Bellevue Gets Regional Buy-in for Grand Connection Crossing Plan

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The City of Bellevue continues to pursue the idea of building a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over I-405, connecting Downtown Bellevue and the Wilburton neighborhood, an area primed for significant housing growth. That work reached a crucial milestone this week, after city officials have scrambled to meet a state-imposed deadline to utilize a funding source poised to provide around 15% of the expected $200-$225 million cost of the entire project.

All five of the local government authorities required to sign off on Bellevue's use of tax-increment financing (TIF) have now given the green light. Those five entities are King County Library System, the Port of Seattle, Sound Transit, and the King County Council and its independent flood control district. The County Council's unanimous vote came Tuesday afternoon after some intense negotiations over specifics.

The Grand Crossing Connection is intended to be the capstone on a biking and walking corridor stretching all the way between King County's Eastrail in Wilburton and Bellevue's Lake Washington waterfront at Meydenbauer Bay Park. The new bridge would provide a path fully separated from cars, a welcome alternative to harrowing I-405 overpasses nearby. Bellevue is also hoping to create significant placemaking opportunities along the crossing, with new development closely stitched together with the bridge.

Last year, the City created a special Office of the Grand Connection to shepherd the project forward, with former Seattle permitting director Nathan Torgelson at its helm. If the full financing package can be assembled, Bellevue is hoping to fully complete the new bridge by 2030.

https://www.theurbanist.org/bellevue-gets-regional-buy-in-for-grand-connection/