Bellingham Transportation Commission

The Bellingham Transportation Commission welcomed new member Brad Johnson and unanimously approved two significant policy measures that will reshape how the city approaches commute trip reduction and speed limit setting. The commission approved an interlocal agreement with the Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG) for commute trip reduction administration and endorsed a new speed limit setting methodology that moves away from the traditional 85th percentile approach to a context-based system prioritizing safety for vulnerable road users. The meeting featured substantial presentations on climate action goals and electric vehicle infrastructure, with Climate Energy Manager Seth Vidana updating commissioners on the city's EV charging network expansion and new cooperative vehicle sharing programs. Technical difficulties with Zoom access prevented some public participation, though one community member voiced opposition to WTA fare increases during public comment. The speed limit discussion generated the most detailed technical dialogue, with commissioners questioning how the new NACTO-based methodology would handle urban villages, sidewalk infrastructure gaps, and the relationship between speed limits and multimodal transportation goals. Staff emphasized that the new approach considers roadway context and safety history rather than simply following vehicle speeds.