RPLA, Rubenkonig Planning & Landscape Architecture, has been triply rewarded for the Bellingham 25th Street Transportation Improvement Project. This time Greenroads International will grant Silver standing —at the April 17th Annual Award Ceremony. As part of the team RPLA designed the pedestrian pathway and the Native, non-invasive vegetation— that does not require irrigation— to clean and filter stormwater.

1. Transportation Benefit District Project
25th Street Bike and Pedestrian Improvements
City of Bellingham
Public Works Department

2. Conceptual Plan
• Original plans
developed in 2009 by
WWU to serve their
long –term interests
• Improve student
access to campus
• Provide green space,
rain garden and
pocket park

3. Early Designs
Stakeholders
• City
• WWU
• Neighbors
• Parks Department
Design Criteria
• Inclusive
• Effective
• Integrated

4. Site Characteristics and Challenges
• Retain mature trees
• Change of grade
• Accessibility
• Fine tuning the design for
stakeholders
• Resolving the differences: different
strokes for different folks

5. Sustainable,
Environmental and
Native
Collaborate with Parks
Department to:
• Retain existing mature trees
• Add trees, shrubs and
ground covers
• Street trees of different
heights
• Use an Arborist as needed
• Remove non-natives
• Vegetation was required to
be easy, hardy, & drought
tolerant

6. Effective Aesthetics
Roadside plantings:
• Slow Traffic
• Separate pedestrians and
vehicles
• Improve pedestrian visibility
and safety
• Reduce heat-island effect.
Bio-retention facility plantings:
• Dramatic increase in uptake
and filtering of storm water
borne pollutants by new
plants and amended soils

7. Project Summary
• Access and safety improved
for non-motorized modes of
transportation by reducing
or separating points of
conflict with vehicles
• Increased overall corridor
capacity, functionality and
circulation for all users
• Improved & enhanced
stormwater quality and
runoff controls
• Provided visual
improvements and positive
environmental impacts
• ADA standards achieved