How to move people and goods in Pierce County is the topic of a County Council workshop next week in the Council Chambers.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tues., Feb. 23, the council’s Economic and Infrastructure Development Committee will set the stage for transportation in 2010 and beyond. Councilmembers and county Public Works and Utilities staff will gather to discuss road improvements using the county’s own 20-year transportation plan and the Puget Sound region’s Transportation 2040 plan.

“Transportation affects everyone, no matter what the economic conditions,” said Councilmember Shawn Bunney, the committee’s chairman. “Years of work have given us solid long-term plans, but periodic review is important to ensure we’re making the right moves to follow them.”

Pierce County has more than 1,500 miles of roads and allocates nearly $92 million each year for maintenance, operations, preservation, improvements and administration, and an estimated $1.8 billion in new roads is still needed. More information on transportation in Pierce County — including road construction, the county ferry schedule and a bike map — can be found at http://www.piercecountywa.gov/pc/abtus/ourorg/pwu/about/transpmenu.htm .

The Council Chambers are located on the 10th floor of the County-City Building (930 Tacoma Ave. S., Room 1045) in Tacoma. For more on the council or its other committees, visit http://www.piercecountywa.gov/council .