November 2005 [pdf version]
The Mosquito Fleet, Judge Thomas Burke, Daniel Hunt Gilman and Chief Sealth are all names from the region's past that will remain timeless and a part of the region's transportation system under grants just approved by the Puget Sound Regional Council under the guidance set by Congress and President Bush.
The federal Surface Transportation Program requires that 10 percent of its funds be used for non-traditional transportation purposes in 12 broad categories. In Washington State this "Enhancement" program will total $42 million in 2004-2006, $18.6 million of which is targeted for projects within central Puget Sound.
Earlier this year the PSRC received 100 requests for this funding and over the past month all of the competing projects have been scored, reviewed by a special citizens committee and the region's Transportation Policy Board. This past month the PSRC Executive Board unanimously sent 51 projects to the state for final approval, and another 10 projects to compete statewide for funding.
Projects recommended for funding include increasing the use of pedestrian safety flags at crosswalks in Kirkland, cultural resource protection in King County, safe wildlife passage for a transportation project in Novelty Hill, right-of-way acquisition for the Centennial Trail in Snohomish County, an archeological sensitivity model for Kitsap County, historic preservation of the Spanish steps in Tacoma, as well as segments of the Mosquito Fleet, Burke Gilman, and Chief Sealth Trails.
Sultan christened its new Visitors Center on October 25, 2005. This project was partially funded via PSRC with Transportation Enhancement funding. |
Since it originated in 1991, the Enhancements program has become a popular program that has helped to revitalize communities and provide transportation beyond traditional highway and transit priorities. Two years ago a move in the Congress to eliminate the program was soundly defeated in the House of Representatives by a vote of 327-90. |
With this year's final approval by Congress of new federal transportation policies within Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA - LU), which President Bush signed into law on August 10, 2005, the enhancement program will remain a feature of federal law through 2009.
This year PSRC broadened the public outreach process to ensure that small cities and nonprofit agencies were aware of enhancements funding and had detailed information to prepare competitive applications. As a result, PSRC received the most diverse group of applications ever, including archeology, historic preservation and wildlife mitigation projects.
The Washington State Department of Transportation plans to take final action on the recommendations for the region and the statewide competition in February.
To find a complete list of approved projects, go to psrc.org/projects/enhance/index.htm, or contact Kelly McGourty at kmcgourty@psrc.org or 206-464-7892.
Des Moines Rejoins PSRC
The Puget Sound Regional Council is pleased to announce that the City of Des Moines will be its newest member. Des Moines had previously been a member of PSRC, but had not participated in several years.
 Sue Singer |  Bob Sheckler |
"This is an important and historic step towards regional unity. It says a lot about how well PSRC is reaching out and the relevancy of the work we are doing," says Auburn Mayor Pro Tem Sue Singer, PSRC Vice President.
Originally homesteaded by a community from Des Moines, Iowa, this western Washington city is home to an enviable |
"Thank you for taking the time to reach out to the City of Des Moines and asking us to rejoin. We look forward to a productive and beneficial relationship with PSRC," said Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler in a letter to PSRC.
Puget Sound Trends
Urban Growth Areas Attracting New People
The region's designated urban growth areas are home to the overwhelming majority of the region's population and employment. As of 2003, 85 percent of the region's total population and 96 percent of covered jobs were located within urban areas.
The adopted VISION 2020 strategy aims to focus population growth and new development in designated urban growth areas (UGAs). Concentrating growth in this way enlivens compact, efficient, and vibrant urban communities and centers of activity throughout the region's metropolitan core. By curbing urban sprawl, our region also protects the environment, conserving natural resources and preserving farms and forests and more efficiently provides services like utilities and transportation.
During the period from 1995 to 2000 -- when the region's counties implemented development regulations to enact their GMA comprehensive plans -- 78 percent of the region's population growth went into its designated urban growth areas. In the following years from 2000 to 2003, the region succeeded in directing an even greater share of its population growth -- 87 percent -- to the UGAs.
Figure 1 shows the variability between counties' urban growth trends during 2000-03, due to differences in historical development patterns, existing urban landscapes, and levels of pre-Growth Management Act vested development that may have occurred in each county. It is expected over time, however, that the proportions of new growth taking place within each county's urban growth areas will become increasingly comparable.
| Figure 1. Population Growth Inside and Outside
the Urban Growth Area: 2000-03 |
Note: Based on 2003 urban growth area boundaries |
Table 2 presents the percent of new housing units permitted for construction within urban areas, by county, from 1995 through 2003. The data show that each county, and the region overall, is making progress in directing a greater proportion of new development to the urban growth areas over time.
For more information on urban growth trends, see the Puget Sound Milestones "Population, Employment and Housing" report series, available for viewing or downloading at http://www.psrc.org/projects/monitoring/peh.htm. Hard copies can be requested from the Information Center at 206-464-7532 or info@psrc.org. For questions about the data presented in this article, contact Carol Naito at 206-464-7535 or cnaito@psrc.org.
| Table 1. Population and Covered Employment Inside the Urban Growth Area: 2003 | ||||
Population |
Percent In UGA |
Covered Employment |
Percent In UGA | |
| King | 1,652,900 | 92.9% | 1,059,600 | 98.3% |
| Kitsap | 133,600 | 56.4% | 62,200 | 82.0% |
| Pierce | 584,500 | 79.7% | 223,000 | 92.7% |
| Snohomish | 515,900 | 80.9% | 194,000 | 94.2% |
| Region Total | 2,886,900 | 85.2% | 1,538,800 | 96.1% |
| Source: OFM, ESD, PSRC | ||||
| Table 2. New Housing Units Permitted Inside the Urban Growth Area: 1995-2003 | ||||||||||
| Total Permitted New Housing Units: | ||||||||||
| 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | ||
| King | 7,300 | 11,700 | 12,000 | 13,400 | 13,900 | 14,600 | 13,200 | 13,600 | 13,200 | |
| Kitsap | 1,600 | 2,000 | 1,700 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,600 | 1,400 | 1,400 | 1,500 | |
| Pierce | 5,200 | 6,200 | 5,900 | 6,700 | 6,300 | 6,100 | 6,000 | 5,900 | 5,600 | |
| Snohomish | 5,300 | 6,000 | 6,900 | 9,000 | 7,400 | 6,700 | 5,600 | 5,200 | 5,100 | |
| Region Total | 17,800 | 23,900 | 24,800 | 30,600 | 29,100 | 29,000 | 26,300 | 26,100 | 25,400 | |
| Percent Permitted New Housing Units Inside the Urban Growth Area: | ||||||||||
| 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | ||
| King | 88.3% | 92.4% | 92.6% | 90.9% | 94.9% | 95.3% | 95.8% | 96.5% | 96.2% | |
| Kitsap* | -- | -- | -- | 42.3% | 51.1% | 52.9% | 46.1% | 45.1% | 49.0% | |
| Pierce | 64.0% | 65.4% | 65.6% | 68.8% | 72.2% | 74.4% | 75.6% | 75.7% | 72.9% | |
| Snohomish** | 80.2% | 82.3% | 83.0% | 85.5% | 85.0% | 82.3% | 84.3% | 81.5% | 82.7% | |
| Region Total* | 78.7% | 82.8% | 83.5% | 82.3% | 85.3% | 85.6% | 86.0% | 86.0% | 85.6% | |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, King County Annual Growth Report, PSRC | ||||||||||
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