SEATTLE—Representatives from local transit providers, Sound Transit and the Washington State Department of Transportation will meet on October 21 to identify projects eligible for approximately $24.1 million in transit funds from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The funds must be used for public transit capital and planning projects in the Seattle-Everett urbanized area.
The $24.1 million is an estimate of additional FTA funds that will be available during the years 1998-2000. The amount reflects additional funds included in the new federal transportation law TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century).
Projects identified by the transit agency representatives will be recommended to the Puget Sound Regional Council for inclusion into the 1998-2000 Regional Transportation Improvement Program.
As the Metropolitan Planning Organization for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, the Regional Council establishes and maintains a three-year regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to meet the requirements of federal and state transportation laws.
The Council also evaluates projects to ensure that they are consistent with and help implement VISION 2020, the regional growth management and transportation strategy, including its transportation element, the Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
Attendees at the meeting will include representatives from Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro, Port of Seattle, City of Seattle, Sound Transit, Washington State Ferries, and the Public Transportation and Rail division of the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The meeting will be held October 21, 1998, at 1 p.m., in the Puget Sound Regional Council's 5th Floor Conference Room, 1011 Western Avenue, Suite 500. Copies of the agenda are available by contacting Gretchen Hawkins at (206) 464-6175.