The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) (RCW 36.70A.030 (6) (b)) requires that needed transportation improvements or programs be in place concurrent with development or that a financial commitment exists to complete the improvements or strategies within a six-year time period. Bellingham has adopted BMC 13.70 Multimodal Transportation Concurrency to meet this State law requirement.
The Transportation Report on Annual Concurrency (TRAC) is the City's annual assessment of transportation concurrency status on the citywide multimodal transportation network. The primary objective of the TRAC is to provide an assessment of the existing multi-modal transportation system, which establishes the baseline level of service (LOS) and transportation concurrency conditions through the year. Over time, the TRAC will also identify transportation concurrency problems, issues, and circumstances throughout the City so that transportation funding and mitigation strategies may be explored to effectively accommodate changing conditions and circumstances. Ultimately, the goal of the TRAC is to provide an integrated link between Bellingham Comprehensive Plan land use and transportation policies and funding decisions for the City's annual Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (PDF).
Bellingham received the 2009 American Planning Association /Planning Association of Washington Award for Transportation Planning in Washington State for the Multimodal Transportation Concurrency program (BMC 13.70) featuring a new multimodal level of service standard and new multimodal performance measures that include sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit riders, as well as automobiles. The Multimodal Transportation Concurrency program is designed to help the City achieve Comprehensive Plan goals directing growth to Urban Villages and to complete sidewalks and bicycle lanes throughout the City.
For questions regarding the TRAC, BMC 13.70, the transportation element of the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan, or GMA transportation concurrency requirements, please contact the Transportation Division of the Public Works Department.
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