Sound Transit’s East Link extension in Redmond is in its pre-final design phase and the agency is currently seeking public input to affect the final outlook for the project planned to go online in 2023.
Redmond residents brought that desired feedback to an open house in Bellevue on Tuesday and to get a look at what Sound Transit has in store for its Overlake segment, which includes construction of two light rail transit stations and corresponding pedestrian bridges that will cross State Route 520 and eventually be owned and maintained by the city.
“We want to understand changes you want us to consider or things you like or don’t like about the current design,” said Chad Zettle, Sound Transit architect.
Arnold Tomac, chairman for the city of Redmond’s pedestrian bicycle advisory committee, said the city is working on a funding agreement with Sound Transit to pay for the pedestrian bridge at the Overlake Village transit station, which also will allow for bicycle traffic. Having a bridge there was deemed crucial for crossing SR 520 and keeping cyclists away from 148th Avenue Northeast, he said.
“There’s a lot of people in Bellevue, and we wanted them to have access,” he said.
As the city looks at infrastructure improvements to follow along with transit development and economic growth, there also are plans to link the 520 Trail to one at Northup Way, said Tomac.
“We’ll have a continuous link, basically from Redmond to (the University of Washington) when this thing is all done,” he said.
Sound Transit also is working on a funding agreement with Microsoft for the pedestrian bridge at the Overlake Transit Center, which will provide better connectivity for its Redmond campus.
Residents questioned Sound Transit’s design for parking, which would expand parking at the Overlake Village station at 152nd Avenue Northeast and only make 320 spaces available in a garage to be constructed at the Overlake Transit Center at Northeast 40th Street. Some said they felt demand will be higher and the agency should plan for more parking levels within the garage. Sound Transit also is seeking feedback on how the garage should look, said architect Debora Ashland.
Where parking is currently at the Overlake Transit Center there will be a bus loop added with Microsoft using its shuttle service there, as well. When construction begins, likely in 2016, neither bus nor Microsoft’s shuttle services will be disrupted as they will be allocated temporary facilities, said Zettle.
The Overlake Transit Center has been designed to include one platform between the east and west light rail tracks while separate platforms will be used at the Overlake Village station. Canopies will be incorporated on the bridges, at the platforms and over ticket vending machines.
A screen wall system also is planned to provide a barrier between SR 520 and the Overlake stations, said Zettle, and Sound Transit is now working with the state transportation department to make sure its landscape design fits state requirements along the freeway.
Sound Transit is seeking ideas about what to name the two transit stations, which should be reflective of the neighborhoods where they will be located and no more than 30 characters in length.
Rod and Linda Carr moved to Redmond in 1979, before SR 520 even existed, and said they are great supporters of Sound Transit in both its bus and light rail services. While they agree with residents who said more parking will be needed, they can’t wait for the East Link extension to be completed.
“It’s unbelievably cheap and it’s unbelievably fast,” said Linda Carr, adding of the 2023 launch date, “It’s a shame it will take that long, but I guess that’s what it is.”
Overlake segment design information is planned to be published sometime next week, where residents may also provide comment here.
