• Groundwork for Economic Strategy in Place
• PSRC Funding Competition Underway - Key Meetings Planned for May and June
• Destination 2030 Progress Report
• Puget Sound Trends: Park-and-Ride Lot Use Continues to be an Important Part of the Daily Commute
• Back Issues

All systems are "Go" on a major effort to rally the region around a new, truly regional, economic strategy. Launch is set for July. The aggressive timetable currently foresees implementation actions by January 2005.

The PSRC is coordinating this new venture via the region's revitalized Economic Development District Board, which joined forces with PSRC in 2003. The EDD Board includes representatives of the combined economic interests of the region's four counties, and its decision making structure includes a broad coalition of business, labor, government, and community groups.

"This board, working with a whole host of interests, has started something vital to our region's future," said PSRC Executive Director Bob Drewel. "Uniting our region behind a collaborative economic strategy and action agenda will require all hands. We're about to build something to sustain and grow in ways that combine efforts rather than duplicate. Our intent is to coordinate with every available resource, with our state and federal partners, strongly linked to the private sector, not to simply plan, but act on a united front."

Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg and Economic Development Council of Snohomish County President Deborah Knutson were re-elected to lead the Economic Development District Board as President and Vice-President in March.

"As we sought and won the 7E7, a united regional approach was key," said Knutson. "We can sustain and grow more jobs in our region, and every economic development interest is hard at work. This is intended to support, not supplant great things underway. This new collaborative regional strategy will identify the best opportunities for our future, and help us compete to win in the near term, and over the long haul."

The regional economic strategy is being developed in conjunction with the region's four economic development councils, the federal Economic Development Administration, the state of Washington and other economic and civic interests.

The strategy is founded on the belief that the central Puget Sound metropolis is really one region, with one economic future. "This is action based on and about keeping and growing great jobs throughout our region," said Ladenburg. "We're saying that to compete globally, we will unite and act as one region. That's how we beat the competition for the 7E7. That's how we'll succeed again."

Via PSRC, the region will be able to assure that short-term actions are made within the context of the region's long-term growth, economic and transportation goals embodied in the region's landmark VISION 2020 strategy, now being updated by PSRC.

For more information about the PSRC and the economic board, check out psrc.org, contact the PSRC's Information Center at 206-464-7532, or infoctr@psrc.org.

PSRC Funding Competition Underway -- Key Meetings Planned for May and June

Competition to distribute approximately $83 million in regional PSRC funds is currently underway. The Transportation Policy Board will weigh in on the recommendations later this summer, and the final recommended projects will be included in the Draft 2005-2007 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The Draft TIP will be reviewed and modeled to ensure all federal and state requirements are met, with a release for public comment in September. The Executive Board is expected to take final action in October.

More information is available at http://www.psrc.org/projects/tip/index.htm. All meetings will be held at Puget Sound Regional Council, 1011 Western Avenue, Seattle.

The region's first park-and-ride was developed at Northgate in 1970 and served by "Blue Streak" the region's first express bus. The park-and-ride was created to revive a debt-ridden system and was an instant success, according to HistoryLink, "Riders quickly filled 500 reserved parking spaces and were credited with eliminating 1,200 cars from the daily freeway commute." This successful pilot project led to the system of park-and-ride lots we have today, helping thousands of people get to work every day in a timely and cost-effective manner.

At the end of 2003, 43 major park-and-ride lots were available to transit users and carpoolers in the central Puget Sound region. Major park-and-rides offer at least 280 stalls and average about 512 stalls per lot. From 2002 to 2003, 261 more spaces were added to the major lots and approximately 198 of them were occupied region wide.

King County offers the most major park-and-ride lots, with almost 13,000 spots available and these lots are 74% full.

Snohomish County major park-and-ride lots have the highest percentage in use at 82% (see Figure 1.) This County saw no significant changes in park-and-ride capacity between 2002 and 2003 and offers 4544 stalls.

Pierce County experienced the largest jump in use with a 6% increase. This occurred even as there were 253 stalls added to the county's larger park-and-ride lots.

Kitsap County only has one lot with over 280 stalls, which is located at the Southworth Ferry Terminal and offers 345 spaces. Major efforts have been made to stop the over use of this lot, including parking fees and free shuttle service to the terminal from adjacent smaller lots, as well as capacity increases. This lot is currently about half full on most commute days.

Figure 2 - Major Park and Ride Lot Utilization

For more information, contact Stephanie Rossi, 206-587-5118 or srossi@psrc.org. The full version of this Trend is available on the web at psrc.org or from the Information Center 206-464-7532 or infoctr@psrc.org. 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.

206-464-7532 - FAX 206-587-4825 - infoctr@psrc.org

Servicios de Traduccion Disponible: 206-587-5062.

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