Published February 24 2021
Plus, Eastrail update and economic development work
This week the City Council received an update on the progress made by Bellevue Fire Department’s mobile vaccination teams, who have been vaccinating residents and staff of adult family homes in the area against COVID-19. The teams are well ahead of the expected schedule and now looking at expanding their scope of operations.
Bellevue’s mobile vaccination teams have treated more than 800 individuals in nearly 90 adult family homes during their first 22 days of operations. The teams are now focused on giving the same people the second dose of the vaccine by mid-March.
The department is beginning to partner with a variety of agencies to identify how they might expand the mobile vaccination program to other vulnerable groups. The presentation to council is available on video replay through Bellevue Television.
Eastrail update
Also on Monday, councilmembers reviewed construction progress, future work schedules and fundraising efforts for Eastrail, a former railroad line previously known as the Eastside Rail Corridor. Eastrail is a 42-mile long regional trail running from Renton north to Snohomish County, including seven miles in Bellevue. The Bellevue segment is owned by King County, except for a 1.1-mile stretch owned by Sound Transit.
The council has long expressed formal support for Eastrail, beginning in 2013, and has budgeted $2.5 million for improvements in its 2021-2027 capital budget, in addition to previous contributions totaling $132,000.
So far, King County has completed an interim gravel section of the trail from the South Kirkland Park and Ride to SR 520. The state Department of Transportation is currently constructing a paved section of the trail from Renton to Coal Creek Parkway as part of its I-405 Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes project. It’s expected to open for public use in May.
Future improvements to Eastrail include: a pedestrian-bicycle bridge over Northeast Eighth Street; rehabilitation of the landmark Wilburton Trestle; a crossing over I-405, south of Southeast Eighth Street; and key trail connections at Spring Boulevard, Northup Way and elsewhere.
More information on Eastrail is available with the council meeting agenda item.
Economic development work
Later, councilmembers received a quarterly report on the city’s economic development progress after adopting an updated Economic Development Plan late last year.
Some of the recent activities and near-term focus areas include continued business support through COVID-19 recovery, regional workforce support and development strategies, partnering to activate attractive spaces in the city and a focus on enhancing the BelRed Arts District.
The team also plans to conduct the 2021 business survey (a biennial survey that contacts all Bellevue businesses for input on trends and issues) and a citywide retail study to understand the current retail environment including service gaps and opportunities. More information is in the meeting agenda item and the full presentation and discussion is on Bellevue Television.
NOTE: Next Monday’s (March 1) City Council meeting has been cancelled due to this week’s retreat. The body will meet again during its regularly scheduled time on March 8.