Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 01 Regional and State Transportation Policies AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 10/12/2020 Meeting Type: Work Session Staff Contact/Dept.: Emma Newman/DPW Staff Phone No: 541.726.4585 Estimated Time: 30 Minutes S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel while Focusing on Livability and Environmental Quality ITEM TITLE: REGIONAL AND STATE TRANSPORTATION POLICIES ACTION REQUESTED: Approve or amend Council – Staff Communication Proposal regarding statewide and regional transportation planning policies and direct staff on Springfield priorities for Equity and Climate Friendly Communities Rulemaking process. ISSUE STATEMENT: The Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization (CLMPO) has launched a project to update the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) in accordance with federal requirements. This process establishes regional goals, objectives, and performance measures for transportation in the metropolitan area. The Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) launched an Equity and Climate Friendly Communities Rulemaking process to amend several statewide planning goals, with a particular focus on amendments to Goal 12, the Transportation Planning Rule (TPR). This effort is incorporating direction from Governor Brown’s Executive Order 20-04 on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Staff is seeking input from City Council on how the City of Springfield would like to engage with regional and statewide partner agencies as part of these two transportation planning efforts that involve the development and adoption of policy changes. Staff would like to confirm communication methods between staff and City Council for both projects and confirm Springfield priorities for rulemaking. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Council Briefing Memo Attachment 2: Letter to LCDC from Councilor Pishioneri Attachment 3: Regional Transportation Plan Update Project Overview DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Regional Transportation Plan Update is underway and aims to be adopted by Central Lane Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) in 2021. So far, MPC received project overview information including the ten required federal planning factors. MPC started discussing draft Goals for the plan on October 1, 2020. Development and approval of Objectives to support the Goals and performance measures to evaluate implementation will follow. See Attachment 3 for details. The Land Conservation and Development Commission plans to have a Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) develop draft rule amendments regarding Equity and Climate Friendly Communities by fall 2021 and conclude the adoption process by the end of 2021. Both of these policy efforts (state and regional) are likely to have implications for future planning and implementation efforts in Springfield. M E M O R A N D U M City of Springfield Date: 10/12/2020 To: Nancy Newton COUNCIL From: Tom Boyatt, Community Development Director Emma Newman, Senior Transportation Planner BRIEFING Subject: REGIONAL AND STATE TRANSPORTATION POLICIES MEMORANDUM ISSUE: The Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization (CLMPO) has launched a project to update the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) in accordance with federal requirements. This process establishes regional goals, objectives, and performance measures for transportation in the metropolitan area. The Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) launched an Equity and Climate Friendly Communities Rulemaking process to amend several statewide planning goals, with a particular focus on amendments to Goal 12, the Transportation Planning Rule (TPR). This effort is incorporating direction from Governor Brown’s Executive Order 20-04 on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Staff is seeking input from City Council on engaging with regional and statewide partner agencies as part of these two transportation planning efforts that involve the development and adoption of policy changes. Staff would like to confirm communication methods between staff and City Council for both projects and confirm Springfield priorities for rulemaking. COUNCIL GOALS/ MANDATE: Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel While Focusing on Livability and Environmental Quality BACKGROUND: Staff is seeking direction on the following: • Council – Staff Communication Proposal • Springfield Priorities for Equity and Climate Friendly Communities Rulemaking 1) Council – Staff Communication Proposal Staff is seeking input from the full City Council on the following communication proposal with input from the City of Springfield Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) representatives, Councilors Pishioneri and Van Gordon: • Staff attends and/or participates in DLCD Equity and Climate Friendly Communities Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) – staff applied to be a member of the committee and is anticipating a response by mid-October Attachment 1, Page 1 of 3 MEMORANDUM Page 2 • Staff provides brief updates through work sessions and/or Communication Packet Memos during RTP update and rulemaking process • Staff meets with the City’s MPC representatives as the lead Council representatives for both of these efforts on an as needed basis and/or incorporated into MPC briefing meetings • MPC representatives communicate with staff regarding opportunities for the City to provide public comment and testify as part of rulemaking process Does Council support the Communication Proposal above? Would Council like to make any adjustments? 2) Springfield Priorities for Equity and Climate Friendly Communities Rulemaking Mayor Christine Lundberg presented to the Land Conservation and Development Commission (DLCD) on behalf of Central Lane MPO in May 2020. In September, Council President Pishioneri submitted a letter of support to LCDC to encourage DLCD to appoint Emma Newman, City of Springfield’s Senior Transportation Planner, to the RAC. The letter also articulated Springfield’s interests and hopes for the process (see ATT2). At the September LCDC meeting, the Commission discussed the charge for rulemaking and launched the process. The Rulemaking Charge agenda item (see item 2) details out the intent of the rulemaking process, including requirements for: • high levels of development in climate-friendly areas, • high quality pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure planning, • limiting ability to mandate minimum off-street parking, • limiting use of motor vehicle congestion standards, • prioritizing and selecting projects to support greenhouse gas emission reductions, and • supporting electric vehicle charging facilities. So far, City of Springfield communications to LCDC have emphasized the following points. • Flexibility to respond to local context - LCDC should set statewide goals and determine the why of the rulemaking process while allowing cities across Oregon to have flexibility in determining the how of implementing actions that reflect the values and unique characteristics of individual communities. Two or more agencies can accomplish the same goal by taking different paths. The State should allow a local jurisdiction to use a variety of different tools that are important to a community and enable them to maximize co-benefits that are important to them such as improved economy, public health benefits, and equity outcomes. • Different standards for different MPOs - The jurisdictions in the metropolitan areas outside of Portland Metro should have standards that differ from Portland Metro since Portland Metro is the only MPO in Oregon with land use authority and has a significantly larger population. • State should not require more planning and evaluation without funding – The State should not mandate monitoring by local jurisdictions unless significant funding accompanies the requirement. Smaller cities do not have staff available to dedicate more time and energy to State issues when we are trying to focus our staff’s time and energy on delivering projects that help implement the goals of the Statewide Transportation Strategy and result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Attachment 1, Page 2 of 3 MEMORANDUM Page 3 • Rulemaking should reflect prior rulemaking effort – About two years ago, Oregon MPOs, and others, were involved via a DLCD Advisory Committee in nearly two years of draft rulemaking that resulted in recommended updates and would have moved metropolitan area transportation forward. DLCD pulled the draft rule amendments with no explanation at the last minute, resulting in a loss of progress. This new Equity and Climate Friendly Communities Rulemaking effort should focus on similar TPR amendments to those drafted more than a year ago and not start over. • Lack of implementation funding is the key barrier to achieving outcomes - In order to make significant reductions to transportation related greenhouse gas emissions in Springfield and Central Lane MPO, funding to implement projects, policies, and programs in our transportation plans is critical. Significant investments in walking, biking, and transit are necessary to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Are there any additional Springfield priorities to emphasize as staff and Council representatives engage in the upcoming process? Does Council wish to adjust any of the priorities above? RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve Council – Staff Communication Proposal regarding statewide and regional transportation planning policies and direct staff on Springfield priorities for Equity and Climate Friendly Communities Rulemaking process. Attachment 1, Page 3 of 3 COURT OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL 225 FIFTH STREET SPRINGFIELD, OR 97477 541.726.3700 FAX 541.726.2363 www.springfield-or.gov September 18, 2020 Land Conservation and Development Commission 635 Capitol St NE, Suite 150 Salem, OR 97301-2540 RE: Initiating Climate Friendly Equitable Rulemaking Commissioners, I am writing on behalf of the City of Springfield in favor of appointing Emma Newman, our Senior Transportation Planner, to the rulemaking advisory committee for the Climate Friendly Equitable Rulemaking process. We want to ensure the process is successful in reaching statewide goals while being broad and flexible enough to allow cities and local jurisdictions implementation options. One of Oregon’s strengths is the diversity of cities and metropolitan regions. There are a wide variety of geographies, histories, industries, populations, prior development patterns, and visions for the future. Representation from the City of Springfield will help ensure individual communities across Oregon directly impacted by the outcomes are able to help shape the rules to reflect their values and greatest opportunities. The local context is integral to developing amendments which allow our city and others to hold true to local characteristics while shaping and accomplishing statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. People come to Springfield specifically to access a high quality of life and experience a healthy community. In 2020, Springfield’s walkable, vibrant downtown was named the BEST Walkable Neighborhood in Lane County. Downtown, one of the city’s commercial centers, is an example of our rich history, with flourishing new developments, businesses, and a renewed focus on revitalization that is true to the Springfield community’s vision and needs. Planning based in the local community allows the various neighborhoods throughout a city to reflect the neighborhood priorities while accomplishing broader transportation and land use goals. We are Springfield. What works for us may not work for other cities across Oregon and vice versa. We urge the State to focus on the why of the rulemaking process while allowing cities across Oregon to have flexibility in determining the how. By appointing Emma Newman to the rulemaking advisory committee, you will be choosing a RAC member who will help move the process forward to reach statewide outcomes while garnering support from local jurisdictions by providing options as to what path, transit service, or other transportation tools help us reach our communal destination. Sincerely, Joe Pishioneri City Council President Attachment 2, Page 1 of 1 Central Lane MPO Regional Transportation Plan Update Project Overview Project Purpose The Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is underway with an update to the Regional Transportation Plan, including updates to the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) plan and Congestion Management Process (CMP) in accordance with federal planning requirements. This project will ultimately: • Create common regional transportation goals, objectives, and performance measures that can be used for the RTP, CMP, and ITS plan. • Ensure future transportation investment decisions consider the full range of tools to meet community needs and the region’s goals and objectives. • Outline long range and day-to-day transportation operations needs and produce strategies and projects that consider the full range of transportation options. Many state and federal funding sources require an established plan be in place that identifies the transportation needs and how to meet them. This regional planning effort will fulfill these requirements. This plan will build on previous work from area partners and help move the region closer to realizing regional goals, action measures, and projects. Project Study Area The RTP covers the MPO Planning Area. The MPO Planning Area is the area within the urban growth boundaries of Eugene, Springfield, and Coburg, and a small area of Lane County adjacent to these urban areas. Partners in the MPO are: • City of Coburg • City of Eugene • City of Springfield • Lane County • Lane Transit District • Oregon Department of Transportation Project Timeline The project launched in fall 2020 and is expected to be completed and adopted by the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC) by June 2021. Draft Plan Content The September MPC agenda item highlights the major changes to be integrated into the 2045 RTP and includes the ten required federal planning factors. The October MPC agenda item includes draft Goals. Attachment 3, Page 1 of 1