Mountlake Terrace planning commission pushes bike‑and‑pedestrian master plan into 2027–28 budget

The Mountlake Terrace Planning Commission on Jan. 26 pressed staff to prioritize a bicycle, pedestrian and trail master plan and to seek funding for the next biennial budget cycle.

Commissioners said the city’s transportation master plan (TMP) needs targeted updates around the transit center and that a focused bike‑and‑ped master plan would inform right‑sizing streets, transit priorities and mid‑block connections. Planning staff told the commission a formal funding request could be placed in the 2027–28 budget cycle (transcript reference: staff said “2728”), and staff agreed to add the item to the work plan the commission will forward to the city council.

Why it matters: Commissioners told staff that connections to the light‑rail station are incomplete and that rising bicycle and e‑bike usage has created new safety concerns where dedicated facilities are lacking. Several commissioners singled out the bike‑and‑ped plan as the most significant missing element that would enable consistent engineering standards and help prioritize capital projects and low‑cost “easy wins” such as painted bike lanes, curb adjustments and mid‑block connectors.

Officials also discussed national design standards: commissioners referenced NACTO and AASHTO guidance as templates that could help the city move from conceptual network goals to engineering‑level specifications without rewriting the entire TMP.

Parking and Sound Transit: The commission heard that the opening of the transit station has increased demand for street parking near the station and downtown. Staff said the city code allows virtually unlimited shared underground parking but restricts surface parking; as development adds units with paid parking, the city can expect increased curbside pressure. Staff recommended the city prepare for parking‑permit options and stronger enforcement as redevelopment proceeds. Staff also noted that although the station is open, Sound Transit continues to work under a temporary certificate of occupancy and must still satisfy outstanding conditional‑use permit conditions.

What’s next: The commission voted to forward an amended work plan to the city council that includes a request to prioritize a bike‑and‑ped master plan for the 2027–28 budget, and asked staff to return with options for targeted TMP amendments and a schedule for engineering updates.

Vote at a glance: The meeting recorded procedural votes excusing an absent commissioner and approving prior minutes; no land‑use ordinance or code change votes were taken on Jan. 26.