The Transportation Policy Board welcomed Richard Warren, Corridor Planning Manager at the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for a presentation on the overview of corridor studies in progress.

WSDOT is currently studying seven corridors in the central Puget Sound region, including I-5, I-90, SR 164, SR 167, SR 169, SR 202, and US 2. The studies will result in Route Development Plans, which will be used by WSDOT and local jurisdictions to address safety, mobility and environmental issues on the corridor. Each study has an advisory group developing consensus-based recommendations.

For more information, contact Richard Warren at 206-464-1283 or warrenr@wsdot.wa.gov.

The Transportation Policy Board discussed the revised Draft VISION 2020 Update Schedule.

The new schedule accommodates delays in developing the draft Environmental Impact Statement and allows for more time for PSRC to conduct outreach meetings. It is anticipated the draft Environmental Impact Statement will be published at the end of April 2006.

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

The Transportation Policy Board reviewed the outcomes of the 2006 session of the state legislature, which adjourned on March 8.

Among the outcomes was new legislation regarding regional transportation. A one-page summary of that legislation is attached.

For more information, contact Rick Olson at 206-586-5060 or rolson@psrc.org.

The Growth Management Policy Board discussed developing a preferred growth distribution alternative for the update of VISION 2020, focusing on how future population growth could be distributed among different types of places in the region.

These different places - called regional geographies -- include metropolitan cities, core suburban cities, larger suburban cities, smaller suburban cities, unincorporated areas, and rural areas. The board examined how population was distributed among these regional geographies in the year 2000 compared to a potential new 2040 growth distribution. This exercise was designed to launch the board's discussion of population distribution at the regional level as board members work toward selecting a preferred growth alternative.

The board will choose a preferred growth alternative after studying public comments on the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), due to be published at the end of April. The final growth alternative will then be published in a supplemental DEIS for additional public comment.

Board members discussed a wide range of issues, including the purpose of the preferred growth alternative, the ability of cities to absorb growth, and the steps that need to be taken over the next several months. The board directed staff to develop visual examples of the different growth scenarios.

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

The Growth Management Policy Board discussed concepts for incorporating revised multicounty planning policies into the VISION update, as well as the content and organization of the document.

Multicounty planning policies adopted according to the Growth Management Act are essentially countywide planning policies adopted by two or more counties. VISION 2020 includes the multicounty planning policies for the four-county region. Preliminary proposals will be brought to the Growth Management Policy Board in June so the board can begin crafting the recommended revisions to the multicounty planning policies.

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

The Growth Management Policy Board heard a status report on an upcoming all-day public event designed to encourage comments on the VISION 2020 draft environment impact statement (DEIS).

The event will be held May 23, 2006, at the Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle Center.

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

The Growth Management Policy Board received an update on VISION 2020 outreach.

A total of 14 outreach presentations have been scheduled with jurisdictions around the region in the upcoming months, and more are planned.

To schedule a presentation or for more information, contact Sheila Rogers at 206-464-5815 or srogers@psrc.org.