HomeMy WebLinkAbout062216 Todd, Jim - Post-docket Amber Long
Subject:
From: J T [mailto:jstkt((hotmaH.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2016 1:59 PM
To: Amber Long
Subject: PT Comp Plan Revision 2016
PT Planning Commission (PTPC): Since the 1996 Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan (PTCP) was created by a
tremendous effort of the PT community, the 2016 revision (RPTCP) should only reflect changes that are
necessary to maintain a viable document or express a change in public opinion.
The concept of city-wide, vehicle-free sidewalks for pedestrian use only is expressed in the Transportation
Element of PTCP [Chapter 6, Goal 5,policies 5.3 (a, f), 5.13 (a), 5.24 (b)] and in the Pedestrian Element of the
Non-Motorized Transportation Plan [NMTP; 8 Dec 2014 edition (ordinances 2643, 3056, 3119 of PTMC),pages
27-30, 42, 43].
The RPTCP being considered by the PTPC on 23 Jun 2016 has eliminated reference to vehicle-free sidewalks
from the Transportation Element of PTCP:
(1) The language of the RPTCP for policy 5.3 (a) completely changes the original meaning.
(2) RPTCP has removed the suggestions for the safest route to school transportation facilities in policy 5.13
[particularly 5.13 (a)]. To avoid confusion with the WSDOT SRTS program, the second sentence of policy 5.13
could be "The City, School District, and private institutions should jointly prepare the maps and implement the
design and construction of pedestrian and bicycle facilities in and adjacent to school zones that would include:
(list items "a" through "g" of policy 5.13)".
(3) The RPTCP removes policy 5.24 because it is covered by policy 5.16. Problem: Policy 5.16 does not mention
the difference between sidewalks and bike ways.
I urge the PTCP to maintain the vision of the PTCP by incorporating the PTCP language that supports the
concept of city-wide, vehicle-free sidewalks into the RPTCP. This action would also support statements made in
the NMTP.
Jim Todd, PT (22 Jun 2016)
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PC-32