December 13, 2012

The Transportation Policy Board released the Special Needs Transportation Program of Projects for public review and comment.

The Program of Projects is a prioritized list of 35 transportation projects that will improve mobility for people with low income, elderly, and persons with disabilities. These projects will become eligible to receive funding through PSRC's Coordinated Grant Program and the Washington State Department of Transportation's Consolidated Grant Program. 

PSRC currently has nearly $4 million available for these projects. Projects that do not receive funding from either PSRC or WSDOT will be on a contingency list should any future funding become available. The public review and comment period will run until January 24, 2013. View the presentation or watch the discussion online at psrc.org.

For more information, contact Gil Cerise at 206-971-3053 or gcerise@psrc.org.

The Transportation Policy Board discussed recommendations on regional transit coordination and funding.

Since July, the board has been reviewing the history and structure of transit agencies in the region, coordination activities between transit agencies, and issues of service loss resulting from reduced revenues since the recession. In January, the Transportation Policy Board will finalize its recommendations to the Executive Board, which will address opportunities for improved coordination, how to strengthen the linkage between land use and transit service, and how to address the transit funding shortfall.

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

The Transportation Policy Board continued its discussion of recommendations for the 2013 Legislature.

The recommendations address persistent transportation funding issues and the need for a comprehensive statewide transportation package supporting job creation. Draft recommendations include: finish what has been started and fulfill project commitments, address the transit funding crisis, stabilize funding for Washington State Ferries, provide additional funding for local roadway needs, provide state funding to control storm water runoff, and fund locally identified transportation priorities.

As part of the discussion, the board heard about WSDOT priority new revenue investments. The Transportation Policy Board will finalize its recommendations in January.

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

In other business, the Transportation Policy Board received a calendar for its 2013 meetings.