2005 State of Mobility Report - City of Bellevue

CHAPTER 4: Transportation Planning and Programming
and policies, as necessary, to meet the opportunities
and challenges of the next 20 years. Through this
process, which was last completed in 2004, the
Transportation Element and its associated Subarea
Transportation Facility Plans are kept current and
relevant.
Long-Range Facility Plans
Long-range transportation plans study subareas
of the City (such as Crossroads or Downtown),
significant travel corridors (such as 148th
Avenue or Eastgate Way), or sub-systems of the
transportation system (such as transit service or
pedestrian facilities). The goal of these plans is
to evaluate future conditions — up to a 25-year
horizon — including projected land use and traffic
volumes, and then assess what improvements to
the transportation system are needed to fulfill
the vision, goals, and policies set forth in the
Comprehensive Plan. Completed long-range plans
include a wide range of projects designed to meet
the mobility goals of the plan area. The project lists
are often adopted into the Subarea Transportation
Facility Plans in the Comprehensive Plan. Two
major long-range planning efforts were underway in
2005: Factoria Area Transportation Update and the
Bel-Red Corridor Project.
transit service. A small number of roadway projects
were also included. Policy amendments support a
transition away from a traditional suburban, autooriented
business district, to an area that is more
urban in character. The plan reflects an emphasis
on high quality urban design and pedestrian
infrastructure that will transform the neighborhood
as it redevelops.
The FATS Update prioritized many projects for
implementation. In particular eight transit, seven
roadway, and thirteen pedestrian/bicycle projects
were recommended for completion within the next
ten years. The Capital Investment Program (CIP)
included funding for FATS early implementation
and in 2005 a number of smaller projects, including
construction of planted medians along Factoria
Boulevard, were completed.
(For background on the initiation of the FATS
Update, see the 2003-2004 State of Mobility Report)
Bel-Red Corridor Study
Factoria Area Transportation Study Update
The final report and recommendations for the
Factoria Area Transportation Study (FATS) Update
were issued in July, 2005. In January 2006 the
FATS update policies were adopted by Council and
the recommended projects were simultaneously
amended into the East Bellevue Transportation Plan,
a necessary step for implementation.
Through the FATS Update planning process the
community supported a multi-modal approach to
address Factoria’s transportation system challenges.
The plan recommended projects that would enhance
the pedestrian and bicycle system and improve
Bel-Red Corridor Study area.
The Bel-Red Corridor project is developing an updated
land use and transportation vision for a 912-acre area
in central Bellevue. This is the most comprehensive
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2005 State of Mobility Report Chapter 4