Regional View Newsletter
February 2005  [pdf version]
Partnership and coordination led to the single largest transportation improvement project in downtown Bellevue to be completed one year ahead of schedule and $25 million under budget. The Bellevue Downtown Access Project created new HOV access ramps at NE 6th offering buses and carpools direct access from the renovated transit center to I-405 and easing congestion on two major I-405 interchanges, resulting in timesavings of up to 10 minutes per trip.

Table of Contents
We can make traffic better. The region's economic vitality depends on it.

As the new Legislature and Governor began the 2005 session of the state legislature, central Puget Sound and communities across the state mobilized to make the case for transportation - to make the system more safe, make traffic flow better and compete for jobs to grow the state's economy.

The state faces looming safety concerns on key failing structures, which, if not addressed, could disrupt a fragile economic recovery in the biggest job centers. Cities, towns and counties across the state, budgets drained by a weak economy and tax limiting ballot measures, lack funding to take care of transportation basics.

Even as transportation advocates seek to increase federal funding from the Administration and Congress, expectations for significant additional federal funding have been reduced by competing federal priorities.

Within central Puget Sound, mobilization for the 2005 Legislature began in earnest last summer when the Puget Sound Regional Council kicked off a review of the region's overall long-range transportation plan, Destination 2030. A leadership group convened by the Cascadia Center - the Transportation Working Group - also assessed the situation and made recommendations of the best ways to move the region's plan forward.

Both efforts reached the same conclusions: substantial new state funding will be required in 2005 to move key projects forward in the next ten years - and more viable ways to raise funding regionally will also be required.

Progress Has Been Made - But More is Required

The case for additional funding is bolstered by recent successes in delivering transportation improvements approved by voters and the 2003 Legislature. These investments are transforming the region's transportation system. (Some highlights are shown in this edition of VIEW.)

The 2003 Transportation Funding Package approved by the legislature was widely viewed as a down-payment. Transportation leadership in the legislature has signaled its intent to seek additional funding in 2005. The Washington Transportation Commission has proposed increasing statewide funding for transportation by $11 billion over the next ten years as a starting point for finding common ground.

Within central Puget Sound, the latest review of long-range plans noted that the estimated shortfall for the region's 30-year plan had been reduced from roughly $47 billion to roughly $30 billion since 2001. The long-term shortfall was reduced due to new economic forecasts, voter approved taxes and the 2003 Transportation Funding Package. But there is much urgent work left undone.

Even as the region can count on $27 billion from existing revenue streams to fund next steps in transportation plans over the next ten years, roughly $16 billion more funding will be required in the next ten years to proceed with all of the priority projects. The region's plans will require additional state funding, new regional revenue, new tolling mechanisms and continued growth in federal funding.

Transportation & Congestion: the Region's Weakest Link

Seventy-four percent of respondents in a survey of business and civic leadership in the region identified transportation and traffic congestion as a weakness in terms of the region's overall ability to compete in the global economy. The most often mentioned strength was "quality of life." The survey was conducted by the Economic Competitiveness Group and Global Insight last fall for the Prosperity Partnership, a PSRC-led regional mobilization to develop and implement a first-ever regional economic strategy.

Transportation improvements were also top on the list of priorities of over 1,100 attendees at the Economic Summit last fall that kicked off the Prosperity Partnership. Conference attendees said transportation investment would have the most impact on improving the region's competitive edge. The Partnership has identified five initial strategic economic clusters for the region: aerospace, logistics and international trade, life sciences, information technology and environment and alternative energy. The strategic clusters were determined from data assessing the region's relative strengths and opportunities for economic growth. For more information, check out: www.prosperitypartnership.org

PSRC Recommendations to the 2005 Legislature

Under the leadership of Transportation Policy Board Chair Julia Patterson, the Regional Council developed its first-ever set of recommendations to the state Legislature. As a Regional Transportation Planning Organization under state law, the PSRC is required to review the region's overall transportation plan every two years. This year's plan review focused on funding and project prioritization and provided the foundation for the recommendations. PSRC worked closely with other transportation interests within the region to better assure a unified approach to the 2005 session. One result: a growing Transportation Partnership co-chaired by PSRC Executive Director Bob Drewel, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Leahy and Washington State Labor Council President Rick Bender. The Transportation Partnership is committed to making more progress on transportation in 2005. This effort has resulted in a coordinated 2005 Legislative Strategy with the following PSRC recommendations:
  • Advocate for additional state funding for state and local transportation projects in the 2005 Legislative session.
  • Additional state funding should emphasize transportation corridors connecting urban growth centers and industrial manufacturing centers.
  • Advocate that the 2005 Legislature develop new revenues to be distributed to cities and counties to invest in local transportation infrastructure, including transit. State funding should address city and county needs in addition to the state system.
  • Advocate for the creation of a special category of state funding for major safety and preservation projects, such as the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the State Route 520 Floating Bridge, and others.
  • Sustain the ability of the region via RCW 36.20 (SB 6140 codified) to develop a transportation funding proposal and present it to voters for approval, and work with the Legislature to consider changes, such as granting of state bonding authority, additional financing tools and ballot title revisions to expand the limit on title length.
  • Advocate for continued and additional funding for multi-modal transportation, including peak period transit, expanded Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) and Transportation Demand Management (TDM), and an Ôactive transportationÕ program for Safe Routes to School, bicycle, pedestrian, and transit friendly development investments.
  • Advocate for legislation that authorizes flexible user fees, including tolls for HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes and multimodal investments.
  • Advocate for dedicated state funding to ensure state participation in the ongoing formation and financing of freight mobility project partner-ships across the state, especially in the central Puget Sound region, such as the FAST Corridor, however, not at the expense of federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funding.

    Residential Development Experiences Slight Decline in 2003

    With the region's economy still in recovery from the 2001 recession, residential building permit trends showed a slight decline in 2003 from levels seen during the previous two years. A net total of 22,660 housing units were authorized for development in 2003, a decrease of about 1,540 units or 6.4 percent from 2002 and 2001, and 4,390 units or 16.3% from 2000.

    While overall levels of new residential development in the region remained relatively stable for the past three years, development trends varied substantially among structure types. In general, increasing levels of single family development worked to offset declines in multifamily development. Factors that helped to buttress the region's single family housing market in spite of the weak economy include strong demand generated from record low mortgage and refinancing rates, as well as a tight housing supply. A net total of 14,870 single family housing units were permitted for development in 2003, up 620 units or 4.3 percent from 2002, and up 2,720 units or 22.3 percent from 2001.

    In contrast to the rise in single family development, multifamily development has seen a steady downturn for three consecutive years. Net permitted multifamily units declined from 13,770 units in 2000, to 11,090 units in 2001, 9,260 units in 2002, and 7,310 units in 2003.

    From 2002 to 2003 there were variations in permitting trends between the four central Puget Sound counties. Net total permitted units decreased by 9.3 percent in King County, increased by 3.0 percent in Kitsap, decreased by 7.6 percent in Pierce, and stayed stable in Snohomish. (Table 1) Overall, single family development remained strong, while multifamily development posted mixed results, and permitted mobile homes decreased.

    The full version of this trend can be obtained from the Information Center at (206) 464-7532 or infoctr@psrc.org, or found online at www.psrc.org. For questions regarding the data presented in this article, contact Narith Try at (206) 389-2162 or ntry@psrc.org.

    PSRC Welcomes Charlie Howard as its new Director of Transportation Planning

    "I am delighted that Charlie will be joining us to move our region's plans forward and work with the rest of the state to better integrate transportation planning, with land use planning and the needs of a competitive economy," said Bob Drewel, Executive Director. "Charlie brings an extraordinary level of professionalism, a passion for improving transportation, extensive understanding of our region's needs and a collaborative working ethic, combined with good humor, that will serve the people of our growing region extremely well."

    Prior to joining PSRC, Howard served as the Director of Strategic Planning and Programming for the Washington State Department of Transportation. He has played an integral role in charting changes in the direction of transportation planning in central Puget Sound and Washington State. His work has been nationally recognized for the integration of land use and transportation planning, and for planning that coordinates roads, transit, ferries, freight, bicycle and pedestrian and demand strategies - all the tools available move people and goods safely and efficiently.

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