• Destination 2030 Moves Forward
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Central Link Light Rail is under way to Sea-Tac Airport. The 15.6 mile line will connect downtown Seattle with the airport in 2009, in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Image Courtesy of Sound Transit

Five years ago the region unanimously adopted a bold and comprehensive transportation action plan called Destination 2030. The plan is about making traffic better, keeping pace with growth and supporting the region's economic and environmental health.

Since 2001, the region has completed or broken ground on hundreds of Destination 2030 projects. Additional funding approved by state lawmakers is moving other projects forward. Current estimates are that the shortfall for the region's 30-year plan has been reduced from about $47 billion to $29.4 billion since 2001. The long-term shortfall was reduced due to a revised forecast for stronger economic growth, voter-approved taxes and state funding. But there is much urgent work left to do.

More funding will be required in the next 10 years to proceed with all of the priority projects. Ultimately, enacting the region's plans will require securing state funding, new regional revenue, new tolling mechanisms and continued growth in federal funding. A key source is possible if voters approve a joint ballot between Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Investment District planned for November 2007.

Destination 2030 is designed to be flexible, able to change to meet the evolving needs of the region. Over the next year, the Puget Sound Regional Council will be adding new elements and policies to Destination 2030 to enhance safety, security and special needs transportation. The improvements will also add provisions related to congestion management, commute trip reduction, and environmental mitigation. These additions are intended to address emerging transportation issues and ensure the region meets federal requirements. More information on each area is described below.

Special Needs: Up to 500,000 people in the region currently require special services for basic transportation needs due to disability, age, or income. Demand for transit and special needs transportation is forecast to grow significantly in the future. PSRC has been working with transit agencies and human services providers to develop a coordinated plan to address the travel needs of these different groups. The draft is available for public comment until September 15, 2006. Look for more information online at psrc.org.

Security: Transportation security planning addresses possible worst-case scenarios and ways of keeping people and the transportation system secure in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency. Over the next year, PSRC will establish a framework to address security issues in the region, with input from a panel of security experts from marine ports, airports, transit agencies, Washington State Ferries, WSDOT, and county emergency officials.

Safety: In Washington state, traffic crashes kill more people under age 44 than disease or other injuries. The state is developing a highway safety plan called Target Zero, which aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities or disabling injuries by 2030. PSRC will work with the state to develop a specific safety plan for the central Puget Sound region.

Congestion Management: Destination 2030 includes a congestion management process focusing on corridors with existing or anticipated congestion. In the next few months, PSRC will add more detail and additional strategies for managing and monitoring congestion to improve traffic flow and better prioritize projects.

Environmental Mitigation: Transportation affects air, water, and other aspects of our environment. The improved Destination 2030 will use the work done by individual agencies to add transportation environmental mitigation strategies.

Commute Trip Reduction: Since 1991 the state Commute Trip Reduction law has had significant success in encouraging employees to bus, vanpool, carpool, walk, bike, work from home or compress their workweek. New state legislation in 2006 made changes to the law, which will be incorporated in Destination 2030. The focus is on reducing commute trips on congested highway corridors within urban growth areas.

What's Next Over the next few months, PSRC will be working with local governments and other interests to develop recommendations for these six policy areas. A series of background papers will be published to support this effort. The recommendations will be considered by the Transportation Policy Board and Executive Board later this year. The General Assembly will vote on final approval of these changes in spring of 2007. To stay involved, keep reading Regional VIEW, visit our website psrc.org, or attend board meetings. For more information, contact Mike Cummings at 206-464-6172, mcummings@psrc.org.

August 2006 Background Papers September 2006 Develop Destination 2030 Recommendations September-November 2006 Public Review and Comment November 2006 Recommendation by Transportation Policy Board January 2007 Recommendation by Executive Board March/April 2007 General Assembly Action

Progress Transportation packages approved by the Legislature in 2003 and 2005, combined with local and federal funding, are helping to achieve the Destination 2030 plan. Evidence of progress can be seen all around the region. Following are just a few examples of projects built in the last five years.

Link Light Rail Light rail is up and running in Tacoma, and construction is well underway for the initial light rail line from Sea-Tac Airport to downtown Seattle. PSRC has contributed $14.25 million to the central link line. Port Orchard Ferry Terminal Kitsap Transit constructed an improved and ADA-accessible ferry terminal that makes it easier to transfer between Kitsap Transit buses and the passenger ferries. PSRC contributed $878,419. Northgate 5th Avenue Improvements PSRC contributed $1.8 million of federal funds to build new wide sidewalks, traffic medians, and crosswalks that are making this part of 5th Avenue Northeast in Seattle a welcoming place to walk to a new library, park, community center and Northgate Mall. D Street Overpass, Tacoma Once completed, the D Street overpass will separate train and motor vehicle traffic by raising the roadway over the railroad tracks. PSRC contributed $3.1 million to the project. Bellevue Transit Center, Bellevue In 2002, the Bellevue Transit Center was expanded to include 10 bus bays, shelter improvements and rider amenities. Additional bus stops and roadway improvements on nearby streets have improved traffic flow and enable more than 100 buses during peak periods to move efficiently through the transit center. In 2005, direct access improvements on NE 6th Street connected the transit center to Interstate 405. PSRC contributed $9 million to this project. California Street Overcrossing, Everett This FAST Corridor Project separated train and vehicle traffic, improving safety and speed for freight and commuters. PSRC contributed $1.7 million. Pacific Highway South HOV Lanes, Federal Way This project widened Pacific Highway South (SR-99), adding an HOV lane in each direction between South 324th Street and South 340th Street. The project also improved sidewalks, drainage, lighting, and optimized signals. PSRC contributed $5.9 million to the project.

Average wages in the region declined slightly between 2000 and 2004, the latest year for which covered* wage data is available. In 2004, the region's average wage was $44,600, down from $46,200 in 2000. Since 1995, however, the region has experienced an overall average wage gain of 24.4 percent.

Overall, the largest wage gains between 1995 and 2004 occurred in the Financial Insurance Real Estate (FIRE), Services, and Wholesale Trade, Transportation and Utilities (WTU) sectors. At the county level, King County saw the largest gains in the same sectors as the region. Kitsap County gained the most in FIRE, WTU and Government and Education. Manufacturing in Pierce is making steady gains, as well as the Construction Resources sector. In Snohomish County, FIRE, Services and Manufacturing have remained strong.

Between 1995 and 2000, King County's share of regional wages increased from 71.4 percent to 76.8 percent. However, in 2004 the county's share decreased to 72.4 percent. Pierce County increased its share, growing from 9.9 percent in 2000, to 12.3 percent in 2004. Snohomish County also added to its share, increasing from 10.2 percent in 2000, to 11.3 percent in 2004. Kitsap gained in those years as well by 0.9 percent.

The full version of this Trend and other data products are available online at psrc.org. For more information about this Trend, contact Kristen Koch at 206-587-5667, kkoch@psrc.org.

* Covered wage data comes from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) "ES-202" data series, and consists of information from businesses covered under the state's unemployment insurance program.

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