City Manager Says Kirkland About to Run Into Major Transportation Issues

Over the next weeks and months, Kirkland will drive head-on into a host of transportation issues, and some of the journey could be rough, City Manager Kurt Triplett told the on Tuesday.

The issues include the impact on traffic in Kirkland from the upcoming bridge, major improvements to the busy 85th Street corridor, and a possible $20 fee on vehicle license tabs to help maintain city streets.

In addition, Triplett told a chamber luncheon in a wide-ranging talk at the , the city is negotiating a possible purchase of the abandoned Burlington Northern rail corridor through town.

Triplett, on the job for about a year, briefed the meeting on problems the city has dealt with over the past year and major issues on the horizon.

“The big one coming,” he said, is how the 520 tolls, now expected some time in August or later, will divert traffic into Kirkland as motorists use routes to avoid the fees.

“We are concerned about the impact of that diversion on the city of Kirkland,” he said. “That’s a huge issue, and it’s going to be a little stormy when it happens.”

Traffic will likely increase on Juanita Drive and Simonds Road on the north end of town and Lake Washington Boulevard on the south side—all of which are already congested during the commute.

“Hopefully, folks will turn to the buses—and Metro Transit has its own budget challenges right now,” Triplett said.

The city’s Public Works Department will begin monitoring traffic as soon as the tolls begin. “Were going to have real-time, live traffic counts the day those tolls go into effect,” he said.

As for the possible vehicle license fee, Triplett noted that the city estimates it should spend about $5 million annually to maintain streets, but due to budget limitations actually spends only about half.

So the city will consider forming a “Transportation Benefit District” as state law allows. The city could adopt a $20 per vehicle tab fee without a public vote, and up to $100 with a 60 percent approval vote.

Triplett said it would be on top of any $20 per vehicle “congestion reduction surcharge” the county is considering to help prevent cuts to Metro Transit.

Meantime, the first phase of a two-year improvement project on Rose Hill’s 85th Street will begin later this month in the area around Interstate 405, Triplett noted.

Considered an area of significant sprawl and congestion, utility lines will be buried along the major thoroughfare, sidewalks and planting areas will be added, and several intersections will be improved with new turn lanes.

“It’s a major beautification of that area, with sidewalks and bike lanes,” Triplett said.

Although designed to reduce congestion when complete, it is expected to cause major traffic disruption during construction.

As for the "," the City Council in April adopted an interest statement calling for possible city ownership of the line through Kirkland, for use as a pedestrian/bicycle path and possibly light rail in the future.

“We are in negotiations,” Triplett said. “It looks very possible” and would probably cost the city “around $5 million to $7 million, which of course we don’t have.”

However, Triplett noted that a citizens panel is being formed to study a possible parks bond measure.

On other topics, the city manager noted that Kirkland’s recently renegotiated contract with Waste Management Inc. would result in new trash and recycle containers downtown beginning July 18—at no additional cost to the city.

He also noted that dredging of wetlands associated with Totem Lake would soon begin, to help alleviate chronic winter flooding of Totem Lake Boulevard—a small step in the city’s ambitious Totem Lake Action Plan.