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Region is Prioritizing Transportation Projects, Moving Forward with Destination 2030
As the 2007 session of the state Legislature kicked off, the central Puget Sound's elected leadership was hard at work to make the transportation system more safe, make traffic flow better and create jobs to grow the state's economy. Planning is underway by Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Investment District on an integrated road and transit plan that represents the next big step in regional transportation.
The Puget Sound Regional Council has thoroughly reviewed the progress towards implementing Destination 2030, the region's long-range transportation plan. This included the status of prioritized projects, the financial strategy for moving the region forward, and emerging issues the region will need to address in the future through the adoption of the 2007 Action Strategy.
The 2007 Action Strategy meets the state mandates for biennial reporting, outlines the actions the region needs to take to stay on track, and identifies important steps the Legislature can take to help the region move forward.
Key Progress Has Been Made - But More is Vital to the Region's FutureAfter several decades of under-investing in the transportation system, the region has made significant progress in the past 5 years. Sound Transit, the state Department of Transportation, and other entities around the region have made solid progress on projects that are implementing the regional transportation plan. These investments are transforming the region's transportation system. (Some highlights are shown in this edition of VIEW.) pdf file
Since adoption of Destination 2030 these investments total over $4.2 billion as follows:
| State and Interstate Highways | $750 million |
| HOV | $258 million |
| Arterials | $513 million |
| Transit | $704 million |
| ITS | $23 million |
| Non-motorized | $82 million |
| Freight Mobility | $308 million |
| Regional Airports | $1,600 million |
| Regional Total | $4.25 billion |
Local jurisdictions have also moved forward with their own levies to increase funding to bus service, arterial improvements, signal timing and sidewalk enhancements/
Even as the region can count on $75 billion from existing revenue streams to fund critical projects over the next ten years, roughly $30 billion more funding will be required to build the region's priority projects. Voters in the region are expected to be asked to approve funding for the highest priority projects in November. If approved, this could close nearly half of the funding gap.
Fully implementing the region's plans will require additional state funding in the future, new regional revenue, new tolling mechanisms and continued growth in federal funding.
Failure to plan ahead and make critical investments in our transportation systems will leave the region at risk. The region faces safety concerns on key failing structures, which, if not addressed, could disrupt the economy and future growth in our major job centers. Transportation investments and traffic congestion remain a top issue for the Prosperity Partnership, a regional coalition of over 200 government, business, labor and community organizations dedicated to long-term economic prosperity.
PSRC Recommendations to the 2007 Legislature
1. RTID/ST Ballot - Success of the 2007 RTID/ST ballot measure is the region's most urgent and top priority. The region will seek or support legislation needed to enable a successful joint ballot measure at the 2007 general election. As Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID) prepare for a joint ballot in November 2007, statutory changes may be determined to be necessary to ease the way toward success, including but not limited to ballot, boundary, and annexation requirements. PSRC supports efforts to create a single poll vote for the 2007 RTID/ST2 ballot measure.
2. Protect and Sustain Existing Transportation Funding - Existing state and federal funding sources are critical to the region, and will be the basis for major regional funding commitments, including the RTID and ST-2 programs. Therefore, the region:
3. City and County Transportation Funding - The 2005 Transportation Partnership Act provided the first new state funding for city and county transportation since 1990. While this funding is extremely helpful, and local jurisdictions are stepping up with additional local funding (witness the City of Seattle's recent successful campaign for transportation funding - Bridging the Gap), more funds are needed to cover the growing transportation investment backlog to preserve and maintain city and county transportation systems. The revamped Transportation Benefit District (TBD) legislation may provide local jurisdictions with options (after December 2007 for jurisdictions in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties), but some changes may be necessary to provide an efficient and flexible funding source for local transportation improvements. The Regional Council supports continuing refinements to the Transportation Benefit District mechanism to allow more local flexibility in applying this mechanism.
4. Transportation Governance - The Regional Council recommends the Legislature consider the following as they contemplate actions on transportation governance:
5. Passenger-Only Ferry Service - The region has two primary objectives: (1) assure the continuation of existing passenger-only ferry service during the legislatively mandated transition from operation by WSF to new local operators; and (2) address remaining issues to assure the state and region can meet long-range goals for passenger-only ferry service. PSRC is just beginning a comprehensive evaluation of passenger-only ferry service, which may result in legislative recommendations in 2008. In the near term, we support the following actions:
6. Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) - The region has new state mandates to enhance our existing CTR programs. We support additional funding to assure that local governments can successfully implement the new program and deliver needed services to employers.
Destination 2030 Bolstered by New Information
 The region must accommodate 1.02 million more people and 4.6 million additional trips in 2030. That is a 30% growth in population and a 38% growth in trips. Employment is expected to grow by nearly 900,000 new jobs, a growth of nearly 50%. |
The Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Destination 2030, is being amended and an environmental review addendum will be available. PSRC's Executive Board has approved edits to Destination 2030 to strengthen six primary areas: special needs transportation, safety, security, operations management, environmental mitigation and commute trip reduction. The changes reflect a limited scope update to satisfy new requirements and set the stage for a more extensive plan update in 2010. Recognizing that project costs have increased and revenue sources have changed since the plan's adoption in 2001 and review in 2004, new cost, estimates, and funding strategies have been included in the updated plan. The financial strategy assumes passage of the roads and transit ballot and will make use of an un-programmed or illustrative list, which names projects and programs not explicitly covered by the financial strategy. The General Assembly will take final action on the update at its April 5, 2007 meeting. This action will include an addendum to the plan's Final Environmental Impact Statement. The Addendum, the Air Quality Conformity Findings, and a description of the action to be taken will be available in early March. If you would like to be included on the mailing list for this addendum, please contact Sheila Rogers at 206-464-5815 or srogers@psrc.org. |
General Assembly Convenes April 5th
Highlights will include special guest Senator Patty Murray, the VISION 2020 Awards Banquet, action on an enhanced Destination 2030 and PSRC's new budget and work program, as well as the election of new officers. The budget and work program outlines PSRC's transportation, economic and growth planning activities for the fiscal years 2008 through 2009 and is being developed with oversight by the Operations Committee and its Chair, Auburn Mayor Pro Tem Sue Singer. The Executive Board will consider the budget at its March meeting.
Special Needs Transportation Funding Available
PSRC is calling for projects for sponsors' seeking Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) or New Freedom financial assistance. This competitive selection process will distribute approximately $3 million in federal funds for human services transportation and JARC projects serving the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett Urbanized Area.
Funds will be awarded to those projects that best implement the strategic objectives, or work towards the three goals identified in the Coordinated Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan. A plan that serves as a unified and comprehensive regional strategy for special needs transportation service delivery here in the central Puget Sound. The plan is available online at psrc.org or from the Information Center at 206-464-7532.
For questions on project eligibility or more information on the Coordinated Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan, please contact Benjamin Brackett at 206-389-2162 or bbrackett@psrc.org.
Strong Economy Attracts Newcomers to the Region
Renewed economic growth has contributed to a population surge in the region. Overall, the central Puget Sound region gained 40,200 persons last year through net migration, compared to its historical average of 24,700.
Total population was estimated to have reached 3,524,000 in 2006, an increase of 2 million people since 1960. Well over half of this expansion (56 percent) can be attributed to net growth from people moving to the region.
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Figure 1. Population of the Central Puget Sound:
Decennial 1960-2000 and 2006 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OFM
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Population change is a function of: (a) natural increase - births minus deaths, and (b) net migration - people moving into an area minus people moving out. Since 1960, net migration has contributed to 56 percent of the region's growth at an average of 24,700 persons per year. Natural increase accounted for 44 per-cent of the region's growth at an average of 19,100 persons per year.
Net migration is the primary driver behind annual population trends in this region. While growth from natural increase remains relatively stable from year to year, net migration is far more volatile, rising and falling in response to the strength of job opportunities and other attractions in the central Puget Sound compared to areas outside the region.
Figure 2. Annual Population Change by Component,
Central Puget Sound: 1960-2006
Source: OFM
During the current decade, annual net migration to the region averaged at a noticeably lower level (19,600 per year) than historically (24,700 per year) due to the economic slowdown and recession of the early 2000s. Net migration fell from 26,000 in 2000-2001 to just 5,100 in 2002-2003, and continued to stagnate for an-other year before recovering to near-average levels in 2004-2005.
Since emerging from the recession, the region's economy has firmly reestablished itself and is posting growth rates that are well above the national average. Net migration has also rebounded, with three of the region's four counties showing gains in 2005-2006 that significantly exceed historical averages.
For more information about population growth, see the February issue of Puget Sound Trends available online at psrc.org. For questions about the data presented in this article, contact Carol Naito at 206-464-7535 or cnaito@psrc.org.
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