Mountlake Terrace reviews draft six‑year transportation plan; Main Street and pedestrian projects highlighted ahead of June hearing

Mountlake Terrace staff briefed the City Council on a draft six‑year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2026–2031 on June 5, highlighting partially funded Main Street work, several pedestrian/bicycle infill projects and intersection safety studies that the city plans to pursue over the next several years.

The TIP is a required planning document listing the city’s capital transportation projects and funding priorities. Traffic Engineer John Merrick told the council the draft mirrors the adopted CIP and identifies annual programs — street overlay, signal rehabilitation, ADA curb‑ramp work and neighborhood traffic safety — while also listing larger, partially or unfunded capital projects such as Main Street Phase 2 (partially funded) and Phase 3 (study/design), a suite of sidewalk and bike‑lane infill projects, and intersection improvements that could include signals or roundabouts.

Key items discussed included: - Main Street Phase 2: A partially funded continuation of downtown road‑section improvements; final scope depends on whether the city secures larger grants (WSDOT mobility grant or a federal BUILD/RAISE‑type award) and on the final design. - Main Street Phase 3: a design initiative to produce a concept for the 50th‑Seventh corridor; staff emphasized this entry is for design only and that construction could be implemented later through redevelopment or separate funding. - Pedestrian and bicycle projects: priorities include sidewalk and bike‑lane connections on 40th Avenue West, 240th/4th Street, 200th/14th and 50th/2nd, plus a proposed “road diet” on 40th Avenue to reduce lane widths, add bike lanes, and slow traffic. - Intersection work: studies and potential improvements at 230th/6th & 50th, 200th/12th & 40th, and 200th/20th & 50th; options range from signals to roundabouts depending on study outcomes and right‑of‑way constraints.

Merrick said the city is pursuing multiple grant sources (Department of Commerce, a WSDOT mobility grant, and a federal BUILD/RAISE‑style grant) and that project timing will depend on grant awards and permit windows. Several council members asked for clearer prioritization and noted that some projects have been on TIP lists for years. Councilmember Murray urged staff to solicit neighborhood input through the neighborhood traffic‑safety program and to confirm whether specific sidewalk work (for example, the 200th/14th link near Mountlake Terrace High School) could be advanced with partner contributions from the school district or Snohomish County.

A business representative later asked the council to remove Main Street Phase 3 from the TIP unless the city completes a displacement‑risk review required by the comprehensive plan; the representative’s letter said earlier policy envisioned Main Street connections to be achieved through redevelopment rather than city‑led condemnation. Staff noted the TIP presentation is informational and that the council will hold a public hearing and vote on adopting the six‑year TIP at the scheduled June 26 meeting.

What’s next: Staff will revise the draft TIP, continue grant applications, pursue neighborhood outreach on traffic and pedestrian issues, and prepare the formal TIP for the June 26 public hearing and adoption vote.