Friends of the San Juans urges clearer transportation rules in San Juan County draft comp plan

Magali Kota, legal director and staff attorney at Friends of the San Juans, told the San Juan County Council on Oct. 20 that several transportation policies in the draft comprehensive plan need clearer language to align with the Growth Management Act and to serve island residents.

Kota recommended revising Active Transportation Goal 4 to “establish a walking, rolling, and equestrian network on each ferry‑served island” and to make safety, connectivity and accessibility central to the goal. She also urged the county to require Washington State Ferries to coordinate arrivals so ferries link reliably with local transit schedules.

Kota pressed the council to add level‑of‑service metrics for pedestrian and bicycle access. She recommended that a medium pedestrian LOS apply only where a five‑foot shoulder exists on both sides of a road with a 45 mph speed limit, arguing that narrow or one‑sided shoulders next to high‑speed traffic should not be classified as medium service. “It’s not reasonable to describe narrow or one‑sided shoulders next to high speed traffic as medium service,” Kota said.

Councilmembers asked staff to review whether proposed language duplicates other policies and to confirm statutory obligations. The discussion prompted calls to ensure references to state law and RCW citations are included with the resolution and policy language so readers do not have to cross‑reference separate statutes.

Next steps: staff said they would carry Kota’s written recommendations into the record and incorporate clarifying edits where feasible; the planning commission’s recommendations and final policy language will return to the council at subsequent meetings ahead of the public hearing.