Chapter 12.24
COMPLETE STREETS
Sections:
12.24.050 Freight/truck routes.
12.24.060 Goals to foster partnerships.
12.24.070 Best practice criteria.
12.24.080 Performance standards.
12.24.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to:
A. Ensure all users are considered in the planning, design, and construction of city transportation projects;
B. Encourage healthy and active living by providing convenient and comfortable routes for walking and bicycling for all ages and abilities;
C. Reduce reliance on vehicles for shorter trips by improving street connectivity between neighborhoods and the Bonney Lake Centers for all modes and users;
D. Develop the infrastructure needed to support transit. (Ord. 1652 § 2, 2021).
12.24.020 Definitions.
A. “Complete street infrastructure” means design features that include but are not limited to features such as: sidewalks; shared use paths; bicycle lanes and sharrows; automobile lanes; paved shoulders; street trees and landscaping; planting strips; curbs; accessible curb ramps; bulb outs; crosswalks; refuge islands; pedestrian and traffic signals, including countdown and accessible signals; signage; street furniture; bicycle parking facilities; public transportation stops and facilities; transit priority signalization; traffic calming devices such as traffic circles and surface treatments such as paving blocks, textured asphalt, and concrete; narrow vehicle lanes; raised medians; and dedicated transit lanes.
B. “Complete street approach” means an approach that focuses not just on individual roads but a decision-making process that considers all users of the street and complete street infrastructure.
C. “Street maintenance” means street corridor preservation and upkeep including but not limited to cleaning, sweeping, mowing, spot repair, crack seal, and surface treatments, maintenance activities for existing traffic signals, or interim measures on detour routes.
D. “Street project” means the construction, reconstruction, retrofit, alteration, or repair of any street, and includes the planning, design, approval, and implementation processes.
E. “Transportation plan” means the community mobility element of the city’s adopted comprehensive plan.
F. “Truck routes” means those roadways classified under Washington State Freight and Goods Transportation System (FTGS) as documented in Figure 5-15 of the transportation plan.
G. “Users” means individuals or vehicles that use streets, including pedestrians, bicyclists, freight, automobiles, public transportation vehicles and riders and people of all ages and abilities, including children, youth, families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities. (Ord. 1652 § 2, 2021).
12.24.030 Exceptions.
Complete street infrastructure is not required to be provided when the public services director determines that:
A. There is a documented absence of current or future need;
B. The construction would be contrary to public safety;
C. Nonmotorized uses are prohibited by law;
D. The work is classified as street maintenance; except as provided in BLMC 12.24.040(E); or
E. The cost of adding complete street infrastructure is excessively disproportionate to the cost of the project, community need, or probable use. (Ord. 1652 § 2, 2021).
12.24.040 Implementation.
A. All transportation projects, except those listed in BLMC 12.24.030, shall take a complete streets approach during the planning, designing, construction, and operational phases.
B. Required complete street infrastructure shall be identified in the transportation plan.
C. Complete streets shall be achieved either through single projects or through a series of smaller improvements or maintenance activities over time.
D. Construction of complete street infrastructure shall be prioritized as provided in the transportation plan.
E. When the city performs overlay and restriping projects, the striping elements for complete street infrastructure documented in the transportation plan shall be installed; provided, that sufficient pavement width exists to accommodate the complete street infrastructure element. (Ord. 1652 § 2, 2021).
12.24.050 Freight/truck routes.
Because freight is important to the basic economy of the city and has unique right-of-way needs to support that role, freight will be the major priority on streets classified as truck routes. Complete street infrastructure that is consistent with freight mobility shall be considered for these streets. (Ord. 1652 § 2, 2021).
12.24.060 Goals to foster partnerships.
It is a goal of the city to foster partnerships with all Washington State transportation funding agencies including the Federal Highway Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), Pierce County Regional Council (PCRC), Pierce County, Sumner – Bonney Lake and White River School Districts, citizens, businesses, interest groups, neighborhoods, and any funding agency to implement the complete streets infrastructure. (Ord. 1652 § 2, 2021).
12.24.070 Best practice criteria.
In determining required complete street elements, the city shall rely upon recognized best practices in street design, construction, and operations including but not limited to the latest editions of the following:
A. Guidelines provided by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
B. Urban Bikeway Design Guide provided by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO).
C. Guidelines provided by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
D. Guidelines provided in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
E. Guidelines provided in the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
F. Guidelines provided by the Highway Capacity Manual published by the Transportation Research Board.
G. Guidelines provided by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). (Ord. 1652 § 2, 2021).
12.24.080 Performance standards.
Progress related to the construction of complete streets infrastructure shall be documented in the transportation plan. (Ord. 1652 § 2, 2021).