The City of Bellevue’s Transportation Department oversees essential services and regulatory processes that support safe, efficient, and multimodal use of the city’s infrastructure. The department manages various aspects of mobility and public right-of-way use through coordinated efforts across three teams: Transportation Development Review, Right-of-Way Management, and Franchise Utility Management. Each team plays a critical role in reviewing development proposals and ensure compliance with city standards. These efforts collectively uphold the city's commitment to supporting a transportation network that meets the needs of those who walk, bike, roll or use transit, while promoting health, safety, and welfare within the public right-of-way. More information about each work group can be found below.
Transportation Development Review
Transportation Development Review is a group within Transportation Mobility Management, Mobility Services. Through the Development Services permits, Transportation development review staff review new development proposals to determine the required street frontage improvements for a multimodal transportation system supporting the mobility of people choosing to walk, ride a bike, take transit, or drive vehicles. Transportation Development review staff will also evaluate the development impacts and determine the appropriate transportation system mitigation measures according to the Transportation Codes and the Transportation Design Manual and Complete Street Guide.
Right-of-Way Management
The Right-of-Way Management team is responsible for reviewing and approving construction projects within the public right-of-way. They ensure that all construction activities comply with city standards and policies, maintaining the safety and usability of public spaces. The team focuses on the approval process for construction activities, not setting the requirements for frontage improvements associated with development projects, which are handled by the Transportation Development Review team. Right-of-Way Permits are issued by the Development Services Department. Right-of-way is land designated for public use, such as streets, walkways, sidewalks, bikeways, and horse trails, along with associated air rights, subsurface rights, and easements. Procedures and rules for work within the public right-of-way are found within city’s ROW Procedures Manual and Transportation Codes.
Franchise Utility Management
The Franchise Utility team is responsible for managing and negotiating all existing and new Franchise/Right-of-Way Use Agreements (per the terms of BCC 14.20 and 6.04), Master License agreements and all short and long-term leases for companies operating facilities and systems in Bellevue’s public right-of-way. They are the primary liaison between the city and private franchise utilities. The team also manages the Small Wireless Facility (SWF) program, and coordinates with telecommunication companies through the permitting and construction phases to install pole-mounted SWFs in the public right-of-way (pursuant to BCC 6.08). In addition to SWFs, the Franchise Utility team coordinates with telecom companies in the management, installation, leasing and long-term maintenance of Wireless Communication Facilities in the public right-of-way.