Reality Check: Sound progression

Hundreds of business, community and government leaders got together at the University of Washington to talk about the Puget Sound region's future. Among their top concerns were transportation, concentrating growth in urban centers, preserving a green environment and affordable housing.

The "Reality Check" exercise at the UW Wednesday was well named. Those issues top many families' larger concerns for their communities. Even in uncertain economic times, people have a genuine desire to be part of building communities that are sustainable for themselves, their family members and others.

To be sure, the event, which kicked off formation of an alliance to promote quality growth, came at a time when a lot of attention is focused on the future. The Puget Sound Regional Council last week adopted Vision 2040, a strategy to tie long-term economic growth to healthy communities. At a breakfast Thursday, the Cascade Land Conservancy also released a report on its Cascade Agenda for forests, green space and livable cities. Short version: big progress, but not enough, including in farm preservation.

That's realistic. The trick for timely efforts will be delivering results that people see while maintaining a long-range vision.