Title
Briefing on Downtown Transportation and Innovation
Report
Issue:
Briefing and question and answer period with speakers. The briefing will review some of the history and elements that shape the current downtown transportation system; goals our region is trying to achieve; innovations from other cities and some current ideas for Olympia to create a more walkable and bike-friendly downtown.
Staff Contact:
Amy Buckler, Senior Planner, Community Planning & Development, 360.570.5847, abuckler@ci.olympia.wa.us
Presenter(s):
Thera Black, Senior Planner at Thurston Regional Planning Council
Don Samdahl, Principal at Fehr & Peers transportation planning firm
Rich Hoey, City of Olympia Public Works Director
Background and Analysis:
The recently updated Comprehensive Plan describes our community's vision for downtown: As a social, cultural and economic center of the region, we want downtown to be an active, compact and attractive place that is walkable, bicycle-friendly, and full of shops, public spaces, public art and landscaping. We also expect downtown to gain 5,000 new residents over the next 20 years.
Later in 2015, the City will kick off a public process to develop strategic priorities for implementing our downtown goals over the next 5-6 years. In anticipation of this process, the Planning Commission has planned two briefings to increase awareness about downtown issues.The focus of this first briefing is downtown transportation and innovation, as described above.
MORE INFORMATION IN ATTACHMENTS
* Attachments 1 & 2 describe some of the history of the transportation system in downtown Olympia.
* Attachments 3 through 6 describe some possible upcoming transportation and streetscape changes being or to be discussed for downtown:
o Attachment 3 describes the concept of Bicycle Boulevards (or Bicycle Corridors as they are referred to for Olympia). These Corridors are streets with low vehicle volumes and speeds and signs and marking...
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