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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAP 2008-06-09 Item 2D - Discussion - Walk and Roll PlanCity of Tukwila Department of Community Development INFORMATION MEMO To: Community Affairs and Pa Committee From: Jack Pace, DCD Director`., t Date: June 9, 2008 Subject: Draft Walk Roll Plan ISSUE City Council review and adoption of the Walk Roll Plan. JR Page 1 of 2 P: \Walk and Roll\Meetings Events \CAP Memo W&R_6-9-2008.doc On May 28, staff provided an overview of the recommendations of the Draft Walk Roll Plan to the Transportation Committee. Transportation Committee expressed a need for additional time to consider the recommendations of the plan, and asked staff to research the Tukwila School District's policies on school bus routes and bus stops. They also requested that staff compile a list of potential Council action items for review at next Transportation Committee meeting. 06/04/2008 9:16 AM Jim Haggerton, Mayor Jack Pace, Director BACKGROUND The Walk Roll Plan is an implementation tool for goals and policies of the Tukwila Comprehensive Plan. When adopted by Council, the Walk Roll Plan will serve as a guide for City staff in determining where new bicycle and pedestrian improvements should occur, whether they are built as part of a street resurfacing project, as part of a grant- funded project, or as part of the required improvements of a development project. The City of Tukwila was awarded a grant from the State of Washington Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) in December 2005 to develop a city -wide bicycle and pedestrian plan. Development of the Draft Walk Roll Plan included extensive public involvement, input from which helped inform the Plan's recommendations. Public input was received during a Walk Roll open house; Tukwila Days; the Backyard Wildlife Fair; and a bike ride with Planning Commissioners, City Council members, local residents, and other interested parties. Surveys were also distributed to gather information on the types of bicycle and pedestrian facilities that people would like to see built in Tukwila. A wide variety of groups were part of the outreach effort, including members of the Cascade Bicycle Club, Feet First, the Boeing Employees' Bicycle Club, the Tukwila School District, the Tukwila Rotary, Tukwila employers, and staff from adjacent cities. After issuance of the Draft Plan, a work session was held with the Planning Commission, and staff joined a Parks Commission meeting to review its recommendations. Discussion topics and questions included how to implement the recommended actions, education and enforcement, the relationship between traffic speeds and safety, bicycle detection systems at traffic signals, how recommendations in the plan might affect level -of- service (LOS) of Tukwila's streets, and the interface between transit use and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Over all, the recommended actions within the Draft Walk Roll Plan were well received by the Planning and Parks Commissioners. 6300 Southcenter Boulevard, Suite #100 Tukwila, Washington 98188 Phone: 206- 431 -3670 Fax 20 4 31 -3665 DISCUSSION A review by DCD staff of the draft Parks, Recreation, & Open Space Plan reveals that maps in the Draft Walk & Roll Plan, including the Neighborhood Links maps (Figures 7 through 14) and Recommended Bicycle Friendly Routes map (Figure 5) will need to be rectified with the Parks Plan to ensure that recommended multi-use trail locations are consistent between the two plans. The Draft Walk & Roll Plan contains six Recommended Actions, which will provide the tools for building a connected non-motorized transportation network in Tukwila. It also contains background information on existing conditions, and performance goals and measurements to gauge progress towards achieving the recommendations. The six Recommended Actions include the following: 1. Adoption of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure designs - Update the Public Works' Development Guidelines and Design and Construction Standards to include new or revised standards for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. 2. Designation and adoption of reconnnended "Bicycle Friendly Routes" - Replace the map in Tukwila's Comprehensive Plan that currently shows Bicycle Friendly Streets (titled City of Tukwila Non-Motorized Transportation Plan Category I) with the "Bicycle Friendly Routes" map in the Draft Walk & Roll Plan (see Figure 5 on page 27). 3. Continue construction of neighborhood links - Using the Neighborhood Maps on Figures 7 through 14, as well as the map for the Tukwila Hill neighborhood, prioritize which unimproved rights-of-way, sidewalks and trail links should be constructed. Create project sheets to be included in the city's Capital Improvement Program. 4. More than the minimum for pedestrian safety - Update the Public Works' Development Guidelines and Design and Construction Standards with extra details (i.e., pedestrian countdown signals, in-pavement pedestrian lighting, etc.) to improve the design of pedestrian facilities and the overall walkability of the City. 5. Railbanking for the future - Railroad spurs located within Tukwila, including within the urban center and in the manufacturing and industrial center, may in the future become an outdated/economically infeasible way of transporting goods. If railroad spurs are abandoned, these easements of rights-of-way can be preserved as trails, as long as property owners who have granted easements to the railroad companies agree to transfer these easements to the City of Tukwila for trail use. 6. Promotion and participation in biking and walking programs - Devote staff time and continue to fund education and encouragement programs to promote biking and walking in Tukwila. RECOMMENDATION Review and provide suggestions for changes and/or additions to the Draft Plan. This item is presented at CAP for information only. The Transportation Committee will be the Council Committee taking formal action. JR Page 2 of2 P:\Walk and Roll\Meetings & Events\CAP Memo \V&R_6-9-2008.doc 06/04/20089:16 AM