A RESOLUTION relating to the Bridging the Gap transportation funding package, stating the Mayor and City Council's intent regarding future implementation of this package, including support for "Complete Streets", and superseding Resolution 30902.

WHEREAS, the City has developed a funding proposal ("Bridging the Gap") to address the deteriorating condition of Seattle's transportation infrastructure and provide targeted system enhancements, which combines revenues generated from property taxes, a business transportation tax, and a commercial parking tax; and

WHEREAS the City has determined that the property tax element of Bridging the Gap proposal can best be implemented through a phased approach, rather than single 20-year tax measure; and

WHEREAS, the proposed funding sources for Bridging the Gap are the best available to the City at this time, but the City has long sought State authority to use alternative sources that have a better link with use of the City's transportation infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, City policy as stated in the Transportation Strategic Plan and the Seattle Comprehensive Plan is to encourage walking, bicycling and transit use as safe, convenient and widely available alternative modes of transportation for all Seattleites; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council are committed to providing the public with detailed information on how Bridging the Gap revenues would be used; and

WHEREAS, it will be necessary for the Seattle Department of Transportation to develop significant additional capacity to design and manage transportation maintenance and improvement programs and projects;

NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING:

Section 1. Resolution 30902 is hereby superseded.

Section 2. The Mayor and City Council intend to work with other interested parties to develop and gain State approval for new, stable local transportation funding sources that provide a better link between the use of the City's transportation network and the tax or fee assessed. If the authority for such sources is secure and they provide sufficient and reliable revenues, the Mayor and Council will substitute these new funding sources for part or all of the commercial parking tax, the business transportation tax, and/or the voter-approved property tax levy lid lift.

Section 3. The Mayor and City Council support the principles of "Complete Streets" (see Attachment 1) and will work with SDOT so that to the maximum practicable extent, all Bridging the Gap projects will provide appropriate accommodation for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and disabled persons while promoting safe operation for cars and trucks. The City Council will work with SDOT and the Mayor to assess the feasibility of an ordinance adopting Complete Street principles. The City Council and Mayor expect these principles will be incorporated into the Department's Transportation Strategic Plan; Seattle Transit Plan; Pedestrian Master Plan; Bicycle Master Plan; and other SDOT plans, manuals, rules, regulations and programs as appropriate. Except in unusual or extraordinary circumstances, "Complete Streets" principles will not apply:

* To streets classified as Major Truck Streets where preferable alternatives exist;

* To repairs made pursuant to the Pavement Opening and Restoration Rule (SDOT Director's Rule 2004-02);

* To ordinary maintenance activities designed to keep assets in serviceable condition (e.g. mowing, cleaning, sweeping, spot repair and surface treatments such as chip seal);

* Where the SDOT Director concludes that application of Complete Street principles is unnecessary or inappropriate because it would be contrary to public safety;

* When the cost would be excessively disproportionate to the need or probable use (more than 20% of the total project cost); and,

* Where other available means or factors indicate an absence of need.

Complete Streets may be achieved through a single project or incrementally through a series of smaller improvements or maintenance activities over time. It is the Mayor's and Council's intent that all sources of transportation funding could be drawn upon to implement Complete Streets. The City believes that maximum financial flexibility is important to implement Complete Streets principles.

Section 4. The Mayor and City Council have identified a specific set of transportation priorities and have developed a longterm, 20-year spending plan to be implemented in phases that summarizes how the City now anticipates allocating the revenues generated from the new tax sources that are dedicated to transportation purposes. This plan, which is attached as Attachment 2, summarizes the annual funding levels that are now projected for each element of the overall strategy for investing in the City's transportation infrastructure. As project time lines evolve, cost and revenue estimates are refined, new priorities emerge and as yet unforeseen opportunities arise, appropriate modifications will be made to this plan. However, such modifications will be consistent with the legal restrictions imposed within the Bridging the Gap levy lid lift ordinance and the following funding priorities.

Bridging the Gap Funding Priorities

The additional tax revenues to be generated from the commercial parking tax, the business transportation tax, and/or the voterapproved property tax levy lid lift are intended to fund (or partially fund):

1. Improved maintenance and rehabilitation of the City's existing transportation network, including its bridges, arterial roadways, signals and signs, sidewalks and stairways, bicycle trails, street trees, etc;

2. Enhancements that improve safety and enhance the opportunities for alternative transportation methods, including transit ridership, biking and walking; and

3. A specific set of system enhancements including: upgrades to the Spokane Street Viaduct, construction of a new overpass on S. Lander Street, implementation of the Mercer Corridor Project, and the restoration and rehabilitation of the King Street Station.

Section 5. Notwithstanding the inclusion of funding for King Street Station improvements in this transportation funding package, the City has not made a decision to maintain long-term ownership of King Street Station in the event the City acquires King Street Station or to assume the lead role in improving or operating it.

Section 6. The Mayor and City Council recognize that in addition to providing significant additional funding for Seattle transportation projects, the City must expand its capacity to manage and cost-effectively deliver transportation improvements. SDOT is therefore requested to provide to the Mayor and Council, by no later than June 30, 2007, a staffing plan showing the new positions needed to complete Phase I of the projects shown in the 20-year Bridging the Gap spending plan. This initial phase corresponds to the projects that will be implemented over the first nine years of the overall plan. This staffing plan will identify the proposed schedule for adding the required personnel, summarize the cost of these personnel (per position), describe, in detail, the approach that will taken to recruiting and hiring the additional personnel, and report what progress has then been made to date in implementing this plan.

Adopted by the City Council the _____ day of _____________, 2006, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this _____ day of ________________, 2006.

________________________________________

President __________ of the City Council

THE MAYOR CONCURRING:

______________________________

Mayor

Filed by me this ______ day of _________________, 2006.

________________________________________

City Clerk

(Seal)

Attachment 1: Seattle's Complete Streets Principles

Attachment 2: 20-Year Spending Plan

(Ver. 3)

Seattle's "Complete Streets" Principles

Guiding Principle: To design, operate and maintain Seattle's streets to promote safe and convenient access and travel for all users; pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and disabled users, as well as cars and trucks.

This will be accomplished by -

1. Designing, operating and maintaining the transportation network to improve travel conditions for bicyclists, pedestrians, transit and freight, in a manner consistent with and supportive of the surrounding community;

2. Providing where practical an array of facilities and amenities that are recognized as contributing to Complete Streets, including: street and sidewalk lighting; pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements; access improvements for freight; access improvements in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; public transit facilities accommodation, including but not limited to pedestrian access improvement to transit stops and stations; street trees and landscaping; and street amenities all consistent with Section 3 of the Resolution; and

3. Implementing policies and procedures with the construction, reconstruction or other changes of transportation facilities on arterial streets to support the creation of Complete Streets including capital improvements, rechannelization projects and major maintenance, recognizing that all streets are different and in each case user needs must be balanced.