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Strategy 19: Assess Community Needs <br /> The Puget Sound Regional Council has developed a framework and technical approach to measuring <br /> equitable access to opportunity within the region: Opportunity Mapping.Application of this tool to the <br /> region as a whole, including identification of many locations with an overall low level of opportunity <br /> across a spectrum of community needs, shows that more detailed analysis is warranted in many <br /> transit communities as a basis for making informed community investment decisions. Communities <br /> with a very low, low or moderate access to opportunity, as indicated on the Opportunity Mapping <br /> exercise, should develop a community needs assessment as part of larger planning processes, such <br /> as station area, subarea, or comprehensive planning. Community needs assessments would be <br /> informed by regional guidance and technical assistance, and would in turn inform goals and <br /> strategies to improve local access to opportunity and other social equity outcomes. <br /> Puget Sound Regional Council <br /> 19.1. Work with local jurisdictions to use the opportunity mapping score to identify neighborhoods needing further <br /> assessment at a local scale. <br /> 19.2. Maintain and make available the Opportunity Mapping database as a regional resource for community <br /> development planning and investment. <br /> 19.3. Work with local jurisdictions to use the opportunity mapping score to identify neighborhoods needing further <br /> assessment at a local scale. <br /> 19.4. Collaborate with other agencies and the regional Equity Network or its successor to develop and make <br /> available to local governments a toolkit for community needs assessment that addresses the six opportunity <br /> areas of environmental and public health, economic vitality, mobility, education, and neighborhood quality of <br /> life. <br /> = 19.5.Adopt guidelines for local station area planning that address access to opportunity and the potential need to <br /> conduct a community needs assessment. <br /> U <br /> a Transit Agencies <br /> G) 19.6. Include the results of community needs assessments and Opportunity Mapping in station area evaluation and <br /> = investment decisions, including system development and long-range planning processes. <br /> E Local Governments <br /> G 19.7. Incorporate the results of the regional Opportunity Mapping in local station area planning, and,where indicated, <br /> conduct a more detailed local assessment of community needs. <br /> CU CU 19.8. Involve community members in developing a profile of community assets and needs around transit stations. <br /> 19.9. Incorporate into local practice lessons learned and models for community needs assessment developed <br /> through the GTC equity grants. <br /> 19.10.Inventory, and explore tools to create, maintain, and protect community anchors and gathering spaces, such <br /> as community centers,cultural centers,event spaces,and others,that nurture civic and social engagement. <br /> Regional Equity Network and Advocacy Organizations <br /> 19.11.Collaborate with PSRC and other agencies in developing and disseminating community needs assessment <br /> tools for use by public and private sector. <br /> Foundations and Social and Community Service Agencies <br /> 19.12.Utilize Opportunity Mapping and local community needs assessment findings in philanthropic strategies and <br /> service programming within the region. <br /> Priority Transit Communities for this Strategy <br /> • Very low, Low or Moderate access to opportunity per the Opportunity Mapping exercise <br /> • Transit communities with current high capacity transit service or expected within 10 years,and other regionally <br /> significant transit communities <br /> 50 <br /> The Growing Transit Communities Strategy I Public Review Draft I May 2013 <br />