Draft transportation chapter prioritizes safety, VMT reduction and flexible level-of-service
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Summary
City planners presented a draft transportation chapter that elevates safety (Vision Zero), incorporates VMT-based policies tied to state law, and allows targeted reductions in vehicular level-of-service (LOS E/F) in corridors chosen for mixed-use growth to encourage multimodal travel.
City staff presented a draft transportation chapter that reorganizes goals and policies to emphasize safety, multimodal access, vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) reduction and sustainable funding.
"Promote healthy communities by providing and maintaining a safe transportation system with viable active options," the draft states, prioritizing Vision Zero-style safety objectives and more emphasis on pedestrian shelters, lighting and transit access.
Why it matters: The chapter aims to align local transportation policy with state climate legislation (House Bill 1181) and with recent VMT analysis. A prominent policy shift is to permit lower vehicle level-of-service (E or F) in corridors targeted for mixed-use growth so congestion and slower speeds can support walking, biking and transit.
Key elements: Colin (transportation staff) outlined ten draft goals including safety and health, sense of place, transportation choices, design standards, access to daily needs, adaptability to new technologies, targeted transportation investments to support economic development, integration of projects, and sustainable funding for operations and maintenance.
LOS and VMT discussion: Commissioners debated traditional vehicular LOS versus multimodal/system-completeness measures for sidewalks and bike networks. Staff noted the VMT memo recommends allowing LOS E or F for corridors targeted for growth where reduced vehicle throughput can support higher walking, biking and transit mode share.
Integrated projects and funding: The draft stresses integrated capital projects (doing utilities, bike lanes and transit improvements together) and calls for policies to ensure long-term operations and maintenance funding for new facilities (for example, bike-lane sweeping and sidewalk upkeep).
Next steps: Staff will circulate the transportation chapter draft and return with revisions and a subcommittee meeting in January; the chapter will feed into the comp-plan draft scheduled for February.