MULTIMODAL SYSTEM
& CORRIDOR PLANNING
select projects
I-5/JBLM Congestion Relief
washington state department of transportation
When the Secretary of Transportation wanted a new look at the I-5/JBLM congrestion relief project, she brought in Sorin Garber as Independent Special Consultant to lead an alternatives analysis based on a practical design approach.
The project team and a 25-member advisory committee had already selected a preferred alternative and started to advance a series of projects for final design and construction into the State Transportation Investment Program (STIP).
Mr. Garber established a process to develop and examine a wider range of alternatives including use of local roadways, different modes, demand and system management strategies, and land use and security checkpoint changes on and off the military bases. While this program pushed the project schedule back six months and was initially criticized by locally elected officials and state legislators, it ultimately helped the project overcome permit and environmental impacts, disagreements among constituents, and resulted in a less costly and far more effective and implementable solution.
Mr. Garber's approach emphasized full transparency and frequent, hands-on workshops. Stakeholders holding opposing viewpoints found common ground, developed 163 alternatives, reviewed and approved evaluation criteria, and utilized state-of-the-art data collection and analytical methods. The project significantly enhanced the credibility of the process and the ultimate solution.
I-5 Rail Capacity Study
oregon and washington state departments of transportation
The I-5 Trade and Transportation Partnership, a consortium of public agencies in Portland, OR and SW Washington State focused on bi-state transportation issues, requested a study of the track capacity and railroad demands on the BNSF and UP railroad alignments between Kelso, WA and Salem, OR.
Both railroads commented that this segment is one of the slowest segments of all of their west coast services.
Using the RTC model and working with experts from both railroads, states of Washington and Oregon, and the ports of Vancouver and Portland, Sorin Garber led a team and steering committee through an evaluation to document growth in 14 types of trains that use, and are projected to use, the regional rail corridors.
Over $170 million in capacity improvement projects were identified and endorsed by both railroads, states and ports, nearly all of which have been constructed.
