The Transportation Policy Board was briefed on recommended transportation-related edits to the draft VISION 2040 multicounty planning policies.

The recommended edits respond to public comments on transportation policies and actions in the draft VISION 2040 growth strategy, released in July 2007 for public review. The recommendations were developed by an ad hoc Committee of the Growth Management Policy Board, with the participation of Transportation Policy Board members.

Among the requested edits were greater support for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing other transportation-related environmental impacts, the need for significant investment in public transportation, more emphasis on transportation and public health, the need for strategic transportation system capacity expansion, and expanded treatment of freight mobility.

The Transportation Policy Board will make a final recommendation to the Growth Management Policy Board on these proposed changes in December. The final edits will be forwarded to the Growth Management Policy Board for action.

For more information, contact Ben Bakkenta at 206-972-3286, bbakkenta@psrc.org.

The Transportation Policy Board discussed the launch of the Scoping Period for the Destination 2030 Update.

Scoping is the public process in which the range of issues, alternatives, and environmental analysis to be included in the planning process are specified. The updated plan will extend the plan horizon to 2040 and evaluate ways to keep the region moving and the economy prospering as the population grows by 1.5 million. During the next several months the public will be asked to help define the issues the plan update will address, identify reasonable alternatives, and focus the EIS. To launch the process, PSRC has scheduled ads in each of the county papers as well as The Facts newspaper, has developed a project website at psrc.org, and has planned public meetings for January 2008. The Scoping Notice is online at psrc.org. The comment period spans from November 15, 2007 to January 30, 2008.

For more information, contact Stephen Kiehl at 206-971-3290 or skiehl@psrc.org.

The Transportation Policy Board enjoyed a presentation on four topics that will be addressed in the 2010 update to Destination 2030:

- Safety & Health -- Getting to "Target Zero" (the state's plan to eliminate fatal and disabling highway injuries by 2030) and supporting healthy lifestyles.
- Security - PSRC's role in transportation security and dealing with emergencies.
- Energy and the Environment - Climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and cleaning up Puget Sound.
- Preservation of the System - Planning for an aging infrastructure.

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

The Transportation Policy Board discussed potential legislative recommendations for 2008.

The purpose of the recommendations is to help PSRC members communicate a consistent message on transportation issues during the legislative session. Preliminary discussion by the policy board included finding ways to move needed projects forward with new financial strategies. There will be an opportunity for more discussion and action on the recommendations in December or January.

For more information, contact Charlie Howard at 206-464-7122, choward@psrc.org.

In other business, the Transportation Policy Board: