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Mobility Implementation Plan
Aligning transportation investments with the city’s land use vision
Introduction
Background
The Bellevue Mobility Implementation Plan (MIP) is a new performance measurement and project prioritization system that aligns transportation investments with the city’s land use vision; providing the platform for Bellevue to meet the multimodal future envisioned in the Comprehensive Plan.
Many neighborhoods in Bellevue are undergoing a dramatic transformation with higher densities and a greater mix of housing, employment and shopping. This evolving land use pattern supports travel outcomes in which people make shorter trips and use multiple modes. More people in Bellevue are choosing to walk, ride a bike, or take transit, and the transportation system is expanding to meet this need. The Transportation Commission has developed this MIP to identify a multimodal suite of metrics and tools to build out the transportation infrastructure of the future.
Purpose
The MIP provides tools and information that Bellevue can use to do the following:
- Implement a sustainable, equitable, and multimodal transportation system that is safe and accessible for everyone
- Clearly identify where the transportation system and access to transit meets performance expectations
- Transparently select projects and investments to address gaps in performance
- Consider the multimodal transportation demand generated by growth
- Take advantage of light rail, bus rapid transit and the Frequent Transit Network to support growth
- Dovetail with technology policies and initiatives to enhance system operations and performance
- Better respond to equity considerations in transportation access/mobility
- More holistically approach concurrency through consideration of multiple modes
Performance Metrics
The Mobility Implementation Plan is based on a concept called the “layered network.” A layered network considers the land use context and each mode in the multimodal transportation system to be the “layers” that describe Bellevue’s interconnected multimodal transportation system. The layered network acknowledges that there are competing priorities between modes and constraints to providing the planned projects for all modes on all streets.
Image Depiction of a Layered Network
The Performance Metrics are the measurements that describe the intended design and function of the transportation system, which varies by mode—pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicle.
Pedestrian
- Width of sidewalk plus the adjacent landscape strip along arterials
- Spacing between designated intersection and mid-block pedestrian crossings of arterials
Bicycle
- Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) along the bicycle network corridors. LTS describes the bicycle rider experience related to the speed limit and volume of traffic on the street, and the type of bicycle facility
- LTS at intersections on the bicycle network, intended to maintain the bicycle rider comfort level through an intersection
Transit
- Transit travel time ratio: travel time on a bus or light rail relative to travel time in a car on corridors between activity centers
- Transit passenger amenities and access to stops on the Frequent Transit Network
Vehicle
- Volume-to-capacity ratio (v/c) at system intersections
- Vehicle travel speed along Primary Vehicle Corridors
Performance Management Areas
The Performance Management Areas (PMA) are geographical areas mapped to reflect the type and intensity of land use and the diversity of the transportation options. These geographic areas are where Performance Targets for the vehicle mode are set and where progress toward improving mobility for each mode is summarized.
- Type 1 PMA includes the High-Density Mixed-Use areas of Downtown, BelRed and Wilburton/East Main
- Type 2 PMA includes the Medium-Density Mixed-Use areas of Crossroads, Eastgate and Factoria
- Type 3 PMA includes the Low-Density, predominantly residential areas of the city
Map of Bellevue's Performance Management Areas by Type
Performance Targets
Expectations for the performance and user experience of the transportation system are expressed as “targets” to be achieved over time. Targets are related to the intended facilities/infrastructure provided (for pedestrian, bicycle, transit passenger access and amenities), and to the operations of the system (for transit travel time, vehicle travel speed, and vehicle intersection v/c). Targets for facilities/infrastructure focus on completing the planned system, while targets for operations relate to capacity and performance.
Map of existing pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicle network layers (2019)
Performance Target Gaps
Bellevue’s transportation system is incomplete relative to the intended Performance Targets – meaning there are “gaps” to be identified through the MIP and addresses through investments in transportation facilities. A gap may be described as infrastructure that is missing or operations of a facility (transit or arterials) that do not meet the target.
Mapping dashboard of pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicle performance target gaps
Next Steps
Project Identification and Prioritization
The Mobility Implementation Plan (MIP) articulates a safe, equitable, and sustainable multimodal approach to mobility in Bellevue. While there are many Performance Target gaps, resources are limited, therefore prioritization of the gaps is necessary. To implement the MIP, a four-step process will be undertaken to identify Performance Target gaps, consider MIP goals, develop project concepts, and advance those concepts to the Transportation Facilities Plan (TFP) to be considered for funding and implementation.