The Redmond Planning Commission voted on Dec. 17 to forward a recommendation approving the city’s 2025 Transportation Master Plan (TMP) to the next step in the reporting process, including several edits and one commissioner‑led amendment asking staff to add neighborhood‑focused, user‑centered guidance for residents who live beyond easy walking distance to light rail.

Michael Hintz, transportation planning manager, and Francesca Liberti, senior transportation planner, presented the TMP and led commissioners through an issues matrix that addressed a broad range of topics: e‑mobility safety (including high‑powered e‑bikes and e‑dirt bikes), targeted language on speed reduction and target speeds, a new bike level‑of‑traffic‑stress figure, prioritization clarifications for corridor projects, climate‑risk language for capital projects, roundabout signage guidance, and an older‑adult mobility/program framing. Staff said they have added or revised text and action language on several items per commissioner requests.

Commissioners discussed e‑bike policy and enforcement and recommended clearer language that could include both passing a local ordinance defining e‑bike and e‑motorcycle categories and advocating for state guidance to provide uniform enforcement. Commissioner Coleman suggested local ordinance language that would define operators, set parental responsibilities for riders under 16, and in parallel pursue state legislation; staff agreed to refine the text.

A recurring discussion focused on how to help residents outside of the city’s centers access light rail. Several commissioners recommended a neighborhood‑oriented, user‑centered approach so people could understand, in plain terms, how to reach rail stations by bike, bus, micromobility or other non‑car modes; commissioners proposed the planning recommendation ask staff and Go Redmond to develop user‑facing content and consider infrastructure wayfinding and mobility‑hub concepts. The commission approved adding such a recommendation as an amendment to the TMP motion.

After closing remaining issues, the commission moved and seconded the recommendation as amended and approved it by voice with one member abstaining; staff will finalize report language for formal transmittal at the next meeting.

Next procedural step: staff will prepare final report language incorporating agreed edits and the commission’s recommendation text for formal approval and transmittal.