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1. What are the Urban Growth Area Boundaries?

The urban growth area is the city / town and adjacent unincorporated growth area identified by the cities / towns / county to receive urban growth in the future. Outside of the boundary only rural growth is permissible.

2. What is the process for changing the boundaries?

In Thurston County, the process for changing the urban growth boundaries is found in the county-wide planning policies. These policies are an agreement between the cities, towns, and county on how they will work together on planning issues.

The process is as follows:

• Cities and towns will confer with the county about boundary location or amendment,
• Proposed boundaries are presented to the UGM subcommittee of Thurston Regional Planning Council, which makes a recommendation directly to the Board of County Commissioners,
• Following a public hearing, the Board of County Commissioners designates the boundaries and justifies its decision in writing,
• Cities and towns not in agreement with the boundary designation may request mediation through the State Department of Community Development, and
• At least every 10 years, growth boundaries will be reviewed based on updated 20 year population projections.

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1. Does TRPC issue building permits or conduct planning services for the County or the jurisdictions within Thurston County?

TRPC does not typically issue permits or provide other types of current planning services for the County or jurisdictions. The Cities of Rainier and Tenino contract with TRPC for current planning services, but you must contact those cities directly if you are seeking a permit or planning services.

2. I’m interested in the future of Thurston County’s transportation issues and would like to serve on a board or committee – how do I get involved?

The Get Involved menu on the main page has a number of ways you can learn about upcoming meetings and public engagement opportunities. Information about membership of boards and committees at TRPC can be found under the About Us menu on the main page.

3. Where can I find the future projected population of Thurston County?

Population and Employment Forecasting may be found on our website in Maps & Data under Data Programs.

4. Where can I find a map of trails and roads suitable for riding my bike to work?

The online version of the county-wide bike map can be found in the Maps & Data menu, under Thurston County Bicycle Map.

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1. What is the purpose of the study?

The purpose of the study is to learn more about the daily travel patterns of residents in the South Sound region.

2. How will the study results be used?

The data will be used to provide local travel characteristics in models and other analysis tools to determine how to improve roads, reduce traffic congestion, improve walking and bicycle lanes and enhance public transportation in the area.

3. How was I selected to participate?

All invited households were randomly selected from a list of all residential addresses throughout the South Sound region.

4. Why should I participate?

Your responses will have a significant impact because yours is 1 of a small number of households invited to participate. Your input will help the South Sound region prioritize future transportation investments and shape policies.

5. My travel on my assigned day isn’t “typical” – should I still participate?

Yes. This study is about all types of trips and how residents make those trips. We want to hear from everyone in order to better understand transportation needs and prioritize future projects.

6. I don’t travel very much – should I still participate?

Yes. Even if you didn’t make any trips on your assigned travel date, that information is important for us to know.

7. How is my personal privacy protected?

All of your answers are strictly confidential. Your responses are grouped with the responses from all other participating households and will not be analyzed individually. A copy of this study’s privacy policy is available on the study website.

8. What will I get for participating?

Your household will receive an Amazon.com gift card after every person completes the survey.

9. What do I use the “Travel Log” for?

The “Travel Log” is a way to help you keep track of details of your trips. It takes just a few seconds after each trip to jot down the details so you can remember them later.

10. Why is my household assigned a specific travel date?

The goal of this study is to fully understand travel patterns and preferences throughout the South Sound region, and a first step is to understand all travel on a specific day. For many people their assigned travel date will be a normal day. For others, it will not be a typical day but we still need your participation. Just as all types of travel (walking, biking, transit, driving, etc.) are important, so are all types of days.

11. For the purpose of this study, what is a trip?

A trip occurs anytime you change locations or addresses, even if only a short distance. You may make a trip by car, bus, bicycle, walking, rail, air or other means.

12. Can you share some example trips?

Yes. Here are some example trips for you to think about:

• I commuted by bus from home to work
• I rode in my friend’s car on the way to the movies
• I drove to the grocery store to shop
• I walked my children home from school
• I rode my bike to the Farmers Market
• I walked to the deli for lunch My spouse dropped me off at the Park-and-Ride to go to work
• I carpooled to a meeting in Seattle

Often what we think of as 1 trip is actually 2 or more trips. For example, “I stopped to buy gas and a snack on my way home from work” counts as 2 trips: 1 trip from work to the gas station and another trip from the gas station to home.

13. Should my children participate?

Yes, trips to and from school, sports practice, play dates, and other activities help us understand the full nature of how the transportation system is used, and how it can be improved.

14. What is a household?

A household is any person or group of people who live in the same home. Everyone who lives in 1 dwelling unit and shares a kitchen is a part of a household.

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1. How do I convince managers that they don't have to see their employee sitting behind a desk in order to manage them?

Teleworking works best when managers trust employees and manage by results rather than the time spent at a desk. To manage by results, managers should:

• Review current job tasks and responsibilities
• Establish measurable outcomes and deliverable
• Specify who receives or monitors the outcomes and deliverables, and when interim checkpoints and due dates will occur
• Use language that avoids subjectivity, vagueness and interruption
• Link outcomes and deliverables to organizational goals
• Track performance results
• Schedule ongoing evaluations (in addition to immediate feedback and revise as necessary)

2. If we let on person telework, won't we have to let everyone do it?

No. Employees must understand that teleworking is 1 possible alternative work arrangement, not a universal benefit.

Also, not every job or person is suited for a teleworking arrangement. Successful telecommuters must be self-motivated, responsible and results-oriented. They must be able to work independently, be familiar with the requirements of their job, knowledgeable about the organization's procedures, and successful in their current position. Finally, they must be effective communicators, who are adaptable and committed to teleworking.

3. What jobs are best suited for teleworking?

Jobs that are best suited for teleworking include jobs in which:

• Face-to-face interactions can be scheduled on specific days
• Internal and external clients' needs can be met while teleworking
• Clear work objectives can be set
• Productivity would be increased by quiet or uninterrupted time (e.g., data entry, planning, editing, reading, research, word processing)

4. Can the employee babysit while working at home?

No. Teleworking is not an opportunity to save money on child care. Employees must continue to arrange for childcare even when working form home.

5. How does one set up a teleworking program?

Visit our Setting up a Telework Program page for more information on how to set up a program for your company.