FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 6, 2007
Contact: Rick Olson, 206-587-5060, rolson@psrc.org

SEATTLE—  The Puget Sound Regional Council honored US Senator Patty Murray with a special President's VISION 2020 Award for exemplary sustained leadership for her support for transportation projects in the central Puget Sound region, her port security efforts, and her preservation work. The award represents the region's highest honor in demonstrating outstanding leadership in enhancing the region's quality of life and economic vitality.

"Senator Murray has been a longtime supporter of the FAST Corridor," says PSRC President Mayor Pro Tem Singer. "She secured the funding needed to complete three grade-separated arterials linking Auburn Station and S. 277th Street. This project is a key part of our plan to revitalize downtown Auburn. "

"Senator Murray's priorities are the priorities that matter to the people of the region," says Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg. "She works tirelessly to promote adequate transportation funding that helps our economy remain strong, and provides the backbone for a growth strategy that will create and sustain livable communities."

Senator Murray was honored along with six innovative regional projects that are helping to make the region's long range growth, economic development, and transportation strategy a reality.

The 2007 VISION 2020 Award Winners are:

City of Everett Downtown Plan. The City of Everett's plan has a number of innovations to help this regional growth center redevelop in a smart, sustainable way, including zoning bonus incentives for historic preservation, LEED certification, and the elimination of minimum parking requirements.

Kitsap Sustainable Energy Economic Development Project. A green business development designed to support the clean technology cluster in Kitsap County. The development can support up to 2,000 employees and can potentially help the employment rate in a depressed area.

Snohomish County Urban Centers Demonstration Program. The program was developed to allow creative approaches to more urban development in Snohomish County Centers. Eleven projects have been accepted into this program, which offers alternative land use code requirements from the traditional county rules.

Seattle Center City Strategy. The strategy allows greater height and density in three commercial core zones in downtown Seattle, if the developer provides certain amenities or uses transferred development rights. Amenities include open space, historic preservation, sustainable development practices, affordability, and child care.

High Point Redevelopment. The redevelopment of a subsidized housing neighborhood has increased housing units, diversified the types of accommodation, and has created a mixed income neighborhood. The development uses new urbanist design, low impact development and green building products.

Pierce County Agriculture Strategic Plan. Developed to preserve productive and commercially significant farmland in Pierce County through coordination efforts, a farmbudsman to be a central point of contact and advocacy, and through a specialized TDR program.

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, contact PSRC at 206-587-4819 or see http://www.psrc.org/about/titlevi/index.htm.