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Council reviews draft Transportation Master Plan and framework for annual 6-year Transportation Improvement Program
Summary
Public Works and a consultant presented a draft Transportation Master Plan element on June 2 that sets multimodal level-of-service standards, maps an active-transportation network, and identifies project priorities that will feed the city’s six-year Transportation Improvement Program.
The City of Anacortes received a briefing on a draft Transportation Master Plan element and the framework for the six-year Transportation Improvement Program on June 2, describing how multimodal level-of-service standards, an active-transportation network and project prioritization will inform annual capital programming.
Public Works Director Andy Rayum and consultant Chris Como (Transpo Group) reviewed the plan’s ingredients: roadway functional classifications, pedestrian and bicycle networks, transit stop considerations and intersection-level modeling for a 2045 planning horizon. Rayum described the document as “a conglomerate” of required transportation-related plans consolidated to inform the comprehensive plan element and implementation via the annual TIP.
The plan identifies gaps in sidewalk and bicycle networks (green/orange/red mapping for complete/partial/missing facilities) and proposes a prioritized list of active-transportation projects. Como noted the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee helped prioritize over 70 active-transportation projects the plan identifies.
Council discussed several implementation topics: how to display project priorities, funding uncertainty, and feasibility of big intersections projects. Rayum and Como emphasized annual TIP programming and an annual concurrency/status report to link identified projects to available funding and grant windows. They told council the city must obtain a certification from the Skagit Council of Governments on the transportation element to remain eligible for state and federal grants.
For near-term actions, staff discussed a $500,000 Feasibility/Scoping award obtained through the regional body to study the Twelfth and K intersection (signal vs. roundabout vs. other control measures). Staff explained the variety of potential revenue tools (transportation benefit district, impact fees, grants and PWAA loans) and cautioned that federal grant availability should not be presumed.
Public comment asked that outreach include younger riders and students to improve transit knowledge and route usability; staff said Skagit Transit is revising some routes and that the plan’s bus-stop and ADA considerations can guide stop-improvement priorities.
Staff will bring the Transportation Improvement Program forward for a public hearing at a subsequent council meeting; the plan will then feed the city’s capital facilities and grant-application work.
