2018-09-10 Transportation and Infrastructure Minutes

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4L;HMJILN;NCIH Ǳ )H@L;MNLO=NOL? #IGGCNN?? -CHON?MȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚȚ3?JN?G<?L ǳǲțǴǲǳǺ G. Tukwila International Boulevard: Retrofit Analysis The City Council has requested a status update on implementation of the Tukwila International Boulevard recommendations that came out of the Congress for New Urbanism report in 2015. One of those recommendations was to reduce the number of through lanes on TIB by half and add bike lanes and on-street parking. Tukwila contracted with Fehr & Peers to study the impacts of doing this, and their preliminary report suggested likely adverse impacts to parallel residential streets. Staff believes that more analysis needs to be done, including consideration of type and funding of traffic calming on side streets, since the cost of implementation will be significantly higher than previously understood. In addition, when the City took ownership of TIB, the state required that it still be able to absorb traffic in the event of an I-5 shutdown. Councilmember Quinn noted that since the Fehr and Peers Report it appears that a decision has been made to take no action without input from the City Council. He asked that communication be improved and the Council should be involved since there is a conflict between the CNU vision and the realities of a road diet. False information being shared in the community should be corrected. Chair McLeod stated that the vision laid out in the CNU report includes components other than the road diet, such as zoning changes, and wondered if everything was on hold pending further study of the road decision. Staff replied that from the Economic Development perspective, certain zoning decisions will be dependent on the decision about on-street parking. It will be important to zone appropriately with consideration of current market forces. Councilmember Quinn pointed out that Columbia City implemented a successful road diet on a busy street and he would like to see this issue treated with flexibility and historical consideration. Councilmember Idan noted that the solution will need a cross-departmental approach. After further discussion, the Committee request that staff return with more information on the costs and possibilities of further study on the impacts of a road diet. Chair McLeod encouraged timeliness as he feels the City has fallen behind with community expectations. DISCUSSION ONLY. RETURN TO COMMITTEE. H. Traffic Calming Program Staff updated the Committee on the status of efforts to formalize a traffic calming prioritization program. A new Capital Improvement Program project has been proposed for 2019/2020, Traffic Calming/Residential Safety Improvements, with $400,000 budgeted each year. This replaces the previously budgeted $750,000 for residential streets. Staff has also developed a priority list for traffic safety improvements, including both commercial and residential locations. Councilmember Idan asked how the $400,000 amount was determined, and staff said it is a starting place that can be adjusted if needed and as budget allows. The goal is to address simple residential projects. Councilmember Quinn said he is comfortable starting with this amount and asked that geographic equity be considered. Councilmember Idan stated that he feels the amount should be higher. Chair McLeod asked if low cost options 3-, and staff replied they will look into it. DISCUSSION ONLY.