SEATTLE— The new program is recommended to receive $2 million in funding to support project applications in 2005 for cooperative rural corridors and centers projects. Such applications must involve at least rural towns, counties, and the Washington State Department of Transportation. A pilot project on SR 203 from Monroe to Fall City will be completed in November and is being conducted to launch coordination efforts and evaluate how this new program can best facilitate coordinated improvements for rural corridors and town centers.

PSRC established the Rural Town Centers and Corridors program in October 2003 with the goal of providing technical and project development assistance to the region’s rural towns, recognizing the important role they play in the success of the region overall. Highways outside the urban area serve a diverse set of needs. They connect towns, serve as main streets and economic centers, they are essential freight routes, and they link the urban area with the majority of the region’s open spaces.

The Transportation Policy Board, at its September 9 meeting, plans to release for public comment the new program 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.