Transportation Permit Efficiency and Accountability Committee

Pilot Projects Subcommittee

Need/Purpose:  Identify and oversee transportation pilot projects for application of environmental permit streamlining processes.

Vision:  Experiment with innovative approaches that can lead to measurable success in streamlining permit processes.

Objectives: 

• Identify and select 3 pilot projects to test permit reform methods:
  1. Urban: urban near built-out conditions
  2. Urban/Rural: urban center serving as a crucial rural connector
  3. Rural: rural corridor critical to statewide economic productivity
• Present pilots to TPEAC for approval by resolution
• Test environmental permit streamlining process on approved pilots

Authorization:  Sec. 5 of ESB 6188 directed TPEAC to select and conduct 3 permit reform pilot projects.

Primary Membership: 

• Co-Chairs: 

  • Shari Schaftlein, WA Department of Transportation

   

• Other members and agency staff have included:

  • WA Department of Ecology:  Scott Boettcher, Kelly Craig, Melodie A. Selby, Terry Swanson

  • WA Department of Fish and Wildlife:  Gayle Kreitman, Steve Penland, Bob Zeigler

  • WA Department of Transportation:  Stacy Camerer, Ernest Combs, Kimberly Farley, Kerry Grant, Linda Healy, Phil Kauzloric, Linea Laird, Bill Sauriol, Virginia Stone, Stacy Trussler, Beva Ubias

  • WA Office of Community Development:  David Andersen

  • WA State Legislature:  Mary Fleckenstein (House Democratic Caucus), Senator Dan Swecker (Senate Republican Caucus), Jennifer Zeigler (Senate Transportation Committee Counsel)

  • US Environmental Protection Agency:  Jonathan Freedman

  • US Federal Highway Administration:  Sharon Love

  • Associated General Contractors of WA:  Willy O'Neil

  • Association of Washington Business:  Grant Nelson

  • Association of Washington Cities:  Ashley Probart, Tricia Thompson

  • Consulting Engineers Council of WA:  Dan Dixon

  • Washington State Association of Counties:  Jackie White

  • Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council:  Peter Coates

  • Statewide Environmental Groups:  Virginia Gunby, Pat Mateson

Products: 

• Two pilot projects using multi-agency interdisciplinary teams

• Development of draft Interdisciplinary Team Guidance

• Development of on-line JARPA

Other Significant Events/Milestones:

• 9/01-11/01: Identified potential projects, conducted site visits, preliminary screening by WSDOT
• 11/01: Presented recommended pilot projects to TPEAC; TPEAC designates streamlining pilot projects recommended by subcommittee:
  • Urban: I-405/SR 167 Interchange
  • Urban/Rural: SR 24 over the Yakima River, from I-82 to Keyes Road
  • Rural: Replacement of east half of the Hood Canal Bridge
• 2/02-12/02; 6/03-?: SR 24 Pilot tests One-Stop Process (break due to lack of project funding)
• 3/02-6-7/03: Hood Canal Pilot tests One-Stop Process
• 4/02-11/02: I-405 Project does not progress due to lack of funding
• 11/02: Merged with One-Stop Subcommittee