Your Puget Sound Regional Council
at Work
  July 25, 2002
Executive Board

Councilmember Karen Biskey
Pierce County
President
Councilmember Richard McIver
City of Seattle
Vice President
Chair, Operations Committee
Councilmember Carol Arends
City of Bremerton
Kitsap County Cities
Commissioner Tim Botkin
Kitsap County
Councilmember Richard Conlin
City of Seattle
Commissioner Aubrey Davis
WA State Transportation Commission
Mayor Don Doran
City of Mukilteo
Other Cities in Snohomish County
County Executive Bob Drewel
Snohomish County
Commissioner Bob Edwards
Port of Seattle
Commissioner Jack Fabulich
Port of Tacoma
Councilmember Mary Gates
City of Federal Way
Other Cities in King County
Mayor Ed Hansen
City of Everett
Commissioner Don Hopkins
Port of Everett
Mayor Laure Iddings City of Maple Valley Other Cities in King County
County Executive John W. Ladenburg
Pierce County
Doug MacDonald
WA State Department of Transportation
Councilmember Nancy McCormick
City of Redmond
Other Cities in King County
Councilmember Doug Miller
City of Tacoma
Councilmember Gary Nelson
Snohomish County
Councilmember Judy Nicastro
City of Seattle
Mayor Greg Nickels
City of Seattle
Councilmember Phil Rourke
City of Clyde Hill
Other Cities in King County
County Executive Ron Sims
King County
Councilmember Sue Singer
City of Auburn
Other Cities in King County
Mayor John Williams
City of Milton
Other Cities in Pierce County
Mary McCumber Executive Director

On July 25, 2002, the Executive Board of the Puget Sound Regional Council approved six regionally significant transportation projects for air quality conformity testing and inclusion in the draft 2003-2005 regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to be released for public review and comment in September.
The six projects were selected from the TEA-21 Regional Project Competition applicants, based on the 2002 TEA-21 TIP Policy Framework targeting regional funds to centers and connecting corridors. The projects are "Urban Centers Transit Development," in 8 of 11 King County designated urban centers, "SR 304 Transportation Improvement Project," in Bremerton, "Lincoln Avenue Overpass," in the Port of Tacoma, "Sounder Commuter Rail: Everett to Seattle Extension," "Pacific Highway South/International Boulevard Redevelopment," in Des Moines, Federal Way, SeaTac, and Tukwila, and "SR 704 (Cross Base Highway)," in Pierce County.

For more information contact Karen Richter at (206) 464-6343.

The Executive Board heard an announcement that the Regional Council has been awarded a $1.88 million Transportation Technology Grant to implement a Value Pricing Demonstration Project.
The grant was awarded to the Regional Council by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and will be used to test user response to roadway pricing by simulating value pricing for a sample of volunteer motorists. The demonstration project will be designed to test all the major elements of an actual price management strategy.

For more Information contact Matthew Kitchen at (206) 464-6196.

The Executive Board heard an overview of a handout featuring our region prepared by the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) to advance reauthorization of TEA-21.
The AMPO handout specifies three main objectives: focus funding where the problems are, provide for new and existing transportation efficiency, and streamlining the project delivery and air quality conformity processes.

For more information contact Rick Olson at (206) 587-5060.

The Executive Board adopted the Regional Bicycle Pedestrian Implementation Strategy.
The Regional Bicycle Pedestrian Implementation Strategy will assist jurisdictions in planning, designing, or implementing bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs. It will also guide the Regional Council's non-motorized work program. The adopted strategy incorporates suggestions made by both the policy boards and the Executive Board during their June meetings.

For more information, please contact King Cushman at (206) 464-6174 or Becca Aue at (206) 587-5665.

The Executive Board authorized a contract for an integrated transportation system database design.
The new data system will integrate the databases for the TIP, MTP, and monitoring data via one geographically based data system. This will enable automatic data transfer, reduce redundant data, and increase staff access to data while maintaining data integrity. This new technology will also support enhancements being made to the travel demand model.

For more information contact Andy Norton at (206) 464-7527 or Jeff Frkonja (206) 464-6180.

The Executive Board authorized a contract for consultant services for the study of bike stations.
The contract will complete a feasibility study for bike station facilities in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties and will build on existing marketing and design work. This contract represents phase II of the original regional Bike Stations Demonstration Grant and will not affect the Regional Council Budget.

For more information contact Becca Aue at (206) 587-5665 or Ned Conroy at (206) 587-5670.

The Executive Board approved revised funding allocations for the region's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds.
In April, the U.S. Census Bureau consolidated the Tacoma and Seattle-Everett Urbanized Areas based on 2000 census information. This led to a revised funding allocation for the $88 million distribution of 2002 FTA funds, which normally would have been given to three separate urbanized areas. In 2003, Pierce Transit will receive an additional $1 million due to the consolidation of urbanized area boundaries. Regional Council staff will work with the Transit Operators Committee to establish a new funding allocation methodology for future FTA distributions.

In other business, the Executive Board:
  • Changed the project status of Kitsap Transit's Harper Church Park and Ride Expansion Project from Candidate to Approved in Destination 2030.
  • Certified local plan amendments for Gig Harbor, Port Orchard and Snohomish County.
  • Approved a routine amendment to the regional TIP, updating information for projects in Pierce County, Tukwila, and WSDOT Olympic Region in Kitsap Countywide Area.