Redmond staff report Transportation Master Plan progress; TMP adoption targeted Q1 2026

Sarah Fee Allen, Planning and Community Development Deputy Director, introduced the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) status update at the July 8 study session. Francesca Laberdi, senior transportation planner, summarized the immediate focus: Transportation Demand Management (TDM), the pedestrian network chapter, and community engagement. Laberdi said the TMP is "on track for TMP adoption in Q1 of 2026."

The TDM chapter aims to reduce vehicle traffic by expanding competitive alternatives to driving alone (transit, walking, rolling and cycling). Laberdi and Michael Hintz, transportation planning manager, said the city's Go Redmond program supports state commute-trip-reduction requirements, manages a school pool program, and has refreshed its website and branding to make transit and active-mode information more accessible. Staff highlighted parking management studies, an on-demand shuttle and shared parking pilot funded through the regional mobility grant as near-term actions to encourage mode shift.

On walking and pedestrian safety, staff outlined several priorities: a planned ADA transition plan (public works-led, starting Q1 2026) to inventory and prioritize curb ramps, accessible signals and sidewalk conditions; a forthcoming citywide speed study and an implementation plan to consider reducing neighborhood speed limits (for example from 25 to 20 mph) with accompanying traffic-calming measures; and an analysis to prioritize new "low-stress" pedestrian crossings (signalized crossings, HAWK signals, rapid-flash beacons and roundabouts) where gaps exceed 600 feet.

Staff also introduced the concept of sidewalk alternatives for local streets (barrier-separated walkways, shared streets and similar interim measures) where full curb-and-gutter sidewalks are infeasible. The plan formally defines "pedestrian priority zones" (downtown is currently signed) and calls for a coordinated wayfinding program; Parks has issued an RFP for a citywide wayfinding plan to standardize signs and route maps. Several council members pressed staff to account for environmental impacts of lighting, to restore facilities after construction, and to include a mechanism to gather and aggregate resident feedback about transit performance and feed that data to King County Metro.

Staff described recent outreach: four focus groups with community organizations and planned open houses in Q3 2025. The TMP team will return to council in October with remaining chapters (eMobility/emerging technologies, maintenance, performance measures) and to update the Transportation Facilities Plan with projects identified during this update.

Council discussion focused on operational questions: how to make alternatives as convenient as driving (better infrastructure, easier first/last-mile connections), whether to expand bike storage at hotels (LTAC hotel pilot mentioned), and how the city can gather ridership and pilot data to better advocate for service changes with regional transit providers. No formal decisions were taken; staff will return with additional chapters and outreach plans.