SEATTLE— The study to examine what it might take to preserve and acquire the 40-mile Burlington Northern Santa Fe corridor that connects Snohomish to Renton has been recommended to receive $635,000 in federal funding via the Puget Sound Regional Council. The study will analyze options for multi-modal transportation uses, and document the costs and procedural steps needed to preserve the right-of-way.
The Transportation Policy Board, at its September 9 meeting, plans to release for public comment the study and 118 other transportation projects recommended to receive PSRC funding as well as an additional number of projects that are receiving funds from other sources.
The Regional Project Evaluation Committee, the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett Federal Transit Administration Caucus, the Transportation Operators Committee, and four county level transportation forums recommended the projects via competitive processes. Total funding for the 119 projects is $325.5 million. All of these projects are part of the draft 2005-07 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and have been modeled for air quality conformity. Together, the projects have met federal and state requirements for the region.
A complete list of the projects is available online at www.psrc.org/projects/tip. Many of the projects can also be viewed geographically in the TIP’s web based map.
HOW TO MAKE A COMMENT:
http://www.psrc.org/projects/tip/commentform.htm,
Attn Karen Richter,
1011 Western Ave Ste 500,
Seattle, WA 98104,
(206) 464-6343,
krichter@psrc.org
Written comments will be accepted until October 7 and included in the agenda packet for the Transportation Policy Board meeting on October 14, when it finalizes its recommendation to the Executive Board. Comments can be made in person at the Transportation Policy Board meeting, as well as the Executive Board meeting on October 28, when the draft TIP is scheduled for final approval.
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 distributes about $160 million in federal transportation 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, see http://www.psrc.org/about/titlevi/index.htm or call 206-464-6175.