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Why is the West Lake Sammamish Parkway Corridor
Study being prepared?
This project is identified in the City’s Transportation Master Plan
(TMP), the document that includes City-wide transportation improvements
to support future traffic demands. The TMP was created
collaboratively among Redmond residents, business owners, and elected
officials. The City’s vision for the Master Plan includes
transportation facilities that are energy efficient, support all modes
of transportation (vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit), and
meet growth needs. The first step is to prepare a study to examine
alternatives, right-of-way needs, environmental needs, costs, and
phasing for construction. This project will complete the final
phase of improvements to the West Lake Sammamish Parkway corridor
between Leary Way and Bel-Red Road.
The intersections of West Lake Sammamish Parkway with Bel-Red Road and
NE 51 Street are both listed in the Bellevue Redmond Overlake
Transportation Study (BROTS) agreement. These intersections will
be included as part of this corridor study.
What types of improvements will the project include?
North of Bel-Red Road, West Lake Sammamish Parkway is classified as a
principal arterial, supporting both local and regional traffic.
Pedestrian and bicycle improvements along the road will provide
continuity and match the West Lake Sammamish Parkway section north of NE
51 Street. This includes separate bike lanes, planters, sidewalks, and a
multi-use path. Based on the traffic analysis, future volumes
support the need for two travel lanes in each direction. A
center-turn lane will also be provided to facilitate access to the side
streets and driveways. Planted medians will be provided where
feasible.
There are not a lot of driveways on the east side of
West Lake Sammamish Parkway. Is a center-turn lane needed?
Due to the number of side streets on the west side of the road,
providing the left-turn refuge area will improve safety and operational
benefits. Where possible, planted medians will be used to reduce
the pavement area and provide aesthetic features.
Will the intersection at NE 51 Street be affected by
this project?
The improvements will require modifications to the current intersection
configuration to accommodate the additional travel lanes. BROTS
future plans call for an additional southbound lane from NE 51 to NE 50
Street.
Why is a roundabout being considered for the
intersection of West Lake Sammamish Parkway and Bel-Red Road?
The existing signalized intersection will not handle future traffic
volumes. As part of this study, a roundabout was compared to a
traffic signal for this intersection. Preliminary findings
indicate that a 2-lane roundabout will handle the traffic and perform
better than a traffic signal. There will be less delay time and
shorter queue lengths as well.
What about noise?
A noise analysis will likely be required as part of the project
development. However, given the terrain with the majority of homes
on the uphill side of the roadway, a “noise wall” would be an expensive
project element with little or no benefit.
What about three lane options?
The traffic analysis showed that four lanes are needed to support these
future volumes.
When will these improvements be constructed?
Presently the project is not funded for construction. The study will
include a preliminary cost estimate and options for phasing
construction.
What happens next?
Next steps will include a discussion with the City Council in October,
followed by an additional, more refined design. A second open
house will be held when a construction phasing plan is developed.
If you would like to provide the City with your comments about future
improvements along West Lake Sammamish Parkway, you can email directly
by clicking on the link to
Mike Paul, Public Works Construction Division Project Manager.
This page was last reviewed on September 25, 2007.
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