The first meeting of the new task force to examine our region’s transportation future will be February 25, 2015, at 4 p.m., in the Boardroom of the Puget Sound Regional Council at 1011 Western Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, Washington, 98104. 

PRESS RELEASE: Feb. 18, 2015 SEATTLE – The central Puget Sound region’s long-term transportation needs and funding are undergoing a review by a task force that is broadly representative of civic leaders from King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties.

The year-long assessment will examine leading demographic, land use, economic, technology and financial trends in transportation and make recommendations on how to best meet long-term transportation needs

“This region is at a critical crossroads.  Five million people are projected to be living in the four county region within the next 25 years, maybe sooner.  We must invest in our transportation system. It’s not just about mobility, it is also about our economy and our quality of life,” said Troy McClelland, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance Snohomish County and a task force member.

Task force member and Futurewise Executive Director Hilary Franz added:  “Investments in improving roadways, bridges and high-capacity transit are already being outstripped by demand.  We’re just not keeping up.  Traditional revenue sources are no longer capable of maintaining or improving mobility in our growing region.”

“The task force goal is to develop a strategy to provide an equitable, financially sustainable, and environmentally responsible regional transportation system that works for people and business,” said task force member and Puget Sound Energy CEO Kimberly Harris.

Over the next year, the task force will meet monthly, review data and technical studies that have been produced for them, reach out to stakeholders, gather public input and develop recommendations for the next 30 years and beyond.

The first meeting of the task force is scheduled for February 25, 2015, at 4 p.m., in the Boardroom of the Puget Sound Regional Council at 1011 Western Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, Washington, 98104.

Information about the task force and its work is available at www.thefuturestaskforce.org. [You can also leave comments at this site.]

CONTACT:  Rick Olson (206) 971-3050, rolson@psrc.org