Bikeability Tour Report Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace June 12, 2013
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 5:30 p.m-7:30 p.m. Purpose: To understand the strengths and weaknesses of the bicycle network in Lynnwood, Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace through a community bike ride. The route focused on direct connections to major transit hubs in Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace along with access to Edmonds Community College, one of the primary destinations.
Route:
General Recommendations
Stop 2: Edmonds CC TC
Connectivity Boost connectivity by improving key crossjurisdictional routes such as the Interurban Trail, 76th Ave W, 48th Ave W, 200th, 228th St and 236th St that serve key destinations such as schools, transit hubs, large employers and shopping districts.
Start/End location: Alfy’s Pizza Stop 1: Lynnwood TC
Infrastructure Update plans and implement projects that reflect new infrastructure designs that work for all ages and abilities, such as protected bike lanes that separate fast moving cars from bicycles and intersection designs that promote predictability and safety.
Stop 3: 224th St. SW and Interurban
Wayfinding Adopt wayfinding and signage standards that are uniform across jurisdictions and help connect existing infrastructure and highlight local attractions and important destinations. Add signage.
Stop 4: Mountlake Terrace Park and Ride
Attendees: • • • • • • •
Warren Bare Nathan Proudfoot Joe Liona Tom Kirkendall Carols Villavicencio Tracy Norlen Victoria Spring
• • • • • • •
Mark Haun David Van Horn Eric Goodman Jan Ahlquist-Niemi Ruth Gustafson Kristin Kinnamon John Carlin
• • • • • • •
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Doug Canfield Jan Johnson Ryann Child, Cascade Bicycle Club Evan Manvel, Cascade Bicycle Club Jeff Aken, Cascade Bicycle Club Peter Hallson, Cascade Ride Leader Eric Brusse, Cascade Ride Leader
City Representatives: • David Mach, City of Lynnwood, Project Manager • Janet Hall, City of Mountlake Terrace, Traffic Engineer • Bertrand Hauss, City of Edmonds, Traffic Engineer
Recommendations:
Janet Hall explains Mountlake Terrace’s upcoming bicycle projects to the group.
Area: Lynnwood Transit Center
David Mach shows audit participants Lynnwood’s proposed bicycle network map.
Observations • 196th does not feel safe for cycling with high traffic volumes, frequent curb cuts and limited cycling accommodations. Participants mentioned avoiding bicycling on this east/west arterial. • The Interurban Trail runs along the eastside of the Lynnwood Transit Center parking lot. There are no signs indicating trail access from the Transit Center. • Approaching the transit center from 200th Street SW is difficult. Participants usually preferred to access the area from the Interurban Trail rather than approaching from the road. • Bikes must navigate a large, busy parking lot to reach the bike rack and lockers. • The bike rack at the transit center is uncovered. • There are limited bicycle accommodations in this area and connections to the Lynnwood Transit Center could be improved so people of all ages and abilities could comfortably access transit via bicycle. Specific Recommendations • Add bike lanes on 48th Ave W from 183rd Pl SW to the Lynnwood Transit Center to create a safe, north/south connection to transit. • Improve wayfinding to the transit center and direct cyclists to bicycle parking to minimize conflicts with cars and buses. • Provide additional secure bike parking at the Transit Center.
Bike audit particpants wait to turn left onto 200th Street SW from 48th Ave W, heading toward the Lynnwood TC.
Area: 200th St SW Observations • The bike lane disappears approaching the intersection with Hwy. 99 where the positioning of bicyclists in the right-hand lane puts them at risk of a right-hook at the intersection. • Right turning vehicles at the intersection of Hwy. 99 and 64th Ave W along 200th St SW make cycling uncomfortable in both these intersections. • Tree limbs overhang the street, forcing people on bikes to move left, toward traffic, to avoid them. Specific Recommendations • Install a combined bike lane/turn lane at 64th Ave W. (see image at right) • Add intersection crossing markings at Hwy. 99 to guide both cars and cyclists on a safe, direct path through the intersection. • Provide a bike lane along 200th SW from 61st Pl W until 68th Ave W to provide a more comfortable connection to Edmonds Community College.
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Westbound 200th St. SW at Hwy 99. Google Streetview
Area: Edmonds Community College Observations • Edmonds Community College has over 1,600 employees and 13,000 students and would benefit from convenient bicycle connections from transit and surrounding communities. Specific Recommendations • Improve wayfinding on bike routes to the Community College. • Provide convenient, covered and safe bicycle parking for students, staff and faculty. Area: 76th Ave W Observations • 76th Ave W is a four-lane, direct north/south connection that would benefit from adding buffered bike lanes. It serves key destinations such as Swedish/Edmonds Hospital and Edmonds Woodway High School. • Currently, through bicyclists take 80th Ave W, a neighborhood side street, and avoid 76th Ave W. • A future east/west connection could be made from the Interurban Trail to Swedish/Edmonds Hospital and continue on to Edmonds-Woodway High School via bike lanes on 216th St SW and a through campus connection to 76th Ave. W Specific Recommendations • Provide buffered bike lanes or protected, separated lanes on both sides of 76th Ave W from 208th St SW to 224th St SW. • Add a combined bike lane/turn lane at 224th St SW or a bike box heading eastbound to allow cyclists to be more visible as they proceed through the intersection toward the Interurban Trail. • Provide wayfinding from 76th to the Interurban Trail via 224th St. SW. • Explore the opportunity for a connection from the Interurban Trail along 216th and through the Swedish Edmonds hospital campus to provide a direct connection to the hospital facilities and Edmonds Woodway High School. Area: Interurban Trail Observations • The Interurban Trail connects many of the cities in South Snohomish County and is an important facility for both recreational and commuting cyclists. It is not always clear how to connect the various completed segments and how to access it from side streets. Specific Recommendations • Remove the chicane on the Interurban Trail at 61st Ave W (West entrance of Lynnwood Neighborhood Park pictured above) to make it safer for all users and allow easy access for bikes, wheelchairs, trailers and tandems to the trail. • Improve wayfinding signage to access trail and highlight local destinations such as schools, parks, transit centers, medical facilities and other destinations.
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Example of a buffered bike lane: N 130th Street in Seattle. The increased distance between car traffic provided by the painted buffer can make the bike lane more comfortable for bicyclists.
Intersection of 224th St. SW (running right -left) and Hwy 99. Intersection improvements would make 224th a safer connection between the Interurban Trail and destinations on 76th Ave. W.
The chicane barrier at the entrance to the Interurabn at Lynnwood Neighborhood Park poses a hazard to bicyclists.
Area: Mountlake Terrace Transit Center Observations • It is very difficult to cross the southbound I-5 on-ramp. Traveling eastbound on 236ththe sightlines are limited, bicycles are moving slowly after climbing the hill and the pavement is in poor condition. This was a very uncomfortable experience for many on the audit. Specific Recommendations • The City of Mountlake Terrace should work with WSDOT to improve access from the proposed Lakeview Trail to the transit center and ensure that any intersection designs for work all users including pedestrians and cyclists. Area: 66th Ave W Observations • This is a wide comfortable north/south connection to the Interurban Trail and the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center. It is appropriate for bufffered bike lanes in each direction. Specific Recommendations • Provide bike lanes on 66th Ave W from 236th to the Interurban Trail intersection between 216th and 212th St. SW. As an interim step consider sharrows in the downhill direction (north) and a bike lane heading south (uphill)
Bike audit particpants head north in the wide shoulder on 66th Ave W.
Conclusions Improve wayfinding. Improved signage was a need reiterated throughout the ride. Wayfinding signage makes all users more aware of bicycles; it identifies access to transit, schools, parks and other destinations and will help riders connect to existing facilities like the Interurban Trail. Provide end of trip facilities. Several participants on the audit expressed they would bike more often and to more places if they could count on a secure place to lock their bike. A lack of bike parking at key destinations such as grocery stores, schools, workplaces and other businesses is a barrier to bicycling in South Snohomish County. Improve connectivity across jurisdictional boundaries. Participants were interested in getting to where they needed to go, not in city boundaries. Connections should place an emphasis on key destinations such as schools, major employers and transit hubs along with parks and open space.
Next Steps: • Additional bike audits will be held in late summer in Edmonds, Washington. • A training for citizens about advocacy for change will be held in mid-November • A business forum with local employers will occur in September. For more information about any of these events please contact Jeff Aken at jeff.aken@cascadebicycleclub.org or 206.300.5932
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