Redmond Planning Commission Meeting – October 23, 2025: Capital Facilities Plan 2050 Approval and TMP Study Session
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Redmond Planning Commission Meeting – October 23, 2025
The Redmond Planning Commission convened on October 23, 2025, to approve a recommendation and report on the Capital Facilities Plan 2050 (CFP) and to conduct a study session on the Transportation Master Plan (TMP). Commissioners heard public testimony, reviewed Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies, and discussed updates to the Transportation Facilities Plan (TFP). The meeting also covered schedule changes and administrative updates.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Morton (Redmond 98053) commented on the Transportation Master Plan update, raising four concerns: (1) removal of the Avondale Road school bus pull-outs without a clear alternative – requested safety be addressed or the corridor study prioritized; (2) unrealistic revenue forecast – the TFP projects flat growth through 2050 without accounting for inflation or rate increases, relies on $462 million total with 18% from federal/state grants, and lacks contingency plans; (3) equity – only 13% of TFP investments serve neighborhoods outside urban centers yet 79% is multimodal; (4) TDM enforcement – mobility management plans lack monitoring, and Action 2B needs clear compliance procedures. He urged the commission to address school bus safety, funding contingencies, neighborhood equity, and enforceable TDM measures.
Discussion Items
- Capital Facilities Plan 2050 (CFP): Staff presented the final CFP update, noting this was the third commission review. The issues matrix was closed after resolving two remaining items from Commissioner Coleman. Commissioners reviewed the Planning Commission report and recommendation, which incorporated past discussions. A motion to approve the recommendation on the general government portion of the CFP was made, seconded, and passed unanimously (all ayes). A subsequent motion to approve the report for City Council also passed unanimously. The CFP is part of the Redmond 2050 comprehensive plan update.
- Transportation Master Plan (TMP) Study Session: Staff (Michael Hinz, Francesca Liberti) reviewed GMA requirements and focused on two chapters: Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and Transportation Facilities Plan (TFP). TDM strategies include the Go Redmond program, school pool (focused on elementary schools), parking management, mobility management plans, and first-last mile connections (e.g., a microtransit shuttle pilot starting early 2026, two-year pilot with Circuit Transit, serving downtown and Education Hill to light rail). Extensive discussion on e-bike safety – staff noted ongoing work with police and school districts, the need for state-level legislation (Senator Dhingra suggested as a partner), and comparisons with other jurisdictions (Mercer Island ordinance). Commissioners requested TDM include e-mobility safety for students. On the TFP, staff listed completed projects removed (e.g., 156th Avenue Cycle Track, 152nd/70th Street cycle tracks) and projects removed due to alignment with Redmond 2050 (e.g., Willows Road widening, 148th northbound through lane between Bell-Red and SR 520). The Avondale school bus pull-outs were deferred to a broader corridor study prioritized for 2026. New project added: a lower-cost solution on Sammamish Valley Road (51st to Bell-Red) – extending a shoulder with barriers instead of a $20 million elevated path. Commissioners asked about maps, equity across neighborhoods, and safety on existing facilities (e.g., 156th cycle track pedestrian confusion). Staff clarified the TFP focuses on capacity projects, not safety (covered under the Safer Streets Action Plan). The schedule was outlined: public review draft available November 12, commission study session November 19, public hearing December 3, final recommendation December 17, City Council study session January 13, adoption February 3, 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Vote: Unanimous approval of the Capital Facilities Plan 2050 recommendation and report for City Council.
- Decision: Commission provided feedback on TDM and TFP chapters; staff will incorporate into the public review draft of the TMP.
- Next Steps: Public review draft released November 12; commission to discuss on November 19; public hearing on December 3; final recommendation on December 17; City Council adoption targeted for February 3, 2026.
- Administrative: Meeting schedule changed – no meeting November 5; future meetings on first and third Thursdays (November 19, December 3, December 17). Commissioners reminded to set up city email on personal devices and complete a 15-minute security training.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, Commissioners. I'm David Morton, Redmond 98053. I'd like to speak about the Transportation Master Plan update. I've reviewed the materials for this item on the agenda, and I want to commend staff for the comprehensive work on this plan. However, I have concerns about the transportation facilities plan that deserve your attention. First, regarding project removals. I understand the rationale for removing projects not aligned with the Redmond 2050, but I'm concerned about removing the Avondale Road school bus pull-outs without a clear alternative. The justification states this needs further evaluation as part of a broader corridor study. But students need safe bus access now. Please ensure safety concerns are addressed through other means or that the broader corridor study is prioritized in the near-term front time frame. Second, I'm troubled by the revenue forecast assumptions. The TFP projects flat revenue growth through 2050 without accounting for inflation or rate increases. This seems unrealistic given rising construction costs and the ambitious scope of planned projects. The plan needs 462 million dollars and relies on federal and state grants that provide 18% of total funding. What happens when grants don't materialize? Should contingency plans that consider more stable funding mechanisms be developed. Third, while I appreciate the emphasis on multimodal investments, which make up 79% of the TFP budget, I'm concerned about equity across neighborhoods. Only 13% of TFP investments serve neighborhoods outside urban centers. Yet these areas also need safe walking, biking, and transit connections to reach downtown Overlake and other destinations. Residents throughout Redmond need viable transportation alternatives to driving. Finally, transportation demand management or TDM. The strategies are excellent, but enforcement mechanisms remain vague. Mobility management plans historically have lacked attention beyond initial completion, according to the TDM chapter. Action 2B mentions developing renewal requirements, but how will compliance be monitored? Consider dedicated funding for TDM staff and clear enforcement procedures with consequences for noncompliance. This plan shapes decades of growth. Please address school bus safety concerns, funding contingencies, neighborhood equity, and TDM in for enforcement. Thank you. Thank you. We don't have any anything. Anyone else? All right, thanks. In that case, it's time to conclude our work on the general government portion of the Capital Sufficient Capital Facilities Plan for 2050. Bringing up Cameron Zapata. Thank you. Good evening, Planning Commission. I'm here tonight to bring forward the Capital Facilities Plan 2050 for recommendation of approval to City Council. This plan is an update to the Capital Facilities element referenced as part of Redmond 2050. And it forecasts out the capital facilities out to 2050. This plan was or has come to the planning commission three times, or this is its third time. And in your packet, you'll find the issues matrix and the Planning Commission report and recommendation we received an email from Commissioner Copley that items 12 and 16 can now be closed from the issues matrix. Which were the two remaining from Commissioner Coleman. Oh yeah, sorry. Commissioner Coleman, which were the two remaining open items and the Planning Commission report and recommendation are reflected in the report and the recommendation include past discussions and reflect those conversations. And at this point, um can open it up for a discussion of any of those items. Um the issues matrix or the report. And with that, I'm hoping to move this plan forward for the recommendation. All right. So we have um concluded the issues matrix. Um I think the big piece of work to capture in this is we had a couple of recommendations that people wanted to see made um in the packet that goes to city council.
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