Parking Removal for Bike and Pedestrian Upgrades

To make space for pedestrian and bicycle upgrades, some on-street parking will need to be removed for a few of the 2023 transportation projects approved by the Bellingham City Council in the 6-year Transportation Improvement Program. The project areas include:

• W. Illinois Street (Sunset to Lynn)
• Meridian Street (East Victor to West Illinois)
• Girard Street (Broadway to Young)
• Eldridge Ave (Broadway to Nequalicum)
• Cornwall Ave (Laurel to Pine)

The City of Bellingham prioritizes pedestrians, bicyclists and people over single-occupancy vehicles, both driving and parked (Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan). Parking studies help guide the decisions of where to remove parking to implement the 2012 Pedestrian Master Plan and 2014 Bicycle Master Plan.

Parking studies have been completed for the project areas listed above. The parking study results, along with project overviews, were presented to the Transportation Commission on September 13, 2022. The Transportation Commission is an advisory panel that helps shape the future of Bellingham by taking a long-range, strategic look at transportation issues (BMC 2.44). The Transportation Commission's recommendations on the removal of on-street parking were presented to the City Council in October 2023. Impacted and interested community members shared their support or concerns about one or more of the proposed 2023 parking removal projects on the City Council- General Public Comment page, during the public comment session at the Transportation Commission meeting on September 13, and at the public hearing that will be held on October 3 at 7 pm during the Bellingham City Council meeting.

Community members who live adjacent to one of the proposed projects were notified through a mailed project flyer and were provided a survey that will partially inform the Transportation Commission about community support of these projects. All community members were invited to participate in the survey (below).