February 8, 2001

Draft Destination 2030 Plan

On March 8, 2001, the Transportation and Growth Management Policy Boards endorsed forwarding the Draft Destination 2030 plan document to the Executive Board for its review and consideration. In addition, the Policy Boards authorized staff to complete a draft executive summary, make final edits, and distribute the draft document for public review and comment.

The Draft Destination 2030 represents the Joint Policy Boards' cooperative efforts to improve the 1995 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. This draft plan provides greater detail regarding a short-term, 10-year investment program, methods to finance such a program and strategies to improve the Plan's effectiveness. It also links investments to support the regional growth and economic strategy in VISION 2020. The Draft Plan outlines remaining challenges the region faces in securing the significant funds required to implement identified long-term investments. Finally, the Draft Destination 2030 recommends analytical methods and a monitoring program which should assist the region in making well-informed transportation investment decisions in the future.

The Transportation and Growth Management Policy Boards heard a brief overview on the draft document that highlighted its format, content, and the refinements made in response to the work of the Regional Staff Committee's review of the Preliminary Draft.

Endorsement of the Draft Destination 2030 by the Policy Boards will facilitate conclusion of the SEPA review process by enabling completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Additionally, endorsement of the Draft Plan by the Policy Boards will enable final model runs to be undertaken to make an air quality conformity determination under the Clean Air Act prior to later formal action on the Plan by the Executive Board and the General Assembly.

With this endorsement by the Policy Boards, the Draft Destination 2030 will be forwarded to the Executive Board for its review and consideration starting on March 22. On March 29, the Regional Council's full General Assembly will be introduced to the Draft Destination 2030 document. The Executive Board is scheduled to take formal action on the Destination 2030 at its April 26 meeting. The General Assembly is scheduled to take action on Destination 2030 on May 24. The Draft Plan would also be the subject of a public hearing on April 10, from 3 - 7 p.m., at the Regional Council's 5th Floor Board Room.