Transportation Permit Efficiency and Accountability Committee

Local Government Task Force (LGTF)

Need/Purpose  |  Vision  |  Objectives  |  Authorization  |  Primary Membership  |  Products  |  Other Significant Events/Milestones  |  Level of Effort  |  Results  |  Lessons Learned 

Need/Purpose:  This task force was created to gain an understanding of the issues facing WSDOT when interacting with local governments. The primary regulations examined include Growth Management Act Critical Area Ordinances; Shoreline Management Act Substantial Development Regulations and local noise regulation pertaining to construction activities. This group is also examining concerns of local governments in obtaining access permits issued by WSDOT and the ability of local governments to use programmatic permits created under TPEAC for WSDOT.

Vision:  Identify permits for which uniform standards can be developed for local governments. The task force is to identify strategies for local governments to adapt these standards and best practices for those permits.

Objectives: 

• Identify one or more county and city permits for activities for which uniform standards can be developed for application by local governments.

• Identify strategies for local governments to adapt standards and best practices to include in local permits.

Authorization:  ESB 6188 Sec 6 established procedures for local government participation in processes; ESB 5279 Sec 2-6 calls for TPEAC to appoint a task force.

Primary Membership: 

Co-chairs:  

• Patty Lynch (Washington State Department of Transportation)

• Jackie White (Association of Washington Cities)

Representatives from the Washington State Departments of Transportation, Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, and Washington State Association of Counties and Association of Washington Cities participated.

Products:  Read more about the Task Force's products in the Library.

• Finalized WSDOT Development Services Manual
• Nighttime Noise Programmatic Permits

Other Significant Events/Milestones:

• Summer 2003 LGTF established

• Ongoing Participation in TPEAC sub-committees to ensure LGTF interests are met

• Summer 2003 Research accomplished on case studies

• Fall 2003 Survey tool developed

• Fall 2003/winter 2004 Outreach/interviews conducted to all WSDOT Regions

• Winter 2004 to present Outreach/interviews conducted to local governments

• Winter 2004 Outreach/interviews conducted to transportation organizations

• Winter 2004 Identification of key LGTF products and issues to be resolved

• Winter 2004 to present Shorelines Management Act research, analysis as it relates to programmatic and maintenance activities Final Report

• Winter 2005 to 3/06 Outreach to local governments on upcoming TPEAC streamlined enhancements

• Winter 2005 to 3/06 Participate on watershed based mitigation sub-committee, permit delivery sub-committee, full committee of TPEAC, and future sub-committees or work groups appointed by TPEAC as applicable.

• Winter 2005 to 3/06 Develop streamlined process for shoreline permits

• Winter 2005 to 3/06 Monitor current JARPA progress with King County and continue to work with the JARPA team

• Winter 2005 to 3/06 Monitor local government pilots testing watershed based mitigation concepts.

• Winter 2005 to 3/06 Monitor City of Renton progress with “noise programmatic permit”

• Winter 2005 to 3/06 Develop an education program for TPEAC streamlined permit enhancements for local and state agencies

• Winter 2005 to 3/06 Institutionalize Developer Services Manual

Level of Effort:

Results:  The LGTF has fulfilled most of its legislative mandate and is on course for meeting the remainder of the TPEAC legislative requirements. As noted in this report, several county and city permit activities have been selected to test uniform standards. In the case of programmatic noise permits, the City of Renton has developed a five-year uniform programmatic standard for noise permits with WSDOT. Many counties and cities are now beginning to use programmatic standards such as bridge washing and channel maintenance and repair and King County is working with the JARPA team to do an online permit application process. Whatcom and Walla Walla counties are in the beginning stages of a watershed based mitigation program. Ongoing efforts to encourage additional local governments to use streamline permit methods developed by TPEAC are underway by both Associations.

Lessons Learned:  Early involvement and knowledge of the regulatory process is critical to an effective permit delivery system.