Projects Boost Redmond's Economic Health, Quality of Life

By Richard Cole

It is vital to maintaining a vibrant Redmond that the downtown is an economically healthy, people-friendly place enhanced by a diversity of businesses with space for pedestrians, bikes and cars.

The city is working toward this vision by connecting the grid of streets downtown, returning to two-way streets and improving the pedestrian environment.  This will be accomplished over the next several years through a variety of improvements.

Street extension

Extending 161st Avenue Northeast from Bear Creek Parkway north to Redmond Way completes the connection of 161st through downtown. This will add an additional north/south connection in Redmond’s downtown, thereby providing more choices for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

The new corridor includes sidewalk and bicycle connections, street trees, utility infrastructure and street lighting.  This project will begin construction this month.

Future downtown park

The city is in the process of purchasing land for future development as a signature park in Redmond’s downtown. This park is planned as a community space for special events, music and gathering for downtown residents and the entire community. Park development will proceed as funding becomes available. In the interim, the area between the new 161st Avenue Northeast and Brown Street will be finished with a lawn area for public use.

Redmond Central Connector

Last summer, the City of Redmond acquired the section of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Rail Corridor running through Redmond.  Named the Redmond Central Connector, the area extends from the junction of Bear Creek Trail at State Route 520, through downtown and then north to the city limits in the Sammamish Valley.

A master plan to tie the north and south sides of downtown together is in development, creating a cultural corridor within the heart of the city. The first phase of this project, a regional trail connecting the Bear Creek Trail to the Sammamish River Trail through downtown, is estimated to begin in 2012.

Future street expansion

Design work is beginning on the 164th Avenue Northeast extension across the BNSF rail corridor with construction anticipated to start in 2012.

Regional stormwater trunk pipeline

A regional stormwater pipeline will be constructed along the downtown portion of the Redmond Central Connector beginning in 2011.

All these projects are designed to work together to enhance downtown, creating a safe, healthy and enjoyable place to work, live and recreate.

Richard Cole is president of the Redmond City Council. He has lived in Redmond for more than 30 years and is serving his sixth and final term on the council.