CITY OF KIRKLAND Department of Public Works 123 Fifth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033 425.587.3800

www.kirklandwa.gov

MEMORANDUM

To: Kurt Triplett, City Manager From: Kathy Brown, Public Works Director Joel Pfundt, AICP CTP, Transportation Manager Date: April 19, 2018 Subject: I-405 Bus Rapid Transit NE 85th St Inline Station and Interchange Project RECOMMENDATION:

That City Council receive a presentation from City of Kirkland staff, along with staff from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Sound Transit, regarding an update on the I-405 Bus Rapid Transit NE 85th St Inline Station and Interchange Project.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION: Sound Transit and WSDOT are planning improvements to the I-405/NE 85th Street interchange, including a future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) inline station. BRT is a key element of the multimodal I-405 Master Plan. On November 8, 2016 voters approved the Sound Transit 3 (ST3) plan, which included funding for I-405 BRT and the NE 85th Street interchange and inline BRT station, as well as bus access lanes from NE 85th Street to 6th Street near Kirkland Urban. WSDOT, Sound Transit, the City of Kirkland and King County Metro have been working together on the NE 85th Street inline station and interchange project since 2017. One of the first steps in this process was to work collaboratively to identify the following priorities for the project:

Provide strong transit connections to routes on NE 85th Street and a pleasant rider experience

Ensure safe and comfortable connections for people walking and biking Align with City of Kirkland Vision and WSDOT’s I-405 Master Plan Maintain operations of express toll and general purpose lanes Maximize the project’s benefits within budget

These project priorities, also referred to as “items of importance,” were developed during day #1 of a design charrette held on August 17, 2017. The design charrette was attended by staff from WSDOT, Sound Transit, the City of Kirkland and King County Metro; as well as representatives of the Kirkland City Council.

Council Meeting: 05/01/2018 Agenda: Special Presentations Item #: 3. a.

The WSDOT design team then developed 24+ design concepts that could be categorized into the following six project groups:

Group 1 – Loop Interchange Concepts Group 2 – Alternate Location Concepts Group 3 – Alternate Interchange Concepts Group 4 – Single Intersection Concepts Group 5 – Non-Signalized Interchange Concepts Group 6 – Separated Transit Interchange Concepts

The design concepts represented by these six projects groups were then evaluated against the “items of importance” to determine which concepts should be advanced for further design refinement and evaluation. The project groups and evaluation was presented to the Transportation Commission at its March 28, 2018 meeting and at day #2 of the design charrette, which was held on April 19, 2018. The April 19, 2018 design charrette was attended by staff from WSDOT, Sound Transit, the City of Kirkland and King County Metro, as well as representatives from the Kirkland City Council and Kirkland Transportation Commission. The presentation from the design charrette is included as Attachment A. The attendees of the design charrette agreed that the project represented by Group 6 (Separated Transit Interchange Concepts) was the preferred design. This design concept is a three-level interchange, with NE 85th Street general purpose traffic on the bottom level; transit access, BRT station, and pedestrian/bicycle circulation on the middle level; and I-405 general purpose lanes and express toll lanes on the top level. The current plan is that I-405 BRT riders would connect to downtown Kirkland via transit using bus-only lanes on NE 85th Street between I-405 and 6th Street. Sound Transit, WSDOT and the City of Kirkland are co-hosting a public meeting on April 26, 2018 in the Commons Room at Lake Washington High School from 5:30 to 7:30 to share information about the interchange design. Sound Transit, WSDOT and City staff will also be presenting the latest information on the interchange design to the Kirkland Transportation Commission at their April 25, 2018 meeting. Sounds Transit and WSDOT staff are attending the May 1, 2018 study session in order to:

Provide City Council with an overview of the design screening process. Update City Council on the design charrette held on April 19, 2018; the April 25, 2018

Transportation Commission meeting; and the April 26, 2018 public meeting. Share next steps, which will ultimately lead to the Sound Transit Board of Directors

taking action to advance the project to the next stage of design. This is currently scheduled for the July Board of Directors meeting.

I-405/NE 85th Street Interchange and Inline StationCharrette Day #2

Executive SessionKirkland City Hall, Peter Kirk RoomApril 17, 2018

Attachment A

Introductions and Welcome

2

Kim Henry, P.E.I-405/SR 167 Program Administrator

WSDOT

Bernard Van De KampEast Corridor Development Director

Sound Transit

Amy DanbergFacilitator

Agenda• Background and context• Design concepts and evaluations• Discussion• Next steps• Action items and adjourn

3

Today’s objectives• Review 85th design concepts and their evaluations• Confirm design concept to move forward• Review next steps

Background and context

4

Cynthia PadillaI-405 BRT project manager

(Bellevue to Lynnwood)Sound Transit

I-405/NE 85th Street Inline Station and Interchange Project

• Central Kirkland station for new I-405 Bus Rapid transit system

• WSDOT and Sound Transit signed partnering agreement in early 2018

• Conceptual design and stakeholder engagement under way

• Next steps: Preliminary engineering and environmental review

5

Recap: August 2017 Charrette Day 1 workshop August 17, 2017

Interagency participation: • Sound Transit• City of Kirkland• King County Metro• WSDOT

Objectives:• All participants will have a good understanding of the I-405 Master Plan, Sound

Transit and King County transit plans for the NE 85th Street area, and Kirkland’s land use and transportation vision.

• WSDOT will gather input on items of importance and priorities from stakeholders.

• Group will identify screening criteria to set up second session for evaluation of concepts.

6

Items of importance (from Aug. 2017 charrette)

Transit Connectivity Provide transit connectivity between I-405 BRT and NE 85th Street transit routes Improve ST Express, King County Metro, and I-405 BRT Operations Maintain/enhance ability to connect to Cross-Kirkland Corridor Facilitate connectivity (ease of transfer between I-405 BRT and NE 85th Street routes) Rider experience/environment while waiting during transfers (lighting, shelter, etc.) Consider paratransit connections Facilitate connections to existing park and ride capacity (e.g. 70th)

Non-Motorized Mobility/Connectivity Provide non-motorized connectivity to major destinations east and west of I-405 (bike/walk

combination) Minimize pedestrian travel time (all pedestrians in general area) Create safe, comfortable pedestrian experience/environment for all ages/abilities (art,

experience, placemaking) Consider grades/gaps when planning for pedestrian facilities Incorporate bike lockers/racks

7

Items of importance (from Aug. 2017 charrette)

Kirkland Vision Be consistent with existing and future land use plans and facilitate future growth opportunities Provide Express Toll Lane access from NE 85th Street corridor Leverage/create partnership opportunities with local businesses/services re: transit/carpool

operations and drop-off/pick-up locations Provide for flexibility and creativity through design options

Compatibility with Master Plans Do not preclude Master Plan alternatives and minimize added future cost Build toward the Master Plans

Vehicular Traffic Operations/Interchange Performance Maintain or improve I-405 express toll lane and general purpose operations Improve multimodal local area operations (e.g., NE 85th Street vicinity) Optimize transit movements

Cost Maximize project benefits within budget Be creative with ST budget proviso commitments (last mile) Pursue other funding opportunities if needed Meet schedule and minimize construction duration

8

Statement of Need

9

Multimodal connectivity between I-405 Bus Rapid Transit and the NE 85th Street corridor to fulfill the City of Kirkland’s vision and the I-405 Master Plan, including express toll lanes.

Considerations identified by stakeholders for further discussion

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Non-motorized access and mobility issues • BRT and local stop locations and design• Bike parking facilities• Connections between inline station and Cross Kirkland Corridor,

local streets, greenways• Urban design

Motorized access and mobility issues • Kiss and ride/drop-off facilities• Compatibility for automated/connected vehicles• Existing local street traffic issues• Existing intersections at 114th and 120th Ave NE• Coordination with 85th BAT lanes

Design concepts and evaluations

11

Diana Giraldo, P.E.I-405 Design Manager

WSDOT

Barrett Hanson, P.E.I-405 Engineering Manager

WSDOT

Existing Conditions: NE 85th Street Vicinity

12

Clover Leaf–type InterchangeLoop ramps to/from I-405 general purpose lanes

COSTCO

Pedestrian bridgeNon-motorized traffic over I-405 at NE 80th Street

Cross Kirkland Corridor

LEE JOHNSON

Traffic Congestion at NE 85th StreetMorning peak traffic congestion Afternoon peak traffic congestion

• High volumes on all interchange ramps.• Closely spaced intersections create congestion issues• Heavy turning movements to/from driveways and cross

streets• Congestion up to four hours during peak periods• Queues from 85th/ 120th intersection into interchange area

13

Design Concepts Review

24+ initial design concepts

Six groups of concepts:

• Group 1 – Loop Interchange Concepts• Group 2 – Alternate Location Concepts • Group 3 – Alternate Interchange Concepts • Group 4 – Single Intersection Concepts • Group 5 – Non-Signalized Interchange Concepts • Group 6 – Separated Transit Interchange Concepts

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Group 1 – Loop Interchange Concepts

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Group 2 – Alternate Location Concepts

16

Group 3 – Alternate Interchange Concepts

17

Group 4 – Single Intersection Concepts

18

Group 5 – Non-Signalized Interchange Concepts

19

Group 6 – Separated Transit Interchange Concepts

20

Group 6 – Separated Transit Interchange Concepts

21

NE 85th Street

Local bus stop

BRT stop

BRT stop

Preliminary Evaluation

22

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6

Criteria Rep. (Loops)

Alt.Loc

Alt. I/C Types

Single Inter.

Non-Signal

Sep.Transit

Transit Connectivity N/A

Non-MotorizedMobility/Connectivity N/A

Kirkland Vision N/A

Compatibility with Master Plans N/A

Traffic Operations & I/CPerformance N/A Incomplete

Cost N/AGreater

than Group 6

Representative Project (modified)

23

Local bus stops(west side, 85th Street level)

Local bus stops (east side, 85th st level)

BRT stations(at I-405 level, requires four elevators and four staircases)

Pedestrian bridgesCrossings over I-405 loop ramps at 8% maximum grade, sharp turns at switchbacks

Compatibility Space for future direct access ramps to I-405 express toll lanes

COSTCO

LEE JOHNSON

24

Representative Project (modified)

Separated Transit Interchange Concept

25

BRT stationsBelow I-405 level, no vertical transfer required to 85th

Local bus stops at same level as BRT stops

Level 1 New (Bottom)for through traffic on 85th

Pedestrian walkwaysMaximum 5% grade, no switchbacks

Level 3 (Top)I-405 mainline

Level 2 (Middle)Access to/from I-405 express toll lanes for transit and express toll lane users

COSTCO

LEE JOHNSON

Separated Transit Interchange Concept

26

Comparison of two concepts

27

Representative (modified) Separated Transit Interchange

Transit Connectivity 6-10 minute walk between BRT & local stops

1-2 minute walk between BRT & local stops

Non-MotorizedMobility/Connectivity

9 minute walk across interchange (2,200 feet with stairs/elevators)

6 minute walk across interchange (1,300 feet at same level)

Kirkland Vision Challenges for non-motorized access, limited drop-off/pick-up opportunities

Improved non-motorized access, greater drop-off/pick-up opportunities

Compatibility with Master Plans

Does not preclude direct access ramp to I-405 express toll lanes

Builds direct access ramp to I-405 express toll lanes

Traffic Operations & I/C Performance

Similar performance and challenges

Cost* ~$300M-330M ~$235M-260M

* Estimate in 2017 dollars* Estimate includes project development, right‐of‐way, and design‐build construction costs

Charrette Evaluation of Concepts

28

Criteria Rep.(Modified)

Separated Transit

Transit Connectivity

Non-Motorized Mobility/Connectivity

Kirkland Vision

Compatibility with Master Plans

Traffic Operations & I/C Performance

Cost

Discussion

29

Amy DanbergFacilitator

Next Steps

30

Cynthia PadillaI-405 BRT project manager

(Bellevue to Lynnwood)Sound Transit

37

Overview of outreach

31

Next steps: Long term

32

Action items and adjourn

33

Amy DanbergFacilitator