PSRC

Role is not understood

Kitsap newspapers have published many letters opposing Kitsap’s involvement in the Puget Sound Regional Council, and few supporting it. As a result, a lot of misinformation is going unanswered. Unfortunately, the role of PSRC is poorly understood.

The federal government requires transportation planning on a regional basis to qualify for federal transportation funding. Kitsap County’s most critical transportation links are with King County (the ferries) and Pierce County (the Tacoma Narrows Bridge). Most of our jobs, travel and commerce outside the county depend on those links. It’s essential that we have a voice in the Puget Sound regional planning process. SRC is the designated agency that fills that requirement. We share those planning resources with King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

If we “go it alone,” as some are suggesting, our administrative costs will go up and we will lose access to those sophisticated planning resources. More important, we will lose our voice in the regional planning process, as well as the advantage of drawing from a larger pool of federal funding. According to DOT estimates, Kitsap County received $30 million more in transportation funding over the last 10 years than it would have if it had not partnered with PSRC.

GENE BULLOCK

Pouslbo