On December 6, 2022, the North Bend City Council unanimously adopted the Transportation Element (TE) Update to the forthcoming 2024 Comprehensive Plan, providing a framework to guide transportation investments over the next 20 years that are in line with our community’s vision and goals.
“The adoption of the Transportation Element is both an accomplishment and an essential part of how our city continues to be a highly livable community,” commented Mayor McFarland. “Moreover, it is vital to maintaining the City’s eligibility for grant funding.”
The City is required to update the Transportation Element by 2024 to align with the adoption of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and comply with the State’s Growth Management Act (GMA). View the resolution and the Transportation Element by referring to pages 333 to 410 of the City Council Packet HERE.
Goals of the 2022 TE Update include:
- Developing a multi-modal transportation system, with attention to the pedestrian, bike, public transit, and vehicular modes.
- Developing public and private transportation improvements that support healthful mobility options including walking and biking, while minimizing adverse impacts on the natural environment.
- Creating a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly environment that connects neighborhoods to the downtown and provides better connectivity to cultural, historic, recreational, and transit opportunities, including neighboring cities such as Snoqualmie.
- Developing traffic improvements that ultimately minimize trips by single-occupant vehicles.
- Increasing access to public transportation.
- Establishing appropriate levels of service for transportation facilities to adequately serve existing and future development.
- Beautifying North Bend streets while also helping to preserve the historic downtown and neighborhoods.
The approved resolution follows a series of interviews and public meetings that began in 2020, with consulting firm Fehr and Peers. The process involved interviewing local stakeholders for perspectives on transportation priorities, and this year, the City led a Policy Workshop with City staff in March. Staff introduced the update to the Planning Commission in May and held a Draft Transportation Element Review and Public Hearing at the Planning Commission in September. In October, the Planning Commission provided a review of the Final TE Update and recommended approval to Council.