Everett staff outline 2044 transportation element, seek feedback on goals, funding and safety measures

Michael Brick, operations engineer and traffic engineering at the City of Everett Public Works Department and project manager for the transportation element update, told the Planning Commission the update sets a 2044 planning horizon and will cover existing conditions, forecasting, facilities and needs, funding and goals and policies aimed at guiding 20 years of transportation investment.

“The transportation element is really a 20 year long range picture to get where how or how we will accommodate the growth that is projected over the next 20 years in the city of Everett,” Brick said.

Brick said the update responds to state and regional legal requirements, including changes such as middle housing laws, and aligns local goals with county and Puget Sound regional plans. He cited regional growth targets staff used in forecasting — nearly 40,000 new homes and more than 75,000 new jobs apportioned across the region over the next 20 years — and said the team used a “dispersed growth” alternative to model resulting travel demand.

Staff presented existing conditions and noted a strong…