Creating Connections
PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT The legislation that established the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) described several expectations for the group’s work, including • Coordinate planning and development activities to the extent possible to ensure effective use of the southern portion of the Eastside Rail Corridor (ERC) and the Redmond Spur. • Oversee the partner planning process including implementing and coordinating the trail, high-capacity transit, and utility uses in the ERC. • Coordinating with affected cities around local planning and development. • Address both near-term and long-term recommendations. • Recommend any needed changes to the county’s countywide planning policies. • Reach out to a broad spectrum of stakeholders. This report provides a summary of the RAC’s work to accomplish those objectives, and identifies actions necessary to continue this collaborative approach among the owners. The report begins by describing the RAC’s vision for the corridor, the history of the ERC, and the process used by the RAC to develop these recommendations. In the subsequent chapters the report • Details the current conditions in the corridor, broken into five planning segments. It describes current uses adjacent to the corridor, the major constraints that will need to be resolved (pinch points, steep slopes, narrow trestles, etc.), opportunities for connections (trails, high-capacity transit, parks, utility corridors, etc.), and any significant plans of neighboring communities that could impact the corridor. • Presents several Principles developed by the RAC to guide more detailed recommendations. • Makes recommendations divided into several sections: Creation of a regional legacy for future generations, outlining plans to promote the corridor as a regional spine for mobility and economic development, be developed to capture local culture, history, and scenic values, and reflect the values of public health, public safety, equity and social justice, and sustainability.
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