July 14, 2011

The Transportation Policy Board recommended contingency list projects for additional PSRC funds.

The region received $36.8 million more than anticipated federal Surface Transportation Program and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds as well as $5.1 million in returned funds from the project tracking system. The additional $41.9 million will be distributed to projects on the 2011 contingency lists approved by the Executive Board last month. The board recommended that the funding go to these projects. The list of projects for Kitsap County will be determined in September. Watch the discussion online at psrc.org.

For more information, contact Kelly McGourty at 206-971-3601 or kmcgourty@psrc.org.

The Transportation Policy Board discussed reauthorization of the federal Surface Transportation Act.

The current law, SAFETEA-LU, expired in September 2009 and is operating on continuing resolution on a temporary basis until September 30, 2011. While a new law has been discussed repeatedly, no draft bills are available for review yet. Key policy issues important to the region include: the overall funding levels, the program structure, the metropolitan sub-allocation and project selection authority, performance-based programs, and planning funding. Read more about this here.

For more information, contact Charlie Howard at 206-464-7122 or choward@psrc.org.

The Transportation Policy Board continued its discussion on the Transportation 2040 prioritization process. 

PSRC is moving forward with the development of a prioritization method to be adopted as part of Transportation 2040. The representative working group guiding this work has been developing and testing a project weighting exercise. The presentation from their meeting is available here. A joint meeting of the Transportation and Growth Management Policy Boards on prioritization is scheduled for September.

For more information, contact Robin Mayhew at 206-464-7537 or rmayhew@psrc.org.

In other business, the Transportation Policy Board:

• Recommended the Executive Board certify transportation-related provisions in the comprehensive plans for Carnation, Gig Harbor, Duvall, Tacoma and Poulsbo.
• Recommended conditional certification of Bonney Lake's 2006 comprehensive plan update and 2010 amendments. The city has identified a process to develop an amended plan and has committed to completing this work by December 2012.
• Recommended a routine amendment to the Regional Transportation Improvement Program.

The Growth Management Policy Board heard a presentation on Renton's regional growth center.

Chip Vincent, Renton's planning director, and Angie Mathias, senior planner, described the city's efforts to transform the historic downtown area into a vibrant center with significant retail, housing, employment, shopping, entertainment and recreation.

Important successes since 2000 included relocating auto dealers out of the area, constructing a transit center and parking garage, and redeveloping the Pavilion Building. A City Center Community Plan is helping to engage residents, property owners and business leaders in improving the center. View the presentation here. Watch the discussion online at psrc.org.

For more information, contact Norman Abbott at 206-464-7134 or nabbott@psrc.org.

The Growth Management Policy Board recommended the Executive Board adopt updated Designation Procedures for New Regional Growth and Manufacturing Centers.

The designation procedures will apply to new regional growth and manufacturing industrial centers, and will help ensure that new centers will be successful in achieving the VISION 2040 regional growth strategy.

For more information, contact Ivan Miller at 206-464-7549, imiller@psrc.org.

The Growth Management Policy Board received a briefing on the Growing Transit Communities program.

Kitsap County Commissioner Josh Brown, PSRC President, will chair the Oversight Committee. A major public kick-off event is planned for September 2011.

More information is online at psrc.org or contact Ben Bakkenta at 206-971-3286, bbakkenta@psrc.org.

In other business, the Growth Management Policy Board:

• Recommended the Executive Board certify transportation-related provisions in the comprehensive plans for Carnation, Gig Harbor, Duvall, Tacoma and Poulsbo.
• Recommended conditional certification of Bonney Lake's 2006 comprehensive plan update and 2010 amendments. The city has identified a process to develop an amended plan and has committed to completing this work by December 2012.
• Received a status report on updates to countywide planning policies.
• Bid a fond farewell to Norman Abbott, PSRC's Director of Growth Management Planning, who has announced that he's retiring in September.