FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 2024
Contact: Robin Koskey, 206-971-3602 or rkoskey@psrc.org
SEATTLE—The Equity Advisory Committee for the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) was awarded the 2024 Washington Governor’s Smart Communities Award for work developing an Equity Pilot Program to elevate equity in the agency’s transportation funding competition.
The Equity Advisory Committee worked throughout 2023 to develop a pilot funding competition that would test strategies to improve how equity is centered in the distribution of transportation funding. PSRC’s Executive Board allocated $6 million to the pilot and 8 projects were awarded funding in the competition. The lessons learned helped incorporate equity principles into PSRC's future competitive processes that award more than $300 million of federal transportation funding each year.
Beginning in 2006, the Governor’s Smart Communities Awards recognize local government efforts to enrich communities in areas of job growth, economic development, housing affordability and other planning activities. The Equity Advisory Committee received the award through the Smart Equity Strategies category, recognizing policies and programs addressing equity.
Director Mike Fong from the Washington State Department of Commerce presented the award to the Equity Advisory Committee and Mayor Becky Erikson at PSRC’s Executive Board meeting at 10 a.m. on October 24, 2024.
What Regional Leaders are saying about the Equity Pilot:
City of Poulsbo Mayor and PSRC President Becky Erickson
“It is an honor for PSRC’s Equity Advisory Committee to be recognized and awarded the prestigious Governor’s Smart Communities Award for their incredible work on the Equity Pilot Program. I am proud of the efforts we are making to weave equity into all the work that we do. Given that funding transportation projects in the region is one of the most impactful functions of PSRC, it is critical that equity is considered in how we award those dollars.”
City of Kent Mayor and PSRC Transportation Policy Board Chair Dana Ralph
“The work we are doing at PSRC to expand equity considerations in how we distribute our federal dollars to transportation projects is important. One of the transportation projects funded, Benson Corridor, is in the city I represent. I can speak personally about what a difference the Pilot is already making in our community. It will transform this automobile-dependent route into a more transportation efficient 20-minute community, improving access to opportunities for marginalized residents throughout Kent, WA.”
Equity Advisory Committee Co-Chair, Maria Fergus
“I am extremely proud of the work our committee has done on the Equity Pilot Program. This program allowed us to reevaluate the criteria that will elevate the significance of inclusive engagement in transportation planning process, giving a voice to those who have usually been excluded from the planning process in their communities."
Equity Advisory Committee Co-Chair, Debbie Lacy
“Having the chance to voice the concerns of people within our communities and provide a solution to close the gap of transportation inequities in the region has been so rewarding. The Equity Pilot Program is playing such a pivotal role in transportation planning process for the region.”
Equity Advisory Committee Co-Chair (2022-2023), Shannon Turner
“I appreciated being able to deeply engage and influence an important policy issue. PSRC staff did an incredible job educating EAC members on the transportation funding process, which laid a path for us to make meaningful recommendations and enhance equity in the region’s transportation system.”
PSRC Program Manager, Equity Policy and Initiatives, Charles Patton
“We are honored to receive this award for our Equity Pilot program, representing a significant step forward in integrating equity into our transportation funding award process. The feedback and lessons learned from the community members serving on PSRC’s Equity Advisory Committee (EAC) changed our funding process to address racial disparities and prioritize services for historically underserved communities in our region. We are grateful for the Equity Advisory Committee’s engagement.”
Congratulation to award winners from PSRC member governments:
- City of Renton – Smart Partnership Award for Sunset Gardens
- Snohomish County – Smart Project Award for Little Bear Creek Advance Mitigation Site
- City of Bellevue – Smart Housing Strategies Award for Housing Stability Program (HSP)
- King County/City of Bellevue – Judges Merit Awards for Eastrail Wilburton Framework Plan
About PSRC
The mission of Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is to advance solutions to achieve a thriving, racially equitable and sustainable central Puget Sound region through leadership, visionary planning and collaboration. PSRC is composed of nearly 100 members in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, including the four county governments, cities and towns, ports, state and local transportation agencies and Tribal governments within the region. PSRC.org
Title VI Notice: PSRC fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. For more information, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, visit https://www.psrc.org/title-vi.
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