Seattle Skyline
The formation of the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) was sparked by the Washington state Growth Management Act of 1990, which requires fast-growing counties and cities to adopt comprehensive plans that designate urban growth areas, provide transportation strategies, address affordable housing and other smart growth ideals. The Act specifically directs the counties and cities of the Puget Sound area to create a common growth management plan, and the counties and cities banded together to form PSRC as their vehicle for carrying out this mandate.
Today, PSRC embodies the common recognition of these county and city governments that this beautiful and popular region faces challenges that local governments – even the prosperous city of Seattle – can not solve acting alone. PSRC is a voluntary program because the state mandate which it carries out is broad and aspirational, PSRC is a forum of its member jurisdictions, and the regional plans it creates represent a consensus of these members. Out of this collaborative process, the counties and cities have adopted an overall growth and conservation plan titled Vision2040, and they are completing a long-range transportation plan tailored to implement this land use vision. PSRC has also convened a broad coalition of businesses, governments and labor and community organizations to pursue regional economic strategies, such as supporting science education and the growth of 21st century industries.
Vital Statistics:
Chapter of the Book: 11
State: WA
Year Established: 1991
Geographic Scale: 4 million acres
Mandatory or Voluntary over Local Government: Voluntary
Authorizing Laws: Federal & State
Agencies and Organizations:
Resources:
Washington State Growth Management Act, RCW 36.70A and others
