### Meeting Overview The Public Works and Natural Resources Committee met on January 27, 2025, chaired by Hannah Stone (attending remotely). The committee reviewed three major items: an update on the Holly Street Bike Lane Pilot Project, approval of the Community Streets Program, and adoption of the Lake Whatcom Management Program 5-year work plan for 2025-2029. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Pilot Project:** A temporary, low-cost implementation using paint and signs to test ideas before committing to expensive permanent infrastructure. **Parking Protected Bike Lane:** A bicycle lane separated from vehicle traffic by a row of parked cars, providing more protection than a simple painted buffer. **Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs):** Signal modifications that give pedestrians a 3-second head start before vehicles get a green light, improving safety. **Right Hook Conflicts:** When right-turning vehicles conflict with bicycles going straight, a major safety concern identified in the Holly Street project. **Community Streets Program:** A resident-driven initiative addressing traffic concerns on residential streets through a four-year rotation covering different city quadrants. **Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL):** Environmental regulations requiring reduction of phosphorus pollution entering Lake Whatcom. **Effective Developed Acres:** A measurement roughly equivalent to pounds of phosphorus removed from Lake Whatcom, used to track progress toward environmental goals. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hannah Stone | Committee Chair, City Council Member | | Lisa Anderson | Committee Member, City Council Member | | Jace Cotton | Committee Member, City Council Member | | Joel Pfundt | Interim Public Works Co-Director | | Shane Sullivan | City Transportation Engineer | | Hailey Sanders | Education & Outreach Specialist | | Renee LaCroix | Assistant Director of Natural Resources | ### Background Context The Holly Street bike lane pilot represents Bellingham's ongoing effort to create a connected downtown bicycle network. Holly Street was the only principal arterial downtown without bike lanes, creating a critical gap. The Community Streets Program replaces an older neighborhood traffic safety program that relied on neighborhood associations, which left some areas underserved. The Lake Whatcom Management Program coordinates three jurisdictions' efforts to protect the drinking water source for over 100,000 people while addressing phosphorus pollution that threatens water quality. ### What Happened — The Short Version Staff presented detailed results from the Holly Street bike lane pilot, showing a 33% increase in bicycle usage but acknowledging design problems and safety concerns that need addressing. The committee unanimously approved the new Community Streets Program, which will systematically address residential street traffic concerns across four city quadrants on a rotating basis. They also unanimously approved the Lake Whatcom Management Program 5-year work plan, which adds new focus areas on climate vulnerability and forest management while continuing efforts to reduce phosphorus pollution. ### What to Watch Next - Spring 2025: Implementation of interim design changes to Holly Street bike lane to improve safety - Community Streets Program launch: Outreach to first city quadrant begins - April 2nd Joint Councils meeting: Five-year progress report on Lake Whatcom efforts - Long-term: Hiring of consultant for permanent Holly Street bike lane design ---