Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 1, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke, Gore announce $156 million proposal for transportation

SEATTLE — Gov. Gary Locke and other state and local elected officials joined Vice President Al Gore Sunday in a "listening session" on livability in which Gore said President Clinton’s next federal budget would commit $156 million to help the state of Washington improve its transit system and develop other projects to help ease traffic congestion and improve air quality.

The proposed funds are part of the comprehensive livability agenda announced by the vice president last January.

The vice president also announced a $200,000 Department of Transportation grant for Seattle to examine ways the city can improve mobility and strengthen the link between transit services and the needs of individual neighborhoods.

"These new funds will help communities across Washington grow in ways that ensure a high quality of life and strong, sustainable economic growth," Locke said.

The session, hosted by the Puget Sound Regional Council, brought together local residents, business owners, civic leaders and elected officials from across the state. The Livability Agenda, part of the president’s proposed FY 2000 budget, will help communities preserve green space, ease traffic congestion and pursue "smart growth" strategies.

Major elements of the agenda include:

- Better America Bonds, a new financing tool generating $9.5 billion over five years to preserve green space, create or restore urban parks, protect water quality, and clean up brownfields;
- A record $6.1 billion for public transit and $2.2 billion for programs to improve transportation planning and promote alternative transportation; and
- $50 million in matching funds for local partnerships to design and pursue smarter growth strategies across jurisdictional lines.

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