Bellevue Transportation Commission Meeting: July 16, 2025
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Bellevue Transportation Commission Meeting Summary – July 16, 2025
The Bellevue Transportation Commission convened on July 16, 2025, for a regular meeting that included the election of officers, public comments, staff reports, and study sessions on the Transportation Facilities Plan (TFP) revenue forecast and the curb pricing study update. The meeting marked the first for new Commissioner Kay Williams. The commission took action to endorse the TFP project list, approve a transmittal letter to city council, and designate a commissioner to present to council on August 4, 2025.
Election of Officers
- Karen Stash was re-elected as Chair by unanimous voice vote.
- Drew McGill was re-elected as Vice Chair by unanimous voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Chris Randall (Complete Streets Bellevue) expressed support for the curb pricing study update, noting that the work aligns with council-adopted principles from the Uniform Curb Management Plan. Urged the commission to affirm the study.
- Vic Bishop (President, West Lake Sammamish Homeowners Association; former Transportation Commission chair and traffic engineer) advocated for proportional capital spending based on mode share, stating that 75% of daily trips are by car and less than 1% by bike. He urged allocation of at least half of capital funds to auto projects. Supported TFP project 257 (West Lake Sammamish Parkway, $12.5 million) and advocated for a South Bellevue Way HOV lane.
- Joe Kunzler (online) praised the two-line light rail connection, suggested adding concessions at transit stations, and expressed support for expanding bike lane networks. He requested the commission to lobby Sound Transit for amenities at stations.
Staff Reports
- Kevin Thomas provided an update on the Urban Core Bike Network (formerly Bike Bellevue): Three projects are in design and funded for 2026 construction: Lake Washington Boulevard (99th to 100th), 100th Avenue NE (Main Street to NE 1st), and a connection on NE 1st and NE 2nd between 100th and Bellevue Way. Other early-implementation projects are awaiting grant funding, with construction possible in 2027 at the earliest.
- A memo on the Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP) was shared; commission discussion was deferred.
Discussion Items
Transportation Facilities Plan (TFP) Revenue Forecast and 20-Year Outlook
Staff from Finance (John Resha, Evan Phillips) and Transportation (Andrew Singelakis) presented a revenue forecast for the TFP, now extending to a 20-year horizon. Key points:
- The city faces a revenue shortfall of approximately $25 million per year relative to prior forecasts, driven by flat growth in B&O and sales tax, declining construction-related revenues, and reduced real estate excise tax. This has led to a $30 million shift: $10–15 million from capital to operating for maintenance, and over $15 million annually for debt service on the quarter-billion-dollar bond and TIFIA issuances.
- The 20-year TFP revenue forecast totals approximately $496 million, including $196 million from the transportation levy (assuming renewal), $116.7 million in grants (at a conservative $5.8 million/year), and the balance from other sources. The outlook is characterized as "bouncy" with significant economic uncertainty.
- Commissioners asked about the impact of reduced development on transportation impact fees (down to a few million per year) and how the spending waterfall prioritizes debt, maintenance, and growth. The "contra line" in the CIP shows $157 million in unfunded projects.
TFP Project List and Prioritization
- Staff presented a prioritized project list using color categories: gray (already in CIP), green (shortlist of 7 high-priority projects), peach (recommended for inclusion in TFP), and red (not recommended). Two new gray projects were added: Bellevue Local Streets ($4M in CIP) and SE 5th St / 118th Ave improvements.
- The green list excludes the Mount Sound Greenway (split into gray and peach components).
- Commissioner Ting requested a framework for cross-modal funding allocation. Commissioner Gilman suggested prioritizing pedestrian connections due to weather and Vision Zero goals. Commissioner Ching asked about network effects linking modes to transit; staff noted light rail station area plans guide such integration.
- Action taken: The commission unanimously endorsed the TFP project list and approved a transmittal letter to city council. Commissioner McGill was designated to present at council on August 4, 2025.
Curb Pricing Study Update
Staff (Chris Long, Chris Iverson) and consultants (Chrissy Mancini Nichols, Kenzie Colson) presented the model of operations for a paid on-street parking program in the urban core (downtown, Wilburton, Bell-Red, with separate treatment for Old Bellevue and Spring District). Key proposal details:
- Time limits: 3-hour maximum in most areas; enforcement hours would vary (e.g., 10 AM to evening; Old Bellevue includes later hours and Sunday enforcement).
- Pricing: Rates set based on occupancy data, off-street rates ($4–$8/hr), and national best practices; rates would adjust based on demand to maintain ~80% occupancy.
- Equity: Multiple payment options (credit card, app, cash), translated materials, and strategies to mitigate impacts on low-income workers (e.g., TDM programs, loading zones).
- Financial model: Program expected to pay for itself; remaining revenue would fund curb management improvements (wayfinding, accessible parking, streetscape elements).
- Commissioners raised questions about employee/construction parking, resident use of on-street parking, the Wilburton station demand, and clarity on equity target groups. Staff noted RPZ enforcement will be increased as part of the program.
- No action was taken; the commission will discuss the final report on September 11, 2025, ahead of council action expected by end of year.
Key Outcomes
- TFP endorsement: Unanimous approval to advance the project list and transmittal letter to council.
- Commissioner designation: Drew McGill will present the TFP to council on August 4, 2025.
- Minutes approved: April 24, 2025 and May 8, 2025 meeting minutes were approved unanimously (one abstention noted).
- Upcoming meetings: September 11, 2025 (curb pricing follow-up and draft MIP update); October 9, 2025 (MIP recommendation); November 13, 2025 (commissions retreat). A new commissioner will be introduced at the September meeting.
- Curb pricing next steps: Staff will continue outreach and deliver a draft implementation study report prior to the September commission meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Yes, Jeremy. Great. Good evening, everyone. My name is Kay Williams, and this is my first meeting as a commissioner on the Transportation Commission. Um I am a uh Bellevue resident and lived in and around Bellevue for 35 years, a long time. Uh a commuter, a uh, you know, a resident shopper, uh diner. Uh I do a lot of biking, a lot of walking, a lot of running. So um really familiar with a lot of this the streets around Bellevue. I am um I worked for many years for Microsoft as a pro project and um product and program manager. And um I um in addition to that, so that's kind of what my career has been focused on. And then I have spent uh quite a bit of time doing uh a variety of public oriented activities, uh starting from uh being a uh an intern in my house of representatives uh growing up on a page at the uh for the United States Senate and um and then I've been on homeowners associations a couple of times and uh in my work at Microsoft. I founded an open source consorti helped to found an open source consortium uh related to soft um securing open source software and I served as the chair of that uh for um one year, the first year that that was getting started. So all of that uh, you know, uh interest in transportation and you know, background in doing uh public work uh made made me interested in joining the transportation commission. And um I'm really looking forward to working with you all with staff and other commissioners and uh working towards um you know keeping our transportation uh efficient here and keeping Bellevue a uh vibrant and livable city. Great. Well, welcome. We're really glad to have you. Thank you. Commissioner Rabone, just a quick introduction. Uh I don't know where doing this today. Hey, so well, I was born and raised in the Isaqua little farm out there. And no, um I don't know how far we're going back, but uh been on Bellevue for probably 30 years, worked most of my entire working career has been in the city of Bellevue. Um was an avid cyclist, don't write as much, but quite a bit and uh like yourself, I volunteer quite a bit. Um PTA flag football softball coach. Um yeah, I was also a big brother uh with big brother and big big sisters. Yeah. Uh hi, my name's Albert Ting. Uh it's great to have you on the commission. Um so for myself, um, I was uh born in Seattle, been in Bellevue for 40 plus years. Um I'm probably one of the more senior members on the commission now. So um it's been great seeing everyone involved and I I'm sure you'll be a wonderful addition to the to the team. Um I used to work at Microsoft also for a while and now I'm taking a little bit of time off. Um I do some time paddling, spending time with the family, uh camping, hiking, that sort of thing. Um and of course, transportation's always been very interesting for me. So uh I'm really looking forward to having um an almost full uh commission uh moving forward. So welcome. Thanks, Commissioner Gillman. Hi, I'm Susanna, and I'm so happy that you're here because I'm no longer the newest one. And um, but I'm I'm coming at this from a layman's approach and my only introduction to transportation was through um prior service being in the US Air Force, where we just would go to third world countries and assess the situation and build infrastructure from nothing. Um and so I served as a medic there, which segued into my career in pharmaceutical research, um, which I've been doing for the past 25 years, and I serve on various boards and commissions, um, mainly in the Asia Pacific Cultural Um Center down in Tacoma as a community advocate there. But welcome. Looking forward to working with you. Yeah, I'm uh Drew McGill and I've this is I think my third year on the commission and uh been in Bellevue since 2009. Uh I had a 33-year career at Boeing and am retired now, and I spend more of my time now doing community service type work, mainly in the Bellevue area. So really glad to have you. Okay. Okay, great. Well, let's move on to the election of officers. So, Kevin, can you please announce the uh nominations you have received for the position of chair? Hey.
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