The March TPB meeting was unusual. It was held completely virtually due to the COVID-19 precautions. These precautions primarily have required people in the Washington region to practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings. Instead of canceling the meeting, TPB Chair Kelly Russell approved an unprecedented virtual meeting. Board members called into the meetings from their homes. The meeting was still broadcast on the web along with highlights on twitter.
The March meeting was an action packed meeting with important action items like the Unified Planning Work Program that sets the budget and work program for the TPB and approving the FY2021 Transportation Improvement Program and 2020 amendments to Visualize 2045.
Some of the usual features of the TPB meeting had to be adjusted for the different format. For example, read ahead materials like the usual reports from the Technical Committee, the Citizens Advisory Committee, and the Director’s Report were offered up for additions, clarifications, and board member questions instead of having a verbal report. Voting was also adjusted for the format. Since board members and staff couldn’t see one another, the meeting kicked off with a roll call, members were asked to state their name and jurisdiction before their question, comment, and vote. The chair also sought questions, comments, or votes from members by location.
Approving work plans and budgets for FY 2021. The board reviewed and approved work plans and budgets for both the TPB and the Commuter Connections program for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The proposed budget to carry out all elements of the TPB’s draft work plan is $18.8 million. The draft Commuter Connections budget is $6.4 million. Listen to the presentation and board discussion. Drafts were available for review since the previous month’s briefing to the board. Get the 2021 UPWP. Get the 2021 CCWP.
FY 2021-2024 TIP, Visualize 2045 amendment, Air Quality Conformity. The TPB also took up the FY 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program, an amendment to Visualize 2045, and the Air Quality Conformity analysis for approval. Prior to the action, the board reviewed all the comments received during the comment period and approved responses.
The only comment staff received during the comment period was a letter from the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee. The letter acknowledged that the emissions estimates of the amended Visualize 2045 and the new TIP do meet the air quality requirements. Yet, noted that the emissions amounts were above the Tier 1 mobile emissions budgets for some of the analysis years. MWAQC’s comments also said that there is more the region could do to further reduce emissions to meet the newly enacted tougher (2015) ozone standards. MWAQC suggested further investment in transit and moving away from the single occupancy vehicles.
Board members asked several questions to better understand MWAQC’s letter. Board member David Snyder asked if the TPB response to the letter was generally in agreement. Director Srikanth explained that the TPB was in agreement with MWAQC that there is more that the region could do to further reduce emissions. He said the response also noted why the emissions levels were above the Tier 1 mobile emissions budgets and that even at this level of emissions the region would be able to maintain its attainment of the 2008 ozone standard.
Board member Shyam Kannan from WMATA wondered if the forecast emission reductions were due to the actual actions the region was taking or if it was due to technicalities within the models used for air quality calculations. Mr. Srikanth responded that the forecast emissions and reductions are based on the projects planned to be funded and implemented in Visualize 2045 and TIP, on the forecast land use changes, and on federal laws impacting fuel and vehicle emissions. He said that changes in some technical data used for air quality calculations had offset some of the reductions estimates and this data was not related to transportation projects funded, implemented, and operated by transportation agencies, rather changes in the types of vehicles that had been purchased in recent years.
Board member Phil Mendelsohn from the District of Columbia asked for further clarification about MWAQC’s concerns on meeting the 2015 ozone standard. Srikanth explained that the emissions levels in the region, particularly from the transportation sector, have been significantly reduced since 1995 and that transportation sector emissions are forecast to reduce significantly into the future. He explained that in spite of this progress, present emissions levels in the region are higher than the new and tougher 2015 ozone standard and that MWAQC was noting the challenge in meeting this new standard. He said that reductions would be needed from all sectors, including transportation, to attain this tougher standard. He went on to explain that federal actions aimed at automobile fuel and tailpipe emissions produce the most reductions and as such it is important that federal rules for heavy duty vehicles are considered and also not to roll back other rules currently in place.
Listen to the full board discussion.
Public comment: Staff provided an opportunity for members of the public who wished to address the board on the day of the meeting to submit a comment via email. Staff then read the statement to the board. Kalai Kandasamy provided one such statement asking that slugging be included in Commuter Connections’ work program and promotional materials. He also asked that slugging be included in the TPB’s long-range transportation plan, Visualize 2045. Listen to the public comment.
Listen to the March TPB meeting.
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