One of the early implementation actions associated with the Overlake Neighborhood Plan update is a study of the 152 Avenue NE corridor.  In December 2009, the City hired HDR Inc, a consulting firm, to conduct the 152 Avenue NE Corridor Study.  Work on this study will continue through Fall 2010. 

The study will help ensure that the Overlake plan is translated into reality as public and private projects occur in the corridor. 

The study will:

• Develop a cross-section for 152 Avenue NE and NE 24th Street.
  
• Provide the City with guidance and feedback on Sound Transit's light rail plans for the corridor, including help coordinating with Sound Transit to ensure that light rail plans and plans for the 152 Avenue NE and NE 24 Street corridors work in concert to balance and promote the needs of the City and Sound Transit.
  
• Coordinate with other City and regional projects including King County Metro's RapidRide plan, WSDOT's SR 520 Improvements, and the Overlake Stormwater/Park Facilities Conceptual Design project.
  
• Incorporate public involvement through a design charrette in the first quarter of 2010, meetings with property owners, and up to two public meetings.

152 Avenue NE Planning Charrette and Public Meeting
on February 24, 2010

The City hosted a public open house on February 24, 2010 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Redmond City Hall to present concepts for the 152 Avenue NE corridor.  A planning charrette for corridor stakeholders was held earlier in the day. 

The following materials from the charrette and the public meeting are available for review:

• the corridor study announcement postcard
• the schedule for the study
• principles guiding the work of the study
• a summary of the February 24 stakeholder planning charrette
• the presentation given at the public meeting on the evening of February 24

Part of the day's agenda for the planning charrette included a discussion of Sound Transit's preferred route alignment for the East Link Light Rail Station in the Overlake neighborhood.  Results of the discussion were analyzed for feasibility and then brought before Redmond's City Council with a request to forward the proposed alignment changes to the Sound Transit Board for their review and approval (see Resolution 1325). 

On April 22, the Sound Transit Board approved a modification to their preferred alignment with a shorter, potentially less expensive alternative that remains adjacent to SR 520 through the Overlake Village area, as proposed at the City of Redmond's 152 Avenue NE corridor planning charrette.  Read about the board's action in this press release from Sound Transit.

The City of Redmond continues to refine design details for the light rail station.  Walkability maps can be viewed for the Overlake Village Station D2A Modified Alignment and for the Overlake Village Station SR 520 Alignment.

For more information, please contact Tricia Thomson at 425-556-2776 or tthomson@redmond.gov.