritizedbasedontheregionalprioritizationprocess.Thefollowingkeyissueswereconsideredintheprioritizationprocess:1)Safety,2)EconomicDevelopment,3)Congestion,4)Connectivity,5)Support,and6)Cost/Funding.
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Table 5‐1: Klickitat County Transportation Improvement Projects
Rank Facility Mile Post Location Existing Condition Improvement Cost*
(millions)
Unranked All N/A Klickitat County Existing transportation system
Preservation and Maintenance Ongoing
Unranked All N/A Klickitat County Existing transportation system
Safety Improvements Ongoing
Unranked All N/A Klickitat County Existing transportation system
Transportation Enhancements Ongoing
Unranked All N/A Klickitat County Existing transit system Maintain and improve public transit
Ongoing
Fully Funded
SR‐14 66‐67 Port of Klickitat: Bingen Point
At‐grade crossing at Maple St.
Grade‐separated RR crossing $22.0
1 SR‐35 N/A White Salmon to Hood River
Hood River Bridge Bridge replacement: design and right‐of‐way
$10.0
2 N/A N/A Klickitat County Existing rural arterials Reconstruct to all‐weather roads $20.0
3 SR‐14 66.41 Oak (SR‐141) to Maple Intersections Roundabouts or Signalized $0.5
4 SR‐14 65.5‐66.4 Downtown Bingen One lane each direction Radar Speed sign, pedestrian crossings, sidewalk
0.4
5 SR‐97/ SR‐14
2.3‐2.8 Maryhill Spur SR‐97/SR‐14 Offset intersections Study: Intersection improvement
$1.0
6 SR‐97 25.4‐27.2 Brooks Park to Ski‐Lodge Rd
One lane each direction Study Passing lane $0.8
7 SR‐14 63.5‐77.7 SR‐14 within Klickitat Co. Existing rockfall locations Rockfall protection $5.0
8 SR‐14 63.5‐64.8 SR‐141 Alt. to Dock Grade Narrow two‐lane road Study: Improve width and grade $1.0
9 SR‐14 75.8‐76.3 Lyle Uncontrolled access Design sidewalk and curbs $0.3
10 SR‐97 14.5‐21.3 Little Klickitat Rv ‐ Allen Cr One lane each direction Study: Passing lanes $1.8
11 SR‐141 2.0‐6.9 White Salmon to Northwestern Lake Rd. Vic.
Sharp curves Study: Realignment of curves $2.0
12 SR‐197 0.8‐1.2 Dallesport Rd. to Dock Rd. Intersections Add left turn pocket, acceleration and deceleration lane
$1.0
13 SR‐141 0.8‐1.2 Ash St. to SE 10th St. Uncontrolled access Design Sidewalk and curbs $0.2
14 SR‐142 12.3‐13.6 Klickitat Av. to Durkee Rd. Uncontrolled Access Design Sidewalk and curbs $0.1
Total $66.1
*Theseareplanninglevelestimatesandadditionalworkwillbeneededtodetermineactualcost.
Table5‐2providesalistingofneededimprovementsalongtheregionaltransportationsystemthatdonothaveanidentifiedrevenuesource.Theseprojectswillbeaddedtothecommittedlistwhenadequatefinancialresourcesareidentified.
Table 5‐2: Illustrative Needs
Rank Facility Mile Post Location Existing Condition Improvement Cost*
(millions)
1 SR‐35 N/A White Salmon to Hood River Hood River Bridge Bridge replacement (WA Share) $105.0
2 SR‐97 2.3‐2.8 Maryhill Spur SR‐97/SR‐14 Offset intersections Intersection improvement $68.0
3 SR‐97 25.4‐27.2 Brooks Park to Ski‐Lodge Rd One lane each direction Passing lane $8.0
4 SR‐14 63.5‐64.8 SR‐141 Alt. to Dock Grade Narrow two‐lane road Improve width and grade $12.0
5 SR‐14 75.8‐76.3 Lyle Uncontrolled access Add sidewalk and curbs $2.7
6 SR‐97 14.5‐21.3 Little Klickitat Rv ‐ Allen Cr One lane each direction Passing lanes $18.0
7 SR‐141 2.0‐6.9 White Salmon to Northwestern Lake Rd. Vic.
Sharp curves Realignment of curves $26.0
8 SR‐14 0.8‐1.2 Ash St. to SE 10thSt. Uncontrolled access Sidewalk and curbs $3.0
9 SR‐142 12.3‐13.6 Klickitat Av. to Durkee Rd. Uncontrolled Access Design Sidewalk and curbs $3.0
Total $245.7
*Theseareplanninglevelestimatesandadditionalworkwillbeneededtodetermineactualcost.
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Chapter 6: Performance Monitoring 53
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Chapter 6: Performance Monitoring
Overview Thetransportationplanningprocessrequiresthatmonitoringofsystemperformancetakesplace.Monitoringoftheregionaltransportationsystem’sperformanceisanongoingactivity,whichataminimum,willoccuraspartofthereviewoftheRegionalTransportationPlan(RTP).TheRTPmustbereviewedatleasteverytwoyears.Severalelementsofsystemmonitoringactivitiesaredescribedbelow.
Safety Monitoringofcollisiondataandrockfallisanongoingactivityoftheregionaltransportationsystem.CollisiondatawillbecollectedandstudiedbasedonathreeyearcollisionrateaspartofeachRTPupdate.Thecollisionrateswillbeusedtoidentifytheperformanceofthetransportationsystembyidentifyingdeficientroadsegments.Highcollisionlocationswillbeusedasatoolforidentifyingimprovementstrategiestoalleviateasafetyproblem.
Inaddition,WSDOTwillmonitorrockfall.FutureupdatesoftheRTPwillcontainthemostrecentrockfallinformation.Rockfalllocationswillbeusedasatoolforprioritizingrockfallimprovements.
Capacity Analysis Trafficvolumeswillbeusedasatoolformonitoringtrafficcongestionandforidentifyingimprovementstrategiestoalleviatethecongestion.TheHighwayCapacitySoftwarewillbeusedtoanalyzethelevelofservicealongtheregionaltransportationnetwork.Deficientsegmentswillbeanalyzedtoidentifyimprovementstrategiestoalleviatecongestion.
Preservation and Maintenance Local,regional,andstatetoolsarebeingusedtomonitorpreservationandmaintenanceneeds.WashingtonStatehasdevelopedaBridgeManagementSystem
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
andPavementManagementSystemtoidentifydeficientconditionsalongroadwaysandbridges.Thesetoolsalongwithothertoolsareongoingactivitieswhichmonitorpreservationandmaintenanceneedsoftheregionaltransportationsystem.
Special Studies Localandstatestudiesandplansareoccasionallyundertakenwhichmonitortheperformanceofthetransportationsystem.Asthesespecialstudiesorplansarecompleted,theassociatedinformationwillbeincludedinthenextupdateoftheRegionalTransportationPlan.
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Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Chapter 7: Plan Development and Implementation
Public Involvement in Regional Transportation Planning Process SouthwestWashingtonRegionalTransportationCouncil(RTC)hasanadoptedPublicParticipationPlanoutliningthepublicinvolvementeffortsinthedevelopmentofregionaltransportationplansandprograms.CopiesofthePublicParticipationPlanareavailablefromRTC’sWebsiteoroffice.AllRTCBoardmeetingsandtheKlickitatCountyTransportationPolicyCommitteemeetingsareopentothepublic.Publicinvolvementeffortsbuildfromthosecarriedoutatthelocallevelindevelopmentoflocalplansandprogrammingoftransportationprojects.
ApublicmeetingisheldtoadopttheKlickitatCountyRegionalTransportationPlan.AmendmentstotheRTParepresentedtoboththeKlickitatCountyTransportationPolicyCommitteeandtheRTCBoardofDirectorsfortheirconsiderationandadoption.Transportationissues,studies,plans,andprogramsareoutlinedandreportedonRTC’swebsiteathttp://www.rtc.wa.gov.
RTP Implementation Implementationofregionaltransportationgoals,policies,andactionsestablishedbytheKlickitatCountyRegionalTransportationPlan(RTP)arecarriedforwardthroughalocalandregionaldecision‐makingprocess.ThroughthelocaldevelopmentofaTransportationImprovementProgram(TIP),transportationneedsidentifiedintheRTPareprogrammedforreceiptoffunds.
RTP Update Process TheRTPistobereviewedatleasteverytwoyearsandhasbeenupdatedoramendedmanytimesovertheyears.Shouldchangingpolicies,financialconditions,orgrowthpatternswarrant,anRTPupdateoramendmentwilloccur.
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ResultsandrecommendationsfromtransportationstudiesandimprovementswillbeincorporatedintofutureRTPupdates.ThenextreviewtotheRTPisanticipatedin2020,withthenextupdateby2022.
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Glossary
Abbreviation Description
B/C Benefit Cost Ratio
BEA U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
BNSF Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad
BMS Bridge Management System
CAPP County Arterial Preservation Program (CRAB Grant Program)
CDBG Community Development Block Grant (HUD Grant Program)
CERB Community Economic Revitalization Board
CRAB County Road Administration Board
FAST 2015 Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act
FMSIB Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board
GMA Growth Management Act
HSP State Highway System Plan
HSIP Highway Safety Improvement Program (Federal Funding Program)
HSS Highways of State‐wide Significance
HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development
INFRA Infrastructure For Rebuilding America
LOS Level of Service
MCEDD Mid‐Columbia Economic Development District
MPO Metropolitan Planning Organization
NHS National Highway System (Federal Funding Program)
NHPP National Highway Performance Program (Federal Funding Program)
OFM Washington State’s Office of Financial Management
Scenic Area Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
NHPP National Highway Performance Program (Federal Funding Program)
NHS National Highway System
PTBA Public Transportation Benefit Area
RAP Rural Arterial Program (CRAB Funding Program)
RID Road Improvement District
RTC Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council
RTP Regional Transportation Plan
RCO Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
RTPO Regional Transportation Planning Organization
SCAP Small City Arterial Program (TIB Grant Program)
SCPPP Small City Pavement Preservation Program (TIB Grant Program)
SHB Senate House Bill
SR‐ State Route
STBG Surface Transportation Block Grant (Federal Funding Program)
STP Surface Transportation Program
TA Transportation Alternatives Program
TDM Transportation Demand Management
Glossary 58
Regional Transportation Plan for Klickitat County
Abbreviation Description
TIB Transportation Improvement Board
TIP Transportation Improvement Program
TSM Transportation System Management
WSDOT Washington State Department of Transportation
WTP Washington Transportation Plan