03/05/2008: "Transportation Policy Board Proposed For SJC"

Bill Watson, the Program Coordinator for the Economic Development Council for SJC has proposed to the County Council that they to join SJC with Skagit and Island Counties to become part of a regional transportation planning organization.

This would, of course, require that another citizens group be formed, called the “San Juan County Sub-Regional Transportation Policy Board”, that would be made up of representatives from the state, local port districts, town, county, and perhaps “tribal interests”, and from major employers.

Watson sees the group as a new “governmental agency” that would participate in proposing regional transportation plans, and working with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Watson listed some of the benefits to the county if an agency was created that would focus on transportation issues to “help manage…ferries, public transportation, state/regional highways, trails, etc.”

The possibility of sharing a planning grant of 20 thousand dollars, and an opportunity to qualify for other grants, were also listed as potential benefits, along with an “opportunity to shape a ‘larger voice’ on transportation issues to effect policy in Olympia”

Councilman Alan Lichter asked for other examples of the benefits, and Watson gave as example an ongoing discussion the Port of FH is having with Bellingham to provide a passenger only ferry from there to here, and that if we had a committee it could provide a study on the pros and cons of the proposal.

Councilman Rich Peterson wanted to know if, for any reason, in the future the other counties were to leave the group, would the SJC group continue, and would we be required to fund it. THe answer was the County can, at least in this case, undo what it does. Councilman Rosenfeld said he has been told that “we have left money on the table” in the past because we did not have such a group, but also noted it will take some money to enter into the proposal.

No final action was taken