The Kirkland City Council seeks to accelerate investments that they say will enhance the city’s walkability while reducing the community’s energy consumption and is considering implementing a $20 vehicle licensing fee to pay for the 45 highest priority projects identified in the City’s Safer Routes to School Action Plans and Active Transportation Plan.

A map of the proposed sidewalk, crosswalk and bike lane projects can be found here.

The city says the projects would make walking and bicycling around Kirkland’s 15 elementary schools and its business districts safer for students, families and workers.

“We’ve heard from our community in a variety of forums over many years that they want the City to improve conditions for walking, bicycling and riding transit, particularly around schools,” said Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet. “With current funding, paying for the plans’ 45 highest priority projects would take 20 to 30 years. With revenue from a car tab-backed general obligation bond, the City could pay for those 45 improvements within six years.”

To help inform the City Council’s decision later this year, the community will be able to participate in forums, meetings, and listening sessions this fall.

The first opportunity will be a community forum on September 26, 2022, beginning at 6:30 pm. The forum is currently scheduled as a hybrid meeting at this time, both in-person at City Hall and online, but may shift to completely online depending on current health recommendations.

Although not required, those interested in attending are encouraged to register in advance to receive reminder emails about the Transportation Benefit District Community Forum: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/transportation-benefit-district-community-forum-tickets-408163155987

“The City Council wants to hear from our community about this approach to meeting the urgency we’ve heard from the community to build safer routes to schools,” said Sweet. “Please get engaged in this community conversation.”

More information is available here.