MAY 2001
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| Attention Regional Council Members! |
General Assembly to Take Action on Destination 2030 in May
Elected officials from all around the region are encouraged to attend a General Assembly meeting on May 24 to take action on a comprehensive plan to make traffic far better in the central Puget Sound region.
Adoption of Destination 2030 -- a 30-year plan for investments in the region's road, bus, rail and other transportation systems -- is a key requirement to keep federal transportation dollars flowing to the region.
"This is an extremely important action by the General Assembly," said Commissioner Bob Edwards, Regional Council President. "Destination 2030 represents regional agreement on how we can make transportation work better in this region. Adoption of Destination 2030 will also ensure that our region remains eligible to receive federal funds for transportation projects."
The proposed Destination 2030 plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement will be mailed to all Regional Council members and other interested parties in early May. The plan will also be available on the Web, or by calling the Regional Council's Information Center, (206) 464-7532.
The General Assembly meeting will be held from 3-5:30 p.m. on May 24 at the Stadium Exhibition Center, 1000 Occidental Avenue South, in downtown Seattle. To register, or for more information, please call Sylvia Nelson at (206) 464-7518. You can also download the registration form (pdf).
| General Assembly Recap |
 Governor Gary Locke and Commissioner Bob Edwards |
Governor Locke Calls for State/Regional Partnerships on Transportation; |
| Assembly Re-Elects Edwards and Biskey, Approves Budget and Work Program | |
At the March 29 meeting of the Regional Council's General Assembly, Governor Gary Locke commended central Puget Sound leaders for creating a strategic plan to improve transportation in the region -- Destination 2030.
"You crafted a long-term, strategic transportation plan that truly complements and dovetails with the recommendations of the state Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation. And you did so the old-fashioned way: one city, one chamber and one community interest at a time," Locke said.
Speaking to the more than 100 mayors, councilmembers, commissioners and other regional officials gathered at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Governor Locke emphasized the need for state-regional partnerships to build large-scale transportation improvement projects such as Interstate 405 and State Route 520.
"Because of their size and magnitude, many of these projects cannot be shouldered by the state alone. The region must be empowered to partner with the state and federal governments," Locke said.
Governor Locke's address was a highlight of the General Assembly meeting, which each year brings together elected officials from the Council's more than 80 member governments to take action on the major business of the Regional Council and celebrate regional accomplishments.
The General Assembly unanimously approved the Regional Council's budget and work program for fiscal years 2002-2003, and unanimously re-elected Port of Seattle Commissioner Bob Edwards and Pierce County Councilmember Karen Biskey as President and Vice President of the Regional Council.
Assembly members also heard a briefing on Destination 2030. The Assembly is scheduled to take action on the final Destination 2030 plan on May 24 (see notice above). The Destination 2030 presentation, as well as other information on the plan, is available on this Web site, or by calling the Regional Council's Information Center, (206) 464-7532.
Regional Council Celebrates VISION 2020 Award Winners
Some of the best and brightest efforts to enhance quality of life in central Puget Sound were honored with VISION 2020 Awards at the Regional Council's General Assembly meeting on March 29.
Each spring the Regional Council recognizes local governments, private businesses and others whose exceptional efforts are making this region an even better place to live. The seven VISION 2020 Award winners are:
Destination Downtown (Tacoma) - City of Tacoma and LMN Architects
Auburn Commuter Rail Station and Transit Center -- City of Auburn, Sound Transit, Otak, Anil Verma Associates, Magnolia Contractors, and King County
Flexcar -- King County Metro Transit, the City of Seattle, the University of Washington, and Mobility Inc.
A car-sharing program in King County that's a great option for people who live in more dense urban neighborhoods and don't want the hassles of car ownership,
Downtown Burien Plan - City of Burien
A plan to promote new commercial and housing development designed to make downtown Burien a great place to work, shop and live. To help spur redevelopment,
King County's Transfer of Development Credits: Preserving the Mitchell Hill Connector -- King County, Port Blakely Communities, City of Issaquah, Cascade Land Conservancy, Hooker Children's Trust, and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources
In a related transaction, King County and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources Forest Legacy program purchased another 110-acre rural parcel in east King County.
Together, these actions have conserved the 423-acre Mitchell Hill Connector and linked 3,000 acres of public open space and wildlife habitat just north of I-90 from Issaquah to Preston in the Mountains to Sound Greenway.
Bainbridge Island Transfer Center and Bike Barn -- Kitsap Transit, Team Winslow, Wyser Construction, Inc., James Robinson Construction Co., and Rice Fergus Architects
Van Grant Program -- Community Transit
For more information about the VISION 2020 Awards program, contact Anne Avery at (206) 587-4818, e-mail aavery@psrc.org.
Regional Council Launches Workshop Series to Help Create Pedestrian-Friendly Communities
All around the country, Walkable Community Workshops have produced tangible results: traffic calming programs that work, revitalized main streets, pedestrian-friendly intersections, safer crosswalks, and innovative programs to manage traffic at schools.
The half-day workshops are designed to help professional planners, engineers, and educators -- as well as elected officials and citizens -- turn their communities into pedestrian-friendly places. The courses combine practical presentations on the latest urban design techniques with field visits where participants apply what they've learned. A team of two seasoned instructors will facilitate the 12 workshops in our region.
Each of the communities hosting a workshop will choose a focus. Some will have a more general workshop on what makes a community walkable and the benefits of pedestrian and bicycle-friendly design. Others will focus on a specific walkability problem, such as a street or corridor where pedestrian access and safety is a problem.
The Regional Council was one of six metropolitan planning organizations selected to receive funding for this series of Walkable Community workshops. The grant program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bicycling and Walking Information Center. Funding for the workshops also comes from the Regional Council's Transit Station Communities Project and from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Workshop Schedule
Everett - May 11 - 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon - Snohomish County Tomorrow - Workshop will focus on creating better pedestrian connections between the new multimodal station on Pacific Avenue and the central downtown core. Location: Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave.
Edmonds - May 11 - 1:00 - 5 p.m. - City of Edmonds - Workshop will focus on creating better pedestrian connections between downtown and the waterfront and Kingston Ferry Terminal. Location: Edmonds City Hall, Brackett Room, 121 5th Ave N.
Woodinville - May 14 - 8 a.m. - 12 noon - City of Woodinville - Workshop will focus on creating better pedestrian and bicycle amenities and infrastructure in the tourist district as a means for economic development. Location: Woodinville City Hall, Council Chambers, 17301 133rd Ave. NE.
Tacoma - May 14 - 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. - City of Tacoma - Anticipated topics include traffic calming, pedestrian crossing and school zone walking safety. Location: Evergreen State College, Tacoma Campus, The Commons Area, 1210 6th Avenue.
Mukilteo - May 15 - 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon - City of Mukilteo - Workshop will focus on creating better bicycle and pedestrian facilities on 76th Street SW, which connects to Front Street and the ferry terminal. Location: Rose Hill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave.
South Hill - May 15 - 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Pierce County - Workshop will target the South Hill community, which is ready to begin a neighborhood planning process. The workshop will provide information and introduce concepts about pedestrian design that neighborhood members can use when crafting the South Hill Neighborhood Plan. Location: Zeiger Elementary School, 13008 94th Ave. E., South Hill.
Maple Valley - May 16 - 8 a.m. - 12 noon - City of Maple Valley - Workshop will focus on the Lake Wilderness Trail, especially missing links in the trail and other barriers to trail use, specifically the crossing of the trail near Kent-Kangley Road. Location: School District Administration Board Room, 25720 Maple Valley/Black Diamond Rd. SE.
Renton - May 16 - 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. - City of Renton - Workshop will focus on promoting community-wide understanding of the benefits of improving walkability. The workshop will give participants ideas on how to incorporate pedestrian and bicycle-friendly design into the city's overall program. Location: Renton City Hall, 1055 S. Grady Way
Shoreline - May 17 - 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon - City of Shoreline - Workshop will focus on pedestrian-friendliness in Westminster Triangle and Aurora Square near North 155th Street and Aurora Avenue. The crossing of the Interurban Trail over Aurora at North 155th Street will also be addressed. The city anticipates this area will be redeveloped. Location: WSDOT Regional Offices, Board Room, 15700 Dayton Ave N.
Sumner - May 17 - 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. - City of Sumner - Workshop will focus on making the East Main Street corridor in downtown Sumner more pedestrian-friendly. Location: Sumner Senior Center, 15506 62nd St. E.
Redmond - May 18 - 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon - City of Redmond - Workshop will focus on future uses for the Burlington Northern Railroad right-of-way that enters northwest Redmond and travels along Willows Road to downtown Redmond and on to East Lake Sammammish Parkway, and how to tie the right-of-way into downtown planning, possible connections to Marymoor Park, the Sammammish River Trail, and other bike/pedestrian routes that are existing or planned. Location: Redmond City Council Chambers, Public Safety Building (just NE of City Hall), 8701 160th Ave. NE.
For more information about the Walkable Community workshops, please contact Becca Aue at (206) 587-5665, e-mail baue@psrc.org.
Population Density Increasing Within Urban Growth Area
Much of the region's population growth during the last decade occurred along, and was mostly contained within, the designated urban growth boundary. The map shows changes in population density (persons per square mile) throughout the region between 1990 and 2000. The darker shaded areas show those parts of the region where the increase in population exceeded 640 persons per square mile (or one person per acre).
Areas of significant growth are located near the edge of the urban growth boundary. The "speckled" areas (such as north Seattle) are areas where the population increased in some blocks and de-creased in others, with little change in the overall population density. The lighter shading shows other areas for which there is data, but where the change was less than one person per acre.
For more information on the data presented in this Trend, contact Larry Blain at (206) 464-5402, e-mail lblain@psrc.org.
Governor Gary Locke addresses the Puget Sound Regional Council's General Assembly, March 29, 2001, at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue.
"The VISION 2020 Award winners show how our region is achieving its
collective vision...creating cities and neighborhoods that are safe and
walkable, developing a transportation system that gives us choices in how
we travel, and sustaining clean air and open spaces. It was an honor to be
part of the selection process. I would also like to express my thanks to
committee members and staff, for their participation and assistance," said
Linda Bird, who chaired the awards selection committee.
A plan to promote shopping, arts, housing and other kinds of transit-oriented development around five future light rail station areas in downtown Tacoma. The city has radically simplified land use codes to promote mixed-use development and is already seeing signs of success. The new code establishes four mixed-use districts, each with incentives for urban housing and public amenities. To promote transit use, the code also reduces the minimum parking requirements by half for areas within walking distance of rail and bus transit. Because of the city's sustained effort and success in revitalizing its downtown, Tacoma received an award for outstanding achievement.
A new rail and bus station designed to support revitalization and transit-oriented development in downtown Auburn. The first phase of the station is now complete, with platforms for commuter rail, 125 parking spaces, canopies for rail and transit users, and travel lanes for bus service. A second phase, now underway, will build a 600-space parking garage with transit-oriented shops on the first floor, a new plaza that connects the garage and platforms, and a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks. The project has already attracted new private development on adjacent land, including proposed housing and mixed-use developments.
or for people who would normally have two cars but would like to get by with only one. The Flexcar vehicles are parked within walking distance of members' homes. Users typically pay an initiation fee, plus additional costs, based on the number of hours and/or mileage each time a car is used. Flexcar now serves 10 Seattle neighborhoods with nearly 40 vehicles. For more information, go to: flexcar.com/.
the City of Burien has committed to making Southwest 152nd Street -- Burien's "Main Street" -- more pedestrian-friendly. The city also has plans for a transit hub and transit-oriented development that will combine housing, retail and parking in one location. A new town square will provide a public open space in the heart of downtown. To encourage development, Burien created a Downtown Handbook for developers and adopted illustrated design guidelines.
The first-ever transfer of development credits in the central Puget Sound region. The program allowed Port Blakely Communities to purchase density credits from a 313-acre parcel in rural King County owned by Hooker Children's Trust. The density credits were transferred to the new Issaquah Highlands development within the City of Issaquah. There, the credits will be converted into an additional 500,000 square feet of office space within the existing development. King County then purchased the 313-acre Hooker parcel for permanent open space.
A new transportation center that meets the special needs of ferry commuters and emphasizes public transit and non-motorized transportation. In what used to be a gas station, the Bike Barn now offers secure and sheltered storage for 75 bikes and lockers for cyclists. The Transfer Center also includes improved lighting, wider lanes for buses, and a crosswalk with an in-ground lighting system to make walking safer. In anticipation of electric shuttle service on the island, the Bike Barn's electrical system was designed to recharge electric vehicles.
A program to donate retired minivans and minibuses to non-profit organizations, aimed at providing transportation services to youth, seniors and disabled people affected by recent cuts in transit service. Faced with a 30 percent cut in funding post-Initiative 695, Community Transit eliminated 11 bus routes, all weekend service, holiday service, and paratransit service for the disabled. To provide some relief to those most dependent on transit service, the agency developed a program to donate minibuses and vans to nonprofit organizations that would offer weekend rides or services to riders with special needs. In May 2000, the Community Transit Board donated six wheelchair-accessible minibuses and six 15-passenger vans that will be used by 24 non-profit organizations.
The Regional Council is partnering with 12 local governments in the region to present a workshop series in May that will help build more livable, walkable and bicycle-friendly communities.
Silverdale - May 10 - 4:00-8:30 p.m.Kitsap Transit - Workshop will focus on the Silverdale Mall and Transit Center area, in response to a recent survey of the area's residents and business owners which showed that people would like the area to be more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Location: Silverdale Community Center, 9729 Silverdale Way.
M - F - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Other times by appointment - 206-464-7532
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