[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6159940,"mediaKeyId","5452211-68f1bb4013df212eadecf6bd7070fbeb","parentId",5452211,"title","Pierce Transit outlines scaled Destination 2045 plan, proposes more frequent service and later hours for Milton routes","audioSeconds",1214,"startMs",221000,"endMs",1435000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5452211-68f1bb4013df212eadecf6bd7070fbeb&start=221&end=1435","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5452211-68f1bb4013df212eadecf6bd7070fbeb/thumbnail_221000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6159940/Milton/Pierce-County/Washington/Pierce-Transit-outlines-scaled-Destination-2045-plan-proposes-more-frequent-service-and-later-hours-for-Milton-routes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159940-d74782f46aa656b3e47bbe8423234f45/orig.mp4?Expires=1774858162&Signature=l1vE9-HfmLcNDJ-V09vQrH2176tY~mZKkd9WJcoOaTjuNP6jyvY4JvRpY1SQujHXC2Fjo~NgjNKw0evjs0VQsD9vrX4Gf2QbWnNtfTcNksm9WHeEe4RMFl5gnYzvqBAjCBxqMPprBwmX~s-22Wwa5v0pspj-shPjrskf19I02VkKW~pXEuCrrizhPZa3M-s0X6F8F7qv1MwQDEblA1~1ct6Ei7Y7OzGTOlgUjMvZ675Ky9HyvwmcKxPvCTp0L0YcnYfyxyMgfhAHuMkbqR~xry86~DCL67dgniMwQF9JRs6SCT-j5RBq-hRNdIQsdyBXk~auZY74iyQMOfBMQwQmfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Milton, WA","date","2025-07-23T14:35:01.893Z","article","Pierce Transit officials told the Milton City Council on July 21 that a second draft of the agency’s Destination 2045 long-range plan narrows earlier, more-aspirational proposals so the plan can be implemented with realistic funding.

The revised draft, presented by Andrew Arness, assistant manager for service planning at Pierce Transit, lays out a baseline that Pierce Transit says is achievable with existing revenue — principally the agency’s 0.6% sales-tax levy — and two larger growth scenarios that would require voter approval of a higher sales tax or a change in state law.

\"The feedback that we did receive on the first draft of the plan was just for more service in general,\" Arness said, summarizing public input gathered during more than 65 outreach events and a survey with more than 700 responses. He said about 75% of respondents were current Pierce Transit riders.

Why it matters: Milton is served by Pierce Transit routes 501 and 402. Under the draft’s baseline scenario, Pierce Transit would increase annual service hours from roughly 470,000 today to about 482,000, add limited frequency improvements and extend evening service toward an average 10 p.m. finish time on many routes. Under a sales-tax increase to 0.9% (which would require a voter-approved ballot measure), the agency modeled roughly 600,000 annual service hours and wider frequency improvements. A further modeled scenario that would raise the tax to 1.1% — which Pierce Transit said would require a change to the Revised Code of Washington — would allow approximately 750,000 annual service hours.

On route-level changes affecting Milton, Pierce Transit said it would:
- Increase route 501 to a 30-minute frequency on Sundays in the larger scenario and to 30-minute frequency on weekdays and Saturdays in the smaller growth scenario, and extend operating hours to about 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Increase route 402 to 30-minute frequency on weekdays and Saturdays and extend weekend operating hours toward 10 p.m.

Pierce Transit also said it removed three proposed bus-rapid-transit (BRT) corridors from the second draft because capital costs for BRT lines — \"in the ballpark of like 50 to $100,000,000 apiece,\" Arness said — would have reduced systemwide service hours. Instead, the agency is prioritizing higher-frequency, lower-infrastructure \"high-capacity\" services that operate every 15 minutes on core corridors and adding four new routes that would serve about 100,000 more people across the agency’s service area.

Council members pressed staff on details. Council member Whelan asked why not all stops have shelters; Arness said Pierce Transit recently set stop-shelter standards and that a shelter typically requires an average of about eight boardings per day to qualify. Council member Cedar asked for a list of planned capital improvements in Milton related to shelters; Arness agreed to follow up. Council member Hall asked about dedicated transit lanes; Arness said those speed and reliability improvements require additional grant funding and multi-jurisdictional partnerships and are not scheduled as specific projects in the draft.

Pierce Transit described next steps: the agency will continue outreach and planned to present a final plan for board consideration on Aug. 11, 2025. Arness said the second draft intentionally focused on financially sustainable, near-term actions rather than the more aspirational elements of the first draft.

Notes on uncertainty and limits: the presentation modeled three funding/service scenarios (baseline at current levy, a 0.9% sales-tax ballot measure scenario, and a hypothetical 1.1% scenario that would require a change to state law). Pierce Transit said specific routing and shelter placements will depend on further analysis and local coordination; council members requested that the agency provide Milton-specific capital and stop-shelter plans.

Ending: Pierce Transit officials said they will return requested route- and shelter-specific data to Milton staff and to council members as the plan proceeds toward an August board decision. \"We'd be happy to provide that information for you,\" Arness said when council members asked for route-level ridership and capital details.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting 7/21/25","oneSentenceSummary","Pierce Transit officials told the Milton City Council on July 21 that a revised, financially constrained draft of the agency’s Destination 2045 plan would expand frequency and hours, with route-level improvements that would affect Milton’s 501 and 402 lines.","taxTitle","Milton, Pierce County, Washington","taxId",71994,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6159931,"Milton council approves engineering agreement for Porter Way sidewalk project, votes 7-0",486,1947000,2433000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5452211-68f1bb4013df212eadecf6bd7070fbeb&start=1947&end=2433","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5452211-68f1bb4013df212eadecf6bd7070fbeb/thumbnail_1947000.jpg","/articles/6159931/Milton/Pierce-County/Washington/Milton-council-approves-engineering-agreement-for-Porter-Way-sidewalk-project-votes-7-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159931-651ada52d963d6e3f635b4b254a0bbee/orig.mp4?Expires=1774858162&Signature=KMfrGJ7rmZTwPmS1kAwbl1gJgzX9MOBFB-XxD8Ycdxg4ue8GIEQX2O3yCaaUaASNLadVgG9GFgbNrKhNRwqEn8JGU3qBbjOKUVej9Th7ahsnapuqVE~vXXijeC8-FGocJMlmEsEsSw11WZpQp81ijgfW1wBEr7wG5In-TFKj7vZUuxffCTfz4JBxqwMyOfa0K6P8t4pcY3SffLDAocECpnD5GikMxf8TW5B8htXU~1i8l~UzfQnOAW0PC20wWyzo-c13RfnRG9UEXbw545-oVbin69FxVTE6Ef8ICvOEWYuLA7ZZwiy7r302mpATtB-uZqLVxgNyLjac4KjW4jxI8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milton City Council voted unanimously on July 21 to authorize the mayor to sign a professional services agreement with Gray & Osborne, Inc., for engineering work on the Porter Way sidewalk improvement project.

Council member Cedar moved to authorize the contract and Mayor Pro Tem Whitaker seconded. The motion passed on a recorded voice vote: \"All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Carried 7 0,\" the clerk announced.

The contract covers engineering services for the sidewalk gap on the east side of Porter Way between Juniper Street and Seventh Avenue (adjacent to the Kent Street parking lot by West Milton ball fields). Director Madden said the project will connect existing sidewalks from Fifth Avenue to downtown Milton and provide direct sidewalk access to the Interurban Trail. The city received a Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) grant for the project; Madden said TIB typically covers about 84% of project cost but geotechnical work increases the city’s share in this contract.

Gray & Osborne’s scope includes design and geotechnical survey work because the corridor contains peat bogs and requires additional subsurface analysis, Madden said. The engineering agreement authorized by council is in an amount not to exceed $66,345.

Council members said the connection will improve safety for pedestrians and noted coordination with other utility and pole-replacement projects in the corridor. Council member Hall asked about pole replacements; staff said they will coordinate pole siting and setbacks with the utility work.

Ending: The motion passed 7-0. Staff will work with Gray & Osborne and TIB on next steps, and city staff said they will coordinate utility and pole work to ensure sidewalk alignment.","The Milton City Council on July 21 authorized a professional-services agreement with Gray & Osborne, Inc., for engineering on the Porter Way sidewalk improvement project in an amount not to exceed $66,345.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6159935,"Milton council hears ordinance to create traffic safety camera fund; staff to show allowable uses before adoption",384,1443000,1827000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5452211-68f1bb4013df212eadecf6bd7070fbeb&start=1443&end=1827","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5452211-68f1bb4013df212eadecf6bd7070fbeb/thumbnail_1443000.jpg","/articles/6159935/Milton/Pierce-County/Washington/Milton-council-hears-ordinance-to-create-traffic-safety-camera-fund-staff-to-show-allowable-uses-before-adoption","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159935-17734dcc454e7e3f6224df780ba19c31/orig.mp4?Expires=1774858162&Signature=VQmakvAQY4rICyYjAPDwM6dtYM7zGXBUiY~MbZvghIPwAFevjsRQ0uhVU3p1yUniNd31qbWhlxHLwVl8txc~DXzojDRUOQMGXnkWDjEIaVb9MnrTvXx-6PsHxGOl2f~OGhAv0uH5WzTmWXanezdpMGjg8cGA~uQ8JAWr60aBP6nVIOC3sVk55Tw1~q-8iQmd2LjrDjmBVPQ2j-f9cSezGywY7N7-8uZWT-KAcZX0rbLakL95McDFrEqeCck1b7IdO7KfBRIOxoK~VUH-vKmY0gny83yzaCklQ1C0doynPtynQIqcH84d7PlvH4FUVnVP-8jQFLtG9V6OCJ--ooF~~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim city staff told the Milton City Council on July 21 that the city plans to establish a special revenue fund to account for revenues and expenditures from a newly authorized automated traffic-safety camera program.

Interim Director Robec said an ordinance establishing the City’s automated traffic safety camera program was adopted in November 2023 and that state law limits how revenue from new camera programs may be spent. \"Per RCW 46.63.022, revenue generated by an automated traffic safety camera program in effect after 01/01/2024 may only be used for certain program costs and specified traffic safety activities,\" Robec said.

Why it matters: State statute constrains allowable uses for jurisdictions that implement automated traffic-safety cameras on or after Jan. 1, 2024. Because of those legal restrictions, staff recommended creating a designated special revenue fund so camera receipts and related expenses are tracked separately rather than in the general fund.

Council discussion focused on transparency and on what counts as an allowable use. Council member Seeder asked whether the statutory definition of \"complete streets\" governs allowable spending; Robec replied that the RCW’s definition controls. Mayor Pro Tem Whitaker and Council member Whelan asked staff to provide clearer examples of projects — sidewalks, bike lanes, paving tied to traffic-safety features — so the public understands how camera revenues would be used.

Robec said he interprets the RCW and the agenda bill to allow spending on traffic-calming features and complete-streets work, which could include sidewalks and bike lanes, and potentially paving where sidewalks and bike lanes are installed. Several council members requested that staff list specific items in the next packet so residents can see how fines and revenues might translate to visible improvements.

Budget amendment: At the same meeting staff also presented a first-read budget-amendment ordinance that would (among other updates) transfer the camera program’s revenues and expenditures from the general fund into the new special revenue fund if the council adopts that ordinance in the future. The amendment also aligns American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) revenues with the most recent federal compliance report and lists unexpended carryforward appropriations from 2024 pursuant to RCW (citation in packet).

Next steps: Staff said both the traffic-safety camera fund ordinance and the budget-amendment ordinance will return at the council’s next regular meeting for adoption. Council members asked staff to delineate specific allowable uses in the packet that accompanies the adoption reading.

Ending: No formal adoption occurred at the July 21 meeting; staff will return with clarified allowable-use examples and the budget amendment for formal action at the next regular meeting.","Interim city staff told the Milton City Council on July 21 that a new special revenue fund is proposed to account for automated traffic-safety camera revenues because state law limits how those revenues may be used. Council members asked staff to clarify allowable uses and to publish specific examples before the ordinance returns for adoption.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pierce Transit outlines scaled Destination 2045 plan, proposes more frequent service and later hours for Milton routes

Milton council approves engineering agreement for Porter Way sidewalk project, votes 7-0

Milton council hears ordinance to create traffic safety camera fund; staff to show allowable uses before adoption