Island County Transportation Plan
2025 Update
Online Open House
This website serves as the Online Open House for the Transportation Element Update. The purpose of the Online Open House is to provide a general overview of the transportation element update and provide an opportunity for the public to provide comments on the County's 20 year transportation plan.
What is our plan for the future of transportation in Island County?
How can we make it happen?
The Island County Transportation Plan (known as the “Transportation Element”) represents the 20-year vision for the County's transportation system, and how to make it happen. The Transportation Element is a section of the County's 2025 Comprehensive Plan, which State law requires to be updated on a regular basis.
Island County's transportation system includes facilities for a wide range of users and travel choices. The County will continue to address vehicle congestion and safety with planned improvement projects. Other projects include improved connectivity and safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit patrons.
PLAN OVERVIEW
There are several factors taken into consideration when updating a 20-year plan such as the Transportation Element. The general process includes the following steps:
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Evaluate the existing transportation system conditions and any current issues.
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Build a travel model to help forecast and evaluate future needs.
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Define and/or update project improvements. (We are here!)
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Finalize future plan.
Other Considerations
Emerging trends in the transportation market are also taken into consideration, such as equity/health/safety of roadway users, the emergence of autonomous, connected, electric, and shared vehicles (known as ACES), telework/telehealth/e-commerce/e-learning, and climate change.
Community Input
The planning process also provides opportunities for the public to give input. The transportation-specific survey was publicized through numerous channels including a press release. The online survey will be available from August 1 through September 1, 2024 (approximately 4 weeks).
How do we forecast future travel patterns?
In order to create a future travel model (as represented in the year 2045), we consider the following factors:
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In the past 10 years, traffic has fluctuated on an annual basis
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The expected land-use growth in Island County that will affect things like residential homes, businesses, employment, etc.
Who are we planning for?
The Transportation Plan considers the mobility needs for ALL users, including pedestrians, bicycles, transit riders, commercial and freight vehicles, and both single driver and carpool vehicles.
What factors will help
to determine the project list?
In order to identify priority projects the following factors will be considered:
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Intersections or roadways with high traffic congestion
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Areas with gaps in our sidewalk and trail network on key roadways
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Areas with gaps in our bicycle system
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Where could we help improve access to the transit system?
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Feedback from the community.
The County monitors transportation conditions and will seek funding sources and County budget funds to maintain the transportation standards adopted by the Transportation Element.
Contact us
Questions? Comments? Use the form here to get in touch!