The votes are in!
Thank you to Downtown/BelRed residents for your participation in the Neighborhood Enhancement Program.
Two new capital improvement projects will be funded from the $491,000 Downtown/BelRed allotted budget, thanks to the 523 ballots that were returned:
NE 8th St. Pedestrian Enhancements Over Interstate 405
This project will improve safety for pedestrians crossing the I-405 ramps along NE 8th St. by marking crosswalks, adding rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFBs) and signalizing crossings at select locations. Existing concrete islands will be modified with shortened crosswalk lengths and vegetation. Excess pavement will be removed, and landscaping added to buffer pedestrians and improve the appearance of this important entrance into Downtown and BelRed. Since the overall project cost exceeds the funding allocation from NEP, other city programs will also support project implementation. Additional funding will be provided from the Enhanced ROW/Urban Boulevards (CIP CD-22) and Downtown Community Development Implementation (CIP CD-37) programs.
Project Manager: Chris Iverson (425-452-6461); CIverson@bellevuewa.gov.
Downtown Park Southeast Corner Stairs
This project will construct a new stairway at the southeast corner of the park to allow access to the Promenade from the existing crosswalk. Currently park users are walking up the landscaped slope to enter the park, deteriorating the landscape. New stairs will be constructed of concrete and include a metal handrail.
Project Manager: Ken Kroeger (425-452-4624): KKroeger@bellevuewa.gov
The Downtown/BelRed NEP kicked off in January 2019 with 87 resident-identified project ideas submitted. Those projects were then reviewed for accessibility, feasibility, cost, timeliness and maintainability to determine which were eligible to become ballot projects. 22 projects were chosen and voted on by area residents. The top two projects receiving votes (listed above) will be installed over the next 3-5 years.
NEP is a commitment from Bellevue’s City Council to provide residents with the opportunity to enhance their individual neighborhood areas through city-funded, small capital improvement projects. In 2015, the Council approved $5-million for the program over a seven-year period to serve two NEP programs a year. The budget is distributed among each of the NEP neighborhood areas, according to the number of households in each area.
For more information about the specifics of the city’s NEP program, contact NEP Coordinator, Theresa Cuthill at tcuthill@bellevuewa.gov.