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New state requirements push Lacey to emphasize multimodal planning, safety and VMT reduction in transportation element
Summary
Consultants and staff briefed the council on updated state requirements for transportation elements, including active transportation inventories, multimodal level‑of‑service measures, vehicle‑miles‑traveled (VMT) reduction strategies and the need to coordinate with the Thurston Regional Planning Council's RTP certification process.
At a Feb. 11 work session, consultants for the City of Lacey outlined new state requirements and planning approaches for the transportation element of the 2025 comprehensive plan, emphasizing active transportation, multimodal performance measures and greenhouse‑gas/VMT reductions.
Stephen Goodsell, a consultant with Farr Peirce, told the council that House Bill 1181 and related 2023 legislation require jurisdictions to include active transportation inventories, multimodal level‑of‑service (MMLOS) analysis and policies that reduce vehicle‑miles‑traveled. Goodsell said the transportation element must also address climate metrics and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) reductions as part of the state's expanded Growth Management Act requirements.
Staff noted the city already has prior plans to build on, including the 2018 Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan and earlier transportation studies, and that TRPC will be required to certify Lacey's transportation element under the updated regional process. Goodsell described the level‑of‑traffic‑stress (LTS) framework — LTS 1 through LTS 4 — as a way to evaluate whether bike and pedestrian facilities feel safe for most users and to identify gaps in the network.
Council members and staff discussed implementation tradeoffs: how to fit complete‑streets facilities and protected multimodal paths within existing right‑of‑way, whether a network should prioritize shared‑use paths versus paired bike lanes, and how to prioritize projects that improve routes to schools and reduce risk to vulnerable travelers. Staff advised prioritizing safety improvements around schools and high‑stress corridors and tying transportation choices to land‑use alternatives being developed concurrently.
Goodsell said the city will integrate multimodal project lists from prior plans into the new element and coordinate with TRPC for travel‑modeling of the land‑use alternatives. The consultants and staff invited council feedback on themes to emphasize and noted continued public outreach will be part of draft plan development.
