On May 29, 2002, local elected officials, business and community leaders and transportation professionals attended a conference, "Imagining Our Transportation Future," the region's first major public discussion regarding opportunities for innovative transportation finance. The conference gathered an exciting group of elected officials, international experts, and visionary thinkers in an informative and thought provoking exploration of the role that value pricing may play in addressing the region's needs and shaping its future.

The goal of the conference was to introduce and describe the concept, role and benefits of value pricing. It featured real-world examples of current pricing projects in Europe and the U.S., and built elected official, business, and community support for continued regional discussions on value pricing.

The one-day conference was part of a series of national workshops that have been conducted by the Federal Highway Administration and the University of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. The workshops have been held to educate regions throughout the country about the possible positive benefits of value pricing, and to encourage regions to develop and conduct value pricing pilot projects.

Summary of Conference Proceedings

Keynote Speaker - Douglas B. MacDonald, Secretary of Transportation, State of Washington View Presentation

National Perspectives on Value Pricing and Innovative Financing - Jack Basso, Director of Management and Business Development, AASHTO, and Former CFO and Assistant Secretary for Budget and Finance, United States Department of Transportation View Presentation

Introduction to Value Pricing - Dr. Randall Pozdena, ECONorthwest, Inc. View Presentation

"Buying Time" Video View Real Player Clip View Quicktime Clip

Value Pricing:
Regional Policy and the National Program "Central Puget Sound Transportation Pricing Task Force" - Commissioner Aubrey Davis, Washington State Transportation Commission View Presentation
"National Value Pricing Pilot Program" - Patrick DeCorla-Souza, Team Leader, FHWA Value Pricing Pilot Program View Presentation

Pricing Around the World:
"Pricing in the United States" San Diego, California I-15 Project - Ed Regan, Senior Vice President, Wilbur Smith Associates View Presentation
"Pricing in the United Kingdom" United Kingdom National Program - Edward Tyrer, Charging Implementation Team, UK Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) View Presentation

Pricing and Choices:
"Public Outreach" New York-New Jersey Port Authority -Mark Muriello, Assistant Director, Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals View Presentation
"New Choices:"
Flexcar - Neil Peterson, President and CEO View Presentation
Parking Cash-Out - Kathy Koss, Senior Market Development Planner, Metro Transit, King County View Presentation
Way to Go Seattle - Jemae E. B. Hoffman, Mobility Manager, Dept. of Transportation, City of Seattle View Presentation