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Bellingham · BEL-CP-2016 · Pages 95-137

Multimodal Transportation Chapter

The Multimodal Transportation Chapter establishes a Complete Networks approach to transportation planning encompassing pedestrian, bicycle, transit, vehicle, and freight modes. It includes detailed mode shift goals, level-of-service standards, concurrency requirements, and a 20-year capital improvement program with funding tables. The chapter integrates land use and transportation planning to support urban village development, transit-oriented development, and reduction of single-occupancy vehicle trips.

Transportation Economy Environment Social Safety Governance

“Only 4 of 34 Multimodal Transportation Chapter policies (12%) include a concrete, measurable commitment.” Real Record SAY vs DO analysis · Bellingham Comprehensive Plan

About this analysis

Real Record applies the SAY vs DO accountability framework to every chapter of every Washington comprehensive plan we publish. Each policy in the chapter is read individually and scored into one of four buckets:

  • Measurable — the policy names a specific target, deadline, dollar amount, or action that can be verified later.
  • Strong — binding action language (“shall,” “will adopt,” “require”) without a measurable threshold.
  • Aspirational — encouraging or supportive language (“encourage,” “support,” “consider”) with no enforcement.
  • Monitor only — policies that commit to tracking or reporting but not to action.

The accountability score shown in the sidebar is the share of policies in the chapter that landed in the “Measurable” bucket. A score of 0–19 (red) indicates most policies use aspirational language without concrete accountability; 20–49 (orange) is mixed; 50 or higher (green) means the chapter is dominated by measurable commitments.

The underlying text comes from the official adopted comprehensive plan published by the Bellingham planning department. Scoring is performed by Real Record analysts using a structured rubric; the raw policy text and bucket assignments are archived in the Real Record civic data warehouse.

Read the full methodology, sources, and rubric at Real Record · About.

What the Plan Promises
Formal targets adopted in the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan.
Reduce SOV work trips from 68.4% (2010-2014) to 50% by 2036; increase transit to 9%, bicycle to 12%, pedestrian to 10% by 2036; 266-mile Primary Pedestrian Network ($225M to complete); 160-mile Primary Bicycle Network ($30M to complete); $98.36M funding needed 2016-2021; $68.3M needed 2022-2027; $180.9M needed 2028-2037
Goals (6 total)
  • GOAL T-1: Limit urban sprawl by linking land use and transportation planning.
  • GOAL T-2: Provide safe, well-connected, and sustainable mobility options for all users.
  • GOAL T-3: Increase infrastructure for bicycles, pedestrian, and non-single-occupancy vehicle modes of transportation.
  • GOAL T-4: Reduce dependence on single-occupancy vehicles.
  • GOAL T-5: Maintain and improve streets, trails, and other infrastructure.
  • GOAL T-6: Ensure that social equity needs are addressed in all transportation projects.
Stronger Policy Language (19 policies in this chapter)
  • Policy T-11: Require all new development to construct sidewalks on all public streets identified as part of Bellingham's Citywide Pedestrian or Transit Network per City street standards.
  • Policy T-12: Require all new development to construct bike lanes on all arterial streets identified as part of Bellingham's Citywide Bicycle Network per City street standards.
  • Policy T-22: Publish an annual report on adopted LOS standards and adequacy of the Citywide transportation system according to its Multimodal Transportation Concurrency Program and the TRAM.
  • Policy T-29: Assess all new development for transportation impact fees to recover a proportional share of the costs of constructing planned transportation system improvements for 2016-2036.
Show all 19 stronger policies
The four examples above are a representative sample. The remaining 15 stronger policies are catalogued in the Real Record civic data warehouse and indexed by policy number against the adopted plan text. See how policies are scored →
Aspirational / Monitoring Language (11 policies in this chapter)
  • Policy T-3: Encourage higher-density transit-oriented development along certain WTA high-frequency transit routes connecting urban villages.
  • Policy T-16: Employ Transportation Demand Management and Transportation System Management strategies to increase the safety, efficiency, and long-term sustainability of the Citywide multimodal transportation system.
  • Policy T-20: Encourage WCOG to continue reinforcing the link between City sidewalk, bikeway, and transit infrastructure improvements and travel decision-making.
  • Policy T-28: Encourage WSDOT to improve bicycle and pedestrian facility safety in all state highway projects, wherever possible.
Show all 11 aspirational / monitoring policies
The four examples above are a representative sample. The remaining 7 policies in this bucket use language like “encourage,” “support,” “consider,” or “monitor” — phrasing that does not create an enforceable commitment. See how policies are scored →

SAY vs DISCUSS: Did this come up in meetings?

Real Record has not yet indexed any Bellingham briefings tagged to this chapter’s topics. Browse all Bellingham council and planning briefings to see related discussions in context.

View Bellingham Briefings →

SAY vs DO: Where the Money Goes

Departments related to Multimodal Transportation Chapter in Bellingham — what the city actually funds, year over year.

Budget analysis for this chapter is in progress. Real Record has mapped 3 Bellingham departments to this chapter, but the FY2006 / FY2025 line-item totals are not yet loaded into our civic data warehouse. In the meantime, browse the city-wide budget comparison on the index page.