FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 22, 2010
Contact: Rick Olson, 206-971-3050, rolson@psrc.org

SEATTLE — The Puget Sound Regional Council has released Transportation 2040 for public comment and review. Transportation 2040 is an action plan for transportation in the central Puget Sound region for the next 30 years. The comment period will run from January 22 to March 9, 2010.

By the year 2040, the region is expected to grow by roughly 1.5 million people and support more than 1.2 million new jobs. All of these new people and new jobs are expected to boost demand for travel within and through the region by about 40%. Recognizing that some uncertainties exist regarding the economy, transportation funding, energy supply, technology and climate change, Transportation 2040 outlines a long-term template for how this region should invest in transportation to accommodate rising travel demand, while at the same time embracing the need to be flexible and responsive to the ways people – and the world – actually will change.

Transportation 2040 identifies investments to support our expected growth and improve the service transportation provides to people and businesses, lays out a financing plan that suggests a long-term shift in how we fund transportation improvements, with more reliance on users paying for transportation improvements, and proposes a strategy for reducing transportation’s contribution to climate change and its impact on important regional concerns such as air pollution and the health of Puget Sound.

By being clear about this regional long-term vision, the Puget Sound region will be better able to influence the shorter term decisions that will be made at the state and federal levels on finance, environmental protection, and the future direction of the nation’s transportation programs.

The comment period for the draft Transportation 2040 plan ends March 9, 2010. Written comments received will be summarized for the Transportation Policy Board. Comments can also be made in person on March 11 at the Transportation Policy Board meeting.

How to Comment:

On the Web: Comment Form

E-mail: transportation2040@psrc.org

Fax: 206-587-4825

US Mail: Marina King, PSRC, 1011 Western Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98104-1035.

In Person: Transportation Policy Board: 9:30 a.m., March 11, 2010, at PSRC offices.

PSRC develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth and transportation planning in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties. The Council is composed of over 80 county, city, port, transit, tribal and state agencies serving the region. It coordinates the distribution of about $160 million in Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration funds each year. PSRC sets priorities and evaluates the most efficient ways to target those funds to support state and local transportation and growth management plans.

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.