Chapter 12.38
COMPLETE STREETS POLICY
Sections:
12.38.030 Complete streets infrastructure.
12.38.040 Implementation of complete streets principles.
12.38.010 Purpose.
The city of Colville shall, to the maximum extent practicable, identify cost-effective opportunities to include complete streets, complete streets infrastructure and complete streets network practices in all new construction or reconstruction projects of public streets. The city of Colville shall scope, plan, design, construct, operate and maintain appropriate facilities for the safe, transportation network connected, context sensitive accommodation of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, emergency responders, freight, and users of all ages and abilities. (Ord. 1597 NS § 1, 2017).
12.38.020 Definitions.
“Complete street” means a road that is designed to be safe and accessible for drivers, bicyclists, transit vehicles and riders, freight, emergency service providers, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The complete streets policy focuses not just on changing individual roads, but on changing the decision-making process so that all users are routinely considered during the planning, designing, building, and operation of all roadways.
“Complete streets infrastructure” means design features that contribute to a safe, convenient, or comfortable travel experience for users, including but not limited to features such as: sidewalks, shared use paths, bicycle lanes, automobile lanes, paved shoulders, street trees and landscaping, planting strips, curbs, accessible curb ramps, bulb outs, crosswalks, refuge islands, pedestrian and traffic signals, signage, street furniture, bicycle parking facilities, traffic calming devices such as rotary circles, traffic bumps/tables, and surface treatments such as paving blocks, textured asphalt, and concrete, narrow vehicle lanes and raised medians.
“Street” means any public right-of-way, including arterials, connectors, alleys, ways, lanes and roadways by any other designation, as well as bridges, tunnels, and any other portions of the transportation network that is open for use by the general traveling public.
“Street project” means the construction, reconstruction, retrofit, maintenance, alteration, or repair of any street, and includes the planning, design, approval and implementation processes.
“Users” means individuals that use streets, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motor vehicle drivers and public transportation riders and drivers. (Ord. 1597 NS § 1, 2017).
12.38.030 Complete streets infrastructure.
As practical and economically feasible, city of Colville shall incorporate complete streets infrastructure into existing public streets to create a comprehensive, integrated, connected transportation network that balances access, mobility, health, economy and safety needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, emergency responders, freight and users of all ages and abilities. (Ord. 1597 NS § 1, 2017).
12.38.040 Implementation of complete streets principles.
City of Colville will incorporate complete streets principles in the city’s comprehensive plan, public works standards and other plans, manuals, rules, regulations and programs as feasible and appropriate.
The public works director or designee shall notify the planning department of all planned transportation projects, except for routine maintenance and repair that does not impact the roadway geometry or operations of the transportation facility. The city planning official will review street and transportation projects to ensure consistency with complete streets principles, the pedestrian, bike and trail plan and the comprehensive plan and make recommendations to the public works director. (Ord. 1597 NS § 1, 2017).
12.38.050 Exceptions.
Facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and/or people of all abilities are not required to be provided in new construction or reconstruction street projects when:
A. A documented absence of current or future needs exists, as identified in city plans and future travel demand models; or
B. Nonmotorized users are prohibited by law; or
C. Routine maintenance and repair of the transportation network is performed that does not impact the roadway geometry or operations; or
D. The additional cost for such facilities exceeds more than 20 percent of the total project cost for new constructions; or
E. The public works director issues a documented exception concluding that application of complete streets principles is inappropriate because it would significantly jeopardize public safety; or
F. Where there are significant adverse environmental impacts to streams, wetlands, steep slopes, or other critical areas; or
G. Where the establishment would be contrary to the transportation element of the comprehensive plan; or
H. Where the inclusion in a small, isolated project would create a very short section of improvements with problematic transitions on either end or that are in an isolated area unlikely to be followed by similar improvements at either end, resulting in little progress on implementing complete streets networks. (Ord. 1597 NS § 1, 2017).