The Transportation Policy Board recommended approval of changes to Destination 2030's financial strategy.

Recognizing that project costs have increased and revenue sources have changed since the plan's adoption in 2001 and review in 2004, new costs, estimates, and strategies will be included in the updated plan. The financial strategy assumes passage of the roads and transit ballot and will make use of an un-programmed list, which names projects and programs not explicitly covered by the financial strategy.

For more information, contact Mike Cummings at 206-464-6172 or mcummings@psrc.org.

The Transportation Policy Board discussed the draft 2007 Action Strategy and its near term recommendations, which could be used as recommendations to the 2007 Legislature.

The draft Action Strategy is PSRC's biennial report on the region's progress implementing Destination 2030. The Strategy provides a status report on major transportation programs and outlines the region's action agenda for the coming years. Possible recommendations to the Legislature include support for the roads and transit ballot, sustenance of existing transportation funding, support for increased city and county transportation funding, consideration of the need to meet federal requirements as an MPO while reviewing transportation governance, continuation of the Vashon-Seattle passenger only ferry service and support for local ferry service, and funding to implement the Commute Trip Reduction law.

For more information, contact Stephen Kiehl at 206-464-6175 or skiehl@psrc.org.

The Transportation Policy Board received a copy of the draft revised transportation Multicounty Planning Policies.

The Board is scheduled to take a preliminary action on the policies in January. The policies will be released at the same time as the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for analysis and public review. The policies are available online at psrc.org.

For more information, contact Rocky Piro at 206-464-6360 or rpiro@psrc.org.

The Growth Management Policy Board reviewed revisions to the multicounty planning policies for the economy.

The Growth Management Policy Board is leading the effort to update VISION 2020, the regional growth, transportation and economic strategy. A key part of the update is to develop multicounty planning policies for the environment, development patterns, the economy, transportation, and public services and facilities. In December, the Board focused on the economic policies.

At its January 11th meeting, the Growth Management Policy Board will review all suggested edits to the policies. The policy board will provide a recommendation to the Executive Board on the revised policies and preliminary preferred growth alternative for board action in March.

For more information, contact Norman Abbott at 206-464-7134, email nabbott@psrc.org.

The Growth Management Policy Board reviewed regional expectations for policy language used in the revisions of the multicounty planning policies.

The current recommended revisions to the multicounty policies range from those that are deliberately expressed as broad statements meant to serve as general guidance to policies designed to be more specific. The policy board directed staff to group the policies into three categories as a basis for assessing the content and language of the proposed policies. Staff assigned policy ratings in the environmental section. The board reviewed the methodology and asked staff to continue with the rest of the policy sections. This information will be presented at the policy board's next meeting on January 11th.

For more information, contact Norman Abbott at 206-464-7134, nabbott@psrc.org.

Board Coordination Meeting

The Growth Management Policy Board hosted a coordination meeting with the members of the Transportation, Economic Development District, and Executive boards. The purpose of the meeting was to brief the other board members on the VISION 2020 update and to hear comments and questions.

Executive John Ladenburg, PSRC President, thanked the members of the Growth Management Policy Board for their excellent work on the VISION 2020 update, noting that the Regional Council is in a unique position to recommend a regional vision for the future. No other group is charged with the long-term view for land use, transportation and economic development in the region.

Commissioner Patty Lent, chair of the Growth Management Policy Board, provided background on the steps taken to develop the preliminary preferred growth alternative.

Deputy Mayor Mike Lonergan, vice chair of the Growth Management Policy Board, described the work so far to revise the multicounty planning policies.

Following the briefing, board members discussed issues related to the multicounty planning policies and other aspects of the VISION update. Some of the comments included: