| January 28, 2002 | |
| Executive Board
Commissioner Bob Edwards |
On January 24, 2002, the Executive Board of the Puget Sound Regional Council approved new guidelines for selecting projects to receive federal transportation funds distributed by the Regional Council.
One of the Regional Council's responsibilities as a metropolitan planning organization is to efficiently target federal transportation funds to support state and local transportation and growth management plans. The new policy framework will guide how the region spends the estimated $64 million available during the next round of funding that begins in March. Regional Project Competition: 67 percent of available funding will be targeted to support transportation projects in designated urban centers and manufacturing/industrial centers, and the corridors that connect those centers. Countywide Project Competition: 33 percent will fund projects recommended by the four countywide organizations that support any center designated in local plans, and/or connecting corridors. New Rural Towns Centers and Corridors Program: The Regional Council will partner with the Washington State Department of Transportation to create a new Rural Town Centers and Corridors Pilot Program to help rural areas identify the transportation projects that will contribute to the quality of rural life and town character without stimulating new unplanned growth. Copies of the 2002 TEA-21 Transportation Improvement Program Policy Framework are available from the Regional Council's Information Center, (206) 464-7532, and on the Web at psrc.org. For more information, contact Karen Richter at (206) 464-6343.President Bob Edwards appointed new Chairs to lead the Regional Council's Transportation and Growth Management Policy Boards. Edmonds Councilmember Dave Earling was named Transportation Policy Board Chair. Bellevue Mayor Connie Marshall was named Growth Management Policy Board Chair. The policy boards provide advice and recommendations to the Executive Board on growth management and transportation issues.The Executive Board approved an amendment to the region's Transportation Improvement Program, adding the following projects. The Executive Board approved a change in status for three Destination 2030 projects from "Candidate" to "Approved." The three projects are: Pacific Highway South HOV Lanes, Phase II; Pacific Highway South Park-and-Ride Lot; and East Lake Sammamish Parkway, SE 56th Street to I-90. All three projects have completed environmental review and have been found to be consistent with the region's transportation plan, Destination 2030. For more information, contact Rocky Piro at (206) 464-6360.President Edwards also appointed members to serve on the 2002 Nominations Committee, which is responsible for nominating the Regional Council president and vice president at the annual General Assembly in March. The members of the Nominating Committee are:The Executive Board also welcomed new representatives to the Executive Board. The new members are:
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