Virtual meeting takes place March 14 and 15

OLYMPIA – The March 14 and 15 meeting of the Washington State Transportation Commission will include discussions on the Right of Way Safety Initiative for those living homeless on state highway right of ways, on-demand transit and the current health of Washington’s bridges.

The meeting starts at 9 a.m. both Tuesday, March 14, and Wednesday, March. 15. The meeting will be virtual using Zoom. Those interested in attending can register on the commission’s website. TVW will broadcast the meeting live.

Three state agencies – the Department of Commerce, the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Washington State Patrol – received funding from the Legislature in 2022 for an initiative to find solutions for people experiencing homelessness and living on state highway right of ways. The commission will hear an update on Tuesday about this work being done in partnership with local governments and nonprofits.

The commission will also receive an update Wednesday on the status of Washington’s bridge inventory. A panel will discuss whether funding for bridge maintenance is keeping up with the needs at both the state and the county level and the impact of preservation funding on bridge life cycle sustainability.

Other highlights of the topics to be covered at the commission’s two-day meeting include:

• A look at on-demand transit: The commission on Tuesday will hear about mobility-on-demand and how a concept called macro transit aims to make public transit more equitable and convenient in smaller communities.
• A briefing on Washington State Patrol’s impairment program: The commission will get an overview on Tuesday of the programs operated by the Washington State Patrol’s Impaired Driving Section.
• Colman Plaza naming: Washington State Ferries will present a proposal on Wednesday for naming two plaza areas at Colman Dock in Seattle.
• An examination of transportation trends: The commission on Tuesday will hear about how major federal investments are shaping the future of transportation.

The commission will take public comment at 1:45 p.m. on Wed., March 15. Those wishing to speak can sign up during the meeting by posting their name in the Q&A box on-screen. Written comments can also be submitted via email to transc@wstc.wa.gov.

For more information about the commission and a complete meeting agenda, visit the commission’s website: wstc.wa.gov/.