Regional transportation planning is getting a major refresh in Whatcom County: the Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG) has launched the next five-year update to the region's long-range transportation plan, now looking out to 2050 under the working title "Whatcom Transport 2050." Residents across all of Whatcom County are being asked to weigh in on what transportation investments should look like over the next two decades.
The current plan, known as "Way To Go, Whatcom," was last updated in 2022. The new update cycle comes at a particularly consequential moment: regional, national, and global changes since 2022 have raised new questions about everything from Interstate 5 capacity to bike and pedestrian infrastructure, regional bus networks, and proposals for entirely new transportation facilities.
"Even though it's a twenty-year plan, regional, national, and global changes since the last plan update in 2022 have brought increased attention and new questions about various issues," said Hugh Conroy, WCOG's director. "As we work on the plan update over the next year we'd really like to hear from people about their priorities and ideas for things like Interstate 5, road safety, bike and pedestrian routes, regional bus routes, proposals for new facilities."
The Regional/Metropolitan Transportation Plan (R/MTP) is the guiding document for how elected leaders across Whatcom County prioritize and allocate federal, state, and local transportation funding. The plan covers roads, highways, bridges, transit, bike lanes, pedestrian paths, and other infrastructure used by residents in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Birch Bay, Everson, Sumas, and unincorporated communities throughout the county.
To make early engagement accessible, WCOG has set up a virtual open house on its website where community members can review the current plan, learn how the R/MTP shapes investment decisions, and share their priorities and ideas for the update. The open house is available at wcog.org and allows participation without attending any in-person or virtual meeting.
For those who want to engage more directly, WCOG will hold community meetings and public workshops over the coming months as part of the update process. The City of Lynden, which published the announcement through its news feed, is one of many municipalities within WCOG's planning area. The council coordinates transportation planning for all cities and the county itself, meaning the final plan will shape infrastructure priorities from the Canadian border to the Skagit County line.
Transportation plans of this scope take about a year to complete and require formal adoption by elected bodies across the region. Public comment during the early stages tends to have the most influence, before preferred alternatives are narrowed and budgets are set. Residents with strong opinions about local issues like the Meridian Street corridor, bike access on South Bellingham's trails, I-5 interchange improvements, or expanded bus service between communities are encouraged to engage early.
To participate in the virtual open house or learn more about the Whatcom Transport 2050 update process, visit wcog.org. Questions can be directed to WCOG at their Bellingham office.
