| Puget Sound Regional Council psrc.org | |
| Regional Coordination at work | |
| Transportation Policy Board and Growth Management Policy Board | |
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February 9, 2006
The Transportation Policy Board recommended adoption of the 2006 policy framework for PSRC's funding. The policy framework provides the guidance for the selection of projects within Destination 2030 to receive the estimated $502.2 million in PSRC funds over the next three years. Under the framework, funding would be distributed to projects that support regional growth and manufacturing/industrial centers identified in Destination 2030 and VISION 2020 and the transportation system that connects them. PSRC funds involve three sources and are divided into two processes. The Federal Highway Administration STP/CMAQ funds are estimated at $128.7 million, about half would be subject to a regional competition and the other half would be distributed to the four counties for a localized funding competition. The Federal Transit Administration funds are estimated at $373.5 million, most of these funds would be distributed to eligible transit agencies based on the population and services they provide, the remaining $36.3 million would be subject to regional competition. Another $2 million would continue funding the Rural Town Centers and Corridor program. The Executive Board will make a final decision on the policy framework at its meeting on February 23, 2006. For more information, contact Karen Richter at 206-464-6343 or krichter@psrc.org.
The Transportation Policy Board recommended adoption of a major amendment to Destination 2030, admitting 12 new candidate projects. The proposed new projects include Bus Rapid Transit on SR 99, two park and rides in north Snohomish County, several phases of Federal Way's city center access plan (these projects replace one project currently in Destination 2030), and four improvements in the City of Redmond. For more information, contact Jeff Frkonja at 206-464-6180 or jfrkonja@psrc.org.
The Transportation and Growth Management Policy Boards recommended certification of comprehensive plan amendments for the cities of Burien, Maple Valley and Marysville. All three plans were found to be consistent with Destination 2030 and the Growth Management Act. Changes to the City of Burien's plan specifically addressed issues with residential densities. Changes to the City of Maple Valley's plan revised growth forecasts in the land use and transportation elements. Changes to the City of Marysville's plan addressed updated population, employment and traffic growth assumptions, including adjustments to adopted neighborhood plans, development policies, and a revised vision for the downtown. For more information, contact Yorik Stevens-Wajda at 206-389-2158 or ystevens@psrc.org.
In other business, the Transportation Policy Board:
The Growth Management Policy Board reviewed a revised schedule for the update of VISION 2020, the region's growth, economic and transportation strategy. PSRC staff anticipates the draft environmental impact statement will be published at the end of April 2006. The policy board also discussed adding time for completing upcoming tasks, including:
For more information, contact Norman Abbott at 206-464-7134 or nabbott@psrc.org.
The Growth Management Policy Board examined steps for selecting a preferred growth alternative for the supplemental draft EIS. The preferred growth alternative will be selected from the range of four broad alternatives analyzed in the environmental impact statement, including the potential of a hybrid alternative that combines the most effective growth strategies. The board agreed that the scale of the preferred growth alternative should be at the level of "regional geographies" by county. The alternative will provide regional guidance regarding population and employment growth in different regional geographies (such as rural areas, metropolitan cities, core suburban cities, etc.) through 2040. Given that each county in the region has a different mix of places, each county would be able to tailor the distribution of growth in a way that makes sense and supports the regional growth strategy. The board also directed staff to include city-level job and population data as an appendix to the draft EIS, so member jurisdictions and others can examine the technical data used in the environmental analysis. For more information, contact Norman Abbott at (206) 464-7134, nabbott@psrc.org.
The Growth Management Policy Board was briefed on the status of the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the update of VISION 2020. The draft Environmental Impact Statement represents a major milestone in the development of the new growth strategy. The DEIS will provide information and public input for the subsequent selection of the preferred alternative in a supplemental DEIS. For more information, contact Ivan Miller at 206-464-7549, e-mail imiller@psrc.org
The Growth Management Policy Board heard an overview of the draft PSRC Supplemental Biennial Budget and Work Program. PSRC's major activities during fiscal years 2006-2007 will focus on meeting mandates and continuing to provide essential services to members. The Operations Committee will prepare a recommended Supplemental Budget and Work Program for final consideration by the Executive Board during the month of February and action by the General Assembly on March 30. For more information, contact Mark Gulbranson, 206-464-7524, e-mail mgulbranson@psrc.org.
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