Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Master Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission reviews Transportation Master Plan draft; commissioners press for data, design and clearer priorities
Summary
City planners outlined the draft Transportation Master Plan and adoption schedule; commissioners pressed staff on speed study timing, e‑bike enforcement limits, micromobility data validity, roundabout design and project prioritization ahead of a Dec. 3 public hearing.
City transportation staff presented the draft Transportation Master Plan (TMP) to the Redmond Planning Commission on Nov. 19 and asked for feedback ahead of a public hearing on Dec. 3. Transportation planning manager Michael Hintz and senior transportation planner Francesca Liberty described the TMP as the vehicle for Growth Management Act transportation requirements and said the plan aims for a council adoption in early 2026 after commission recommendation.
Commissioners raised several substantive issues during the study session. Chair Weston and others expressed concern that posted speed reductions can create hazardous speed differentials if neighboring jurisdictions post different limits. "I'm really worried that we're gonna get in a situation where we have a third of drivers on the road going 45 or 50 and two thirds going 25," Weston said; Hintz replied that Public Works will begin a citywide speed study in Q1 to analyze speeds and identify required roadway treatments before posting lower limits.
Safety of micromobility and e‑bikes drew sustained attention. Commissioner Coleman asked how the TMP addresses high‑powered e‑bikes; Hintz said the TMP includes education and outreach measures but noted enforcement of certain high‑powered devices may require state legal changes because current RCW definitions limit police enforcement. Multiple commissioners urged the city to pair painted bike lanes with physical protections and clearer level‑of‑traffic‑stress mapping so investment targets corridors that are actually safe and usable.
Other topics included roundabout design (commissioners suggested signage and education where roundabouts are new to drivers), first‑mile/last‑mile narrative tools to help residents plan trips to light rail, and a request to add a prioritization scheme to the long list of proposed modal projects so the city can indicate near‑term versus longer‑term investments. Staff said they will review project prioritization, clarify certain map data sources (replica mobile‑device data used for short‑trip analysis), and add clarifications about recommended street‑tree surface materials.
Next steps: the commission will hold a public hearing on the TMP on Dec. 3 and aim to provide a recommendation to city council on Dec. 17. Staff said they will adjust packet materials to address data‑source concerns, provide the speed‑study timeline, and include clearer project‑priority cues.
