PSRC develops guidance, research, and data products to support local planning and advance VISION 2050. Browse resources by policy topic area.
Regional Plans
Guidance by Policy Topic Area (from PSRC and partner agencies)
- Tribes in the Central Puget Sound Region – information and resources on Tribes in the region
- Coordination with Tribes in Comprehensive Planning – guidance to support Tribal coordination
- Equitable Engagement for Comprehensive Plans (2022) – guidance and examples for developing and carrying out equitable engagement.
- Funding for Local Government Infrastructure (2009) – describes the status of infrastructure funding programs and tools in Washington State
- Plan Review Manual (2021) – details the plan review and certification process and includes checklists for aligning with VISION 2050 and state law
- TOOLBOX Peer Networking Series – work sessions on best practices and resources for emerging planning issues
- Regional Equity Strategy – forthcoming collection of resources to advance racial equity through regional and local planning
- Youth Engagement – resources to facilitate a planning activity with youth groups
- Growth Target Guidance (2021) – regional guidance on growth targets consistent with VISION 2050
- Centers Target and Mode Split Guidance (2014) – regional guidance on establishing regional center growth targets
- WA Department of Commerce: Urban Growth Area Guidebook (2012) – state guidance on urban growth area sizing and densities
- Open Space Conservation – includes the Regional Open Space Conservation Plan, transfer of development rights information, and other conservation resources
- Stormwater and Watershed Planning Resources – resources for partners in the collective effort to recover the health of Puget Sound
- Stormwater Parks – guidance on planning for stormwater parks
- Critical Areas – resources compiled by state departments on requirements and guidance for Critical Areas and Shorelines
- Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) – resources compiled by WA Dept. of Commerce to help establish or update TDR programs
- Climate Action Toolkit (2021) – resource from King County and the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration
- Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (2010) - model ordinance, model development regulations, and guidance
- Climate Change – Dept. of Ecology resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and plan for adaptation and resiliency
- Washington State Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy (2012) - recommendations on how state policies and programs can better respond to climate change impacts
- Puget Sound Climate Preparedness Collaborative - forum for peer learning and exchange of information, ideas, and opportunities related to climate preparedness
- Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) climate change information – scientific information and resources to address climate change, including examples of local climate plans
- Puget Sound Hazards Map - interactive map displaying regional hazards
Draft Climate Change and Resilience Guidance (2022) – provides guidance on incorporating the policies and actions in VISION 2050 into local planning
- Guidance on Incorporating TOD Into Comprehensive Plans (2022) – summarizes key TOD elements to consider in local planning for transit station areas, including local examples from the region and national resources
- Regional Centers Framework (2018) – outlines the structure, criteria, and policy direction for regional and countywide centers
- Centers Resources – view the regional centers map and centers planning resources
- Growing Transit Communities Strategy (2013) – plan, tools, and resources to promote thriving and equitable transit communities
- Implementing Growing Transit Communities (GTC) in Local Plans – recommendations for advancing GTC in local plans
- Transit Supportive Planning Toolkit (2013) – example goals, policies, and implementation actions to better connect land use and transit planning
- Opportunity Mapping – data resource on access to opportunity in neighborhoods across the region
- Displacement Risk Mapping – data resource on residential displacement risk factors
- Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map – insights into existing health disparities and how to prioritize investments to reduce disparities
- Planning for Whole Communities (2014) – guidance on health, equity, and sustainability in planning
- Food Policy Blueprints – resources to integrate food systems in local policy and planning
- Integrating Food Policy into Comprehensive Plans (2012) – overview of food policy issues in local comprehensive plans
- Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Healthy Community Planning Toolbox – resources to integrate health in planning
- Industrial Lands Analysis (2015) – overview of industrial lands and employment in the region
- Airport Compatible Land Use (2011) – planning resources for airport-adjacent communities
- Multimodal Transportation Concurrency (2021) - City of Bellevue report on multimodal concurrency implementation
- Planning for Whole Communities Toolkit: Multimodal Concurrency (2014) – overview on multimodal level of service standards and concurrency
- Regional Housing Strategy – regional housing needs assessment and forthcoming “playbook” of regional and local actions
- Housing Innovations Program (2020) - resources that local governments can use to promote affordability and housing choices in communities
- Draft Housing Element Guide (2022) – a resource for developing effective housing elements that address housing choices and affordability in local comprehensive plan updates
- Housing Incentives and Tools Survey (2020) - a survey of local jurisdictions to learn how regulatory incentives and tools are used
- WA Dept. of Commerce Housing Planning Guidance – collection of housing planning resources
- Economic Development Element Guide (2022) - helps jurisdictions understand their local economy, create a vision and goals, and structure policies that work toward those goals
- Adopted Level of Service Standards for Regionally Significant State Highways - description of service standards and other resources
- Regional Transportation Plan Visualization Tool - interactive map showing existing and future conditions
- Regional Transportation Plan Regional Capacity Projects List - current capacity projects list and approval process
- Transit Access Checklist (2016) – tools for assessing and expanding access
- Multimodal Transportation Concurrency (2021) - City of Bellevue report on multimodal concurrency implementation
- Household Travel Survey – travel pattern data for Puget Sound region
- FHWA Context-Sensitive Design of Transportation Facilities – resources for providing transportation facilities that fit into physical settings and maintain safety and mobility.
- WA Dept. of Commerce Transportation Element Guidebook (2012) – guide for reviewing, updating, and implementing transportation elements
- SoundCast Travel Demand Model - built for the Puget Sound Region and designed to depict diverse travel behavior to inform land use planning
- Transportation Data Viz Tool – transportation data, including bicycle and pedestrian facilities, freight assets, traffic signals, Transportation Demand Management programs, and specialized transportation services
- WSDOT GeoPortal – interactive mapping of major transportation features
- WSDOT Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) – resources for understanding and integrating CTR into local plans
- Plan Review Manual - includes resources for achieving certification
- Plan Review and Comprehensive Plans: FAQ - responses to common questions
- Certification Reports - certifications of local plans and policies by jurisdiction
- WA Dept. of Commerce Capital Facilities Planning Guidebook (2014) - strategies and techniques to draft the capital facilities element of comprehensive land use plans. It includes guidance regarding planning for and financing infrastructure and services needed to accommodate anticipated growth
- School Siting Briefing Paper (2021)
Transit Planning Resources
- Transit Supportive Densities and Land Uses (2015) - literature review and guiding principles for including transit supportive densities and land uses into comprehensive plans, subarea plans, and transit agency plans
- Transit Supportive Planning Toolkit (2013) – Example goals, policies, and implementation actions to better connect land use and transit planning
- Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Planning Guide (2007) – details major planning areas of establishing BRT
- American Public Transit Association Research and Technical Resources – research, data, and best practices by transit-related topic
- TransitCenter Resources – reports and tools to support transit planning
- Transportation for America Resources – maps, tools, and interactive graphics to aid in transportation planning
Other Resources
- Community Profiles Dashboard - demographic profiles on a variety of topics for all cities and towns in the PSRC region
- PSRC Data – datasets, including GIS and mapping, by policy topic area
- WA Department of Commerce Growth Management
- WA Department of Commerce Periodic Update Guide
- Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) of Washington
PSRC is updating planning resources in advance of 2024 local plan updates. If you have questions about PSRC resources, have other resources to share, or can’t find what you need, please contact planreview@psrc.org for assistance.