Puget Sound Regional Council                                   psrc.org
  Regional Coordination     at work
  Transportation Policy Board and Growth Management Policy Board
 
              February 8, 2007

The Transportation Policy Board recommended approval for PSRC's program management plan for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Jobs Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) and New Freedom funds.

The program management plans outline PSRC and the state Department of Transportation policies and procedures for administering the JARC and New Freedom programs in the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett urbanized area. The Plans identify the process for selecting projects for JARC and New Freedom funding in PSRC's competitive selection process this spring. These plans are required to be on file with the regional FTA office as a basis for review.

For more information, contact Benjamin Brackett 206-389-2162 or bbrackett@psrc.org.

The Transportation Policy Board recommended approval of the BNSF corridor study and its recommendations.

The overall recommendation is to preserve the 42 mile eastside rail corridor for public use. The recommendation for the Renton to Woodinville segment is a multi-purpose trail for the first ten years after which rail use for high capacity transit will be considered. The recommendation for the Woodinville to Snohomish River section is to continue existing freight use, offer use to the Spirit of Washington Dinner train, and explore the possibility of joint trail use next to rail operations. The spur segment from Redmond up to Woodinville is proposed for trail in the southern section for short-term and high capacity transit in the long- term. The dinner train would be able to move its operation to Woodinville and operate between the winery district and the City of Snohomish. A special provision in state law allows PSRC and Sound Transit to protect the King County corridor segments for high capacity transit.

For more information, contact King Cushman at 206-464-6174 or kcushman@psrc.org.

In other business, the Transportation Policy Board:

  • Recommended concurrence with the Washington State Department of Transportation's request for designated recipient status for two types of Federal Transit Administration funds.
  • Recommended adoption of a routine amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program updating information for seven Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) projects.
  • Received updates from WSDOT staff on US 2 Route Development.
  • Received an update on the process to develop FY 2008-09 Budget and Work Program.

    The Growth Management Policy Board recommended a preferred growth alternative for the VISION 2020 update.

    The policy board recommended that the Executive Board take action in March 2007 to release staff to develop a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). This DEIS will contain the full analysis of the preferred growth alternative alongside the other four growth alternatives.

    Members of the policy board designed the preferred growth alternative as an ambitious but achievable growth strategy to support a high quality of life in the region for the long term. Combining the best elements of four potential growth scenarios, the preferred alternative was found to perform well in terms of jobs/housing balance, access to transit, air quality, and other measures.

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

    The Growth Management Policy Board recommended that the Executive Board incorporate draft revised multicounty planning policies into a VISION update document for public review and comment.

    The revised multicounty policies will ultimately provide a regional framework for planning by counties, cities, and transportation agencies to assure that local and regional plans are working toward a common vision for the future. The revised policies will be included in a draft VISION update document that will be published in summer 2007.

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

    The Growth Management Policy Board agreed to remove numeric categories that were used to distinguish the level of detail for each multicounty planning policy.

    Instead, the numeric categories will be replaced with a narrative discussion in the VISION update document.

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

    The Growth Management Policy Board discussed potential implementation actions for the VISION update.

    While the multicounty planning policies explain "what" the region is striving to achieve, implementation actions describe "how" the policies are to be addressed, and "by whom." Board members discussed potential actions related to the Environment and Development Patterns sections, and will continue their review of remaining actions at the next policy board meeting in March.

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

    The Growth Management Policy Board was briefed on PSRC's draft budget and work program for FY 2008-2009.

    The agency's work will focus on meeting mandates, carrying out regional plans for transportation, economic development and growth management, and continuing to provide essential services to members. The Operations Committee will prepare a recommended budget and work program for final consideration by the Executive Board during the month of March and action by the General Assembly in April.

    For more information, contact Diana Lauderbach at 206-464-5416, dlauderbach@psrc.org.