City of Bellingham Transportation Commission

The Transportation Commission held an informational meeting focused on two key presentations about upcoming city transportation initiatives. Riley Grant from Public Works presented the community engagement strategy for the new Community Street Program, which will begin collecting public input in April 2025 in the north Bellingham area. The program represents a systematic approach to addressing residential street concerns through a four-year rotational cycle across the city, with emphasis on equitable engagement and multiple input mechanisms including online maps, paper forms, and targeted outreach to underserved communities. Dylan presented the city's comprehensive transportation grant strategy, outlining how Bellingham competes for millions in state and federal funding annually. The presentation revealed a sophisticated pipeline system where projects emerge from adopted plans like the Bike Master Plan and Pedestrian Master Plan, move through transportation studies, and eventually compete for competitive grants through programs like Washington State's Safe Routes to School, Local Bridge Program, and City Safety initiatives. The meeting also featured the introduction of Aaron Miller, a chemistry instructor at Western Washington University living in the Alabama Hill neighborhood, who was welcomed as the commission's newest member. The evening concluded with Chair Keith Moore announcing his retirement from the commission after four years, praising the dramatically improved relationship between the Transportation Commission and Public Works staff since he joined. With Moore's departure, the commission now faces two vacancies, raising questions about whether to maintain the full nine-member structure or consider a smaller group. Staff indicated the mayor's office is evaluating recruitment strategies and the optimal commission size.

No formal votes were taken during this informational meeting. The session focused entirely on presentations and discussion of upcoming programs and strategies.

**Aaron Miller, introducing himself:** "I'm delighted to be a part of what I have seen Bellingham doing around town in the last, in the time that I've been here, which is like an enormous number of pedestrian, friendly projects that are encouraging people to use some more transportation other than a car." **Riley Grant, on equitable engagement:** "We want to create opportunities for everyone to contribute. And then we also want to put some additional focused effort on some of our underserved communities, and make sure that that those focused efforts help bring out some of those voices that we don't hear from as often." **Riley Grant, explaining the program's approach to community concerns:** "It's not about. It's not a popularity contest. It's about safety and getting to the root of that." **Dylan, on grant strategy philosophy:** "Projects should be planned around a grant application should not be planned around a Grant application rather agency should fit the best grant application of the project, basically meaning that the project should drive the funding strategy and not the funding strategy creating project." **Keith Moore, on the Transportation Commission's role:** "We're working on retrofitting Bellingham for the most efficient and sustainable urban multimodal system on the West Coast. And I think that's the type of goal that we need to be focused on here." **Keith Moore, on the improved relationship with staff:** "The relationship between the transportation division public works and the Tfc. Is so much better than when I joined 4 years ago. It's dramatic improvement really is."

## Meeting Overview The Bellingham Transportation Commission convened for their March 2025 meeting on the evening of March 11th, with Chair Addie Candide presiding over a gathering that included both veteran commissioners and a newcomer to the group. The meeting took place in a hybrid format, accommodating both in-person and virtual attendance. Notable attendees included Commissioners Tim Wilder, Betty Sanchez, Jackie Flynn, and Keith Moore, alongside several city staff members from Public Works including Riley Grant, Bill Casper, Mike Wilson, and Elena Dixon. The evening held special significance as the commission welcomed Aaron Miller as its newest member while also marking the departure of longtime Commissioner Keith Moore, who announced his retirement after four years of service. The agenda focused heavily on two substantial presentations about city transportation initiatives: an in-depth look at the Community Streets program's engagement strategy and a comprehensive overview of the city's grant strategy for transportation projects. These informational sessions reflected the commission's ongoing role in understanding and providing guidance on Bellingham's evolving transportation infrastructure and planning processes. ## Community Streets Program Engagement Strategy Riley Grant, the Communications Outreach Manager for Public Works, delivered a detailed presentation on the community engagement strategy for the Community Streets program, fulfilling a promise made during the program's framework development to return when implementation was closer at hand. The program represents a systematic four-year rotational approach to addressing transportation concerns on residential streets across Bellingham. Grant outlined the program's three main goals: actively gathering resident concerns, working collaboratively with the community on solutions to transportation issues on residential streets, and ensuring all voices have an opportunity to contribute to the process. The first year of implementation will focus on Area A, shown in green on the presentation map, covering the north side of Bellingham. The program's structure involves sorting submitted concerns into four distinct categories: capital projects anticipated for future implementation, checklist actions that staff can address through regular maintenance and operations, community or neighborhood DIY projects, and location studies requiring deeper technical analysis. Grant emphasized that the location studies would ultimately return to the Transportation Commission with staff recommendations for moving forward. The engagement strategy centers on what Grant described as "strategic engagement" — being intentional about maximizing community input while maintaining transparency and accessibility. The approach specifically targets underserved communities, defined as elderly residents, youth, those with limited English proficiency, low-income populations, and people with disabilities. This focus reflects the city's commitment to equitable engagement, creating opportunities for everyone to contribute while putting additional focused effort on amplifying voices that are traditionally underheard. On the technical side, the city is developing a comprehensive online presence including a website following cob.org standards for plain language and accessibility. Grant demonstrated a particularly innovative feature: an interactive map similar to the one being used for the landmark tree ordinance process. This map will allow residents to see concerns that have been submitted, click for detailed information about each issue, and track the status throughout the process. The system is designed to be mobile-friendly and will include an online submission form that lets users either type in locations or click directly on the map. Recognizing that not everyone prefers digital interfaces, the program will maintain multiple pathways for submission including traditional emails, phone calls, and the existing SeeClickFix system. In-person events will feature paper forms and physical maps for community input, following successful models from the bike master planning process. The outreach strategy includes broad community notification through city newsletters, social media, postcards to targeted areas, and partnerships with neighborhood associations. Grant noted plans to work with community partners like Sustainable Connections (Rock and Roll Bellingham) and the Whatcom Transportation Authority to spread awareness. For focused outreach to underserved communities, the city plans to work with senior centers and housing complexes for elderly residents, translate materials into Spanish with other languages available upon request, and attend existing community events rather than creating new ones that require people to come to the city. Grant outlined an ambitious timeline: community input collection from mid-April through mid-May, followed by technical staff pre-screening to categorize concerns, location studies conducted before school ends to capture typical usage patterns, and final recommendations returning to the Transportation Commission in July or August. Commissioner questions revealed both enthusiasm and practical concerns. Betty Sanchez asked about showcasing examples of past successful projects and ensuring community members could see what concerns had already been submitted to avoid duplicates and stimulate broader participation. Aaron Miller inquired about interactive features like "thumbs up" functionality and whether people submitting concerns would receive updates on outcomes. Keith Moore raised important questions about aggregating concerns in specific localities and whether there were mechanisms to bring neighborhoods together for collective action. Staff responses indicated they were leaning away from popularity-based voting systems, preferring to evaluate concerns based on safety and technical merit rather than the number of supporters. However, they committed to providing contact information requirements and regular updates to submitters, with the interactive map serving as a real-time status tracker. The discussion revealed ongoing refinement of the program, with Grant emphasizing the "adapt and improve as we learn" philosophy that acknowledges this is new territory requiring flexibility and responsiveness to what works in practice. ## Grant Strategy for Transportation Projects Engineering Manager Dylan Augustine delivered a comprehensive presentation on the city's transportation grant strategy, providing commissioners with insight into the systematic approach Bellingham uses to secure funding for infrastructure projects. The presentation served as both an educational overview and a strategic planning document, showing how the city has evolved from opportunistic grant applications to a more coordinated, multi-year approach. Augustine began with a table showing regular funding sources the city has pursued over the past 5-10 years, emphasizing that this represents their established pipeline rather than an exhaustive list of all possibilities. He then explained the city's project identification process, starting with adopted plans like the Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) and Pedestrian Master Plan (PMP), as well as the local road safety plan, all of which include prioritized project lists evaluated for grant competitiveness. Transportation studies often emerge from these plans, particularly where further analysis is needed. Augustine cited examples including the Lincoln-Lakeway multimodal study, the Meridian multimodal safety plan, and the James Street feasibility study. These studies typically provide more detailed design and cost estimates than the broader adopted plans, making them valuable foundations for grant applications. The Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) process serves as another key source, with many TIP projects having originated in adopted plans or studies. Augustine noted that TIP inclusion demonstrates the city's commitment to funding specific projects and provides the first screening for potential grant applications when funding opportunities arise. Augustine outlined three key principles for competitive grant applications. First, projects should drive grant applications rather than grant opportunities driving project creation — meaning the city should identify its priority projects first, then find the best funding sources rather than chasing available money with hastily conceived projects. Second, program awareness requires studying past awards to understand what types of projects succeed, attending funding workshops, and subscribing to relevant email updates. Third, project readiness demands well-developed details including scope, schedule, budget, and scenario planning for partial funding or rejection. The presentation highlighted several specific funding programs and Bellingham's track record with each. The Washington State Safe Routes to School program operates on even-numbered years, with Bellingham's Potter Street roundabout and pedestrian improvements likely to receive funding after making the recommended project list submitted to the state legislature. For 2026, the city plans to submit the Birchwood Elementary safe routes project, identified as Catalyst Project Package 8 in the BMP. The Washington Local Bridge Program, available on odd-numbered years, represents another key opportunity. After submitting the Eldridge Bridge project in 2023, the city plans to apply for Electric Avenue Bridge reconstruction in the current 2025 cycle, with applications due April 25th. Augustine noted that while the grant application focuses on bridge reconstruction, the city is ensuring designs accommodate future BMP and PMP goals including separated bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides. The WashDOT City Safety program, available on even-numbered years, previously funded Bellingham's downtown intersection safety improvement project currently under construction. For 2026, the city is considering the Meador Avenue, Lincoln Street, James Street improvements between Ellis and Fraser Streets, another BMP catalyst project. The Transportation Improvement Board urban arterial program operates annually but emphasizes construction-ready projects. After skipping 2024 due to timing issues, the city submitted the James Street multimodal safety project to TIB Complete Streets program instead, which was successfully funded. For the upcoming summer, they plan to submit the Meridian-Birchwood transportation improvements project. Augustine introduced a newer opportunity: the National Highway System asset management program, which emphasizes pavement condition improvements. The city is considering the Samish Way-Maple Street lighting improvements combined with needed overlay work, or Lakeway overlay coupled with safety projects from the Lincoln-Lakeway study. These combinations would address both pavement condition and safety aspects required for competitive scoring. The discussion of federal funding uncertainty prompted significant dialogue. Augustine acknowledged that the new federal administration's priorities remain unclear, with climate and equity-focused programs potentially under review. However, staff advice from regional partners suggests continuing to advance projects while monitoring the evolving landscape. Mike Wilson added that the city's exposure is limited since they spend money first and seek reimbursement, typically limiting risk to one or two months of expenses before projects could be halted if funding disappeared. Commissioner questions delved into project prioritization and the city's competitive positioning. Keith Moore inquired about project origins beyond adopted plans and studies, with Augustine explaining that non-plan projects typically stem from developer requirements, such as the pedestrian bridge over Wilburn Street near South Barkley. Aaron Miller asked about staff capacity constraints versus funding limitations, with staff indicating that funding remains the primary constraint, though they strategically focus resources on high-priority projects like the Meridian-Birchwood roundabout. Mike Wilson emphasized that projects drive funding strategy rather than the reverse, with the city using established criteria including safety, preservation and maintenance, equity, and climate considerations to evaluate potential projects. He noted that successful grant writing requires matching projects to specific program goals, using the example of the National Highway System program's emphasis on pavement condition combined with safety improvements. Augustine's tracking spreadsheet system demonstrates the city's sophisticated approach to managing multiple funding cycles, with detailed records of past applications, success rates, funding amounts, and forward planning for each program. This systematic approach represents a significant evolution from ad hoc grant applications to strategic, multi-year planning aligned with the city's transportation priorities. ## Staff Reports and Project Updates Mike Wilson provided several important project updates during the staff report segment. Construction of the James-Baker View intersection roundabout is scheduled to begin March 31st, with utility work preceding the main construction activity. The nearby Finnegan project has a pre-construction meeting scheduled for the following day, with construction anticipated to begin sometime in April. Wilson noted that ongoing sewer projects on Roeder and Meridian are creating traffic impacts that will continue through fall and potentially beyond. However, he announced positive news regarding the Fairhaven quiet zone, which became operational after receiving final approvals from the Federal Railroad Administration. He cautioned that train operators retain discretionary authority to use horns for safety reasons, even within quiet zones. The Public Works director hiring process continues with a recruiting consultant engaged and job description refinement underway. Wilson anticipated the position advertisement would be released sometime in March, representing progress on this key vacancy. A question about vegetation management on sidewalks and roadways, previously raised during a SeeClickFix presentation, prompted Wilson to acknowledge that follow-up was needed. This represents an ongoing challenge with property owner compliance for vegetation maintenance that impacts pedestrian and traffic safety. Additionally, Wilson mentioned a facilities project on Woburn Street that will include required frontage improvements, adding significant sidewalk infrastructure on both Woburn and Wilburn, plus a new crosswalk with rapid flashing beacon at the intersection. This improvement addresses longstanding connectivity issues for residents accessing Bay View Park. ## Keith Moore's Retirement and Commission Reflections Commissioner Keith Moore's announcement of his retirement after four years of service provided an opportunity for reflection on the Transportation Commission's evolution and role. Moore praised the dramatic improvement in the relationship between city staff and the commission since he joined, noting increased respect for the commission's role and input. Moore emphasized that the commission's purpose extends beyond routine complaint processing, which is handled through the SeeClickFix system, to focus on "retrofitting Bellingham for the most efficient and sustainable urban multimodal system on the West Coast." This ambitious vision reflects the commission's strategic rather than reactive approach to transportation planning. He stressed the importance of advance notice and preparation time for commission decision-making, rejecting any characterization of the commission as a "rubber stamp." Moore encouraged continued active engagement and challenging of staff presentations, noting that staff resilience and responsiveness to feedback had improved significantly during his tenure. Moore's parting suggestion focused on increased deployment of flexible bollards throughout the city, arguing they represent the most cost-effective way to create vertical barriers for bicycle and pedestrian safety. His practical focus on implementation details reflected his engineering background and systematic approach to infrastructure challenges. ## Commission Vacancies and Future Planning With Moore's departure, the Transportation Commission faces two vacancies requiring mayoral appointments. Mike Wilson indicated the mayor's office is evaluating whether to maintain the full nine-member composition or potentially operate with fewer members, given recent turnover patterns. However, Chair Candide noted that the commission had previously agreed that nine members provided better diversity of perspectives and more reliable quorum assurance. Planning for the April meeting revealed potential attendance challenges, with multiple commissioners indicating possible absences. The meeting will feature a Washington Transportation Authority presentation, requiring careful coordination to ensure adequate participation for productive discussion. ## Closing and What's Ahead The meeting concluded earlier than typical, reflecting efficient presentations and focused discussion. The community engagement strategy for the Community Streets program represents Bellingham's commitment to meaningful public participation in transportation planning, with implementation beginning within weeks. The grant strategy presentation demonstrated sophisticated project planning and funding coordination that positions the city well for continued infrastructure investment despite federal funding uncertainty. Both presentations reinforced themes of strategic planning, community engagement, and adaptive management that characterize Bellingham's current approach to transportation challenges. The commission's role in providing oversight, guidance, and community perspective remains crucial as these initiatives move from planning to implementation phases. The evening's combination of detailed policy discussion, practical project updates, and personal transitions captured the dynamic nature of municipal transportation governance, where long-term strategic planning must accommodate immediate implementation challenges while preparing for leadership transitions and evolving funding landscapes.