Planning commission reviews transportation-element update; public urges ferry electrification, expanded transit and 'edge lane' pilots

SAN JUAN COUNTY, Wash. — The San Juan County Planning Commission on April 18, 2025 continued work on a comprehensive-plan transportation element update that would adopt multimodal level-of-service standards and a planned active-transportation network through 2045, and heard public pleas to prioritize cleaner ferries, more transit and safer bicycle and pedestrian routes.

The update responds to changes in state law, and commissioners and staff said they will fold public comments into the next draft to be released before the commission’s May meeting. The meeting also included a brief formal vote to approve the March 21 minutes.

The transportation element draft, presented by Paul Sharman of Transpo Group, would align the county with 2023 Growth Management Act amendments and extend the plan horizon to 2045. "The intent of our element update was to bring it up to speed with updated GMA requirements, extend the planning year horizon out to 2045, [and] introduce multimodal level of service," Sharman said. The draft introduces an "active transportation" level-of-service measure based on levels of traffic stress to evaluate how comfortable routes are for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Public commenters said the draft should be bolder on climate and mobility. "More than 200 islanders from Lopez, Shaw, Orcas and San Juan have participated in Climate Compass," said Faith Dandepa of the Madrona Institute, summarizing community priorities and urging the county to "expand public transportation," "electrify the ferry system," and "support walking and biking by building safe connected trails, bike paths, and promoting the use of e-bikes." Dandepa cited the county's 2023 greenhouse-gas inventory, which shows transportation accounting for 55% of total emissions (34% on-road vehicles, 15% marine, 6% air).

Eva Schulte, executive director of Friends of the San Juans, told commissioners that her organization supports the Climate Compass recommendations and suggested specific edits to the draft’s complete-streets and active-transportation language. "Friends of the San Juans supports all of the recommendations you just heard from the Madrona Institute," Schulte said, and recommended tightening policies to create separated active-transportation paths where feasible.

Commissioners and staff debated how to apply the new multimodal standards on narrow, rural island roadways. Several commissioners described stretches of Deer Harbor Road and other island roads as having little or no shoulder and said those segments should be treated as high-stress (unsafe) for bicyclists, not as "acceptable." Commissioner Sheila (last name not specified in the record) proposed adding a new policy to the transportation element to "evaluate and pilot Edge Lane roads," a lower-cost treatment used elsewhere that adjusts pavement markings and traffic-calming measures to create safer space for people walking and biking.

County Engineer Colin (last name not given) and planner Paul Sharman said the county already shows "advisory shoulders" in the technical appendix and can refine policy language. Colin cautioned that building separated facilities on many island roads often requires utility relocation, drainage work or right-of-way dedications and can be costly. "We may spend upwards of a million dollars just going from the Fairgrounds to Jackson's Beach with a 5-foot sidewalk," Colin said, adding that buried drainage, pervious paving and other measures have been used in prior projects but carry maintenance implications.

Sharman said the draft maintains the county's roadway-level-of-service standard at level D (a standard tied to average annual daily traffic) while adding active-transportation measures that classify corridors by four levels of traffic stress. He also said the draft includes a short safety section that maps five years of collisions and flags locations with fatalities or pedestrian and bicycle collisions for possible improvement.

Commissioners asked staff to ensure seasonal traffic variations and summer tourism spikes are reflected in forecasts. Sharman and county staff said traffic forecasts use seasonal adjustment factors based on studied roads, and staff will finalize transportation financing forecasts before the next draft.

Next steps: staff will incorporate written public comments and the planning commission’s feedback into a full draft of the comprehensive plan for distribution before the May planning commission meeting. Paul Sharman said financing forecasts remain under review and will be updated prior to the final draft.

Votes at the meeting: The commission approved the minutes of March 21, 2025. Peter made the motion, Sheila seconded; roll-call votes were recorded as Sheila Yes, Bill Yes and Peter Yes, and the motion passed.