## Meeting Overview The Bellingham Transportation Commission convened on December 10, 2024, for what turned out to be a compact but productive final meeting of the year. Meeting in the Pacific Street Operations Center with several members attending virtually, the Commission welcomed its newest member, Sarah Burch, who joined the discussion online after having previously expressed interest in serving. The evening's agenda was notably streamlined compared to typical meetings, focusing primarily on an eagerly anticipated update on the Eldridge Avenue pilot project, the Commission's ambitious work plan for 2025, and the annual election of officers. The tone was both reflective and forward-looking, with commissioners clearly energized by the substantial workload ahead while remaining engaged in ongoing projects like the Eldridge Avenue improvements that have been closely watched by both supporters and skeptics in the community. Chair Addie Candib noted at the outset that this would be "the shortest meeting of the year" — a prediction that proved accurate as the group efficiently moved through their business in just over an hour. ## The Eldridge Avenue Pilot Project — Mixed Results and Community Response Jessica Bennett, a project engineer with the city's public works capital projects group, delivered a comprehensive update on the Eldridge Avenue pilot project that has been one of the Commission's most closely monitored initiatives. The project, which removed parking on both sides of Eldridge Avenue between Broadway and Nequalicum to install buffered bike lanes, represents a significant test case for the city's broader bicycle infrastructure goals. The pilot's origins trace back to 2014 when the City Council approved the Bellingham Bicycle Master Plan, but the project gained urgency when it was included in the 2023-2028 Transportation Improvement Program. After the Transportation Commission recommended parking removal in September 2022, the proposal went to a contentious public hearing in October 2022. City Council ultimately approved the parking removal but designated Eldridge as a one-year pilot project in response to significant community concerns. "There was a lot of concern from the neighbors about speeds," Bennett explained, "and that there was a concern that the parking removal was going to increase speeds, and they were interested in other safety improvements as well." Construction was completed in April 2024, launching the pilot period that has now generated several months of data. The speed data Bennett presented offered reassurance to one of the community's primary concerns. Pre-construction measurements showed average speeds of 29-30 mph along the corridor, with 85th percentile speeds of 33-34 mph. Post-construction data revealed virtually no change, with average speeds remaining at 29 mph and 85th percentile speeds at 32-33 mph. "There was actually a little bit of a drop, but I wouldn't necessarily call it probably a statistical difference," Bennett noted. More encouraging for advocates of active transportation was the substantial increase in bicycle and pedestrian usage. Comparing pre-project data from June 2023 to post-project data from June 2024, the corridor saw a 30% increase in total bicycle and pedestrian traffic. "We saw about a 30% increase pre project to post project," Bennett reported. "About a 30% increase after the project, which, you know, which was great to see." Commissioner Jamin Agosti raised practical concerns about the vertical delineators that separate the bike lane from traffic, noting they are "pretty beaten up already" and "provide only a limited sense of safety for bikers." Bennett acknowledged the challenge, explaining that the team had evaluated more robust options but faced space constraints with only a 2-foot buffer. "We looked at a bunch of different options. We didn't find anything really great," she said, noting that some guidelines suggest avoiding vertical delineation entirely in such narrow buffers. The maintenance challenges extended beyond damaged delineators to basic bike lane cleanliness. New commissioner Sarah Burch asked about plans for regular sweeping to remove debris that forces cyclists into traffic. Bennett confirmed that the city is planning to purchase smaller sweepers designed for bike lanes, though the interim solution involves a more complex two-part process using a tool cat to blow debris into the travel lane, followed by standard street sweepers. Public response to the project has been predictably polarized. "The public input has been mixed," Bennett reported. "I've gotten a lot of positive comments back about the bike lanes, with still some neighbors, you know, most affected by the parking, certainly not." She noted that while some residents continue to complain about the loss of parking and the "ugly" appearance of delineators, there has been universal praise for the enhanced crossings with rectangular rapid flashing beacons. "I don't think I've heard a single complaint about the enhanced crossings. That's been widely been loved," Bennett said. The pilot will continue through spring 2025, with staff planning to present final findings and recommendations to both the Transportation Commission and City Council. Bennett's team will continue collecting traffic data and public input before making their recommendation about whether to make the improvements permanent, modify them, or remove them entirely. ## Ambitious 2025 Work Plan — Balancing Growth and Capacity The Commission spent significant time reviewing an updated work plan for 2025 that reflects both the city's growing transportation challenges and the Commission's expanding role in policy development. Mike Wilson presented the plan, which underwent last-minute revisions to accommodate compressed timelines and emerging priorities. The most significant scheduling change involved the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan update, where coordination requirements with the Planning Commission forced staff to compress the Transportation Commission's review timeline. "We found out that the Planning Commission is planning to bring that to their commission on May 15th," Dylan Casper explained. "So that kind of moved the needle a bit." The result is a more intensive schedule with meetings in February, April, and May focused on different aspects of the plan's transportation elements. Commissioner Jamin Agosti expressed enthusiasm for the comprehensive agenda: "Honestly, the plan looks awesome. We have our work cut out for us, but there's some really great stuff on here. I'm excited about it." The plan includes continued work on bicycle and pedestrian master plan implementation, updates on the Community Streets Program, and new initiatives around automated traffic safety cameras and climate action coordination. Staff acknowledged that previous years had been "overly ambitious" and committed to limiting meetings to approximately two major items each. However, the April meeting emerged as particularly packed, prompting discussion about whether some items could be moved to later in the year. Wilson noted that the Whatcom Transportation Authority timeline was inflexible, but other items might have more scheduling flexibility. Commissioner Betty Sanchez raised an important procedural concern about document review time. "If it's got a lot of reading to do on questions that we're going to make a decision... maybe we could get them before like the Friday night, so that we would have like maybe a week that we could look at them," she said, emphasizing the need for adequate time to review complex 50-60 page documents before voting. New member Sarah Burch suggested adding an additional April meeting to handle the heavy workload, while others proposed potentially skipping the November meeting due to the Veterans Day conflict. The discussion reflected a Commission grappling with increased responsibilities and the time needed to provide meaningful review and recommendations. ## Parking Minimums Debate — Jurisdictional Questions A spirited discussion emerged when Commissioner Agosti raised the recent mayoral executive order eliminating parking minimums citywide. The mayor had issued the order just days before, and City Council was scheduled to consider an emergency interim ordinance the following Monday. "I would be supportive of sending a recommendation to City Council in favor of implementing the mayor's executive action, eliminating parking minimums across the city as supportive of our already established mode shift goals," Agosti said, noting that parking requirements are already identified as an implementation strategy in the 2016 Comprehensive Plan. However, staff raised questions about the Commission's appropriate role in land use issues. "This is much more of a planning item, because it deals with private development and requirements around private development on private property," Wilson explained. "That's why it has not been on your agenda or on your work plan." Agosti countered that parking requirements directly impact transportation outcomes: "The number of cars on the roads is a huge issue that we deal with every day when it comes to safety and mode shift." He argued that the Transportation Commission should weigh in because parking policy fundamentally affects transportation systems. The discussion revealed tension between the Commission's transportation focus and the broader land use implications of parking policy. Wilson acknowledged a "slippery slope" concern: "If we're talking about parking minimums, then we may want to weigh in on some other land use planning" issues. Ultimately, the Commission decided not to take action that evening, with several members expressing interest in learning more before making recommendations. Tim Wilder observed that since the issue would go through the full legislative process after the interim ordinance, there would be future opportunities for input. The discussion highlighted the increasingly blurred lines between transportation and land use policy in modern urban planning. ## Officer Elections and Administrative Updates The Commission unanimously re-elected Addie Candib as Chair and Tim Wilder as Vice Chair for 2025. Candib noted she was "wrapping up my second year as chair" and was comfortable serving another term, while Wilder agreed to continue as vice chair. The smooth election reflected satisfaction with their leadership during a year of significant policy development. Wilson also briefed the Commission on new appointment procedures from the mayor's office. Going forward, all commission members will need to reapply when their terms expire, including current members seeking reappointment. The process will include a basic application, brief interview, and community recruitment for each opening. "Some boards and commissions have gotten on autopilot with reappointing folks," Wilson explained, noting the mayor's office wants "a more holistic approach." The change represents a shift toward more active recruitment and evaluation of commission membership, potentially bringing fresh perspectives while requiring current members to formally recommit to their service. ## Transportation Improvements and Community Connections The meeting concluded with several positive announcements about transportation improvements and community engagement. Wilson shared news that the Whatcom Transportation Authority board had approved a 6% service increase for June 2025, including 30-minute service to the hospital, permanent waterfront service, and new Sunday service on several routes. Commissioner Katy Scherrer reported that the Tourism Commission had approved several downtown projects designed to attract pedestrians, including public art installations and music projects that could enhance the walkability of the downtown core. The discussion of community engagement extended to the Commission's own public outreach. Commissioner Agosti requested that meeting recordings be posted online for public access, noting that Planning Commission meetings are already available. "I would love the public to be able to see them after the fact," he said, acknowledging the substantial staff time invested in Commission discussions. Wilson explained that Transportation Commission recordings are currently available upon request but are primarily used for staff minute-taking. The question of posting recordings online will be explored as part of the mayor's office effort to bring consistency to board and commission practices across the city. ## Looking Ahead — A Year of Significant Decisions As the Commission wrapped up 2024, the scope of their 2025 agenda reflected Bellingham's position at a critical juncture in transportation planning. From implementing new bicycle infrastructure to coordinating with regional transit expansion, the Commission faces decisions that will shape the city's transportation landscape for years to come. The Eldridge Avenue pilot will reach its conclusion with recommendations that could influence similar projects throughout the city. The comprehensive plan update will establish policy frameworks for the next two decades. New programs like Community Streets will test innovative approaches to neighborhood traffic management. Perhaps most significantly, the Commission's growing engagement with climate action and housing policy reflects the increasingly integrated nature of transportation planning. As Commissioner Agosti noted in discussing parking minimums, "Most mobility issues are also planning issues. And so I don't think we can look at one without the other." The meeting adjourned at 7:20 PM with commissioners clearly energized for the challenges ahead. Chair Candib's prediction of the "shortest meeting of the year" proved accurate, but the brevity reflected efficient focus rather than limited substance. As Bellingham continues to grow and evolve, the Transportation Commission's role in shaping a more sustainable, equitable transportation system has never been more important.