Planning commission unanimously recommends council adopt 2025 Liberty Lake transportation network analysis update

At the Jan. 28 meeting, a commissioner moved that the planning commission recommend city council adopt the 2025 Liberty Lake network analysis update; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote.

Staff summarized the key changes to the draft since the commission last saw it: after discussions with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the I-90 westbound off-ramp at East Country Vista Drive is now shown with potential mitigations that include a multilane roundabout or a traffic signal rather than a no-build solution. North Harvard Road at East Wellington Parkway and East Mission Avenue near Townsquare were also expanded to include signal options in addition to developer-driven roundabouts. Appendices were augmented with cost estimates and additional traffic data in response to agency comments.

Commissioners debated how much of the technical appendix should be distributed to the public and how best to present the material in the comprehensive plan; staff said an executive summary will be used in the plan while the full technical appendices will be available by link for those who want the detailed data. Several commissioners stressed the importance of having the supporting data available for council and for any future developer traffic impact studies.

Commissioner Mann made the motion to recommend adoption and it was seconded (the transcript records the second by Commissioner Bamker/Bonker); the chair called for a voice vote and the motion "passes unanimously." Staff said they will include the commissions recommendation with the presentation to city council scheduled next week.