The first RTP adopted in 1995 was integral to the original Growth Management Act (GMA) start-up efforts. It provided the guidance that ensured consistency between local and state plans, establishing direction for integrated transportation and land use planning and the legitimacy of all modes of travel in coordinated planning. It informed development of locally adopted Countywide Planning Policies and Comprehensive Plans that are consistent with the regional growth strategy and which have served as a benchmark for consistency since. It considered a planning horizon of 2010. Local, regional, and state policy have matured in the ensuing decades, but the underlying direction spelled out in the 1995 RTP is still relevant today.
This was the first update to PRTPO’s Regional Transportation Plan. It was reformatted to better account for access to plans and resources on the internet, which wasn’t readily available in 1995. It greatly expanded the goals and policies section to better support the myriad of considerations facing local, tribal, and state agencies. While it did include an overview of relevant state and national issues expected to shape regional planning in the years ahead, it refrained from including a project list or recommendations at that time. It considered a planning horizon of 2035.
This was the last RTP update before the 2025 RTP Online update. It carried forward much of the work from the 2015 RTP, retaining from that earlier plan the underlying vision, goals, and policies with only minor updates. It introduced the State Facilities Action Plan, a fine-grained strategy from WSDOT Olympic Region for managing and operating its state highways. It also introduced for the first time the idea that PRTPO itself could undertake activities or promote issues to support regional needs. This update was adopted soon after PRTPO reconfigured itself as independent from WSDOT. It considered a 2040 horizon.