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EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY |
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CONTACT: |
Susan Byszeski, 425-556-2882 |
| January 30, 2008 |
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Marta Gronlund, 425-638-2333 |
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Education Hill residents, and other interested community members,
are invited to join City of Redmond staff at a public meeting at
Redmond Junior High, 10055 166 Avenue NE, on Thursday, February 7
from 6:30 to 8:30 pm to discuss and give feedback regarding a
potential four to three lane conversion on 166 Avenue NE along the
front of Redmond Junior High School.
Roadway lane conversions are not new to the City of Redmond. Four
streets in the downtown have already been successfully reconfigured.
Streets that have been converted from four lanes to three are: 161
Avenue NE from Redmond Way to NE 85 Street; 166 Avenue NE, also from
Redmond Way to NE 85 Street and NE 85 Street from 154 to 166 Avenues
NE. NE 87 Street was reduced from four lanes to two between 161 and
164 Avenue NE.
“For many drivers, reducing a roadway from four lanes to three
seems counterintuitive, but converted roadways have several
advantages that create a safer travel environment for all roadway
users,” states Don Cairns, Transportation Services Manager.
Drivers are no longer delayed behind left-turning vehicles when a
center lane is dedicated exclusively to left turns. The center turn
lane also provides drivers with a refuge when entering or exiting
side streets. Pedestrians are less exposed to traffic when there are
only three lanes to cross instead of four and bike lanes provide
bicyclists with their own lane of travel while increasing separation
for pedestrians between the sidewalk and vehicle lanes.
Presentations at the February 7 meeting will also include
construction plans for a new traffic signal at the intersection of
166 Avenue NE and NE 104 Street in front of Redmond Junior High. The
signal, funded by a Federal Safe Routes to School grant, will more
clearly assign right-of-way at the intersection, eliminating
confusion for drivers and pedestrians at the existing 4-way stop.
Residents unable to attend the public meeting are encouraged to
check the City website at
www.redmond.gov/connectingredmond/projects/edhill.asp after February
7. Meeting materials will be posted to the site, as well as
directions on how to submit public comments on the project to the
City’s Transportation Services Division. All comments gathered will
help City staff identify a preferred alternative to be presented to
the City Council for consideration.
For more information about improvements on the 166 Avenue NE
corridor, contact Tricia Thomson, Project Manager, at
tthomson@redmond.gov or 425-556-2776.
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