Although the Nisqually River Council (NRC) invests most of its time and energy into issues that directly impact the Nisqually Watershed, we recognize that regional projects often influence our local communities. In this week’s blog post, we focus on a ballot initiative that voters in Pierce, King and Snohomish County will see this coming November. Although not directly linked to the Nisqually Watershed, this initiative influences the NRC’s desire to “support fully fully-functioning, integrated communities with the full complement of services” as outlined in the Nisqually Watershed Stewardship Plan.
The Sound Transit Regional Proposition 1 (or Sound Transit 3) outlines a $54 billion, 25-year transit plan that would expand the public transit system in the Puget Sound region — extending north, south, east and west from Seattle. Local public radio station KNKX recently launched an in-depth exploration into Sound Transit 3, including what it proposes, what it means for taxpayers and why it’s on the ballot this year. The story series is available on the KNKX website.
Projects like this present an interesting, yet costly, opportunity to increase infrastructure that supports high quality public transportation. The Nisqually Watershed Stewardship Plan recognizes this as a component of integrated communities, which is a component of social sustainability. According to the NWSP, “communities in this watershed determine how they affect the economy and environment. It is important to keep these communities healthy so they can continue to make good decisions. Strong communities require access to good schools, health care, employment, the arts, and a healthy environment.”
As more people chose to live in the Nisqually Watershed – and the greater Puget Sound region – discovering ways to effectively and safely transport folks around is an increasingly important topic. We hope you enjoy learning more about Sound Transit 3, and decide for yourself if you think the transit plan should be adopted.
The Nisqually Watershed Stewardship Plan
The Nisqually River Council (NRC) is a non-regulatory education and advocacy organization that works to promote sustainability in the Nisqually Watershed. The NRC was formed in 1987 and has 24 active members, including a robust Citizens Advisory Committee. The NRC is guided by the Nisqually Watershed Stewardship Plan (NWSP) which provides a blueprint towards ecological, economic and social sustainability. The NWSP has 11 indicators that direct the actions of the NRC and associated non-profits. As a part of our 2016 blog feed, we will highlight each of the 11 indicators during the first week of each month. We hope you’ll read along and learn more about the Nisqually Watershed!
This month’s topic is Integrated Communities. We envision:
- Transportation infrastructure supports public transportation, ride sharing, and alternative fuel vehicles.
- Increase access to quality health care.
- Opportunities for formal and informal education exist throughout the watershed.
