Regional Safety Action Plan to address roadway deaths and serious injuries adopted
SEATTLE-- The Puget Sound Regional Council's (PSRC) General Assembly unanimously elected Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers as President and Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello as Vice-President of the regional planning agency at the annual meeting today in Seattle.
The Assembly also adopted the Regional Safety Action Plan directed at eliminating deaths and serious injuries on the region’s roadways. The plan is the result of a multi-year effort of thorough crash data analysis and outreach in communities across King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The new plan is a toolbox of proven strategies and best practices that show how projects and initiatives can efficiently and effectively address traffic safety region wide.
Shailen Bhatt, Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, United States and Latin America at AtkinsRéalis and former head of the Federal Highway Administration challenged regional leaders to make a commitment to traffic safety on our roadways. Bhatt commended the region for adopting a Safe Systems Approach and a data driven safety strategy to ensure we are working toward a regional transportation system that will be safe for all users.
Outgoing President and Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson marked the end of her term by highlighting PSRC achievements over the last year, including coordination on federal and state transportation funding, efforts to create a housing research center, progress on funding for ferries, and comprehensive plan certifications.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell attended to welcome the local elected leaders and to recognize efforts to cooperate regionally on transportation, planning, housing and climate change.
PSRC’s General Assembly includes elected representatives from King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, and more than 100 cities and towns, state agencies, transit agencies, ports, and Tribal governments. Take a look at our year in review.
What Regional Leaders are Saying:
Executive Dave Somers, Snohomish County and PSRC President
“I’m honored to be back at the helm of this important resource. I’ve been working to build regional cooperation through the Puget Sound Regional Council for two decades. I’m looking forward to continuing to improve transportation safety, increase housing options, and open more of the transit improvements we have built the groundwork for.”
Executive Ryan Mello, Pierce County and PSRC Vice-President
"I’m pleased to step into the role of Vice-President of the Puget Sound Regional Council. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of our region and ensure that Pierce County’s voice is represented in decisions that impact our transportation, growth, and economic development. I look forward to collaborating with leaders across the Puget Sound to build a more connected, sustainable, and equitable future for all our region’s communities."
Mayor Dana Ralph, City of Kent and Transportation Policy Board Chair
“I am proud of the work the Transportation Policy Board has done to develop the Regional Safety Action Plan. We took a hard look at crash data, listened to people as they shared their difficulties, and found scalable policies and programs that can help every community in the region avoid future heartbreak.”
Josh Brown, Executive Director, PSRC
“We have been so lucky to have Mayor Becky Erickson’s leadership these past few years. She is a visionary with an incredible eye for detail, the exact combination you need to be effective at every level of public service.”