Bike trails, walkways, paths, bike lanes, dog water bowls, sidewalks, bike rack design and location, crosswalks, water fountains, lighting, bus shelters, bus routes – as you walk, ride or take transit in the City of Shoreline, what do you think is missing? What – and where – are the community’s most important transit, pedestrian and bike needs?
These are the topics of an upcoming Community Open House that will kick off the update to the Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The Open House will be at the Shoreline Fire Station on Aurora and N 175th Street on Wednesday, July 8, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday, July 8 ~ 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Shoreline Fire Station, 17545 Aurora Avenue N
The meeting is an open house with no presentation planned. Community members can drop in to check out the displays about the variety of transit, pedestrian and bike services and facilities that are possible. The goal is to gather suggestions on what should be included in these sections of the update to the City’s TMP.
The TMP is a long-range plan that helps guide how the City develops its Capital Improvement Program, coordinate transportation improvements with land uses and better plan what is needed to respond to growth.
Shoreline is updating the TMP because of the significant changes that have been completed and that are planned for the City’s transportation system since the last update in 2005. Completed changes include the Interurban Trail, first mile of Aurora and the pedestrian bridges. Improving the next two miles of Aurora and new bus rapid transit service from both Metro and Community Transit, not to mention the light rail, are changes that are coming to Shoreline’s transportation system.
Frequently Asked Questions
and their answers
What is the Transportation Master Plan?
The Transportation Master Plan contains policies and projects that support the future land uses in the City’s Comprehensive Plan. These policies affect choices for travel modes, such as car, bus, bicycle and on foot. By knowing how Shoreline will grow in the future, the City can plan for how the transportation system will need to change to accommodate that growth. The projects listed in the TMP help ensure that adequate transportation facilities are in place to support growth, which is known as concurrency.
The current TMP includes an inventory of the existing transportation systems and traffic forecasts for the year 2022. The updated plan will use revised growth targets to plan through 2030.
Why do we need to update the Transportation Master Plan?
Since 2005, there have been significant changes to the City’s transportation facilities. The Interurban Trail, a heavily used bicycle and pedestrian path, was completed, providing residents with a non-motorized transportation alternative that stretches the length of the City from north to south and connects with a variety of goods, services and housing.
The City completed the first mile of improvements to Aurora Avenue North, providing a safer environment for pedestrians and transit users, as well as drivers. Shoreline has similar improvements planned for the northern two miles of Aurora Avenue North; construction on the second mile of Aurora is scheduled to begin in the coming months. New businesses have located all along the corridor in response to or in anticipation of this project.
Roadway improvements in North City have also changed the look and feel of the neighborhood, resulting in significant redevelopment. Sidewalks have been constructed in neighborhoods throughout the City under the City’s priority sidewalks program.
New transit services are also planned for Shoreline. As part of Metro’s Transit Now program approved by voters in November 2006, bus rapid transit (BRT) service is scheduled to begin in 2013 on Aurora from Shoreline to downtown Seattle, just as Shoreline completes improvements to all three miles of Aurora.
Community Transit is also about to begin BRT service on Aurora/SR 99 in Snohomish County. Beginning in fall 2009, this service will run from the Aurora Village Transit Center in Shoreline to Everett.
What’s more, Shoreline may eventually have light rail stops at N 145 Street and N 185th Street. Thanks to the Proposition 1 package approved by voters in November 2008, Sound Transit will extend light rail service from the University District to Lynnwood, with the two stops proposed in Shoreline. Although this service is not scheduled to begin until 2023, planning for the transportation network around the stations needs to begin now to ensure the success of the system within Shoreline.
How long will the update take?
The TMP is expected to be completed in the second half of 2010.
What will the update include?
The project will include the following tasks and products:
- Development of an updated traffic forecasting model that identifies the future traffic capacity and multi-modal needs of the City.
- Creation of a prioritized list of projects and funding strategies to support recommended priorities for improvements.
- Development of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and a Transit Plan.
- Creation of a Master Street Plan that identifies the future right-of-way needs for street improvements.
What are the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and the Transit Plan?
The City’s existing TMP discusses non-motorized transportation and transit; however, there is little policy language that directs the improvement of these systems. These plans are needed to expand the bicycle, pedestrian and transit network. Development of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and the Transit Plan are expected to be done early in the project and then integrated into the TMP.
Elements in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan will include comprehensive bike and pedestrian route signing, specific projects for the City to complete and preliminary design and cost estimates for bicycle and pedestrian project recommendations.
There are three transit providers in Shoreline – Metro Transit, Community Transit and Sound Transit. The Transit Plan will establish transit policies and priorities for the City when working with these transit providers. It will also include recommendations to improve transit within the City.
How can I get involved?
There are several ways you can be involved in the update process for the Transportation Master Plan.
- Attend the open house on July 8 to submit your ideas for development of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and the Transit Plan.
- Apply to serve on the citizen advisory committee to assist with development of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. (Download application here)
- Submit your contact information to the City to remain on the mailing list for updates and future meeting dates.
- Sign up to receive Shoreline E-News from the home page of the website.
- Thoughts and comments about the plan are appreciated in writing. Please send them to Transportation Senior Planner Alicia McIntire at amcintire@shorelinewa.gov or 17500 Midvale Avenue North, Shoreline, WA 98133.
- For more information, you may also contact McIntire at (206)801-2483.
To review the current TMP, visit the Planning and Development Services page.