2005 State of Mobility Report - City of Bellevue

CHAPTER 2: Regional Transportation Policy and Advocacy
Figure 2-F illustrates the
extent of funded projects
in the Bellevue area.
Tables 2-C, 2-D, and 2-E
include the breakout of
Nickel Package and TPA
funding designated to
each of Bellevue’s priority
corridors.
Table 2-F. Nickel
Package and TPA
Projects
Regional Funding
Progress
In 2002, the State
Legislature formed the
Regional Transportation
Investment District
(RTID) to allow the
Puget Sound region’s
transportation agencies to
create a special purpose
tax district for funding
major transportation
projects, such as those on SR 520, I-405, and I-90.
The legislature authorized regional consideration
of increased gas taxes. However, after two years of
deliberation and negotiation, RTID efforts failed to
produce a viable package for voter consideration.
By mid-2004, stakeholders in the process agreed to
seek modifications to the RTID enabling legislation
during the 2005 state legislative session. Minor
modifications to this legislation occurred in 2005.
More importantly, the 2006 State Legislature placed
new parameters on RTID (see Expectations for the
Future).
Local Funding Progress
Despite setbacks to potential new coordinated
regional funding sources, the City of Bellevue
actively sought funding for key projects associated
with the corridor efforts. The City, with the
assistance and support of our elected delegation,
was successful in obtaining more than $10 million
18
Green: Nickel Package
Red: TPA
2005 State of Mobility Report Chapter 2
The NE 10th Street Extension cuts through the Overlake
Hospital Medical Center Campus, which is expanding to
enhance services to East King County.
for the extension of NE 10th Street over I-405
through the reauthorization of the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).
Expectations For The Future
The sustained vitality of the region’s economy
requires an efficient and safe regional transportation
system. In addition, several key facilities, such as
SR 520, have known deficiencies in their structural
integrity and need to be replaced. For these reasons,
federal, state, regional, and local officials continue
to work cooperatively to secure sufficient resources
for advancing and completing major corridor
projects. Several of these efforts include:
Federal Funding Efforts
In 2005 Congress passed the six-year federal
funding bill for transportation, known as
SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for
Users), which will provide the Washington State
Department of Transportation with its national
funding allocation. Some of those funds will be
available to local agencies through competitive
processes in 2006. The City also continues to
seek direct line-item federal funding through the
annual federal appropriations process. The City