Want to influence regional transportation policy? Now is the time to speak up. Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is currently soliciting comments on their update to the Transportation 2040 plan.
Transportation 2040 is an “action plan for transportation in the central Puget Sound region for the next 30 years.” It was first adopted in early 2010, detailing investments and financing necessary for a sustainable transportation system that will be able to accommodate the major population and employment growth expected in the Puget Sound region over the next three decades. The long-range plan was developed in order to help shape “shorter-term decisions made at the [local,] state and federal levels on finance, environmental protection, and the future direction of the nation’s transportation programs.”
While this year’s Transportation 2040 Update leaves the policy structure of the plan unchanged, there are several key updates to be aware of:
- New prioritization methods
- PSRC has worked with regional stakeholders to develop a Prioritization process for the projects in Transportation 2040. The 2040 update reflects the work that’s been done to ensure that projects in the plan best meet the objectives of the region’s growth strategy, VISION 2040.
- “State of Good Repair”
- The 2040 Update reaffirms the priority placed on maintenance and preservation of existing infrastructure and service over investments in new infrastructure.
- Updated financial strategy
- Informed in large part by the recent recession, the updated Transportation 2040 financial strategy reduced estimated revenue projections by $15.5 billion. While some service efficiencies are anticipated, approximately 80 lower-priority or later date projects were moved out of the financially constrained plan in order to help balance costs and revenues.
- Active Transportation Plan
- The draft 2040 Update includes a new appendix – an Active Transportation Plan that provides guidance and resources for local jurisdictions looking to develop or improve pedestrian and bicycle strategies.
Comments on the plan will be accepted until March 10, 2014. You may submit comments via email (send to transportation2040@psrc.org with the subject line “Comment on Transportation 2040 Update”) or in person at the Transportation Policy Board meeting on Feb. 13, 2014. PSRC expects to adopt the updated plan in May 2014.
