Published March 3 2023
Plus, briefing on crisis response team implementation
On Monday, the City Council welcomed Julie Timm, Sound Transit’s new chief executive officer, who provided an update on East Link, the East Link starter line and I-405 Stride Bus Rapid Transit.
East Link light rail includes 10 stations from Seattle’s International District, across I-90 to Mercer Island, through Bellevue and on to Redmond, with six stations in Bellevue. Originally set to open in 2023, Sound Transit announced last August that East Link would experience project delays related to construction quality and durability concerns on the I-90 segment. East Link and the Downtown Redmond Link Extension are anticipated to open together in spring 2025.
In response to the delays, an East Link Starter Line was proposed to operate light rail service between the South Bellevue and Redmond Technology rail stations during the interim period between spring 2024 and spring 2025. In January, the Sound Transit Board of Directors authorized up to $6 million to develop a Starter Line option supported by the City of Bellevue along with the cities of Redmond, Kirkland and stakeholders across the Eastside. Timm expressed optimism and noted that the Sound Transit Board would be asked to consider an action to approve the Starter Line option this fall.
Timm also briefed the council on I-405 Stride BRT, a rapid bus service along a 37-mile corridor from Lynnwood to Burien with ten stations, including the Bellevue Transit Center. The Sound Transit Board-adopted schedule shows the Burien to Bellevue (S1 Line) segment will begin service in 2026, and the Bellevue to Lynnwood (S2 Line) segment will begin service in 2027.
More information is available in the meeting materials.
Briefing on crisis response team implementation
In other business, Bellevue’s police and fire departments were on hand to brief councilmembers and the public on the progress achieved to date in implementing the Community Crisis Assistance Team, or CCAT, program after completion of a successful pilot period for the program in summer 2021. The council authorized full funding for CCAT in the 2023-2024 budget.
The program is currently in the community outreach and data collection phase to ensure diverse voices in the community have input as program decisions are being made, potential partner and peer organizations are consulted for valuable cooperation and learning, and the right data metrics are collected to track program success as the program begins its service to the community.
In addition, the community is invited to attend a public safety forum on March 14, 6:30-8 p.m. where the CCAT program will be discussed and community input sought. The meeting is both in person at North Bellevue Community Center and online.
The full council briefing is available on replay through Bellevue Television.