Say "wow" to VOWS?

The Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) has launched a new program for soliciting public input. It's called Voice of Washington State (VOWS) and it takes advantage of new web-based techololgy. Read about it here:

• news release
• VOWS website
• Transportation Issues Daily blog post

The program includes:

1. seven regional Online Discussion Forums to publicly voice opinions, post ideas, and interact with other citizens
2. online Survey Panel to participate in occasional online surveys

Jefferson County is in the Western Washington Forum.

Anyone is welcome to participate in the discussion forums and survey panel. One must create an account using an email address and password in order to participate.

According to the WSTC news release dated June 28, 2012:

The ultimate goal is to gather public input on Washington state transportation policy and funding, and to inform the statewide discussion and decision-making process. Topics for discussion will focus on all things transportation: highways, mass transit, freight and high-speed rail, ferries, barges and aviation. The governor and Legislature will be briefed on the ideas and data generated through the online discussion forums and surveys.

The combination of the online survey and the regional online discussion forums is a new outreach strategy for the WSTC. While the Commission has conducted successful phone and email surveys through the Ferry Riders Opinion Group for a few years, the primary community input tool has been public meetings. The online tools remove the distance and travel barriers inherent to public meetings; this increases the opportunity for everyone – no matter where they live – to participate and share their views.

Update on Federal transport issues

Transportation remains a hot topic of debate on the national level.

The White House released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 budget proposal, which includes significant implications for transportation policy and investment. The US Department of Transportation issued a press release regarding the budget proposal and the Secretary of Transportation blogged about it.

The new urbanism/smart growth advocacy group Better! Cities & Towns shared its perspective on the budget proposal: “Though hardly anyone has noticed, the proposed 2013 budget of the US Department of Transportation (DOT) promises a remarkable advance: It takes livability mainstream.”

Congress continues to debate disparate visions for transportation policy and investment in the Senate and House versions of surface transportation re-authorization.

The Transportation for America campaign provides its take on the latest developments, including the House abandoning the idea of a 5-year bill in favor of the shorter timeframe propsed in the Senate through the MAP-21 legislation.

The Transportation Issues Daily blog advocates supporting passage of the House bill, "even if you hate it."

Through a transport policy blog sponsored by the National Journal, transportation experts discuss whether we'll ever see a long-term surface transportation re-authorization.

Interesting times indeed in the word of transportation...

A little local press

The new tranportation blog got a little local press on Thanksgiving day. Following is the text of a November 27 article in the Peninsula Daily News, Jefferson County edition. Unfortunately, there is no direct link available on the PDN website.

November 27, 2008

Transportation blog goes live

By JEFF CHEW

PORT TOWNSEND - Online blogs are emerging as a new way to connect Jefferson County staffers with residents. While the first county blog spot for Parks and Recreation was launched in summer 2007, the latest innovation comes from the transportation planning program, said Josh Peters, the county's principal transportation planner.

The blog is at visionarytransport.blogspot.com.

"What I am looking for is a conversational Web site," said Peters, who helped develop the blog and monitors the comments.

He will add his comments or answers to inquiries -- whichever way the transportation winds blow.

"I want to keep it free and loose. I want all kinds of ideas on the table. No idea is "out there," Peters said.

Although present transportation issues are important, Peters said he hopes to host ongoing conversation that will look into the future of county transportation some 30 years.

"This is just taking advantage of available technology."

The direction of dialogue largely depends on where comments take it, he said.

Jefferson County Public Works will provide links to information and conversations happening in the world at large.

The blog has posted information about the latest on the corridor plan for state highways 19 and 20 and Jefferson Transit's effort to prioritize commuter trips with a new service plan.

Next from Public Works is a solid waste Web site to soon be launched with assistance from the Washington State University Extension office in Port Hadlock.

A "wikipedia" entry on the county Web is also on the table.

That would spell out the county's draft proposals and would be intended to inform staff and the three county commissioners.

Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia with millions of articles contributed corroboratively using Wiki software.

"Dialog that's good for us is good for all," Peters said.


Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew call be reached at 360 385-2335 or at jeff chew@peninsuladailynews com

Photo caption:

Josh Peters, Jefferson County's principal transportation planner, shows off the county's new transportation blog, a place where the public can communicate directly with county staff on transportation issues.