| September 27, 2002 | |
| Executive Board
Councilmember Karen Biskey |
On September 26, 2002, the Executive Board of the Puget Sound Regional Council was briefed on the pending reauthorization of federal transportation laws and policies contained in TEA-21. The law expires in September 2003 and the administration and Congress are preparing a legislation to guide federal transportation funding and policies through 2010.
Rick Krochalis, the new regional administrator for the Federal Transportation Administration reviewed administration planning for reauthorization. The President is expected to release the administration's proposals in February 2003.
Andrew Johnson, Executive Policy Advisor to Governor Gary Locke on transportation, reviewed state-led efforts to influence the new law and better assure that federal transportation programs meet needs in Washington state. Johnsen led a special TEA-21 Reauthorization Committee composed of broadly based transportation interests that completed its work earlier this year. The committee made over 50 recommendations to strengthen, alter, expand, or eliminate current TEA-21 requirements and programs. Its work is available on the Web at www.governor.wa.gov.
For more information contact Rick Olson at (206) 587-5060 or rolson@psrc.org.
The Executive Board heard an announcement regarding the appointment of the 2003 VISION 2020 Awards Selection Committee.
The eighth annual VISION 2020 Awards program will honor innovative projects, plans, and programs which help implement VISION 2020 by encouraging economic development, supporting livable communities, and preserving open space. The 2003 Awards Selection Committee will include Sammamish Councilmember Kathy Huckabay as the Chair, Seattle Councilmember Richard Conlin, Bremerton Councilmember Carol Arends, King County Councilmember Julia Patterson, Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma, Bellevue Mayor Connie Marshall, Marysville Mayor David Weiser, Milton Councilmember Katrina Asay, Quadrant Corporation President, Steve Dennis, and Weinstein Copeland Architects Principal, Lee Copeland. Nominations open October 1, 2002 and must be received by December 31, 2002. Winners will be announced at the General Assembly in March 2003.
For more information, contact Michele Leslie at (206) 587-4819 or mleslie@psrc.org.
The Executive Board authorized a contract for development and implementation of a new land-use model.
The Regional Council will enter a formal agreement with the University of Washington to be included in their Center for Metropolitan Analysis to create a new land use model which will forecast the future locations of households, population, and employment. The new model will work to provide data for individual neighborhoods and small communities, represent the location choices of individual households and businesses, and estimate the effect of changes in land use policies and the transportation system on land values.
For more information, contact Larry Blain at (206) 464-5402 or lblain@psrc.org.
The Executive Board endorsed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Freight Action Strategy for Seattle-Tacoma-Everett (FAST) Corridor Program.
The principle purpose of updating the MOU was to include the Phase II action package, which recommends an additional 10 projects to address freight mobility needs within our region. The ten projects will be implemented over the next three years and include five rail grade separations, three highway projects, and two intelligent transportation system (ITS) projects.
For more information, contact Peter Beaulieu at (206) 464-7537 or pbeaulieu@psrc.org.
The Executive Board approved two new grades to the Regional Council's current broadband program based on the results and recommendations of the triennial compensation and benefits study.
The compensation and benefits review ensures that the Regional Council is competitive and is internally equitable. The overall results of the survey showed that the ranges for the majority of positions at the Regional Council are externally competitive and properly classified. The addition of the two grades will not impact the budget.
For more information, contact Robin Rock at (206) 464-7091 or rrock@psrc.org.
In other business, the Executive Board:
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