By Todd Woosley

The future of some of Bellevue’s longest established residential neighborhoods, as well as the city’s signature environmental reserve, the Mercer Slough Nature Park, will be determined by the City Council this month.

Will our neighborhood streets be filled with hundreds of cars cutting through, putting our children at risk as they walk to Enatai Elementary School?

Will the Mercer Slough’s “tranquil setting for a variety of recreational experiences” be forever diminished by the noise and visual impacts of a railroad running at grade along Bellevue Way?

Will the beautiful drive along a Class One wetland become an industrial nightmare with 40-foot-high concrete walls where there is currently a forest on one side, and a railroad track, complete with overhead electrical wires and their support poles, on the other?

Or, will the city take the proper measures to mitigate the impacts of Sound Transit’s proposed East Link light rail project?

At the same time as Seattle is welcoming a tunneling machine to put Highway 99 underground and remove the visual blight of the Alaska Way Viaduct, it’s remarkable that the city of Bellevue is seriously considering putting an at-grade railroad between Bellevue Way and the Mercer Slough.

So far, the city and Sound Transit have done a commendable job of working together to maximize the benefits of the pending light rail project, while minimizing its impacts. My hope is this will continue, and both the council and Sound Transit board will do the right things to minimize the most egregious impacts of East Link to our neighborhoods and park.

Specifically, they have the choice of whether or not to stay with the plan to place the train in a trench, or have it take over the two northbound lanes of Bellevue Way. The trench would minimize the visual and noise impacts of the train, as well as reduce any encroachment into the Enatai neighborhood. This design also would allow much lower walls along the west side of Bellevue Way.

Another key decision is whether or not to add a southbound lane on Bellevue Way to handle a major increase in future traffic. If the train remains in the trench as currently planned, this lane would be Bellevue’s exclusive choice.

The city’s expert transportation staff reported the new lane would prevent nearly 400 cars from cutting through Enatai. It also would help prevent Bellevue Way from being reduced to two or three lanes during years of light rail construction.

While a new southbound lane on Bellevue Way would cost the city more than the at-grade rail alternative, it would provide much more value and be a worthwhile investment. Perhaps the city could charge a modest fee to use the more than 1,400 structured Park-and-Ride stalls that will be built at the south end of our neighborhood by Sound Transit to help pay for it.

The council does seem committed to protecting our neighborhoods, but there’s not much more that can be done other than keeping the train in a trench, and adding a southbound lane to keep the cars on the arterial. Enatai has already gone through Bellevue’s process for evaluating and installing traffic calming devices. The result was only three of the eight proposed measures for 104th and 108th avenues qualified, and they have already been built.

It only will take four members of the City Council to determine the fates of the neighborhoods, Bellevue Way South and the Mercer Slough Nature Park. The best opportunity to voice your support for protecting our quality of life is to comment to the City Council at Monday’s public hearing.

Todd R. Woosley has lived in Enatai for fifteen years. His two children will be walking to elementary school during light rail’s years of construction on Bellevue Way. He also served on the neighborhood’s traffic calming committee.