MEMO TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Carol Helland, Planning and Community Development Director
SUBJECT:
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Sound Transit Light Rail Quarterly Update
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION
recommendation
Receive quarterly update on Sound Transit light rail project in Redmond.
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II. DEPARTMENT CONTACTS
Carol Helland, Director 425-556-2107
Don Cairns, P.E., Transportation Planning and Engineering Manager 425-556-2834
Max Miller, P.E., Transportation Engineer 425-556-2496
Jeff Churchill, AICP, Transportation Strategic Advisor 425-556-2492
Department of Planning and Community Development
Dave Juarez, Director 425-556-2733
Mike Paul, P.E., Transportation Strategic Advisor 425-556-2724
Patty Criddle, P.E., Senior Engineer 425-556-2736
Public Works Department
III. DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND
Overview of Light Rail in Redmond
Sound Transit is extending light rail to Redmond, with two stations opening in 2023 - Overlake Village and Redmond Technology, and two stations opening in 2024 - Southeast Redmond and Downtown Redmond. Light rail to Redmond is part of East Link - a 17.4-mile, 12-station extension of light rail from Seattle to Redmond via Mercer Island and Bellevue. When all four Redmond stations are open in 2024, people will be able to take light rail from Redmond to communities including Bellevue, Seattle, south to Sea-Tac and Federal Way, and north to Lynnwood, with several opportunities to connect to bus service in the region. Light rail will provide the community with a new reliable and sustainable mobility option. Light rail will operate separate from city streets through much of Sound Transit’s system, including all the alignment in Redmond.
The following topics are discussed in Attachment A:
• Overlake construction update and closeout
• Redmond Technology Station Bridge construction update
• Downtown Redmond Link Extension construction outlook for 2020
• Upcoming outreach activities
• City Council Actions anticipated in 2020
IV. PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS HELD
March 10, 2020: first quarter 2020 update. Topics addressed in March:
1. Redmond stations and station access
2. Betterments
3. ST property acquisition overview
4. Bus service after light rail opens
5. Community engagement overview
6. Update on light rail construction activities in 2020
7. Update on City Council actions in 2020
Link to March materials: <https://redmond.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4389858&GUID=E71C0688-B752-447F-9E90-E4F91959ED13&Options=&Search=>
V. IMPACT
A. Service/Delivery:
The extension of light rail to Redmond is critical to achieving Redmond’s vision for a connected community as described in the Comprehensive Plan and Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The 2013 TMP stated a goal in Chapter 5 Regional Transportation: “The City of Redmond is working to bring light rail to Downtown and Southeast Redmond by 2030.” That goal was exceeded by collaborating with Sound Transit to accelerate the delivery date to 2024 combined with a successful ST3 vote in 2016. Past and ongoing collaboration with Sound Transit is now helping to keep light rail construction on schedule in Redmond.
B. Fiscal Note:
None.
VI. ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
This is an informational briefing and staff is not recommending a specific action.
VII. TIME CONSTRAINTS
The Council requested quarterly updates. The update for the second quarter should occur by June 30.
VIII. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Light Rail in Redmond Supplemental Information for Second Quarter 2020
Attachment B: Presentation Slides