The Transportation Policy Board released for public comment the draft 2005-2007 regional Transportation Improvement Program, which includes the 119 projects that have been recommended to receive PSRC funding.

The total investment for projects recommended to receive PSRC funding is $325.5 million and includes projects in each of the four counties. The projects were recommended by the Regional Project Evaluation Committee, the Seattle-Everett-Tacoma Federal Transit Administration Caucus, the Transportation Operators Committee, and four county level transportation forums via competitive processes. All of the projects have been modeled for air quality conformity purposes and together have meet state and federal requirements. A complete list of projects and their descriptions is available online at psrc.org/projects/tip. You can make a comment using this online form http://www.psrc.org/projects/tip/commentform.htm or by writing to Karen Richter, 1011 Western Ave Ste 500, Seattle, WA 98104.

Written comments will be accepted until October 7 and included in the agenda packet for the Transportation Policy Board meeting on October 14, when it finalizes its recommendation to the Executive Board. Comments can be made in person at the Transportation Policy Board meeting, as well as the Executive Board meeting on October 28, when the draft TIP is scheduled for final approval.

For more information, contact Karen Richter at (206) 464-6343 or krichter@psrc.org.

The Transportation Policy Board embarked on its plans to develop recommendations that address three major issues related to transportation: financing, governance, and a methodology for project prioritization as part of the Regional Transportation Plan review under state requirements.

Senator Jim Horn, Chair of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee, and Representative Ed Murray, Chair of the House Transportation Committee, joined by additional members of the State Legislature, opened the discussion with a presentation on the legislative context of the issues and the plan review. Staff gave an overview of the process, a history of transportation governance issues, current project prioritization practices, and background on transportation finance.

For more information, contact Kathleen McMullen at (206) 464-6172 or kmcmullen@psrc.org.

In other business, the Transportation Policy Board:

• Recommended approval of a Routine Amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), updating information for two projects in Bellevue, two King County Department of Transportation Transit projects, one Kitsap Transit project, and two Washington State Department of Transportation projects.
• Recommended changing project status for three Destination 2030 projects. The Shoreline Interurban Trail Crossing and Seattle's Interurban Trail would receive approved status and Seattle's Chief Sealth Trail would receive conditionally approved status.
• Recommended approval of a Destination 2030 refinement to add the City of Kent's East Valley Highway Improvement Project - SR 167 to S. 212th St as a candidate project to the plan.
• Recommended concurrence with designated recipient status for Community Transit (CT), which would enable CT to receive funds directly from the Federal Transit Administration.

The Growth Management Policy Board reviewed an analysis of regional implications of population, household, and employment growth targets done by Countywide Planning Organizations.

Staff introduced a forthcoming monitoring report on household, population, and employment targets. The report will be part of the ongoing Puget Sound Milestones series analyzing the effectiveness of regional planning in central Puget Sound. Staff discussed the implications of this work on the update of VISION 2020.

For more information, contact Yorik Stevens-Wajda at (206) 389-2158 or For more information, contact Yorik Stevens-Wajda at (206) 389-2158 or ystevens@psrc.org.

Eric Shields, Director of City Planning, and Dorian Colleens presented work that Kirkland is doing to transform its new Totem Lake Regional Growth Center from a low-density suburban area to a vibrant center. Efforts include a new neighborhood plan, development incentives, and a new transit center. The plan calls for Totem Lake to double its jobs and housing units between 2000 and 2012.

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

The Growth Management Policy Board discussed its work program for the remainder of the fiscal year.

The work program includes review of a series of issue papers focused on research areas to support the update of VISION 2020, discussion of growth distribution alternatives for the update of VISION 2020, as well as discussion of specific topics like environmental justice and the regional economic strategy.