Chapter 12.30
COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM
Sections:
12.30.040 Complete streets infrastructure.
12.30.050 Goals to foster partnerships.
12.30.060 Best practice criteria.
12.30.070 Performance measure.
12.30.010 Purpose and vision.
The city of La Center shall, to the extent practical, scope, plan, design, construct, operate and maintain appropriate facilities for the safe accommodation of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, emergency responders, freight and users of all ages and abilities in all new construction, retrofit or reconstruction projects. Through ongoing operations and maintenance, the city of La Center shall identify cost-effective opportunities to include complete streets practices. [Ord. 2019-02 (Exh. A), 2019.]
12.30.020 Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply to the interpretation and administration of this chapter:
(1) “Complete street” means a road that is designed to be safe for drivers, bicyclists, transit vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.
(2) “Street project” means the construction, reconstruction, retrofit, maintenance, alteration, or repair of any street, and includes the planning, design, approval, and implementation processes.
(3) “Users” means individuals or vehicles that use streets, including pedestrians, bicyclists, freight, automobiles, public transportation vehicles and riders, and people of all ages and abilities, including children, youth, families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.
(4) “Complete streets infrastructure” means design features that contribute to a safe, convenient, or comfortable travel experience for users, including but not limited to features such as: sidewalks; shared use paths; bicycle lanes; automobile lanes; paved shoulders; street trees and landscaping; planting strips; curbs; accessible curb ramps; bulb outs; crosswalks; refuge islands; pedestrian and traffic signals, including countdown and accessible signals; signage; street furniture; bicycle parking facilities; public transportation stops and facilities; traffic calming devices such as rotary circles, traffic humps, and surface treatments such as paving blocks, textured asphalt, and concrete, narrow vehicle lanes; and raised medians. [Ord. 2019-02 (Exh. A), 2019.]
12.30.030 Exceptions.
Facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and/or people of all abilities are not required to be provided under the following circumstances:
(1) When elements of this policy would require the accommodation of street uses prohibited by law;
(2) For routine maintenance activities such as mowing, snowplowing, sweeping, spot repair, joint or crack sealing, or pothole filling;
(3) Paving projects which involve widening pavement may exclude elements of this policy when the accommodation of a specific use is expected to require more space than is physically available, be located where both current and future demand is proven absent or drastically increase project costs, and equivalent alternatives exist within close proximity;
(4) Adverse impacts on environmental resources such as streams, wetlands, floodplains, or on historic structures or sites above and beyond the impacts of currently existing infrastructure;
(5) Cost would be disproportionate to the current need or probable future use;
(6) Development of sidewalks in areas falling outside those identified as appropriate for sidewalks on the basis of an adopted sidewalk policy;
(7) In instances where a documented exception is granted by the city engineer. [Ord. 2019-02 (Exh. A), 2019.]
12.30.040 Complete streets infrastructure.
As feasible, La Center shall incorporate complete streets infrastructure into existing public streets to create a comprehensive, integrated, connected transportation network for La Center that balances access, mobility, health and safety needs of pedestrians (American with Disabilities Act and Title VI compliance), bicyclists, transit users, motorists, emergency responders, freight and users of all ages and abilities, ensuring a fully connected, integrated network that provides transportation options. [Ord. 2019-02 (Exh. A), 2019.]
12.30.050 Goals to foster partnerships.
It is a goal of the city of La Center to foster partnerships with all Washington State transportation funding agencies including the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB), the Federal Highway Administration, Clark County, La Center School District, citizens, businesses, interested groups, neighborhoods, and any funding agency assisting in the city’s implementation of the complete streets ordinance. [Ord. 2019-02 (Exh. A), 2019.]
12.30.060 Best practice criteria.
The city council or designee shall modify, develop and adopt policies, design criteria, standards and guidelines based upon recognized best practices in street design, construction, and operations including but not limited to the latest relevant editions of the America Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) manuals while reflecting the context and character of the surrounding built and natural environments and enhance the appearance of such. [Ord. 2019-02 (Exh. A), 2019.]
12.30.070 Performance measure.
The city engineer and/or designees shall maintain a summary of transportation projects undertaken within the prior year and planned projects within the coming six-year period and have the ability to explain the extent to which each of these projects has met the objectives of this policy. [Ord. 2019-02 (Exh. A), 2019.]