The city of Bellevue, WA has won a 2022 Governor’s Smart Communities Award from the state Department of Commerce for its Mobility Implementation Plan (MIP). The Plan is a long-range framework designed to help city officials decide on project investments in the transportation system based on all the varying modalities currently in use, and their compatibility with the city’s land use plan. Washington state’s Governor’s Smart Communities Award recognizes local governments for outstanding work in creating vibrant and livable communities by achieving the goals of its Growth Management Act.
The MIP was developed by the city’s Transportation Commission and has four main goals: improve safety; consider equity; support growth; and improve access and mobility. Importantly, it relies on public input to define what people want in their transportation system, the quality of life they expect, and what all users need to reach their destinations.
The MIP incorporates elements such as multimodal concurrency, equity, sustainability, performance metrics, and performance targets. Multimodal concurrency takes into account multiple transit modalities – such as driving, walking, bicycling, and using public transit – when planning and building projects that accommodate anticipated growth. It is expected that this multimodal approach would create a more equitable, sustainable way to identify, prioritize, and fund transportation system projects.
“We are honored to receive this award as we look towards an increasingly multimodal future where our community has many transportation modes to choose from,” said Transportation Director Andrew Singelakis. “Thanks to Gov. Jay Inslee and the state Department of Commerce for recognizing the work of our Transportation Commission and our talented planners. The vision and support of our City Council has been crucial.”