Redmond Is Juiced On LIME Scooters

double click to enlarge

This picture shows two positives:  1) The scooters are parked next to a wayfinding sign [they need updating] and 2)  Looking closely, you'll see two new, modernized scooters. They are much more inviting than the scuffed LIMES handed down from Seattle.  They look and probably are safer.  I'm 70 with lousy balance yet might even jump on a new one were it not for the sidewalk issues. Oh, and I need a helmet.  

I didn't understand why the City permitted LIME so early when light rail is three years away.  But, now may be a good time to test scooters for usage on the major trails and downtown sidewalks and streets.  LIME is trying to condition and educate us; and to date, it appears few have learned.  

The program looks like a flop; patience is required. I hope to see many more scooters on the roads. I'm confident the City can make a success of it with the right education.  At least LIME is paying for it -- I hope.  

-- Bob Yoder

    6/5/2021

    Photo:  Yoder

Exciting New Redmond Tunnel Opens

 

Move Redmond.org

A new tunnel under SR520  (video) in Redmond "adds some topical flair to the ride and connects the Regional  Trail and Transit System."  

-- Move Redmond, 6/5/2021

Downtown Transit Station Will Have Escalators And Elevators

Description of the station

Light rail coming to downtown in about three years.
Looking west towards Redmond Town Center.

 

UPDATE: Vividly Colored "Bike-Ped" Tunnel Is Complete

The tunnel is now open! Trail users will be treated to a vivid color and design experience as they travel through the newly upgraded tunnel along the SR 520 trail at NE 40th Street. The tunnel also improves safety by moving much of the pedestrian and bicycle traffic away from the vehicle traffic in that area. Do you see the wall tiles? The **entrances are tiled with a rainbow to honor the diversity within Redmond. Councilmember Hank Myers objected, saying the gay population is only a sliver of Redmond's population.

**The rainbow entrances might have more to do with bike-ped bridge.

-- Sources: Facebook, 5/28/2021, Bob Yoder, 5/28/2021, Photo, redmond.gov

Construction On Redmond's East Link Light Rail Speeds Along

 
As you can see, the station and track are elevated.  The station will likely be located across from the Redmond Town Center @ 166th.  

 

A segment of the Redmond Central Connecter Trail runs from Overlake Urgent Care to Redmond Town Center. Some of the light rail track will be installed on this segment.  The controversial ERRATIC outdoor art was installed at this corner and then moved at great expense to a more suitable Leary Way location.  

-- Bob Yoder / report and photos

5/25/2021

UPDATED OPINION: 5/16/2021::Safety Aside: LIME e-Scooters Could Be The Answer To Light Rail Access.

Note:  The scooter can go uphill (actually to the top into Ed. Hill neighborhoods)
and it fits on this particular sidewalk.

                      
As part of the Redmond Transportation Master Plan, bicycle and e-scooter "sharing" support the City’s vision to improve travel choices and mobility. The scooters will give Redmond travelers micromobility options as the average trip in Redmond is 2.2 miles, which is about a 15-minute bike or scooter ride."  (C.O.R.); vitally important when light rail arrives in 2024. 

BELIEVE IT OR NOT on February 24th 2020 reporter Kristina Moy of the Post Intelligencer wrote:  "2019 was a banner year for Lime Redmond. And thanks to its riders, Lime Redmond hit several milestones. Last year, 17,000 unique riders (or the equivalent of 1/4 of the population of Redmond) rode a scooter in Redmond in less than 6 months of operation and 30.9% of riders reported their last scooter trip replaced a car trip. This means that Redmond scooter riders took 21,057 miles of car travel of Redmond roads in 2019."  Ecstasy, lousy reporting or propaganda?  I don't trust Lime.

On February 24, 2020, Ms. Moy reported Lime Redmond expects to surpass its 2019 milestones with the addition of Group Ride which will allow riders to unlock up to five scooters on the same host account and Lime Pass, a discounted subscription pass.  Have you seen Group Ride?

Well, apparently Lime, and Redmond commuters had a very good year in 2019 though I don't recall seeing more than a dozen riders then; and around four this year.  Most all riders were in their 20's or under; just like today.  It appears scooters aren't used at all for commuting, rather mostly for recreation. Why do we see these Limes scattered around the City and in our neighborhoods? Is the City trying to condition us?  Educate us?  

Light rail won't arrive for more than three years.  The city planner seems too far ahead of himself. In my opinion, he's justifying his job.

SAFETY:  You can't talk about Limes without thinking of safety. The following are serious concerns:

1)  Helmets "shall be worn."   97% don't.  When the City gets serious about Limes I suggest they beef up their bicycle police force to warn or enforce the $30 fine.  

2) My wife and I saw a mother scootering down 164th with her 3-year old hanging onto the stem. No comment.

3)  Allowing scooters to share sidewalks with pedestrians makes walking uncomfortable and dangerous. 

4) Maintenance:  If you ever biked the Sammamish River Trail you'd know the value a bell has for safety.  I noticed on a downtown walk a few didn't work; it makes you wonder what else needs fixing and maintaining.    

Urban micromobilty with scooters will be vital when light rail comes to Redmond.  It's good the City is being proactive in preparing for that "big moment."   Currently, Lime ridership is terribly weak, even with this good weather. Next year should be more of the same, though post-pandemic behaviors must be considered. Now is not the time to collect data from pilot programs. ndemic commuting behaviors 

Traffic congestion and parking isn't so severe that Limes are needed for mitigation.  Light rail won't be here until 2024.  We have ample time to stop this experiment and study other cities' programs launching LIME  in 2023.  

-- Bob Yoder, opinion

    Photo, Bob

   4/20/2021

News: Downtown Redmond Link Extension

Sound Transit has LOTS of work planned and underway for the Downtown Redmond Light Rail Link Extension 

Read all about it!

"Transportation Benefit District" Under Consideration

Seattle has a Transportation Benefit District

COO Malisa Files introduced the Transportation Benefit (taxing) District concept to Council during their Tuesday, March 23 meeting. The District would lie within the boundaries of the City.  Vehicle licensing fees of up to $100 and sales tax up to .02% on $100 purchases would be collected.  Council would oversee the District and make funding decisions.  The revenue could fund the needs of light rail, busing, bike lanes, and road work.

CM Jessica Forsythe said Redmond has one of the most regressive tax structures in the country; she probably won't support it.  I'm concerned about tax creep.

Odds and Ends

It was decided Parks and Rec. will hire eight full time employees; three will be hired immediately. 

CM Jessica Forsythe is pushing for one Senior lunch at least twice a week. She wants more substantial lunches.  

CM Vanessa Kritzer wants to set up a mental health fund.  

-- Bob Yoder, 3/26/2021

Trail Bypass For Sammamish River Trail To Last Two-years For Construction Of Future Light Rail

 Delays on the Sammamish River Trail for tree removal

Beginning Friday 12/4 to Friday 12/11

Sound Transit starts construction this week on a temporary bypass for the Sammamish River Trail near the underpass of SR 520 in Redmond. This bypass will route trail users around Sound Transit’s construction area near the Sammamish River for construction of the future light rail guideway over the river as part of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension Project. This trail bypass is expected to be in place for approximately two years.

The Sammamish River Trail will remain open during the majority of construction of this bypass. Tree removal adjacent to the trail is scheduled for Friday 12/4 to Friday 12/11 and may result in up to 10 minute delays to protect trail users from falling debris.

The trail is scheduled to be closed for three nights between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Monday 1/4/21 to Wednesday 1/6/21 to complete the tie-in between this temporary bypass and the existing Sammamish River Trail. 

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After completion of the bypass (in late January), trail visitors should expect to proceed with caution along the detour bypass above. Occasionally, Sound Transit will be crossing the trail bypass with heavy construction equipment requiring a short delay for trail users. When this occurs, flaggers will be in place to safely control trail traffic.

For more information read more about Sound Transit’s Downtown Redmond Link Extension or contact Ryan Bianchi, Community Outreach Specialist

12/2/2020 Sound Transit

Light Rail Extension Construction To Be Completed In 2021; Open For Service In 2023

Crews will complete construction in 2021, so why won’t the light rail open for service until 2023?

Great question! Testing the trains on the tracks at various speeds and frequencies is crucial to ensuring safe travel once service begins.

Safety certification is the critical final step. This includes tests, inspections and approvals from fire departments and others to ensure that our system will operate safely and efficiently once opened.

During the testing period, you will see light rail trains running on the tracks during different times of the day. Sound Transit will provide more information as this gets closer, but please remember:

• Only cross at designated crosswalks and signalized intersections
• Obey all traffic signs and signals
• Always watch and check for trains when you are near tracks

All stations are on their way to completion.

-- Facebook, 12/1/2020

Downtown Redmond Light Rail Link Extension

Downtown Redmond Marymoor Link Extension Light Rail To Begin Construction

Starting soon: Sound Transit's light rail project near Marymoor Park

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As soon as the week of August 3rd, Sound Transit will begin construction on the segment of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension Light Rail that goes along SR 520 at the northern boundary of Marymoor Park.

This construction activity will not directly affect the park nor require closure of any Marymoor facilities.

Sound Transit will install fencing around the construction zone along the north boundary of the park and expects to start removing trees within the construction zone as soon as September 1.

Sound Transit expects light rail construction near Marymoor Park to continue through summer 2023.

For more information

Sound Transit’s Downtown Redmond Link Extension

Ryan Bianchi, Community Outreach Specialist

Comment:  This is an environmentally sensitive project with a section of the rail running about 5 feet over Bear Creek. Scores of trees will be removed (most of them small.) Off site mitigation will be employed with higher ratios of tree replacements than normal. Also, there is a wetland downstream that will be dredged into a back-channel. This will be good for the salmon. Myself, a City engineer, a City planner and Redmond resident Susan Wilkins made the site visitation. -- Bob Yoder

UPDATED: "10 Minute Communities" Are A Model For Smart Planning

The holistic development of Northgate is similar, in a few ways, to Redmond's hopes of developing and morphing Marymoor Village into a 10-Minute Community (on a much larger scale than  "Proctor." ..scroll.)   Both will have light rail and transit parking.  In the Village, I envision:  Well-designed  mid-rise residential towers built-up through incentive programs to capture affordable housing (60% AMI) and additional parking.  Diverse retail, medical, office, and commercial space with roof gardens, all within a 10 Minute walking distance. Marymoor Park amenities, regional trails and a regional aquatics center all a bike ride away.  Perhaps a downtown core with an arts studio, a Harvey Carter museum, a night club, a recreational business, wide sidewalks for outdoor restaurants, scooters, and rain gardens. Even a school. Though light rail is four years away, the city should come forth with a simple, rough graphic like Northgate's for the community. -     B.Yoder

For your information, below is a recent King County Press Release announcing plans for 232 affordable housing units near the Northgate Light Rail Station.

King County and City of Seattle, along with their partners BRIDGE Housing Corporation and Capitol Hill Housing (CHH) have come to a pre-development agreement to develop land owned by King County Metro into 232 affordable housing units near the future site of the Northgate Link light rail station. All units will be affordable to households earning 60 percent or less of the area median income – in 2019, that’s $66,420 for a family of four. The development will provide a mix of unit sizes including at least 52 two- or three-bedroom units, and 24 units will be reserved for system-connected households. Groundbreaking 2022 Anticipated development agreement and ground lease are expected to be transmitted to council by summer 2020, with ground-breaking to follow in 2022. “Renters shouldn’t have to choose between a home that’s affordable, and one that’s close to work and transit. This project adds hundreds of affordable units next to one of the most significant transit hubs in King County, connecting more people to the greenest way to get around,” said King County Executive Constantine. -- King County Press Release    11/17/2020

"EasTrail" Will Connect Four Light Rail Stations

July 19, 2019 video

"EasTrail," a forty-two mile multi-purpose trail connecting four eastside light rail stations is expected to open in 2023...an amazing amenity for our region! It follows the old rail corridor. One of the goals is to complete the trail from Renton to Redmond and Woodinville by 2025.  The trail will ultimately extend to Bothell, Mill Creek and Snohomish.  

This is so exciting! Especially for recreational bicyclists and commuters! 

-- Bob Yoder

Sound Transit Fares - Redmond Technology Center Update

Redmond Technology Center station in Overlake - East Link Light Rail Extension

Civil construction is expected to wrap up late next year. Civil construction will be followed by construction of the light rail operating systems (power, signals, etc.). The systems work takes about one year, and will be followed by pre-revenue service testing.

Fares are set at $2.25 + $.05 per mile, rounded to the nearest $0.25. Fares may change over time to achieve a minimum Board-required revenue target, but at current rates that would put the ~15-mile trip from Overlake to Westlake at around $3, or Overlake to Norhgate at ~$3.50.

Source:  Facebook: East Link light rail

Electric scooters to debut in Redmond July 30th.

Lime, a private bike and scooter share company, is expected to debut electric scooters in Redmond on Tuesday, July 30, and may add bicycles in the future.

This pilot program allows residents and employees to use bikes and/or scooters until May 2020 and then bike and scooter share will be reconsidered.

Vision

Bicycle and scooter sharing support the City’s vision in the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) to improve travel choices and mobility. The scooters will give Redmond travelers new options as the average trip in Redmond is 2.2 miles, which is about a 15-minute bike or scooter ride.

redmond.gov

Light Rail Vehicle Arrives From Sacramento

This Seimens Light Rail Vehicle arrived from Sacramento in the early morning.  According to Doug Thompsen, the shrink wrap keeps the car from getting scratches; it will be recycled.  The vehicles haven't arrived to Redmond yet.  (6/17/2019)

Photo by Doug Thompsen , East Link Light Rail

Light Rail Extension to impact Bear Creek

Lower Bear Creek/ deainc.com

Construction of the Downtown Redmond Light Rail Extension will impact a swath of trees and riparian habitat along Bear Creek in the vicinity of the Overlake Urgent Care Center west to Creekside Crossing and Redmond Center Open Space.  Clearing and grading permits are required to remove 144 trees to accommodate the rail, Bear Creek "restoration," and construction access. Most of the trees will be planted off site because they won't survive in the wetland areas. For each significant tree removed, 6 saplings will be planted; for each landmark tree removed 18 saplings will be planted. A section of Bear Creek will have to be dredged to create a "back channel" for flood control and wetland habitat. Back channels are also valuable for salmon rearing.

Overall, approximately 500 linear feet of Bear Creek will be "restored or enhanced" when all is said and done.  The Design Builder is encouraged to reuse previously removed trees for onsite habitat features. In addition, Sound Transit plans to purchase wetland mitigation credits at the Keller Farm site further upstream along Bear Creek for any restoration that cannot be accommodated on-site.

All the work near Bear Creek described above is subject to review as part of the City’s shoreline and clearing and grading permits, the Army Corps and the tribes.  Construction is over 3 years out.  

  -- City Council Study Session, 5/28
      Meeting memo 

East Link Light Rail nears 50% completion

Photo Credit: Sound Transit 

Earlier this week the Bellevue City Council received an update from Sound Transit that the East Link Light Rail project has neared 50 percent completion.

Some of the highlights from the project progress include: tunnel excavation work under 110th Ave NE that has recently been completed, significant progress on the South Bellevue station and Bellevue Way Southeast parking garage, as well as the close to finished elevated guideways.

The East Link Light Rail project is anticipated to be completed and open in 2023. The length of East Link is over 14 miles that spans from all the way from Redmond, through Bellevue and onto Mercer Island. During peak travel time the service will be available every six minutes. It’s projected that there will be 43,000 – 52,000 daily riders by 2026.

For more information on the East Link Light Rail project visit the Sound Transit website.

 -- East Link Light Rail facebook site

Redmond Technology Station

Rendering of the "Redmond Technology Station."  Note the bus thoroughfare on the left.  I believe the pedestrian/bicycle bridge is right of the train.

Redmond Technology Station rendering

Source:  Facebook, East Link Light Rail.