Proposed Improvements for
166 Avenue NE Corridor including
Traffic Signal at 166 Avenue NE and NE 104 Street

"Better connections within the community for all modes (of travel) are needed to tie neighborhoods and commercial areas together, improving efficiency and economic vitality while promoting continued high quality of life."
(Transportation Master Plan Executive Summary)

Background
166 Avenue NE between NE 85 and NE 104 Street is a collector arterial that is the major north/south corridor connection between Education Hill and Redmond’s downtown. It is a four lane roadway, two lanes in each direction. In its present configuration, 166 Avenue NE offers no bicycle facilities, no separation between pedestrians and vehicles, and no refuge for left-turning vehicles.

166 Avenue NE between NE 85 and NE 104 Street is designated as a multimodal corridor that currently does not meet the pedestrian-supportive standards established in the Transportation Master Plan (TMP 5E.2 Modal Integration Plan.) Multimodal corridors provide for a variety of transportation modes including pedestrian and bicycle traffic, in addition to providing facilities that support transit and vehicular travel.  Roadways designed to accommodate multiple modes of traffic are also referred to as "complete streets."  For a look at the "complete street" concept, see www.completestreets.org.  

Education Hill residents report high vehicular speeds on 166 Avenue NE, making it difficult for pedestrians to cross and for drivers to enter 166 Avenue NE from the side streets. Residents feel that the road is not pedestrian or bicycle supportive.  Parents with school-aged children who attend Horace Mann, Norman Rockwell, or Redmond Junior High are concerned with pedestrian/vehicular conflicts at the intersection of 166 Avenue NE at NE 104 Street, particularly during the morning commute.

In 2005, the City hired a consultant to study 166 Avenue NE, assess possible treatment options, and make recommendations to improve safety.  The study included a look at the effects of converting 166 Avenue NE from 4 lanes to 3 between NE 85 and NE 104 Street and alternatives for traffic control at the intersection of 166 Avenue NE and NE 104 Street.  A summary of the report was provided to the City Council on February 6, 2007.  To view the complete study, see the City of Redmond Neighborhood Traffic Calming 166 Avenue NE Corridor Design Report.

This page was last updated on February 1, 2008.