The Planning and Programming Committee of the Governor’s Transportation Vision 21 Task Force met in official session for a meeting at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, September 20, 2001 with Chairperson Olson presiding. Other members in attendance were Paulson Chaco, Diane McCarthy and Rene Redondo. Task Force members present were Co-Chair Sharon Megdal and John Bivens. Also present were John Carlson, Governor’s Transportation Advisor, Alan Maguire, Consultant, Maguire Company, Mary Lynne Tischer, Matt Carpenter and Lisa Pendrick.
Pledge of Allegiance, Welcome, Introductions and Opening Remarks
Chairperson Olson called the meeting to order at 1:38 p.m. and led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Acceptance of Minutes for March 7, 2001
Action: A motion to accept the minutes, as written, was made, seconded and passed unanimously.
Presentation and Review of Task Force Public Input Meetings and Focus Groups
Mr. Maguire presented the Report on Transportation Open Houses. He highlighted the public notification of each open house, the format, materials presented and the attendance at the ten open houses conducted in Southern, Central and Northern Arizona over the summer. The demographic findings of those attending the open houses were noted. All comments made at the open houses were captured and categorized; Mr. Maguire touched upon a few of them. Mr. Maguire reviewed the results of the request for transportation priority identification, the transportations system tax increases in rank order, and the five most significant transportation routes.
Mr. Maguire next presented the Qualitative Results Report of the modified focus groups conducted to discuss preliminary Task Force recommendations. Two sessions were held in June, one in Phoenix and one in Tucson. He reviewed the participant selection, methodology and demographics of the 80 participants. The key findings from the focus groups were discussed. They included the top five priorities in terms of transportation improvements, participants’ satisfaction with the current system, key transportation routes, funding preferences, and funding levels.
Mr. Redondo indicated that in every survey taken in Tucson transportation is the number one issue. The Tucson City Council has created a task force to evaluate the viability of a half-cent sales tax for transportation.
Upon inquiry by Mr. Chaco, Mr. Maguire explained that the focus groups were not conducted in rural Arizona because of practicality and the wide disparity in issues in rural communities in Arizona. He and Mr. Carlson noted the possible performance of a statewide survey to pick up that input. Mr. Chaco commented that the focus group results were not reflective of the state of Arizona, and there was general agreement on this comment among the committee members. Mr. Maguire noted that the open house data is skewed toward rural areas.
Mr. Maguire confirmed for Mr. Bivens that information was gleaned from the open house survey instrument relative to regional routes in urban areas.
Mr. Bivens asked what amount of funding would be raised by the most favored tax option. Mr. Maguire stated that this information was available in the data generated in the Definition of Needs, Resources and Revenues Committee. The focus groups were asked how likely they were to vote for each tax level, and very different results were gleaned from Phoenix and Tucson. The general taxation trends prevalent in both groups were sales tax and gas tax.
Action: A motion to proceed with conducting a statewide survey was made, seconded and passed unanimously.
Review of Possible Task Force Findings
Mr. Carlson reported that over the past four months he had gone through all information related to the Task Force findings to create data points to back up the recommendations and findings of the Task Force. He highlighted the goal of the exercise and stated that it will be complete in the very near future. Once complete the information will be disseminated for the committee’s review. Mr. Carlson stated that Governor Hull has started to review the recommendations and is very supportive of the work this committee has done. She has identified four or five recommendations from the committee and with work with the Transportation Committee members of the Legislature.
Mr. Bivens stressed that there are two things he wants to make sure don’t fall through the cracks; 1) the Task Force is creating a state/system plan which will integrate all modes of transportation using performance measures to determine what goes into the plan, and 2) the Task Force recommends that the state provide technical planning assistance to local and tribal governments to enable them to do a better job with respect to transportation. He suggested that the state needs to raise the level of planning competency in the state by providing assistance to local and tribal governments.
Mr. Carlson presented and reviewed in detail a draft list of immediate and obvious strategies to reduce congestion and improve capacity with existing revenues. The document reflects key recommendations and comments from the public input process.
Dr. Megdal commented that she noticed people who participated in the open houses misinterpreting the priority of congestion relief. She suggested that perhaps the Task Force needs to do a better job of explaining its priorities and other recommendations. She said she doesn’t feel congestion is only an urban issue and suggested emphasizing that it is a statewide priority. She also suggested the use of the radio stations and traffic reporters as a communication tool.
Mr. Bivens suggested that ADOT look at areas where alternative routes are available, i.e. I-17 north of Phoenix and then alert the public early enough to allow them to make an alternative choice.
Ms. McCarthy asked for a list of the 73 locations that have been identified for traffic camera installation. She also asked if providing funding for the Commercial Vehicle Information Network and System Project would help congestion at the border. Mr. Carlson explained that the goal is to use ITS to expedite border clearance; however, this may need to be re-examined in light of security issues. ADOT is in the process of letting out a study to examine the issue.
Mr. Bivens suggested differentiating between one-time and ongoing costs with respect to the recommended immediate and obvious strategies as well as the ITS solutions.
Dr. Megdal suggested that this information also be presented to the Definition of Needs, Resources and Revenues Committee.
Ms. McCarthy suggested it would help if the committee(s) knew what it would take to accomplish the recommendations from a legislative, operational and local government standpoint. She queried how the state could provide incentives to communities to implement the recommendations in a timely fashion, and what would be considered timely.
Action: A motion to present the ratification of the recommendations to the Definition of Needs, Resources and Revenues Committee was made, seconded and passed unanimously.
Review of Preliminary Recommendations Based on Public Input
Mr. Maguire reviewed the suggested changes to the preliminary recommendations.
Chairman Olson suggested that the plan needs to include information relating to the number of people being moved by the transportation facilities and services.
Ms. McCarthy suggested that "requiring" the use of performance measures could strengthen the recommendations. She suggested the requirement of citizen oversight of the statewide plan development "and implementation," not just public outreach.
Mr. Bivens stressed the need to emphasize modal integration requirements.
Chairman Olson, Ms. McCarthy and Mr. Bivens all disagreed with Mr. Carlson regarding the development of the plan around one mode of transportation, because the plan will then focus on that mode, and the modes will not be properly integrated. They felt strongly about this issue, even if it means it will take longer to develop a long-range plan. Mr. Carlson noted the fact that ADOT must have a 20-year plan in place by January 2003, and statutory change would be needed to extend the deadline. He assured the committee members that he is working with ADOT to make sure the Vision 21 Task Force findings will be incorporated into the statewide plan. Mr. Bivens stated that the transportation planning process could be accelerated and more meaningful if all data were made available to all units of government. Mr. Carlson agreed that the language in the recommendations could be strengthened in this regard.
Action: A motion to strengthen the recommendations by changing more passive words to "require" was made, seconded and passed unanimously.
Ms. McCarthy asked if the Task Force should include specific implementation time frames, cost estimates and recommended plans of action in the recommendations. Mr. Carlson and Chairman Olson agreed that the recommendations should require an implementation plan be created within a short period of time. Mr. Maguire noted that "hammers" were not popular in the surveys, open houses or focus groups. Mr. Bivens, Ms. McCarthy and Chairman Olson thought the "hammers" should be included even if the result is unfunded mandates. Ms. McCarthy pointed out that functional improvements can be made very inexpensively as compared to freeway construction costs.
Mr. Bivens asked if there was a way to word the recommendations in such a way that it is evident the Task Force recognizes the differences in perception of existing levels of congestion and the needs/solutions to mitigate the congestion.
Chairman Olson suggested that the fourth point under Establish Urban Regional Transportation Districts, "Regional planning must include transportation planning and consistent, regional land use planning," be moved up to the third group. He said he would like to expand the point, "Recommend statutory requirement for coordinated regional transportation land use plans" to require integration between land use and transportation planning.
Mr. Bivens asked how people like himself who feel there is a better way to address governance than regional transportation districts would be appeased. Mr. Maguire indicated that the regional characteristic of this problem is critical and said it would be useful to separate the two issues, identify the problems and come up with solutions. He suggested there is general agreement on the problem definition, and he recommended bringing a specific recommendation on the solution to the Governance Committee.
Chairman Olson suggested changing "Establish Urban Regional Transportation Districts" to "Establish Urban/Regional Land Use and Transportation Mechanisms" to shift the focus to address the need to tie land use and transportation planning. Mr. Bivens was supportive of this recommendation. Mr. Carlson noted that the state’s Growing Smarter legislation lacks a regional component, and language could be added to address the need for a regional component.
Action: A motion to forward the suggested changes to the preliminary recommendations, as amended, to the other committees and the full Task Force was made, seconded and passed unanimously.
Call to the Public
Mr. Jon Maher, Ph.D., a resident of Apache Junction, read and provided copies of a handout on Alternative Routes. Dr. Maher indicated that he is on the Pinal County Transportation Advisory Committee and suggested that congestion on Arizona’s streets and highways is the result of inadequate and limited alternate routes available in Arizona. He described alternate routes he often uses when traveling in Arizona and suggested that the alternate routes that exist be expanded to four-lane highways with bike paths on each side.
Mr. Carlson stated that eight of the routes cited on the handout have been identified as routes of significance.
Mr. William G. Beyer, Chairperson, Citizens Transportation Oversight Committee (CTOC), discussed the mission of CTOC and expressed support and appreciation for the work the Planning and Programming Committee is doing. He is concerned with the possibility that when the half-cent sales tax expires the regional freeway system will not have been completed. He is concerned that the extension of this tax will not occur unless the public believes that the funds will be spent on regional freeway system improvements.
Mr. Rich Bank, a resident of Tempe, said he was glad to hear the discussion regarding the linkage between land use and transportation planning. With respect to air quality, he said he did not believe the region would see the improvement expected in the July 2001 Air Quality Conformity Report. He doesn’t feel that all carbon monoxide generators are included in the report. He feels the model being used is incorrect and encouraged the Task Force members to examine the report very closely. He suggested the Valley’s inversion will render the air unhealthy within 15 years. He suggested the right thing to do is put a lid on the "transportation pork barrel" by moving people with busses and leave transportation funds in the Social Security system.
Ms. Pam Allan, a resident of Phoenix, expressed agreement with the Vision 21 Task Force recommendations. She noted the huge bubble of aging population and suggested the provision of handicap accessible housing along transportation corridors to meet the needs of this population. She thanked the Task Force for their efforts to integrate land use planning and multi-modal transportation.
Mr. Joe Salt also expressed his appreciation to the Task Force. He asked that the Task Force recommend that a position be created on the State Transportation Board for a member of the Indian Nations of Arizona, which represent 27 percent of the land use in Arizona. He also asked that the Task Force conduct an open house/public hearing on the Tribal lands in Northern Arizona, in Window Rock or Kayenta, noting that the roads in the area are heavily used by tourism.
Mr. Chaco offered to attend Mr. Salt’s transportation meeting.
Ms. Barbara Stephens, a resident of Tolleson, suggested that no one is addressing the traffic generated by 18-wheelers in the Southwest Valley. She stated that huge warehouse uses are causing significant traffic problems in the area. She called for truck bypasses to get these vehicles off the city streets. She suggested that major retail warehouses use smaller trucks to make deliveries. She also suggested that S.R. 85 be made into an interstate all the way to the border.
Mr. Carlson noted that on September 21 the State Transportation Board would be considering a resolution on how to use GANS funds to come up with a plan to widen S.R. 85 to four lanes.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 3:54 p.m.
KEVIN OLSON, Chairperson
