Published January 11 2024
Plus, Bellevue’s unique niches in economic development report, MLK Day and Korean American Day proclamations
On Monday, the City Council was briefed on several overlapping construction projects taking place this year in South Bellevue and expected to cause travel delays.
The projects include two city Utilities projects and two state Department of Transportation projects, all of which will have lane closures impacting traffic. The presentation to the council described the scope of the projects, the construction schedules and expected impacts to residents, businesses and commuters.
The Utilities projects on Lakemont Boulevard and Factoria Boulevard are being done to address public safety and environmental hazards. The Lakemont project is an emergency closure to reinforce the roadway and protect it from risk of flooding or collapsing. The Factoria storm drain replacement project must be completed now to accommodate easement agreements, permitting requirements and funding timelines for a King County Flood Control District investment of almost $7 million.
City staff presented mitigation measures being implemented to help lessen the impact to traffic, such as adaptive traffic signals, traffic monitoring cameras, flaggers and uniformed police officers, detours and variable message signs, and extended work hours to complete construction faster.
The community will be informed early and often about traffic impacts through the city’s website and social media channels. A hotline will also be established in March for the community to ask questions and provide feedback as lane closures begin on Factoria Boulevard.
The full presentation is available on Bellevue Television’s replay of the meeting.
Bellevue’s unique niches highlighted in economic development report
The council also received a quarterly update on economic development activities to foster and support strong and diverse economic activity, quality of life and place, and business growth in Bellevue and the region.
Although ongoing layoffs in the region continue as a result of the national macroeconomic environment, downtown office demand increased in late 2023, some businesses announced opening or expansions and international firms showed business development interest in Bellevue in the fourth quarter of 2023. Arts and entrepreneurship are expected to continue as drivers in Bellevue for livability, placemaking and business diversity. Further opportunity exists in niche areas where Bellevue has strength and capacity to support growth.
The city is expected to launch the next update process for its Five-Year Economic Development Plan at the end of this year. More detailed information on the quarterly update is available in the meeting materials.
Council proclaims MLK Day and Korean American Day in Bellevue
In other business, a proclamation was read for Martin Luther King Jr. Day to honor and celebrate the civil rights icon. The council welcomed representatives from the Bellevue Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., who has partnered with the city to produce an annual MLK Celebration and Health Fair for 20 years. This year’s event will be held in person at Crossroads Bellevue on Monday, Jan. 15 (MLK Day), 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The council also proclaimed Saturday, Jan. 13, as Korean American Day in Bellevue, to commemorate the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States and to honor the contributions and cultural influences of Korean Americans in Bellevue and our region. Korean is the third-most spoken language in Bellevue.
NOTE: The council will not meet on MLK Day. The council’s next meeting will be on Monday, Jan. 22.