Safer Streets: Worth the Investment
By Move Redmond
Transportation lives at the intersection of the City of Redmond’s values, and you can see that in the way that transportation projects are funded in many different priorities in their biennial budget. A multi-modal transportation system is exactly what helps Redmond be safe, resilient, vibrant, connected, healthy, and sustainable!
Now is the time to Share Your Story
Everyone gets around town and has places they need to go! Every person deserves safe streets. The budget process is a great time to share your transportation story with the City Council. What makes you feel safe or connected? What projects will make a difference in your life? Do you love the new Belred bike lanes and want more connected and protected bike lanes? Does the ADA improvements make life easier for you or a family member? Has the Redlink shuttle been a lifeline in connecting to light rail?
Share your story with Redmond City Council during the October 20th budget hearing.
Want the transportation cliff’s notes of the City of Redmond budget? Great keep reading for more information about some of our favorite items funded in the budget!
Capital Investment Programs & the New Active Transportation Safety Program
What Move Redmond finds most exciting is the new Active Transportation Safety Program in the CIP, here is why. This funding presents an opportunity to fund quick build projects, that allows the City of Redmond to respond to emergent concerns. Instead of waiting for years after a serious injury or fatality happens on our streets, the City of Redmond could use this fund to quickly implement safety improvements. It could also be used to respond when we have more data, for example earlier this year the City of Redmond conducted a speed study and clearly indicated that there are high speeds near schools. Instead of waiting for a tragedy, having an active transportation safety fund could foster swift installation of traffic calming measures near schools. Spokane just launched a similar program, called the Emergency Streets Pilot program.
Currently the $383,000 is allocated to two specific projects in Downtown Redmond on 161st Ave NE and NE 85th. At Move Redmond’s Downtown Walk and Talk we discussed what kind of quick build improvements would be feasible with the current funding and how the designs can ensure safer outcomes for all people using the corridors. We are happy to see these projects funded in the CIP, along with other bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements.
In addition to the Active Transportation Safety Program, the CIP contains many other great projects that center safe, accessible streets, including the ADA transition plan, bike lane improvements on West Lake Sammamish Parkway, 156th and 148th bicycle improvements. The projects in the CIP begin to create a bicycle network that helps Redmond community members take the trails to their destinations on city streets with a low stress network of facilities.
In addition to new Capital projects, we love to see that the City of Redmond also focuses on maintenance and stewardship of existing transportation infrastructure.
Healthy and Sustainable
In this budget priority under Community Stability Investments, you will find funding for Redlink shuttle, which launched this year to help solve the first/ last mile connection to light rail. Redlink was initially funded through a Regional Mobility Grant from WSDOT. Redlink funding is in the budget through 2028, this is necessary funding to keep this free and accessible shuttle functioning in the city. Has Redlink helped you connect to light rail? If so, you might want to share your story about how you’ve used it at the public hearing.
Safe and Resilient
Under this budget priority you can find funding for improvements to street and traffic safety. In this bucket you can find funding for signal and street improvements. It also includes funding for sweeping streets and bike lanes, clearing snow and ice and signage improvements. These are all necessary investments for safety. Included in this bucket is Vision Zero funding a safe routes to school action plan and signage improvements.
If you can’t show up in person to testify with Move Redmond, you can always email your reflections on the budget to budget@redmond.gov
