May 2003
| Table of Contents |
The Regional Council is seeking public comment on a recommended distribution of $12.2 million in federal transit funds to 16 projects in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
The funds are available through the 2003 appropriation of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds. Representatives from regional transit agencies and the Washington State Ferry System prepared the recommendation.
Public comments are encouraged. Comments will be presented to the Regional Council's Transportation Policy Board on June 12, when the Policy Board will craft a recommendation to the Executive Board. A final decision is expected from the Executive Board on June 26. All written comments should be received by June 18.
How to Comment or Find Out More
| Make a comment online | .......... | www.psrc.org |
| Phone | .......... | 206-464-6343 |
| Fax | .......... | 206-587-4825 |
| .......... | krichter@psrc.org | |
| Web | .......... | http://www.psrc.org/projects/tip/ |
| Address | .......... | 1101 Western Avenue, Suite 500 Seattle, WA 98104-1035 |
| Information Center | .......... | 206-464-7532 infoctr@psrc.org |
List of Projects Recommended for $12.2 Million in Federal Transit Funds
| Transit Maintenance, Preservation & Enhancement Projects |
| Community Transit | Bus Passenger Shelters | $75,487 |
| Everett Transit | Paratransit Operations | $79,235 |
| Everett Transit | Transit Enhancement 2003 | $6,595 |
| King County Metro | Vehicle Maintenance Overhaul | $2,063,128 |
| King County Metro | Transit Enhancement 2003 | $424,341 |
| Existing Seattle Monorail | Seattle Transit Enhancements | $5,801 |
| Sound Transit | Pedestrian Bridge at Mukilteo Station | $98,243 |
| WA State Ferries | Revenue Collection System Replacement | $1,897,763 |
| WA State Ferries | Transit Enhancement 2003 | $74,720 |
| Subtotal................................................ | $4,725,313 | |
| Transit Vehicle Projects |
| Community Transit | Bus Replacements | $900,000 |
| Kitsap Transit | Purchase of Small Buses | $440,517 |
| King County Metro | Bus Purchases | $3,035,315 |
| Existing Seattle Monorail | Seattle Monorail Car Restoration | $69,697 |
| Pierce County | Ferry Boat Purchase #2 | $69,215 |
| Pierce Transit | Replacement Buses | $1,801,191 |
| Sound Transit | Commuter Rail Project - Tacoma/Lakewood | $1,180,387 |
| Subtotal.............................................. | $7,496,322 | |
| Total recommended funding...... | $12,221,635 | |
Detailed project information is available on the Regional Council Web site, psrc.org.
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| Honored By Nation's Planners |
Mary McCumber, Executive Director of the Regional Council, accepted the American Planning Association's top planning award at a ceremony held last month in Denver. The APA selected Destination 2030 as the winner of its 2003 Outstanding Planning Award, calling it "an innovative plan for the future of Puget Sound transportation, and a model for other regions."
| Puget Sound Milestones -- |
| Transportation Finance Trends |
A new report from the Regional Council analyzes more than a decade's worth of data on how the region pays for transportation. Copies of the report, Transportation Finance 1989-2000, are available from the Information Center, 206-464-7532, or on the Web at psrc.org. Transportation Expenditures as a Percent of Personal Income, 1989-2000
Between 1989 and 2000, public agencies in the central Puget Sound region have invested an amount in transportation equivalent to about 2 percent of total regional personal income. This percentage of personal income has remained reasonably constant over the 1989-2000 period, while the mix of transportation programs has changed over time. In 1989 total public expenditures on transportation in the central Puget Sound region were $1.16 billion. By 2000, expenditures were $2.44 billion. The biggest change is regional transit, which reflects voter approval of Sound Transit in 1996.
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| Park-and-Ride Lot Usage Declines Slightly |
This Trend examines only park-and-ride lots that offer more than 280 stalls. As of fall 2002, there were 43 in the central Puget Sound region, averaging about 512 stalls per lot.
Some commuters are finding more parking spaces open at a few park-and-ride lots around the region. About 1,000 park-and-ride stalls were added to the region's supply between 2001 and 2002. At the same time, the number of parking spaces in use dropped from 16,380 in 2001 to 15,992 in 2002. This is consistent with the slight decline in traffic volumes and transit ridership that have been observed during the decline in the region's economy. However, some park-and-ride lots continue to be filled to capacity, including lots in Issaquah, Bellevue, Renton, Federal Way, and Parkland. Figure 1 is a map that shows utilization rates for lots around the region. Lots in Northwest King County and Snohomish County experienced the highest average utilization rates for 2002 with 79 percent in use (see Figure 2).
Figure 1: 2002 Major Park-&-Ride Lot Utilization
Figure 2: Major Park-&-Ride Lot Utilization Rate for 1995 (Baseline), 2001 & 2002 by Subarea
Three new lots were added to the region during 2002, including the Northgate Transit Center Extension in Northwest King County and two Sound Transit garages in South King County. The Northgate Transit Center lot extension opened in June, adding approximately 500 new parking stalls with 75 of them being designated for carpoolers only. In March, the Kent Station garage opened, adding 288 stalls. The Auburn Station garage added 365 stalls. In July, the size of the Olsen Place/Myers Way lot in South King County was reduced from 500 stalls to 150 due to long-term underutilization.
In Snohomish County there have been no significant changes in park-and-ride capacity since 2001. The Lynnwood park-and-ride will be under construction until the end of 2004. The number of stalls may fluctuate month to month until construction is completed, but is not expected to be less than 965 stalls.
In the last quarter of 2001, 167 stalls were added to the North Gig Harbor (Kimball Drive) park-and-ride lot in Pierce County, bringing the total size to 306 stalls. This accounts for the slight increase in capacity in Pierce County.
There have been no major changes in Kitsap County park-and-ride capacity since 2001. Kitsap County has only one lot (Southworth Ferry) large enough to be included in this Trend. In 1995 the Southworth Ferry park-and-ride lot had a utilization rate of 120 percent. In 1997 Kitsap Transit began offering free shuttles to three nearby park-and-ride lots and charging a fee at the Southworth Ferry lot to better balance usage at its lots. As a result, usage at other lots increased while usage of the Southworth Ferry lot dropped. Usage at this lot has begun to increase again, prompting a capacity increase in 2001.
The full version of this issue of Puget Sound Trends is available on the Regional Council's Web site, psrc.org, or from the Information Center at 206-464-7532 or infoctr@psrc.org.
For more information on this Trend, please contact Stephanie Rossi, 206-587-5118. A park-and-ride inventory will be conducted for the entire Puget Sound region later this year including all lots (large and small) in the region.
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| 206-464-7532 - FAX 206-587-4825 - infoctr@psrc.org |
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