November 2004 [pdf version]
- New Funding Opportunities for Rural Projects
- Register Now for the Regional Economic Summit
- EDD Adopts 2004 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
- Grace Foster to Retire in December
- Biennial Budget and Work Program is in the Works
- Puget Sound Trends: Growth in Traffic and Vehicle Miles Traveled Slows Slightly with Lower Employment Levels
- Back Issues
The Puget Sound Regional Council is taking an important step in recognizing and supporting the critical importance that the region<0x2019>s rural areas play in the success of the region's long-range growth, economic and transportation strategy, VISION 2020. The new regional funding, available via the PSRC's Rural Town Centers and Corridors program, will address previously neglected town center and rural highway corridor development and mobility needs.
About $2 million will be awarded in 2005 to support collaborative planning and capital grants projects in the rural portions of all four counties. The process will begin at the local level with each countywide organization working with local jurisdictions and Washington State Department of Transportation representatives to nominate their top two priority projects.
The Executive Board established the Rural Town Centers and Corridors Program last October to achieve the following objectives:
More information on the criteria and selection process will be available on psrc.org in November. For more information, call King Cushman at 206-464-6174 or kcushman@psrc.org.
Register Now for Regional Economic Summit
Please join the Prosperity Partnership and hundreds of leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors at the economic development event of the year. Register now.
The Summit is the first step we will take as a region in developing a common economic vision and agenda of positive actions to realize it. Join us to get this process started as strongly as possible.
The goal of the Prosperity Partnership is to create 100,000 more new jobs, beyond the average historical growth rate of the region's economy.
The Summit will take place at Qwest Field Event Center on November 19, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Advance registration is $50 and it will be $60 at the door.
Register for the Summit online at www.prosperitypartnership.org
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EDD Adopts 2004 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
Adopting a new CEDS each year is required for eligibility for federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) funds. The CEDS 2004 for fiscal year 2005 promotes economic development and economic opportunity for families, businesses, and institutions in the central Puget Sound region.
The CEDS is comprehensive, ranging from support for broad quality of life issues to specific economic development projects designed to directly stimulate job growth and business profitability. The 2004 strategy builds on previous years and includes significant data enhancements, an assessment of the region's four countywide Economic Development Councils and their strategies, an improved analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT), the results of a literature review of recent economic development reports and strategies, and the results of the region's 2004 public works investment priorities process.
The CEDS provides a baseline for the work that the Prosperity Partnership has begun to create a regional economic strategy. The CEDS is available at psrc.org.
For more information, contact Ivan Miller at 206-464-7549 or imiller@psrc.org.
Grace Foster to Retire in December
At the end of the year, the Puget Sound Regional Council will be missing a valuable member of its team. Grace Foster has been the welcoming face of the agency since the early 1990s. The region's elected leadership, citizens, and PSRC staff have appreciated her wonderful work to organize reception, transportation options, diversity, in addition to coordination of her daily tasks. PSRC has won four Commuter Challenge Diamond Ring Awards under Grace's handling of the agency's program. She plans to return to Corvallis, Oregon to be with friends and former colleagues. There will be a farewell lunch for her in December.
Biennial Budget and Work Program is in the Works
The process to develop the biennial budget and work program is underway. The budget outlines PSRC and EDD's transportation, economic and growth planning activities for the fiscal years 2006-07. The Operations Committee, chaired by Executive John Ladenburg, is overseeing the process.
The Executive Board will consider the budget at its February meeting and will recommend action by the General Assembly at its annual meeting in March. Action by the Assembly in March gives the agency time to obtain grants necessary to fund the budget at the beginning of the new fiscal year, July 1, 2005. For more information, call Mark Gulbranson at 206-464-7524.
| PUGET SOUND Trends |
| Off-Street Parking Occupancy Rates are Down as Daily Parking Rates Rise |
Parking occupancy rates decreased in seven of the eleven study areas between 2002 and 2004 (Table 1). Southworth had the largest occupancy decrease with a loss of 25.4 percent, decreasing from a rate of 63.9 percent in 2002, to 47.7 percent in 2004. Queen Anne had the second largest decrease in occupancy with a total reduction of 17.1 percent. Downtown Seattle's occupancy decrease was 13.5%.
Seattle's First Hill neighborhood and Tacoma, Everett and Bremerton CBDs all experienced gains in occupancy levels. The Bremerton CBD had the largest percent gain with a total of 9.8. Tacoma also had a significant gain with 7.9 percent. Everett gained 1 percent. First Hill had the highest occupancy rate within the selected study areas. Seventy-seven percent of the stalls within the First Hill study area are being utilized.
In most study areas, daily parking costs rose between 2002 and 2004 (Table 2). The Bellevue CBD had the largest increase in cost, with a total increase of 12.5 percent, and an annual average rate of 6 percent. Seattle CBDs daily cost is $2.40 higher than the second highest study area, Seattle's First Hill neighborhood.
Detailed Report Available This FallMore detailed tables and analysis can be found in the PSRC report, slated to be released this fall. The PSRC has conducted this survey every few years since 1987 so historical data is available as well. Please contact the Puget Sound Regional Council Information Center at 206-464-7532 for more information. The Full Version of this Trend is also available online at psrc.org or from the Information Center.
During the months of March through June, 2004, the Puget Sound Regional Council inventoried all off-street parking in the Central Business Districts (CBDs) of Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma,Everett and Bremerton, the Seattle First Hill and lower Queen Anne Areas, the University District, and some selected ferry terminals: Bainbridge, Kingston and Southworth. Information was collected on the number of stalls, occupancy and parking costs of each lot inventoried. Surveys were conducted Monday through Friday between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., and between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Each lot was surveyed during one morning and one afternoon, usually the same day. |
Table 1: Parking Occupancy by Study Area, 2002-2004 | ||||
Study Area | 2002 | 2004 | Annual % Change | Total % Change |
| Seattle CBD | 73.9% | 63.9% | -7.0% | -13.5% |
| First Hill | 72.0% | 77.0% | 3.4% | 7.0% |
| Queen Anne | 56.2% | 46.6% | -8.9% | -17.1% |
| Bellevue CBD | 59.6% | 57.5% | -1.8% | -3.5% |
| Tacoma CBD | 46.0% | 49.7% | 3.9% | 7.9% |
| Everett CBD | 52.0% | 52.5% | 0.5% | 1.0% |
| University District | 63.8% | 60.0% | -3.0% | -6.0% |
| Bremerton CBD | 65.1% | 71.5% | 4.8% | 9.8% |
| Bainbridge | 76.9% | 74.4% | -1.6% | -3.3% |
| Kingston | 46.6% | 41.4% | -5.7% | -11.2% |
| Southworth | 63.9% | 47.7% | -13.6% | -25.4% |
Table 2: Average Daily Parking Costs by Study Area, 2002-2004 |
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Study Area | 2002 | 2004 |
Annual % Change | Total % Change |
| Seattle CBD | $14.93 | $15.72 | 2.6% | 5.3% |
| First Hill | $12.72 | $13.32 | 2.3% | 4.7% |
| Queen Anne | $6.71 | $6.79 | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Bellevue CBD | $11.62 | $13.07 | 6.0% | 12.5% |
| Tacoma CBD | $8.76 | $9.01 | 1.4% | 2.9% |
| Everett CBD | $7.20 | $7.75 | 3.8% | 7.7% |
| University District | $6.38 | $6.98 | 4.6% | 9.5% |
| Bremerton CBD | $6.95 | $5.23 | -13.3% | -24.8% |
| Bainbridge | $7.84 | $7.63 | - 1.3% | -2.7% |
| Kingston | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. |
| Southworth | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. |
The full version of this Trend is available online at psrc.org or from the Information Center at 206-464-7532 or infoctr@psrc.org.
