Chapter 12.40
COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM
Sections:
12.40.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to reaffirm the city’s policy for promoting pedestrian, bicycle, and public transportation travel. It directs staff to incorporate complete streets principles, where applicable, when planning or designing any project within the city right-of-way. (Ord. 3155 § 1, 2016).
12.40.020 Applicability.
This chapter shall apply to all projects constructed within the city’s right-of-way. If there is a conflict between the provisions of this chapter and that of any other adopted ordinance or engineering standard, the provision that provides the more specific guidance shall control. (Ord. 3155 § 1, 2016).
12.40.030 Policy.
A. Consistent with adopted plans and engineering design standards, the city will design, construct, operate, and maintain an appropriate and integrated transportation system that will meet the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair users, motorists, transit, freight haulers, emergency responders and users of all ages and abilities.
B. The system’s design will be consistent and supportive of local neighborhoods, recognizing that transportation needs vary and must be balanced in a safe, flexible, context sensitive and cost-effective manner.
C. All new construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the right-of-way, whether public or private, will give consideration to all users and modes of travel from the start of planning and design work through all phases of implementation.
D. Ordinary maintenance paving projects should evaluate the condition of existing facilities supporting all modes, and, where appropriate as determined by the discretion of the public works director, should modify existing pavement, pavement markings, road edges and signage in order to support pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair users, and transit.
E. The city will cooperate with other transportation and planning agencies to encourage those agencies to incorporate the principles and practices of complete streets within those agencies’ activities in the city, and to facilitate seamless transportation connections between jurisdictions.
F. The city’s design criteria, standards, and guidelines for street design and signage will incorporate best practices for complete streets, while recognizing the need for design flexibility. (Ord. 3155 § 1, 2016).
12.40.040 Exceptions.
The public works director or city manager may except the following projects from this policy as follows:
A. If the application of the policy would require the accommodation of street uses prohibited by law;
B. For ordinary maintenance such as mowing, sweeping, snow removal, spot repairs (joint or crack sealing, pothole filling) this policy shall not be applied beyond the scope of that activity;
C. Street reconstruction and maintenance paving projects that involve widening pavement may exclude elements of this policy when the accommodation of a specific use is expected to:
1. Require more space than is physically available; or
2. Be located where there is no current or reasonably determined future demand; or
3. Drastically increase project costs, if equivalent alternatives exist in close proximity to the project; or
4. Have adverse impacts on environmental resources or critical areas, or on historic structures or sites that exceed the impacts of currently existing infrastructure; or
5. Result in costs disproportionate to the current need or probable future use. (Ord. 3155 § 1, 2016).