THE INTERCITY NETWORK - A NEW APPROACH FOR STATEWIDE MOBILITY

How can passenger travel between communities be enhanced to enable people statewide access? What criteria should be used to identify which communities need to be linked and what minimum level of service is desired? Throughout the nation, transportation planners have struggled with the issue of how to provide a minimum level of passenger intercity service. Furthermore, how should the service be funded? This abstract presents an overview of the Washington State Intercity Public Transportation Network Project. The project provides a practical model for a statewide network to guide the development of intercity travel between rural communities and urban hubs. This paper identifies the important stakeholders and their potential roles. Current providers of intercity passenger transportation are described (private bus carriers, ferries, Amtrak, airport shuttles, and local transit providing corridor type service) along with a summary of their services and facilities. The survey and data collection techniques used (e.g., GIS) to develop the inventory are presented. This is followed by a description of how the designated Intercity Network was developed, starting with the primary building blocks of the communities or that should be served. Criteria to select the places will be discussed and include population size and important destinations, such as county seats, universities, military bases and regional medical facilities. The designated places are linked by corridors along interstate, state, and local highways and rail lines. Standards are presented for service along the network. For the intercity traveler, access within communities is also important. Entry points identify where the linkage is made within the communities to enhance traveler access to regional and local transportation choices. These transfer points are identified, some of which already serve as existing transportation facilities (e.g., Spokane Intermodal Station). Current intercity service is then measured against the designated Intercity Public Transportation Network standards to determine if there are any gaps. Population growth over the next 20 years is analyzed to anticipate its effect on the network. Identified deficiencies are analyzed to determine solutions that are then translated into projects. Project examples include adding a bus shelter and bus turnouts in a rural community and improving electronic signage and traveler information in small urban areas. The goal of the Intercity Network Project is to provide guidance to local, regional, and state transportation providers about where service and facility improvements can be made to enhance statewide mobility. It is not a mandate on local government regarding their resource allocation decisions. By creating a state significant intercity network and identifying associated projects, the state plays an advocacy role for the development of statewide mobility. Project implementation is achieved through state, regional, and local partnerships.