Date:  Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Contact: Jackie Bayne, Office of Equal Opportunity, WSDOT, (360) 705-7084

OLYMPIA – WSDOT is seeking comments on its proposed Federal Transit Administration Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal. The purpose of the DBE program is to create a “level playing field” for firms owned and operated by disadvantaged individuals wanting to participate in federally assisted highway, airport and transit-related projects.

The DBE goals for federally funded transportation projects represent a percentage of the value of work for which disadvantaged, minority, and women business enterprises should participate. WSDOT is proposing a zero percent participation overall DBE goal for Federal Transit Administration financially assisted projects let Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2011 through FFY 2013 (October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2013).

Federal regulations require all FTA assistance recipients to set a goal. WSDOT’s zero percent goal is due to firms available to work on WSDOT’s FTA-supported contracts and grants. WSDOT made its determination by evaluating typical FTA-funded projects during prior and upcoming State Fiscal Years.

For more information, all documents detailing WSDOT’s DBE goals and the methodology used for determining the FTA DBE goal are available for review at all WSDOT region headquarters offices and at the Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Avenue SE, in Olympia. These documents are also available on-line at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/equalopportunity/.

WSDOT will consider all comments, as well as other material that is either quantitative or anecdotal, before submitting its final DBE goals to FTA on August 1, 2010. Written comments on the overall DBE goals will be accepted until July 30, 2010. Send comments to:

Jackie Bayne, DMWBE Contract Compliance Officer
Washington State Department of Transportation Office of Equal Opportunity
PO Box 47314
Olympia, WA 98504-7314
BayneJ@wsdot.wa.gov

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WSDOT's mission is to keep people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 511

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