31.07.090 Goals, objectives, and policies

31.07.090 Goals, objectives, and policies.

This section discusses the plan for future transportation in the City. The timing of development and provision of services are key components of this planning process. In addition to the discussion below, a future land use map has been developed to illustrate the various land uses and growth management strategies.

The analysis of existing conditions and projected needs in the previous section highlighted the areas of concern and opportunities for Forks. The vision statement for the City of Forks was used, along with the inventory and analysis contained in this element to create a plan. The plan contains a strategy for achievement of the City’s goals in light of the existing conditions in the City. The goals and policies within the plan provide guidelines and positive actions.

The plan and policies for transportation issues in the City of Forks are organized as follows:

•Vision Statement Goals: These goals are essential to the quality of life in the City of Forks.

•Transportation Goals: These goals describe concepts to be used in decision-making. These goals are based on the existing conditions and projected changes in the City, and will be revised as the City changes.

•Plan Concept: A discussion relating the findings of the inventory and analysis to the goals and vision of the community. This should outline the strategies that will guide future growth and development in the community.

•Policies: The policies specify what should be accomplished to reach the goals. These policies either provide clear guidance for decision-making when a situation arises, or provide clear responsibilities that will be implemented. The accomplishments under these policies can be used to measure progress toward the goals.

(1) GOAL I: To provide an effective roadway network with adequate capacity to meet, at the adopted level of service (LOS) standard, the demand for travel in the City.

(a) Objective A: The City will provide safe, convenient, and efficient transportation for all residents and visitors to the City. This will include improvements to existing facilities as well as extensions of transportation to new developments.

Policy 1: The City and the County will continue to require appropriate signage for designation of streets, and for providing protection to pedestrian, bicycle and driving populations.

Policy 2: The City will continue to work with County and State agencies for the purposes of expanding regional transportation to the FUGA and destinations in the westend of Clallam and Jefferson Counties.

Policy 3: By 1998, the City will develop a long-term plan for sidewalk construction and expansion from the central business core of the FUGA to outlying population centers.

Policy 4: The City will continue to require the usage of City approved signs for new roadways created by developers of new housing developments.

Policy 5: The City and County will continue to review development proposals for impacts upon surface water runoff, and where necessary to ensure safety of road conditions, require additional drainage requirements.

Policy 6: By 1998, the City will conduct a parking study for the central business district to determine what means are available to provide additional safe parking in the FUGA’s business core.

Policy 7: By 2000, the City will develop and begin implementing means of reducing congestion within the central business core of the FUGA.

(b) Objective B: By 2012, increase the mileage of avenues for non-motorized travel by at least 15 percent over the 1995 base condition.

Policy 1: Within one year of plan adoption, the City will formulate and adopt regulations requiring developers of new housing projects to incorporate road width, sidewalks, and drainage requirements into such developments.

Policy 2: By 1998, the City will coordinate the development of the long-term sidewalk construction plan with businesses, residential communities and the school district within two years of identification.

Policy 3: The City will continue to incorporate regular and routine consideration of bicycles in accordance with the Washington Department of Transportation, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards into future transportation improvements.

Policy 4: The City will develop a non-motorized transportation and recreation trails plan.

(c) Objective C: By 2012, the City will reduce the accident rate at representative locations on the roadway system within the City by at least 15 percent.

Policy 1: The City will identify specific high accident intersections on both the collector and arterial system within two years of plan adoption.

Policy 2: Within one year of identification, the City will include into its transportation improvement plan efforts to reduce those intersections identified as high accident intersections.

Policy 3: By 1999, the City will perform required and requested maintenance activities related to traffic control devices and roadway material within guidelines established by the Department of Public Works.

Policy 4: The City and the County will maintain needed traffic data such as traffic counts and accident data to support studies, planning and operational activities for the Department of Public Works.

Policy 5: By 1998, the City will conduct a study to identify what standards should be developed which enhance the safety of pedestrians and motorists in regard to sidewalk design and maintenance, lighting requirements, signs, and access to properties.

(d) Objective D: The City will ensure that the transportation system is adequate to serve all existing and future land uses. This will require coordinate with the Land Use Plan and with the transportation plans of adjacent jurisdiction. In addition, to ensure that a consistent level of service is provided, the City will develop a concurrency management system, will explore alternative for demand management, and will secure adequate financing for transportation.

Policy 1: The City will review all development proposals, rezoning and vacating petitions, variance request, subdivision plats, and commercial construction site plans to ensure coordination with the transportation element.

Policy 2: The City will require that future developments incorporating new streets will be paved.

(e) Objective E: By 1995, the City will review all future proposed roadway corridors with respect to safety, stormwater management and critical areas so as to minimize any problems.

Policy 1: New roads constructed by the City or County, or constructed as part of an approved development, will be designed to encourage safety and welfare of residents. In addition, new roads will be routed so as to avoid transversing publicly owned natural preserves, parks and recreation areas, and areas identified as critical wildlife habitat.

Policy 2: All road construction projects will meet or exceed the minimum requirements for road width, stormwater runoff, and accessibility and usage by emergency services.

Policy 3: Within three (3) years of plan adoption, the City will adopt an official right-of-way map identifying future right-of-way needs based on this transportation element.

(f) Objective F: By 2012, provide a cost affordable level of service for the roadway network of the City of Forks.

Policy 1: The City and the County will maintain an annually updated listing of analyzed and prioritized road improvement needs based on the transportation element.

Policy 2: By 1998, the City will develop a long range plan for the further development of a FUGA roadway network associated with the level of service standards discussed in this Plan.

Policy 3: Upon the annual date of adoption, the City’s concurrency management system will be revised as part of the annual review and amendment of the Comprehensive Plan.

Policy 4: The City and the County will adopt and enforce ordinances which ensure that future development will not cause the level of service on transportation facilities to decline below the standards adopted in this element.

Policy 5: The City will coordinate with the Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization to ensure that consistency and compatibility between transportation plans.

(g) Objective G: By 1999, the City should develop and expand mechanisms to reduce the demand for transportation facilities through the use of transportation demand strategies, such as car/van pool.

Policy 1: By 1998, the City and the County will develop a plan to designate “park-and-ride” areas that encourage the usage of car pools, van pools, and public transit.

Policy 2: The City and the County will work to further expand the current transit system so that it provides seven (7) days-a-week coverage of major tourist routes, as a means of reducing tourist related traffic congestion. In furtherance of this policy, the transit provider will develop a method of marketing the transit as a viable option to travel in Clallam County.