Complete Streets Ordinance Adopted
Posted November 27, 2018 at 11:02 am by Tim Dustrude
Cars, bikes and pedestrian on Bailer Hill Road, San Juan Island – Tim Dustrude photo
Today the SJ County Council unanimously adopted a Complete Streets ordinance that will open up the possibility of state funding to help pay for road improvements that increase the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians on our roadways, among other things.
Cars and a bicyclist on Orcas Road – Tim Dustrude photo
Someday in the future, images like these may become mere memories of what traveling on the busier San Juan County roads used to be.
So what is Complete Streets? In San Juan County, it is somewhat of a misnomer – it does NOT mean that every road in the county will be “complete”, with sidewalks and separated bike paths. In fact, most probably will not.
A bike, a car and a scooter trying to “share the road” on Fisherman Bay Road on Lopez Island – Tim Dustrude photo
What it does mean is that instead of only considering motorized vehicle traffic stats and projections when planning roads and road improvements, public works and the county council will consider all modes of transportation – motorized vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, disabled, public transit, etc., and be better able to make informed decisions on how to improve roads for the safety and efficiency of all.
Where cost and feasibility to add biking and walking access don’t add up – no improvements will likely be made. But when it is cost effective, feasible, and there is a definite need, the new ordinance will allow funding from the State of Washington to help defer the improvement costs.
Over 100 Washington State jurisdictions (all cities except for one county) have adopted some form of a Complete Streets ordinance, including the Town of Friday Harbor in 2017. Those jurisdictions qualify for potential Washington State Dept. of Transportation grants to help pay for road improvement costs. And while Washington State is leading the charge, it is happening nationwide as well. See the Complete Streets national website at https://smartgrowthamerica.org/program/national-complete-streets-coalition for more info on that.
A small group of islanders (Dave Zeretzke, Karen Vedder, Tim Dustrude and Kyle Loring) has been working for over a year, and meeting with key personnel both within the county government, and stakeholders on the other islands, to draft a version of the ordinance that would work with San Juan County’s Comprehensive Plan. At the County Council hearing today, about a half dozen citizens from San Juan Island and Lopez Island spoke to the County Council in support of this ordinance. No one spoke against it.
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Categories: Government, Transportation
2 comments:
2 comments...
I’d like to see dedicated bike lanes throughout the island to promote cycle tourism on the island. This would encourage tourist spending. This could alliviate the heavy emphasis on whale watching and sport fishing.
Great first step!
Agree with Kelly Smith—-promote bicycle tourism to supplement other forms of tourism.
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