Council reports highlight transit redesign uncertainty, LOTT housing support and regional growth projections

Several council members used the March 18 meeting to report on recent intergovernmental and regional planning items.

Council Member Cox said Intercity Transit has been planning a major service redesign originally targeted for September but the timeline is under review because of uncertainty in state and federal funding. "We want to do it responsibly and not have to retreat from it," Cox said, adding that the agency has been working through labor negotiations and evaluating economic impacts of competing proposals.

Cox also reported that the LOTT Clean Water Alliance board declared a property on Henderson Boulevard in Tumwater as surplus and approved using $125,000 from LOTT’s affordable housing support shared pool to help the Franz Anderson housing project with hook-up fees. The shared pool allocates $125,000 from each member jurisdiction, the report said.

Council Member Vasquez summarized a Thurston Regional Planning Council update on projected future conditions through 2050. The presentation described anticipated regional growth — the staff estimate included roughly 106,000 more people, 52,000 more jobs and 58,000 more housing units by 2050 — and noted the council’s concern that without policy changes the region will not meet targets on traffic congestion, safety and greenhouse-gas reductions. Vasquez said the county recorded 147 deaths or serious traffic injuries in 2023 and that the region is aiming for zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2030.

Council members said they will continue to monitor transit funding, regional transportation projects, and the use of shared housing support funds.