Just got an e-mail from the folks staffing RAMP, that Pierce County group that cares about transpo stuff (I can't remember what the acronym stands for.)

Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy and Port of Tacoma Executive Director Tim Farrell are trying to organize a coalition to get the Pierce County delegation to stand up and get the Legislature to put back the money that Gov. Chris Gregoire wants to take out of Pierce County projects. Among them, carpool lanes on I-5, the extension of Highway 167 from the Port to Puyallup, the second half of the Nalley Valley viaduct replacement.

They're trying to get people to sign onto the letter below, then send the letters to the 25-30 legislators who have part of Pierce County in their districts.

McCarthy and Farrell will be at Wednesday's RAMP meeting in the Tideflats.

Subject: Pierce County/South Puget Sound 2009 Transportation Legislative Initiative

Dear ______:

Thank you for your continued leadership in addressing critical transportation infrastructure needs of Washington State and Pierce County. We appreciate your good work and wish to encourage your further success with our recommendations regarding the Transportation Budgets for Fiscal Years 2007 - 2011.

We represent the Pierce County/South Puget Sound Transportation Legislative Initiative, a coalition of county, city and tribal governments, as well as business, labor and environmental stakeholders. We would like to express our concerns with the Governor’s proposed State Supplemental Transportation Budget for FY 2007-09 and proposed Transportation Budget for FY 2009-11.

Specifically, we urge the delegation to protect funding for right-of-way acquisition for the extension of SR 167 and for the Tacoma/Pierce County Core High Occupancy Vehicle Program (HOV Lanes) to keep these programs on schedule.

[More:]

Regional impact. Without the HOV Lanes and the option of a completed SR 167, I-5 through Pierce County has become a regional bottleneck, impeding commuter and freight mobility in Pierce and adjoining Counties. South Puget Sound commuters and businesses have patiently waited for the promise of a complete HOV system within Pierce County. Pierce County is the second most populous county in the state but only has a limited HOV system on SR 16 across the Tacoma Narrows. On I-5, the HOV lanes stop at the Pierce County line. WSDOT has made great strides in recent years in designing the system of 22 projects that will extend the HOV lanes from the County line south to SR 512. In particular, it is critical that no reductions (which translate into delays) be made to the segment that is ready for construction - SR 16 to the Nalley Valley Viaduct - and those currently in the design phase - I-5/Port of Tacoma Road to the King County line and I-5/M Street to Portland Avenue.

Economic Development/Jobs. The extension of SR 167 will generate economic development and jobs for the Puget Sound region. An April 2007 study by Berk and Associates for WSDOT estimated that the completion of SR-167 would spur 79,000 new jobs within our region, largely tied to international trade and the Port of Tacoma. While we recognize that construction will not be funded in this budget, it is important to continue to acquire undeveloped right of way, because development that is currently planned will increase the cost substantially. HOV lane construction is currently funded to be completed by 2013, including replacing the I-5 Puyallup River bridges. The Governor’s proposed budget delays the project until 2015. This is a shovel-ready project that has been promised to Pierce County for more than a decade. This is an important economic development issue to the South Sound.

Public Safety. Since 2000, the short stretch of I-5 from Port of Tacoma Road to South 38th Street has experienced nearly 3,000 accidents, including nine fatalities. The HOV Lanes will relieve the congestion that contributes to accidents in this area and save lives and property.

Environment/Air Quality. The HOV Lanes will assist in reducing the number of buses, cars and trucks that sit idling in traffic at the end point of the King County HOV lanes at peak hours. Pierce County is currently designated by the Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency as a non-attainment area for ozone and ambient air quality standard for fine particulate matter. The HOV project is one of the Environmental Protection Agency’s approved remedies.

The historic inequity of tax dollars expended in Pierce County is well documented (see attachment). We need to finish the construction-ready project of the HOV Core lanes and complete our right-of-way acquisition for SR 167. Failure to do so leaves the funding unresolved and undermines the economic, safety and environmental interests of Pierce County/ South Puget Sound. We also want to continue the community discussion about other transportation priorities, such as SR 704, the Lincoln Street overpass, Shaw Road and the Murray Morgan Bridge.

The coalition believes it is critical that Pierce County’s delegation holds together for a regional solution. We appreciate you considering these factors in our region's efficiency, safety and economic success. We thank you for taking on this most challenging task.