Draft EIS - Thurston Highlands Master Planned CommunityIPM.Note
Draft EIS - Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community
Grant Beck
Dennis Bloom
Grant Beck
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Draft EIS - Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community
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Subject: Draft EIS - Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:15:41 -0700
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Thread-Topic: Draft EIS - Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community
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From: "Dennis Bloom" <DBloom@intercitytransit.com>
To: <highlands@ci.yelm.wa.us>
Cc: "Karla Hubbell" <KHubbell@intercitytransit.com>, "Cheryl Arnett"
<CArnett@intercitytransit.com>, "Marc Jones"
<MJones@intercitytransit.com>
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Dennis Bloom
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DBloom@intercitytransit.com
Karla Hubbell; Cheryl Arnett; Marc Jones
Thurston Highlands
Draft EIS - Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community
Grant Beck
Director
Community Development Department
City of Yelm
Re: Draft EIS - Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community
Mr. Beck,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Draft EIS for the
proposed Thurston Highlands development. As you know, Intercity Transit
has been providing public transportation to the residents of Yelm for
over 20 years. With the anticipation of significant increases in both
residential and commercial development within the Thurston Highlands
over 15 plus years we would certainly anticipate improving a number of
transportation options to those that may be interested in using public
transportation. I expect there will be plenty of challenges as well as
opportunities for the City as there will be for agencies that provide
public services to the Yelm community.
The Draft EIS, as you know, contains a number of references to “public
transportation” in the document as well as in a technical document on
Transportation Impact Analysis. In these instances the developer
suggests they will work with Intercity Transit to provide locations for
bus stops, shelters, layover areas for future service within and
throughout the development in order to support the use of flexible and
fixed routed bus service. It is also noted a reference for the provision
of a “park & ride” or “transit center” facility within the development.
(Draft EIS, Chapter 3, Section 17, Public Transportation Impacts –
3.17.6.6, pg 3.17 – 38.)
Intercity Transit is pleased that the developer acknowledges the
importance of transportation options as well as actively supporting the
opportunity to improve access to public transit. We do however have some
comments concerning the Draft EIS:
a) Provisions for locating bus stops and providing stop amenities
should become a condition of development and mitigation.
b) Bus stop locations be no more than a ¼ mile of residential housing
(up to a 5 – 10 minute walk for most).
c) Bus stops and sidewalks/pathways associated with the stops be
constructed to meet federal ADA requirements for accessibility.
d) Develop a series of pedestrian and other non-motorized
transportation pathways and/or trails (e.g., “safe routes to school”)
that provide more direct or shortest path to an arterial street so that
people aren’t required to walk “the long way around” to reach a bus stop
for public schools and transit.
e) Develop bicycle storage areas at or near public areas including
retail areas, bus stops, parks, etc.
f) Development of a Park & Ride or transit center, as suggested in
the Draft, have very different functions. If the intent of the developer
is to set aside land for either type of facility the location would be a
significant factor in its undertaking. At this point in time, Intercity
Transit would simply suggest that Phase 2 or 3 of the development would
probably provide a better sense of timing for what is feasible. However,
there is little detail, analysis or provision noted in any Phase for
such a facility. It should be noted, too, that Intercity Transit has
previously requested during the study and planning for the WSDOT Yelm
Loop 2 and 3 that a park & ride be included within the scope of that
project. Since park & rides are traditionally better suited near limited
access roads (highways and interstates) we would expect that any
provision for another park & ride in or near the Thurston Highlands be
situated close to a major traffic corridor so that its function provides
easy access for vehicles and transit alike. However, a development of
smaller “park & pool lots”, which is more in line with those that
carpool or vanpool or smaller neighborhood park & rides associated with
bus service, could be located near retail centers or shared use parking
lots or activity centers. A community park or recreational center where
weekday parking is abundant might be a consideration.
As with any provision for public transit service, residential density is
key component on how successful a particular route can be. Even with the
current increase in fuel costs the ability to attract and maintain a
ridership base is dependent on convenience, frequency and
directness/travel time. While there is currently only one transit route
that operates in Yelm, Intercity Transit is certainly interested in
working with the City and the developer to help plan for service
improvements. Likewise, we would suggest that the Final EIS be
reflective of those interests.
Thank you again for the opportunity to provide comment on the Draft EIS.
If there are any questions or if you need additional clarification about
my comments please, feel free to contact me directly at your earliest
convenience.
Sincerely,
Dennis Bloom
Planning Manager
Intercity Transit
V: 360.705.5832
W: Intercitytransit.com
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Grant Beck
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Thurston Highlands
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ThurstonHighlands
highlands@ci.yelm.wa.us
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highlands@ci.yelm.wa.us
Karla Hubbell
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KHubbell@intercitytransit.com
Karla Hubbell
Karla Hubbell
Cheryl Arnett
SMTP
CArnett@intercitytransit.com
Cheryl Arnett
Cheryl Arnett
Marc Jones
SMTP
MJones@intercitytransit.com
Marc Jones
Marc Jones