Island Wide Mobility Plan added to the transportation element amid divided council votes

Staff presented the Island Wide Mobility Plan (IWMP), which consolidates the 2017 Island Wide Transportation Plan and the 2022 Sustainable Transportation Plan into a single planning and technical document. Sustainable Transportation Coordinator Hannah Butcher described updates including a new bicycle level-of-traffic-stress (LTS) standard focused on user experience, consolidated project lists (no new projects added), design typologies, intersection design guidance, and more than 200 logged public comments incorporated into the draft.

Key issues and council debate: The presentation sparked prolonged debate over the plan’s roughly $97.75 million 20-year project list, the emphasis on separated/high-standard bicycle facilities versus lower-cost shoulder widening, level-of-traffic-stress targets (which imply either reduced speed limits or more separated facilities), and process transparency (several councilmembers requested clearer redlines and source documentation for policy decisions). Advocates argued the IWMP creates consistent standards and helps secure grants that require lower-stress bicycle facilities near schools and destinations. Critics warned the plan’s scope and cost make it unrealistic without clearer funding priorities and risk diverting capital from housing and basic road maintenance.

Council motions and outcomes: Councilmember Nelson moved to refer the IWMP to the Mobility Advisory Committee for additional review and recommendation of amendments; that referral motion passed (5–2). Councilmember Matthews then moved to adopt the IWMP as the plan of reference in the transportation element; after divided debate the vote was recorded as 3–3 with the chair casting the deciding 'aye' vote, moving the IWMP into the comprehensive plan’s transportation element by a narrow margin.

Next steps: The Mobility Advisory Committee will review the plan and develop a work plan to study possible amendments; staff noted the IWMP is intended to be a living document and could be updated in alignment with the capital improvement program. Councilmembers who opposed the adoption said they will press for subsequent policy-level review and prioritization consistent with budget realities.

Representative quotes: "This plan is a tool; it does not force construction of every project, but it does set standards and priorities that will guide CIP decisions," the presenting staff member said. A council critic added: "We need to go back to basics—widen shoulders where it gives maximum safety value for the budget."