Active Transportation Plan

The City of Kirkland is updating the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) based on the current Active Transportation Plan(PDF, 8MB) (adopted 2009) as well as the Transportation Master Plan(PDF, 19MB) (adopted 2015). In the Transportation Master Plan the first three goals are:

T-0 Safety: By 2035 eliminate all transportation related fatal and serious injury crashes in Kirkland.

T-1 Walking: Complete a safe network of sidewalks, trails and crosswalks where walking is comfortable and the first choice for many trips.

T-2 Biking: Interconnect bicycle facilities that are safe, nearby, easy to use and popular with people of all ages and abilities.

Today, the benefits of increased health outcomes, environmental benefits and reduced auto trips are increasingly being recognized as additional reasons to encourage more trips being taken by active modes. However, not all bike and pedestrian connections can get people where they need to go, and people still express concerns about safety.

The update to this plan will incorporate new innovative solutions that are designed to accommodate people of all ages and abilities for residents and visitors to feel more comfortable when choosing to walk or bike. It will also focus on completing connections, improving bike parking and considering technologies that can both facilitate travel by walking and bicycling and also to help the city better evaluate how many people are walking and bicycling in Kirkland. 

The plan will:

  • Demonstrate the progress from the 2009 Active Transportation Plan.
  • Evaluate the planned bicycle network for any updates and evaluate pedestrian improvements needed to connect people to transit, parks, to the Cross Kirkland Corridor, to activity and job centers, etc.
  • Outline an implementation plan for how the City can complete the recommendations outlined in the plan.

Background Information

When the City of Kirkland’s first Non-Motorized Plan was adopted in 1995, such plans were relatively rare. Walking and bicycling evolved from being considered a novelty to a necessity and a valid mode of transportation. The term change from ‘non-motorized’ to ‘active transportation’ seeks not only to be more inclusive of people who use motorized wheelchairs and other motorized mobility devices but also to recognize walking and bicycling for what they are rather than what they are not.

The City has made great strides to increase safety and connectivity by filling in gaps in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, making crossings safer, developing the interim Cross Kirkland Corridor, adopting a Complete Streets Policy and working with schools on a Safer Routes to School Action Plan.

Timeline

  • Community Engagement: Fall 2019 – Mar 2020
    • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in budget and staff constraints, the Active Transportation Plan community engagement and plan development were temporarily suspended. Starting in April 2021, the plan development activities were reinstated.
  • Analysis and Plan Development: Spring 2019 – Mar 2020, Apr 2021 – Sept 2021
  • Community Engagement: Oct 2021 – Dec 1, 2021
  • Draft Plan: Dec 2021
  • Final Plan and Council Adoption: Spring 2022 

 

 

Contact

Kimberly Scrivner

Transportation Planner

KScrivner@kirklandwa.gov

425-587-3871

Engagement Opportunities

An online community meeting will be held on October 20, 2021 from 6pm-7pm to talk about the ATP updates. Please join us via this zoom link.

 

A second online community meeting will be held on November 3, 2021 from 6pm-7pm. Please register using this zoom link.

 

Comments are also accepted until December 1. Please use this comment form to submit your comments:

ATP Public Comments Form

 

More information about past and future engagement activities can be found here(PDF, 142KB) .

 

Check out our Story Map for more information.  

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