Joint Meeting: Transportation Plan Update – October 25, 2023

(Note: The meeting materials consistently show October 25, 2023, despite an instruction indicating a different date.)

The Kirkland Planning Commission and Transportation Commission held a joint study session on October 25, 2023, from 6:00 PM to 7:42 PM, to review the draft Kirkland Transportation Plan (KTP) update. The focus was on the "Link to Land Use" goal, associated policies, and project prioritization metrics. Staff presented the plan's background, coordination with the Comprehensive Plan, and proposed scoring criteria. Commissioners provided extensive feedback, emphasizing equity, neighborhood connectivity, transit, and the need for measurable outcomes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ingrid Salmon, a Kirkland resident, spoke at the end of the meeting (her comments were inaudible in the transcript).

Study Session: Kirkland Transportation Plan Update

• Staff Presentation: Transportation Manager Doug McIntyre, Planner Kim Scrivner, Public Works Director Julie Underwood, and Planning Director Adam Weinstein introduced the KTP update. They reviewed the required Growth Management Act updates, the link between the transportation element and the Comprehensive Plan, and the major elements of the KTP (existing/future conditions, goals, policies, constrained project list, and multimodal concurrency).
• Policies (Goal 9: Link to Land Use): The presentation covered policies 9.1–9.7, which address coordinating with land use, expanding walkable neighborhoods, supporting economic development, requiring development mitigation, creating an interconnected network, and developing a multimodal concurrency method. Commissioners were asked whether the policies covered the key themes.
• Commissioner Feedback:
  • Policy 9.7 (Multimodal Concurrency): Commissioner Tymczyszyn suggested it reads more like an action than a policy and noted it is still under development, making adoption premature. Staff clarified that the city already uses a multimodal concurrency system, but improvements are in progress.
  • Transit Integration: Commissioners Rozmyn and Tymczyszyn stressed the need for better transit service, especially in annexed areas like Finn Hill and Kingsgate, which have seen service cuts. They urged the city to advocate for improved transit and consider local shuttle options.
  • Neighborhood Connectivity: Commissioners Singhal, Allen, and Vu highlighted the importance of connecting neighborhoods to commercial centers, completing missing trail links, and addressing barriers like I-405. They suggested emphasizing seamless, complete networks and micromobility (e.g., e-bikes).
  • Walkability and Sidewalks: Commissioner Heiser noted that the cost of sidewalk improvements (ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 per project) can significantly increase housing costs. She recommended streamlining code requirements. Commissioner Allen noted that bench amenities and safer pedestrian crossings are needed.
  • Equity: Commissioners Allen, Rozmyn, and Singhal raised concerns about geographic equity, particularly for lower-income areas like Finn Hill and Kingsgate. They argued that neighborhood centers should be weighted higher in scoring to ensure investment in underserved areas. Staff noted that an equity metric (based on the city’s capital improvement program tool) is included in the scoring framework.
  • Scoring Criteria: The proposed prioritization gives highest points to projects in urban growth centers, followed by commercial centers, then neighborhood centers, with extra points for access to parks and schools. Commissioners suggested:
    • Elevating neighborhood centers (Singhal, Trexel).
    • Incorporating income equity into scoring (Antrim, Singhal).
    • Ensuring projects that reduce parking demand are prioritized (Singhal).
    • Considering maintenance costs and lifecycle costs (Vu, Rutherford).
  • Measurable Outcomes: Commissioner Rutherford urged the plan to define outcomes and impacts (e.g., healthier people, reduced car dependence) and use adaptive metrics rather than a static 20-year list. Trexel agreed, noting that data-driven flexibility is important.
• Project List Development: Staff explained that projects are drawn from the Active Transportation Plan, Safe Routes to School, Transit Implementation Plan, Station Area Plan, neighborhood plans, and other sources. The list will be prioritized using the scoring framework, then used to create a 20-year fiscally constrained project list.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or decisions were made; the session was for input and discussion.
• Staff will incorporate commissioner feedback into the draft KTP and present it to the City Council at their second meeting in November 2023.
• A special Transportation Commission meeting is scheduled for November 29, 2023, to further discuss the project list and prioritization.
• The project list will be subject to community feedback before final adoption.