Everett staff report half of 30‑year Bike Master Plan built; federal design funding sought for California Street corridor

Tom Hood, city engineer with Public Works, told the Parks and Built Environment Committee that the Bicycle Master Plan (BMP), adopted in 2011, is “roughly half complete” on its 30‑year implementation timeline and that staff will combine the BMP with the city’s pedestrian plan later this year into an active transportation plan.

Hood outlined recent accomplishments and near‑term projects, saying the city has completed about 25 projects to date, built both on‑street and off‑street bikeways and trails, and added 28 miles of wayfinding signage funded by a federal grant. “We’ve just obligated federal funds” to design the California Street bike corridor west of Broadway, Hood said, adding that design work is intended to strengthen future construction grant applications.

The presentation highlighted specific facilities already in place: a north–south corridor through downtown, connections from Everett Station to 41st Street, the Miltown Trail along West and East Marine View Drive, and bicycle lanes on 112th Street. Hood described treatments used in recent projects — buffered and protected lanes, tubular markers, green cycle lane surfacing and channelization curbs at intersections — and showed photos of Madison Street and Fleming Corridor treatments used to increase visibility and calm traffic.

Committee members pressed staff on safety and maintenance. A council member identified in the transcript as Council member Rabbano called the 112th Street bike lane “very dangerous” because it sits on a high‑speed road where traffic often exceeds 40 mph and asked whether the striping there should be upgraded to a buffered or protected lane. Hood responded that 112th Street was built early in the program and that the city now favors buffered or protected treatments on higher‑speed corridors; he said he would check whether repainting or more substantial resurfacing is on the short‑term radar.

Members also discussed digital trip planning and wayfinding: Rabbano asked how many bike facilities are missing from Google Maps and other navigation apps. Hood said staff regularly share street‑closure and network updates with providers but did not know when Hoy through downtown was last mapped and promised to follow up with the Streets team.

Hood emphasized that several larger projects — including the phased California Street work and a proposed North Broadway pedestrian and bicycle bridge — depend on competitive grant awards and coordination with state projects such as the US‑2 trestle replacement. He said some construction timing is therefore “dependent on funding” and that advancing design work helps competitiveness for grants.

The committee also discussed traffic calming and Vision Zero work. Staff said reducing speeds on higher‑volume roads typically requires a combination of engineering, enforcement and education and that speed humps are often infeasible on major thoroughfares. Hood offered to deploy portable speed trailers and noted the city has installed time‑activated school beacons and pursued school‑zone enforcement efforts.

The meeting closed with members thanking staff and requesting follow‑up briefings on Vision Zero and a more detailed conversation about local speed‑calming options. Staff said they will return with design updates and ordinance proposals as funding and grant opportunities permit.