Everett Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)

CITY OF EVERETT Transportation Advisory Committee TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, May 16th, 2024 8:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Microsoft Teams Virtual Meeting In attendance: Members Staff Guests Stephen Fickenscher Corey Hert, Public Works Christina Strand Tom Hood, Public Works Danielle Wilkins Kathleen Baxter, Public Works Kelly Frazee, Public Works Daniel Evans Derek Jones, Public Works Hal Gausman Karissa Miller, Public Works Sonja Bodge Nataya Foss, Public Works Vinh Ngo Yorik Stevens-Wajda, Planning Michael Schmieder, Transit Matt Coomes, Transit Craig Davis, Police Liz Vogeli, City Council Meeting called to order at 8:02 a.m. by Stephen Fickenscher. ➢ M/S/P: April meeting minutes. ANNOUNCEMENTS & REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ➢ Request to close neighborhood roads specifically between Colby and Rucker to discourage through-traffic. ➢ Concern regarding bus stop at 34th and Broadway. Construction development has taken over the sidewalk, forcing a pedestrian detour to a steep hill on 33rd. Steps are being taken to address this issue, including removing parked cars to make the bus stop accessible to pedestrians and transit vehicles. ➢ Appreciation for the new bicycle wayfinding signs; they enhance sense of wellbeing, safety and belonging for cyclists. ➢ Inquiry about regional traffic – how does Everett collaborate with other cities and counties to improve traffic system? City Traffic Engineer Corey Hert explained that Everett prioritizes interagency coordination with Snohomish County, Boeing, Port of Everett, the Navy, and Downtown Everett Association and other partners. ➢ Concern about mud runoff from Forest Park onto Mukilteo Blvd, leading to slippery conditions especially during winter. Councilmember Liz Vogeli has reached out to Parks staff via email seeking assistance. ENGINEERING REPORT ➢ Bicycle wayfinding signs are being installed now, project will be finalized this summer. ➢ 2024 pavement maintenance overlay: Starting soon. Pre-construction meeting on May 21st. Major streets that will be paved – W Casino between Airport and Evergreen Way, from Colby to the bridge over Broadway on 41st St, Pacific Ave between Fulton and Pine, and 37th St from 1 |Page  CITY OF EVERETT Transportation Advisory Committee Colby Ave to Broadway. ➢ Westbound US 2 Trestle replacement: WSDOT study ongoing. Public comment and outreach are underway. TRAFFIC ENGINEERING REPORT ➢ Photo enforcement: Horizon school zone citations began on May 6th. Operating speeds have already shown improvement, crossing guards reporting noticeable change in behaviors. High- speed traffic has decreased by 70%. Warning notices will be issued starting June 10th at specific locations: 16th and Broadway, Rucker and 41st for north and southbound traffic, eastbound at 112th, and 112th and Evergreen. Targeted messaging highlighting 10,000 speed violations in one month in front of an elementary school, occurring within just two hours of the day, has resulted in significantly less resistance. ➢ WSDOT projects: Starting May 28th, Hwy 529 bridge will close, directing traffic with one lane each direction on the southbound alignment, expected to last 14-18 weeks, causing high impact congestion. A zipper merge will be implemented for northbound traffic to improve access to the regional hospital and Everett Community College/WSU, and college transit station. ➢ SS4A Safety Action Plan grant: Local firm Kimley-Horn has been selected. POLICE REPORT ➢ The motorcycle officer has resumed duty and will increase presence in school zones. ➢ Shrimping and boating season has begun, leading to a surge in boat traffic at the marina. Marine Operations Unit is back in service. ➢ Concerns persist regarding motorcycle police staffing levels. While the department has allocated five positions, only one is currently filled due to shortages. Efforts to recruit more personnel are underway, prioritizing high standards to maintain credibility. ➢ Due to staffing shortages, less time is available for traffic enforcement. Collision investigation requires special training. Officers prioritize traffic enforcement until a crash occurs but are frequently diverted by 911 calls. TRANSIT REPORT ➢ Extra supervisors and drivers were deployed to mitigate delays caused by lane narrowing on SR529 and I-5, with drivers extending their shifts to maintain schedules. ➢ Efforts are underway to refine shuttle services for downtown events, including the "Free Everett Events Loop." ➢ Plans for "Wheels for the Waterfront" are being revised to focus on Thursday night events, specifically for the eight occurrences of Music at the Marina from July 11th to August 29th. ➢ Overall ridership has increased by 5%, with Route 4 experiencing the most significant growth at 13%, followed by Route 2 to the Everett Mall with a 9% increase. Route 12 showed a 1% decline, while other routes experienced positive ridership growth. This follows two consecutive years of 32% ridership increases in 2022 and 2023. ➢ Inductive charging operations have begun, with some technical issues to be resolved. ➢ Bike Everywhere Day will be held on May 17th at the Transit Station. ➢ Inquiry about whether transit pet or service animal rules apply to shuttles and loops; used as an opportunity to educate passengers, but drivers are generally understanding. ➢ Comment about increase in young people taking the bus since the implementation of Move Ahead Washington legislation, allowing those 18 and under to ride free. Youth ridership has increased by 38% since October 2022, with a subsequent 40% increase one year later. Bus 2 |Page  CITY OF EVERETT Transportation Advisory Committee drivers manually track this data when presented with a student ID card or other identification. AGENDA ITEMS ➢ 6-year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP): o Process for TIP adoption: recommendation by TAC for adoption, followed by Planning Commission recommendation, then City Council. o Budget discussion: No significant increase in budget noted. o M/S/P ➢ Everett Safety Action Plan/Vision Zero presentation: o Guest speakers from Kimley-Horn, Ed Koltonowski and Mark Bandy, who’s firm has been chosen as the service provider for the SS4A safety action plan prioritizing safety and innovation in transportation. With extensive experience in Everett, the consultant team emphasizes integrating international perspectives and soliciting public input. The goal is to embrace novel ideas while managing resource limitations, underscoring Everett's dedication to modern transportation solutions. o Inquiry about how Everett will utilize accomplishments from comparative cities to provide realistic goals. For example, Seattle coming out with a Safe and Healthy Streets program. Kimley-Horn says the collaboration emphasizes data-driven decision- making and seeks input from various stakeholders, including local and national experts. o Plans include aligning Everett's strategy with state-level initiatives like Target Zero, aiming for a comprehensive approach to transportation safety and innovation. ➢ Washington State Target Zero Update: o Corey Hert will be sharing a link to a presentation on Target Zero, led by Mark McKenchie of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and John Milton from the Washington State Department of Transportation. This will provide insight into the state's transportation plans and challenges. o Coming in June, presentation by Dongho Chang, State Traffic Engineer for WSDOT (and former City of Everett Traffic Engineer) on statewide traffic issues. Also Chris Silveira on the transformative Gold Line project from Community Transit. Adjournment: 9:45 a.m. Next Scheduled Meeting: June 20, 2024 3 |Page