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Is this project a "done deal" or will there be another opportunity for public
comment?
The traffic signal at the intersection of 166 Avenue NE and NE 104 Street is
moving forward, but the conversion on 166 Avenue NE between NE 85 and NE 104 Street from 4 lanes to 3
is a proposed project. In addition to the extensive public process that
has already occurred around the development of the
Transportation Master Plan
and the work by the Education Hill Citizens Advisory Committee to identify needs
in that neighborhood, those who are
interested in voicing their opinions about the proposed conversion are
encouraged to attend the public meeting on Thursday February 7 from 6:30 to 8:30
PM at Redmond Junior High School. See the
project newsletter
for more information about the public meeting and for a project overview. Below
is a timetable that best reflects this project's process to date:
| Timeframe |
|
Milestone |
 |
|
February 2005 |
|
166 Avenue NE
Corridor Study completed |
| November 2005 |
|
City Council adopts the
Transportation Master Plan |
| October 2006 |
|
Transportation Services applies for Safe Routes to
School grant in the amount of $350,000 to fund construction of a
traffic signal at the intersection of 166 Avenue NE and NE 104
Street |
| December 2006 |
|
Safe Routes to School grant request for traffic
signal construction is listed seventh on a prioritized list of 101
project requests from around the State to make improvements around
schools |
| April
to June 2007 |
|
1) City Council
reviews and is asked to approve the Education Hill Neighborhood
Plan
2) Safe Routes to School grant is approved by the State
legislature |
| July
2007 |
|
Safe Routes to School grant funds
are formally accepted by the City Council |
|
December 2007 |
|
Traffic signal
and corridor preliminary design |
|
February 7, 2008 |
|
Public meeting at Redmond Junior
High |
|
February 14, 2008 |
|
Community
comments on proposals to reconfigure 166 Avenue NE in front of
Redmond Junior High, and to continue conversion south to NE 85
Street, are due in Transportation Services at City Hall by 5 PM |
| Spring
2008 |
|
Public meeting #2 |
|
Summer 2008 |
|
Construction |
| Fall
2008 |
|
Traffic signal in operation |
Comments from residents are welcome at any time in Transportation Services.
Feel free to email
tthomson@redmond.gov to give your input on the proposed 4 to 3 lane
conversion on 166 Avenue NE.
How is it possible that reducing 166 Avenue NE
from 4 lanes to 3 will improve how that road functions?
Four lane roads frequently generate excessive speeds, are difficult to
cross and to merge onto, and are not pedestrian or bicycle supportive.
Last minute lane changes to get around vehicles waiting to turn left often
result in collisions and failure to see pedestrians. Inside lanes are
frequently occupied by drivers wanting to turn left. This causes delay to
those who must wait for those left-turning vehicles to make their turns before
they can proceed through. A 3-lane street with a left-turn lane that
removes left-turning vehicles from the flow of through traffic accommodates
about the same number of vehicles as a 4-lane street. Travel times on
converted roadways do not change significantly and sometimes improve when there
is a center lane dedicated exclusively for left turns.
A full explanation of how the 4 to 3 lane conversion can improve operations
on 166 Avenue NE can be found by reading
Road Diet for 166 Avenue NE. For
general information about 4 to 3 lane conversions, see
www.walkablestreets.com/diet.htm. You can also download
a comprehensive report on
roadway diets co-written by Dan Burden and Peter Lagerwey.
Previous to the 4 to 3 lane conversion on 166
Avenue NE between Redmond Way and NE 85 Street in 2004 some residents were
adamant that eliminating a lane would result in severe traffic congestion.
How have things worked out?
Very well. Shortly after the conversion, many residents commented
that despite their initial skepticism, they found things to be working quite
well. An August
2004 report to the City Council included a safety and performance review of
166 Avenue NE between NE 85 Street and Redmond Way.
Are there examples of successful 4 to 3 lane
conversions in other locations?
Yes. Three other downtown Redmond roadways have successfully been
converted: NE 87 Street between 161 and 164 Avenue NE (from 4 lanes to 2 with
on-street parking), 161 Avenue NE between Redmond Way and NE 85 Street, and
NE 85 Street between 154 and 166 Avenue NE. Check
the list of roadways in Seattle for
examples of successful conversions.
This page was last updated on February 1, 2008.
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