Puget Sound Regional Council                                       psrc.org
  Regional Coordination     at work
  Transportation Policy Board and Growth Management Policy Board
 
              September 8, 2005

The Transportation Policy Board released a proposed annual air quality amendment to the 2005-2007 Regional Transportation Improvement Program for public review.

The air quality amendment is developed to include all new regionally significant projects and assure that the region continues to meet federal and state clean air requirements.

The 2005 air quality amendment consists of 34 projects totaling $132.5 million, including $64.5 million for nine projects funded by the new state Transportation Partnership Act (TPA), which included a gradual 9.5 cent gas tax increase. The fate of TPA-funded projects is uncertain pending the outcome of Initiative 912, which seeks to repeal the new gas tax, and any ensuing action by the Legislature. An immediate result of voter approval of I-912 would be major revision to the TIP amendment prior to sending it to the Governor and federal agencies for approval. Detailed information about the projects contained in the air quality amendment is available online at psrc.org.

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

Transportation Policy Board Chair Julia Patterson named Councilmember Pam Carter, Tukwila, as chair of a Destination 2030 working group that will advise the Transportation Policy Board through the plan adoption in 2008.

Chair Patterson asked TPB members representing the four counties, subarea groups, cities, ports, environment and business to volunteer to serve on the working group.

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

The Transportation Policy Board directed PSRC staff to work with King County, the Port of Seattle and Southwest Airlines to gather information on the effects of Southwest Airlines' proposal to move operations to King County Airport.

The Transportation Policy Board will discuss the report at its October 13 meeting, and plans to make a recommendation on the proposal at its November meeting.

For more information, contact Stephen Kiehl at 206-464-6715 or skiehl@psrc.org.

The Transportation Policy Board heard a report on congestion issues in the region as part of the Destination 2030 update. Some highlights of the data presented included:

  • In the last 20 years, population, travel and employment have grown faster than transportation supply.
  • Commutes are predominately suburb-to-suburb.
  • Job growth is concentrated in King County, while population growth has occurred mostly outside Seattle and King County.
  • Maximum "throughput" on highways occurs when vehicles are going about 50 miles per hour. Efficiency measures to maintain this optimal traffic flow include ramp metering, HOV lanes, synchronizing traffic lights, and targeting improvements at chokepoints.
  • The central Puget Sound region's population is expected to increase by approximately 1.5 million (from 3.46 million today to about 4.98 million in 2040). This population growth is expected to translate into substantial increases in travel demand - a 50 percent increase from 2003 to 2025.

    For a copy of the congestion presentation, contact the PSRC Information Center at (206) 464-7532, infoctr@psrc.org.

    The Transportation Policy Board heard a briefing on the Seattle Monorail Project.

    Monorail board chair Kristina Hill gave background on the project and its finance plan. Kevin Phelps, the Monorail Project's independent financial analyst, described his findings related to the finance plan and revised forecasts for Motor Vehicle Excise Tax revenue, which is the Monorail's main source of funding.

    For more information, contact the Seattle Monorail Project at (206) 382-1220, www.elevated.org.

    In other business, the Transportation Policy Board:

  • Heard a report on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Eastside Rail Corridor Acquisition Study.
  • Recommended adopting an amendment to the TIP containing 14 projects sponsored by Mercer Island, Sumner, Tacoma, Mountlake Terrace, and the Washington State Department of Transportation. The Board also recommended an amendment to PSRC's Unified Planning Work Program, which would add one project for FAST Corridor Agency Staff Administration.
  • Recommended certification of the 2004 amendments to the City of Bainbridge Island Comprehensive Plan and to the City of Sammamish Comprehensive Plan.
  • Recommended certification of transportation-related provisions in the 2003 Snoqualmie Vicinity Comprehensive Plan.
  • Recommended changing the project status for the SR 704 Cross Base Highway from candidate to approved (for early right-of-way acquisition only).

    The Growth Management Policy Board selected four regional growth alternatives for further analysis in an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the VISION 2020 + 20 update.

    The purpose of evaluating alternatives in an EIS is to better understand the possible environmental effects that might result from different ways the region might grow. The alternatives represent a range of possible future growth patterns and possible environmental impacts. They were developed based on the results of the regional growth scenario sensitivity tests, public comment, and direction from policy board members and the Regional Staff Committee. The alternatives were reviewed and discussed by the Ad Hoc Committee on August 11, 2005, the Regional Staff Committee on August 18, 2005, and the entire Growth Management Policy Board on August 25, 2005. The four alternatives are:

    1. No Action - Current comprehensive plans extended to the year 2040. The currently planned distribution of growth around the region is maintained. Urban growth is encouraged in multiple urban centers and within unincorporated urban growth areas. Significant growth continues in the region's rural areas.
    2. Metropolitan Cities - More centrally focused growth. A much larger amount of growth is focused in a limited number of regional growth centers in metropolitan cities and core suburban cities. A larger emphasis is placed on growth in centers within metropolitan cities. Less growth occurs in the region's rural areas.
    3. Larger Cities - A larger number of urban centers. The region's larger cities play an increased role in accommodating regional growth. Growth is emphasized in centers within the region's larger suburban cities, core suburban cities and metropolitan cities. Less growth occurs in the region's rural areas.
    4. Smaller Cities - Dispersed growth within the urban growth area. A larger amount of growth is distributed among today's smaller suburban cities and unincorporated urban growth areas, with less emphasis on metropolitan cities and core suburban cities. Significant growth continues in the region's rural areas.

    For more information, contact Norman Abbott at (206) 464-5372, nabbott@psrc.org or Ben Bakkenta at (206) 464-5372, bbakkenta@psrc.org.

    The Growth Management Policy Board directed staff to proceed with a proposed outline for the draft environmental impact statement for the VISION 2020 + 20 update.

    The EIS will meet the requirements for a non-project environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act and will have several other features, including discussion of the Puget Sound urban area as part of larger regional ecosystems and environmental justice.

    For more information, contact Ivan Miller at (206) 464-7549, imiller@psrc.org, or Norman Abbott at (206) 464-7134, nabbott@psrc.org.

    The Growth Management Policy Board discussed an upcoming economic issue paper for the VISION 2020 + 20 update.

    The purpose of the paper will be to link the Prosperity Partnership's Regional Economic Strategy and the update of VISION 2020 and discuss how the VISION can be used to help implement the strategy.

    For more information, contact Ivan Miller at (206) 464-7549, imiller@psrc.org, or Rocky Piro at (206) 464-6360, e-mail rpiro@psrc.org.

    The Growth Management Policy Board discussed a draft framework for selecting a preferred growth alternative for the VISION 2020 + 20 update.

    The framework will be included in the draft environmental impact statement that will be released for public review in February 2006. The framework will later be refined and used as evaluation criteria to guide the selection of the preferred growth alternative that will be released for public review in September 2006. The draft framework focuses on economic prosperity, environmental quality, compact regional urban form, the objectives of Destination 2030, social justice and human potential, efficiencies in provision and use of infrastructure, public facilities and services, maintaining rural character, and protecting resource lands.

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

    In Other Business, the Growth Management Policy Board:

  • Recommended certification of 2004 Comprehensive Plan Amendments for the cities of Bainbridge Island and Sammamish.
  • Recommended certification of the 2003 Snoqualmie Vicinity Comprehensive Plan.
  • Received a status report on the issue paper series.