FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2011
Contact: Michele Leslie Potter 206-587-4819, mlesliepotter@psrc.org

University of Washington Wins VISION 2040 Award for OneBusAway

SEATTLE – The University of Washington has won a 2011 VISION 2040 Award from the Puget Sound Regional Council for the OneBusAway project. The awards recognize innovative projects and programs that help ensure a sustainable future as the region grows.

“The OneBusAway project has been incredibly helpful to bus commuters in the region,” said Mukilteo Councilmember Jennifer Gregerson, Chair of the VISION 2040 Awards Selection Committee. “Access to real time information in a variety of mobile formats has taken some of the uncertainty out of using transit, making it an even more convenient way to get around.”

OneBusAway is a set of computer tools bus riders can access via the web, mobile apps, texting, or phone that provide real time information on where the bus they want to catch is, thus minimizing the amount of time spent waiting for the bus. OneBusAway helps improve efficiency of the transportation and can potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making transit a more viable option for people who might have driven alone instead. OneBusAway was developed by students in the Computer Science Department at the University of Washington in partnership with the Civil Engineering Department. Find out more at onebusaway.org.

“OneBusAway gives transit riders a time advantage never offered before,” said Josh Brown, Kitsap County Commissioner and PSRC President. “Now people know if they do have time to grab that cup of coffee before going to the stop and no more wondering if they missed the bus. This technology is transforming the ways people use public transit.”

The VISION 2040 Award for OneBusAway was presented today at Kane Hall during the kick-off event for PSRC’s new Growing Transit Communities program. Growing Transit Communities is a regional effort to capitalize on rapid-transit investments by helping the surrounding communities to achieve inclusive and sustainable transit-supportive development as they grow.

VISION 2040 is the region’s growth management, economic, and transportation strategy, designed to meet the needs of the 5 million people expected to be living in the region in 2040 (compared to the 3.7 million people living here today). It is an integrated, long-range vision for the future that lays out a strategy for maintaining a healthy region — promoting the well-being of people and communities, economic vitality, and a healthy environment.

PSRC develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth, transportation and economic development planning within King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties. The Council is composed of over 80 entities, including all four counties, cities and towns, ports, state and local transportation agencies and tribal governments within the region. In 2012, PSRC will select projects for the roughly $400 million in federal funds the region can expect to receive over the next few years. PSRC is also the lead regional economic development planning resource and home to the Prosperity Partnership.

Title VI Notice: PSRC fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. For more information, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, call 206-587-4819.
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