OPPORTUNITIES
TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities for maintaining a rapid transit system include:
The HWY 99 corridor is unique in that it is served by regional Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), local public transportation, and has access to commuter and express transit services to Seattle from the Mountlake Terrace I-5 Station which will offer light rail transit service with the Lynwood Link Extension planned to open in the year 2023.
»» Implementing a Transit Signal Priority system that allow BRT vehicles to trigger a change in traffic signal phasing in favor of the buses approaching a signalized intersection.
The level of transit coverage within the Plan Area supports transit-oriented-development and attracts households with zero to low automobile ownership—a segment of the population that choose to reside near transit because they don’t drive or don’t want to encumber themselves with the cost of vehicle ownership. One of the characteristics of HWY 99 that helps BRT achieve its desirable rapidness—long distances between signal controlled intersections—is also one of the greatest impediments to pedestrian circulation. Despite the apparent conflict in functionality, the HWY 99 corridor presents opportunities to maintain the short travel times needed for an effective Swift rapid transit system while providing additional safe pedestrian crossings of HWY 99 and improving the overall multimodal connectivity of the Plan Area.
»» Strongly enforcing the corridor’s BAT lanes and improving their effectiveness through better access management and their use as queue jumping lanes. Opportunities for improving pedestrian safety, circulation options, and access to transit include: »» Transforming the approaches of streets intersecting HWY 99 into “Complete Streets” that improve the environment for all users to access and cross the corridor. Complete Street improvements might trade-off automobile travel lanes to create space for sidewalks and bike lanes, or might add a vehicular turning lane allowing for protected signal movements that eliminate conflicts with crossing pedestrians. »» Strategic placement of new traffic signals and pedestrian crossings that break up the longest segments of HWY 99 without safe crosswalks. »» Reconfigure high-speed corners and ramps to slow traffic and install pedestrian-activated flashing beacons at uncontrolled crossings.
Figure 15: BEFORE AND AFTER ILLUSTRATIONS OF EXAMPLE "COMPLETE STREET" IMPROVEMENTS
Source: CityLab, The Atlantic
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EDMONDS HIGHWAY 99 SUBAREA PLAN