The Redmond City Council received a proposal for the 152nd Avenue Northeast main street scope enhancement and design supplement at its Nov. 12 meeting.

Peter Dane, senior planner for the city’s planning department requested the contract supplement with Perteet for $328,424 to complete both the design of the original project and enhance the project by extending improvements north and south on the 152nd Avenue Northeast main street corridor.

The street in question, 152nd Avenue Northeast, is envisioned as the future main street for Overlake Village. The transportation master plan (adopted in 2013) and the Overlake Village street design guidelines (adopted in 2011) envision upgrading 152nd Avenue to add on-street parking, improved bus stops, bicycle facilities, and sidewalks with amenities such as benches. Ultimately, main street will improve travel choices within the redeveloping neighborhood and to the Overlake Village Light Rail Station.

Current Project

The current project will advance implementations of 152nd Avenue Northeast main street corridor by completing operational improvements on the most challenging segment, Northeast 24th Street to the 2600 Crossing. Improvements at both these intersections are also included.

Dane told council that the design for the original portion of the project has proven to be more complex to complete than originally anticipated. Additional funds are necessary to finish the design.

An example Dane provided was the franchise utilities. He said these external parties have limited knowledge of the location of their infrastructure. This requires additional design coordination and potholing work to complete design of the project.

The intersection at 152nd Avenue Northeast and Northeast 24th Street is proposed to be a protected bicycle intersection and will enhance safety, support a future cycle track intersection, and facilitate bicycle travel on 152nd Avenue Northeast through the largest and busiest intersection on the corridor.

Enhanced project

Dane said there is an opportunity to improve the current project by extending the limits north to the Overlake Village light rail station and south about 200 feet. Dane mentioned this would take advantage of the recently completed Esterra Park development by adding northbound cycle tracks, southbound bicycle lanes, intersection improvements, on-street parking in front of the new retail at Esterra Park. The southern portion of the extension completes and interim bicycle lane from Northeast 20th Street to Northeast 24th Street.

152nd Avenue Northeast would be transformed to be more comfortable for walking, bicycling and riding transit and easier for parking at new retail establishments. Completing the enhanced project and the Overlake Village light rail station, 152nd Avenue Northeast would include dedicated bicycle facilities throughout the corridor from Northeast 20th Street to Northeast 31st Street; interim sidewalk improvements from Northeast 24th Street to the 2600 Crossing, with intersection improvements making it more comfortable to walk, bike and access transit; bus bulbs for the northbound and southbound bus stops on 152nd Avenue Northeast near the 2600 Crossing; and on-street parking on both sides of 152nd Avenue Northeast just south of the 2600 Crossing and at the Esterra Park frontage.

Outcomes

The enhanced project will revise the four-travel-lane roadway section to three lanes between 2600 Crossing and Plaza Street. This is consistent with the vision in the Overlake Village street design guidelines. The project, with the enhanced scope, will provide the first north/south bicycle connection in Overlake Village.

New on-street parking will help support retail and reinforce 152nd Avenue Northeast as the Overlake Village main street and provide easy access to new retail locations at Esterra Park and existing retail south of 2600 Crossing.

Completion of the enhanced scope and the other roadway network improvements will play an important role in the transformation of 152nd Avenue Northeast into the Overlake Village main street and will improve travel choices to the Overlake Village light rail station just in time for its opening in 2023.

The proposal is scheduled for council action for Dec. 3.

For a more detailed description of the project, go to www.redmond.gov/council.

152nd Avenue Northeast main street project map. Image courtesy of city of Redmond

152nd Avenue Northeast main street project map. Image courtesy of city of Redmond 152nd Avenue Northeast main street bicycle facilities map. Image courtesy of city of Redmond