It can be tough to keep the various layers of transportation plans straight, but the Washington Transportation Commission is doing one to cover the next 20 years.

The usual organizational suspects are hosting a public meeting tomorrow at lunch to talk about the plan and receive comments. Details after the jump.

UPDATE 6:05 PM (Adam here) – As a few of our commenters have already pointed out this is a public involvement travisty, with WSTC not even hosting a single real meeting in the Seattle area, home to over half the state’s population. I contacted the WSTC on August 18th saying as much, and they still did not add real meeting in the Seattle area. Below is a response to my e-mail questioning why there wasn’t a meeting in Seattle and below that is my response.

Thanks for your question about WTP 2030 listening sessions.

The five listening sessions have been scheduled to provide broad statewide input. The listening sessions are part of a broader public input plan aimed at gathering input from a diverse range of people and groups across the state – east and west, urban and rural. The public can view WTP 2030 on the Commission’s website: http://wstc.wa.gov/WTP/default.htm and provide comments via a public input tool http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WTP2030DRAFT1or submit comments via email or in writing. The plan also includes outreach to bloggers like you. We’re hoping that coverage in your blog will help us disseminate the draft plan and gather public input.

Specifically regarding the location of the listening sessions  – the Everett and Kitsap sessions will provide opportunities for outreach to the broader Puget Sound region including urban and rural areas north to the Canadian border.  The other three listening sessions provide outreach to Southwest Washington in the Vancouver metropolitan area and to Yakima and Spokane in Eastern Washington.

Finally, the Transportation Commission also regularly meets in communities throughout the state. (The Commission’s July meeting was in Seattle and the November meeting will be in Bellevue.)  These meetings are open to the public and they usually take public comments on transportation issues.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions about WTP 2030 or the public input process. We really appreciate your interest in WTP 2030.

… and my response…

I have to say though this is a major oversight. Everett is not Seattle and to not have a listening session in the largest city of the state is ridiculous and begs the question of whether or not the commission is trying to skew results. I doubt that is the case but I wanted to tell you that is how it looks from an outsiders perspective and certainly is a juicy headline. If they wanted to cover the north they should of had an event in Bellingham, but don’t shortchange the largest city in the state.

The announcement.

 

SEPT. 3 FRIDAY FORUM REMINDER: Visioning Transportation for the Next 20 Years

King & Pierce County residents, join us this Friday for your ONLY chance to hear about and weigh-in on Washington Transportation Plan 2030, the state’s 20-year comprehensive transportation plan. What’s your vision for transportation across the state over the next 20 years? Washington invests less than 1% of its transportation resources on public transportation, less than just about any other urbanized state. Adding highway capacity has been the state’s focus over the last several decades while bicycle and pedestrian needs continue to be an afterthought on most state projects, undercutting our state’s climate and land use goals. What’s on your wish list for transit, bikes and sidewalks in our region?

Washington Transportation Plan 2030 (WTP 2030) sets a 20-year course for Washington State’s transportation system. The plan’s goal is to highlight long-term funding shortfalls, service needs, and system-wide mobility and safety needs, along with recommended solutions and approaches aimed at moving the state’s transportation network into the future. Again, the Sept. 3 Friday Forum will be the only chance for King and Pierce County residents to hear about the state transportation plan and weigh-in with comments in person. Please plan on attending before you begin your Labor Day weekend.

WHAT: Washington Transportation Plan 2030 with Transportation Commissioner Dan O’Neal and Paul Parker, Commission staff lead for WTP 2030.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 3, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
WHERE:  King County Public Health – Chinook Building, Room 115, 401 Fifth Ave., Seattle (at Jefferson St.)

As always, feel free to bring your lunch.

Co-sponsored by Bicycle Alliance of Washington, Cascade Bicycle Club, Cascade Land Conservancy, Commute Seattle, Feet First, Futurewise, King County Conservation Voters, Sierra Club – Cascade Chapter, and Streets for All Seattle.