A group of researchers are trying to address a topic that causes tension for many people in the Puget Sound region: transportation. They're looking for volunteers to spend 8-10 hours over four weeks prioritizing the region's needs when it comes to roads, rail and more.

The project is called "Let's Improve Transportation" and the web site is pretty interesting to visit. Outreach coordinator Kevin Ramsey said they are "particularly interested" in participation from Pierce County residents.

Here's a snippet from an email I received:

Researchers at the University of Washington are seeking residents of King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties to take part in a unique experiment in participatory democracy.

Participate at your own convenience wherever you have access to the Internet. No experience with transportation planning or prior knowledge about transportation issues is necessary.

This is similar to an award-winning interactive project The TNT did several years ago called "Fix Your Commute." That was actually a project I started while working for the Everett paper and talked my current employer and KIRO-TV into participating in. You can read more here.