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Conversation 1: Regional Car-free Travel
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Presenter: Dr. Preston Schiller - Transportation Connections
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Preston L.
Schiller holds a doctorate in Sociology from Washington
University (St. Louis) and has taught and done research
at several universities including School of Urban and
Regional Planning at Queen's University, Kingston,
Ontario (2008), the Huxley College of the Environment of
Western Washington University at Bellingham (1998-2005),
and the School of Public Health of the University of
North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1979-84). Upon moving to
western Washington in 1985 he became immersed in issues
relating to transportation and environmental issues. He
has worked on the State and federal Clean Air Acts and
the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA)
and TEA-21 campaigns.
Schiller has been
involved with numerous governmental transportation
policy, planning, and regulatory boards at local, state
and regional levels. In 1990 he was appointed to the
original Governor's Commute Trip Reduction Task Force
and chaired its Policy Committee. He was the
environmental representative on the Transportation
Policy Board of the Puget Sound Regional Council, the
four county Metropolitian Planning Organization from
1992-99.
Since 1998 he has
worked closely with the North Sound Connecting
Communities Project ("The Farmhouse Gang" nicknamed
after the restaurant where they often meet), an
intergovernmental planning and policy effort for North
Puget Sound. |
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Presenter: Dr. Alison Longley - Ali's Guide of the San Juans |
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After years of
traveling by car from work at the University of
Washington in Seattle to Friday Harbor on weekends and
suffering consequent “gas-guilt,” Alison resolved to
explore transit alternatives. The results were so
pleasing, she now shares what she’s learned about
getting around North Puget Sound car-free via “Ali’s
Gas-Saver’s Guide,” published quarterly since Fall 2006. |
Conversation 2: Community Transit: What Does
it Take? |
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Presenter: Amy & Ed Masters - The Future of Public Transit on Orcas
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Amy and Ed Masters are Owner/Operator of Orcas Island Shuttle service.
Ed and Amy came to the islands from Tacoma, WA where Ed was a student at the U of W
and worked as an automotive mechanic and collision repair tech.
Amy brought to the table 15 years of transportation industry experience as a dispatcher/loss control specialist.
In 2004 Ed and Amy moved to the island to start the public bus service.
Now in its fifth season the bus makes 5 round trips a day, 7 days a week during the summer months.
Althought not sustainable as a for profit, stand alone service, it covers its own bills and is sustained by local
advertisers and companion services such as rental cars and charter service (also offered by Orcas Island Shuttle).
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Presenter: Dan Ward - Island Transit Opportunities
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Dan Ward is Owner/Operator of San Juan Transit |
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Presenter: Martha Rose - Island County Transit - a Public Service
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Martha Rose began her career in public transit in 1985 as a Transit Operator in Clallam County, before moving to
Whidbey Island as Operations Manager for the start-up of Island Transit in 1987.
Island Transit has been a Fare Free system since its inception, a philosophy that continues to enjoy tremendous
community support.
As the Executive Director since 1991, her passion for public transit has been instrumental in building the system
into the dynamic, community-based organization it is today.
Martha is excited about the challenges facing public transportation, and firmly supports a more coordinated,
regional, multi-modal approach, with an emphasis on grass roots involvement and quality service that will effectively
serve the unique needs of each local community.
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Conversation 3: On Foot and on Bikes in San Juan County
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Presenter: Liza Michaelson - SJC Rideshare
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Liza Michaelson is an educator and a 26 year resident of San Juan County.
In her travels through developing countries over the past seven years she has brought home to our county
the value of sharing rides in automobiles.
She actively hitchhikes as a primary form of transportation when home on the island.
Together with Anne Sheridan, Liza promoted the concept of ride sharing and successfully campaigned the county
and town to establish a ride share program including signs at safe places on three islands to share rides.
Liza is a former PTSA president of FHHS, and has served on various other nonprofit boards in the community.
Liza currently works as a guide for Country Walkers leading hiking tours.
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Presenter: Tracy Roberson - Cycling the San Juans
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Tracy Roberson was born and raised on San Juan Island.
Witnessing the growth in our community over the past 40 years, she recognizes the need for safe, clean and
sustainable transportation alternatives now and in the future as our roads continue to become more crowded.
Tracy is a graduate of U.S. International University, with a BA in Social Psychology, a member of the San Juan Island
Trails Committee, San Juan Safe Routes To Schools Committee, former FHHS Girls Basketball Coach,
and a former Professional golfer on the Women's European Tour.
While traveling throughout Europe, she experienced the fabulous network of trail systems, and was impressed by
the number of people for whom bicycling or walking was their primary mode of transportation.
Tracy enjoys bicycling, jogging and walking with her family, and has joined the Trails committee to advocate for
inclusion of bicycles in trails planning.
She will discuss improving our transportation system with safer alternatives for children, inexperienced riders,
wheelchairs, and walkers with strollers by developing designated Bike Routes, Multi-use trails and safer bike lanes
on existing and future road shoulders.
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Presenter: Carrie Sunstrom - Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel
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Carrie Sunstrom is the State Scenic Byway Coordinator for the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Washington has one of the largest Scenic Byway programs in the nation with 6 nationally designated scenic byways
and 22 state designated byways.
Carrie works closely with grassroots community organizations and WSDOT to maintain a high level of visual quality
on Washington's most scenic routes.
Carrie administers a Federal grant program to complete capital and other projects along Scenic Byways,
that benefit both travelers and local economies.
Carrie received her Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Washington in 1996
and began her career at WSDOT the day after graduation.
She most enjoys working with local leaders to benefit and improve their communities,
finding ways to facilitate multi-modal transportation,
and the privilege of working in one of the most scenic and beautiful states in the nation.
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Conversation 4: Passenger Ferries - Can we Make Them Work for Us?
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Presenter: Bruce Agnew - Regional Passenger Only Ferries
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Bruce Agnew has been the Director of Seattle based Discovery Institute’s Cascadia Center since 1993.
The Cascadia Center is a strategic alliance from Vancouver, BC, to Eugene, Oregon, promoting high speed passenger
rail, Interstate-5 freight mobility, seamless border crossings, bi-national and bi-state tourism marketing, and
sustainable community development.
From 1987-93, Mr. Agnew was Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative John Miller from Washington state’s first district.
Before his congressional service, Bruce Agnew was elected to two terms on the Snohomish County Council, and served as
President of the Puget Sound Regional Council in 1985. He is a former member of the Citizen Oversight Panel for Sound
Transit, and is a member of the Regional Freight Mobility Roundtable. Mr. Agnew is a 1974 graduate of Stanford University,
and a 1977 graduate of U.C. Berkeley, Law School.
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Presenter: Greg Hertel - There is a passenger ferry in your
future!
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Greg Hertel has been a Port commissioner for the Port of Friday Harbor since 1991.
Greg is a retired physics and chemistry teacher who has been a resident on San juan Island since 1974.
He has a B.S. in geology from Portland State and a Masters in Education in natural sciences from WWU.
In addition to his academic background Greg is also a licensed captain for power and sail vessels under 100 tons.
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Conversation 5: Tourism Transportation Management: From the Newest Scenic Byway to the 2010 Olympics
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Presenter: Carrie Sunstrom - Scenic ByWays
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Carrie Sunstrom is the State Scenic Byway Coordinator for the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Washington has one of the largest Scenic Byway programs in the nation with 6 nationally designated scenic byways
and 22 state designated byways.
Carrie works closely with grassroots community organizations and WSDOT to maintain a high level of visual quality
on Washington's most scenic routes.
Carrie administers a Federal grant program to complete capital and other projects along Scenic Byways,
that benefit both travelers and local economies.
Carrie received her Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Washington in 1996
and began her career at WSDOT the day after graduation.
She most enjoys working with local leaders to benefit and improve their communities,
finding ways to facilitate multi-modal transportation,
and the privilege of working in one of the most scenic and beautiful states in the nation.
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Presenter: Loni Rahm - 2010 Olympics
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Loni Rahm is President and CEO of Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism.
She has over 28 years of experience in community relations, communications and organizational management --
including the past 20 years representing and marketing Washington State tourism products and destinations.
Loni is currently helping to coordinate Bellingham’s 2010 Olympics strategies, as well as helping to develop
collaborative marketing strategies among the 5 counties of Northwest Washington, including the San Juan Islands,
in order to cost-effectively elevate awareness of this region to national and international travelers.
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Conversation 6: Inter-island and Regional Freight
Mobility
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Panelists:
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Charlie Meyer - Island Petroleum Services
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Brent Snow - Roche Harbor’s General Manager since 1993, is a Seattle
native and strong advocate for Community and
Environment. |
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Libbey Oswald - King's Market/Market Place
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Tom Ashcraft - Heuristic Enterprises
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A Conversation with the State Transportation Commission: Long Term Ferry Funding and Customer Surveys
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Commissioners:
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Dan O'Neal, Chair |
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Elmira Forner, Vice Chair |
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Bob Distler |
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Dick Ford |
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Latisha Hill |
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Carol Moser |
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Philip Parker |
