SEATTLE: The Washington State Transportation Commission will meet Nov. 17 in Seattle as it works to finalize the update to the Washington State Transportation Plan (WTP 2030).  The discussion will center around policy and revenue recommendations to be made to the Governor and Legislature.

WTP 2030 is a comprehensive and balanced statewide transportation plan that establishes a 20-year vision for the development of the statewide transportation system, covering state highways and ferries, sidewalks and bike paths, county roads, city streets, public transit, air and rail.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, Nov. 17, in the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Central Conference Room, starting at 9 a.m.  PSRC is located at 1011 Western Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle.

“We’ve had a remarkably diverse group of stakeholders from across the state help in the writing of this plan,” said Commissioner Carol Moser, who was chair of the WTP 2030 process.  “We heard universal themes from regions in the state such as don’t use a ‘one size fit all’ approach and that we must invest in maintaining our existing system.  The need to solve the transportation funding crisis was also a top priority for every region of the state.”

In October, the Commission directed staff to revise the Draft WTP 2030 in response to public comment received during September and October.  Public comment emphasized the need to preserve and maintain the existing transportation system, the importance of transportation in creating and keeping jobs, and the need for more revenue.  The Commission will review the changes made and approve or revise them.  The Commission also plans to add a revenue discussion and recommendations to WTP 2030 based on recommendations from the report on Implementing Alternative Transportation Funding Methods submitted to the Legislature in January 2010, and on earlier Commission studies related to funding.

The Commission is scheduled to adopt the final WTP 2030 in December 2010.

For more information about the Commission and a complete meeting agenda, visit the Transportation Commission’s Web site at: http://www.wstc.wa.gov/