Getting Ready for the Future

The mission of the Puget Sound Regional Council is to play a key regional role in keeping central Puget Sound thriving as we grow. PSRC is committed to creating a great future for the region through planning for regional transportation, land use and economic development, under authority embodied in state and federal laws.

Working Together

At PSRC, central Puget Sound counties (King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap), cities and towns, ports, tribes, transit agencies, and the state work together to develop policies and make decisions about regional issues.

Regional Decisions Informed by Solid Research and Collaboration

PSRC works with local government, business and citizens to build a common vision for the region’s future, expressed through three connected major activities: VISION 2040, the region’s growth strategy; Transportation 2040, the region’s draft long-range transportation plan; and Prosperity Partnership, which develops and advances the region’s economic strategy.

VISION 2040 is the region’s strategy for addressing anticipated growth of population and employment through 2040. VISION 2040 describes how and where we can grow while also supporting the well-being of people and communities, economic prosperity and a healthy environment.

Transportation 2040 is the region’s new draft long-range transportation plan. The plan outlines the investments and strategies needed to keep the region moving as we grow.

Prosperity Partnership, via the PSRC’s Economic Development Board, has convened over 300 public and private groups to develop and advance a regional economic strategy to enhance the region’s economic vitality.

PSRC Data: PSRC is a rich data resource for the entire region – providing the data tools required to plan for the long term and inform decisions made every day. PSRC forecasts, shown above, anticipate the region will have 1.4 million more residents and 1.1 million more jobs by 2040 (based on year 2007 totals).

PSRC Funding: PSRC distributes about $160 million in federal transportation funds each year.

PSRC Leadership and Organization

PSRC is governed by a General Assembly and an Executive Board. Each member of PSRC is a voting member of the General Assembly, which meets at least annually to vote on major decisions, establish the budget, and elect new officers. The Executive Board is chaired by the PSRC President, meets monthly, and serves as the governing board. Both the General Assembly and Executive Board use weighted votes based on population to make decisions.

The Transportation Policy Board and Growth Management Policy Board include representatives of PSRC’s member jurisdictions, tribes, regional business, labor, civic, and environmental groups, as well as voting members representing each caucus of the state Legislature. These boards make recommendations on key transportation and growth management issues to the Executive Board.

PSRC also supports the work of the region’s Economic Development District, governed by a board composed of public and private members that meets quarterly to coordinate regional economic development planning.

Budget and Funding Sources

The two-year budget (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011) for PSRC is $22.2 million. The agency receives 72 percent of its revenue from federal grants, 6 percent from state grants, and the remaining 22 percent from dues paid by PSRC members and from other local sources.