TRANSPORTATION TAX CONTINUES TO ENHANCE LIVABILITY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

Beaverton, Oregon January 28, 2009 --Tualatin Valley Community Television (TVCTV) and the Washington County Land Use & Transportation Department (LUT)  are pleased to release "MSTIP 2008: Building the Future for Washington County," a program highlighting the county's most significant road improvement projects over the past twenty- two years.

The first Main Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP) tax originated in 1986 as a short term levy put forth by Washington County to fund various construction projects throughout the area. Once this tax was approved, the LUT joined forces with local elected officials to form the Washington County Coordinating Committee (WCCC). This committee was designed to evaluate and determine the area's greatest needs and priorities regarding road efficiency, safety and livability. As voters continued to approve various MSTIP levies over the years this temporary tax eventually became part of the permanent Washington County property tax rate.

Projects selected and featured in the video include the Highway 47 Bypass, Brookwood Parkway in Hillsboro and 170^th Ave in Aloha. Each of these projects required the involvement of various cities, businesses, consultants and interest groups working together to ensure that the most eco-friendly and efficient transportation method was implemented every step of the way.

To learn more about the MSTIP program, go online at http://www.co.washington.or.us/deptmts/lut/cap_proj/mstiphis.htm

"MSTIP 2008: Building the Future for Washington County" can be viewed on TVCTV Channels 28 & 30 through the month of March. For more information or to obtain a complete playback schedule please call or email Mary Weisensee at 503-629-8534

TVCTV provides cable subscribers in fourteen cities and Washington County with professionally produced local television programming of government meetings, community events, and public education. TVC-TV is a division of the Metropolitan Area Communications Commission (MACC), which regulates and administers Comcast and Verizon Cable Franchises in the Washington County, Lake Oswego, and Milwaukie areas.