Published October 6 2016
Also, marijuana regulations and international recognition for adaptive signal system
The City Council on Monday unanimously approved funding to pay the required administrative costs to apply for a $100 million federal loan.
The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan would help pay for construction of five key mobility projects to support projected future growth in the BelRed area, as well as in the Wilburton and downtown areas.
The projects in BelRed include two sections of Northeast Spring Boulevard; a new east-west street; the expansion of two sections of 124th Avenue Northeast; and improvements on 130th Avenue Northeast from BelRed Road to Northup Way. Bellevue submitted a letter of interest for the TIFIA loan in August. Transportation Department officials hope to close on the loan in January.
Under terms of the loan, Bellevue would pay for 66 percent of the projects' cost and TIFIA would fund the rest. Bellevue's matching share of the funding already is included in recent or current Capital Investment Program budgets.
The total cost associated with the application process is expected to be $550,000 to $800,000, depending on the final TIFIA fees. The council-approved funding comes from a transfer of money from an existing capital project that will not be part of the TIFIA loan, as originally anticipated.
Marijuana regulations update
Earlier in the evening, councilmembers were briefed by staff on potential marijuana-related land-use code amendments. Back in June, the council voted 6-0 in favor of two ordinances limiting retail recreational marijuana site locations and banning medical marijuana cooperatives and marijuana research uses, as well as imposing civil fines and allowing for the abatement of certain violations of the Medical Cannabis Act (RCW 69.51A). Staff sought direction on whether to make the interim regulations permanent.
Staff will return with a modified proposal based on council direction at a study session later this month. A public hearing and formal action could take place as early as Oct. 17. The interim regulations are set to expire in November.
Award for city's adaptive signal system
Also on Monday, the council learned more about recent recognition for implementing a citywide adaptive traffic signal system, an effort that concluded late last year.
The Institute of Transportation Engineers recently presented its 2016 Transportation Achievement Award to the city's Transportation Department for excellence in operations. The Institute is a leading international organization for transportation professionals with 13,000 members in 90 countries.
Benefits of the new system, called SCATS (Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System), include a 20 to 30 percent reduction in traffic signal cycle lengths, significant reductions in travel times and the first use of a transit signal priority system with SCATS.
The five-year, $5.5 million project, converted 190 traffic signals citywide. Bellevue is the first city in the state to successfully operate a signal system using traffic adaptive technology.