BAT Lanes, K Line and Metro's lack of commitment to the 255

Thank you for everyone who attended the Houghton Neighborhood Association meeting this past Wednesday. With all that' s going on in Houghton, your attendance and engagement is as important now as it ever will be.  

Our major topic of the evening was a presentation (attached) and panel discussion on the proposed 108^th BAT lanes and K Line.  

Metro has a new K Line survey that we encourage you to take.   Note that there are a number of opportunities to leave comments within the survey.  Please do so...often!  You can also "like" comments that others have made - take advantage of that as well.  

Both the BAT lanes and K Line are still very much in play.  There are dramatic impacts projected for 108th, and we're hearing that the 255 may cease to exist.   There are a number of City of Kirkland meetings, as well as Metro open houses and presentations (in person and virtual) over the next month.  Our voices need to be heard.  Show up, participate in public comment, ask a question, make your feelings known, write a letter.  If you've already written, thank you!  It's OK to write another.  All of this does make a difference.    Let’s all work together to impact Kirkland and Metro’s decision making.   

It's vital that they hear from you regarding the 108^th  BAT lanes and their minimal impact on speed and efficiency vs the $10 million taxpayer price tag, as well as the residential and business impacts this project would have. 

It's well documented by the city that the proposed $10 Million BAT lanes would contribute an estimated 2 minutes of savings to the K Line route (Eastgate to Totem Lake).  Bear in mind that the focus of the savings is Northbound 108th with afternoon traffic impacts that sometimes fall within a maximum 2 hour window between 4p-6p. 

Metro spoke to their goal of RapidRide service providing 15-30% time savings vs traditional routing.  This would involve a number of speed and reliability treatments, including the 108^th  BAT lanes.  Metro also shared with us that 85% of the proposed route will operate in "regular" traffic, with zero speed and reliability treatments.  As proposed, Metro estimates a 23% travel time savings between Eastgate and Totem Lake.  If the BAT lanes ceased to exist all together, the route would still operate at a very respectable 21%-time savings.  

Here are key contacts/links.  If you haven't been there in a while, both Kirkland and Metro have updated information. 

Kirkland BAT Lanes 

Metro K Line

Metro just published their outreach calendar on Thursday....lots of opportunity, with of course, little lead time,  to comment and get involved 

Kirkland:   [email protected] , [email protected]

Metro Transit:  [email protected], [email protected]

City of Kirkland Meeting Calendar (you can attend in person and/or virtually):

      *Tuesday 1/21, 7:30p:  K Line Record of Support Memo Overview 

       *Tuesday 2/18, 5:30p:  K Line Record of Support Memos Discussion (this is a study session - council        conversation, no public comment), but attendance and showing your support is encouraged. 

      * Tuesday 2/18, 7:30p:  K Line Record of Support Memos for S&R, Access to Transit, and Passenger Facilities 

      *Tuesday 3/4, 7:30p:  K Line Record of Support memos adoption

      * Tuesday 3/18, 7:30p:  K Line Letter of Support for Locally Preferred Alternative

Metro outreach for K Line:  

Open Houses:

1/18, 11a - 12n:  Online open house 

1/23, 3:30p - 5p:  In person at Bellevue Library

1/28, 6:30p - 7:30p:  Online open house 

2/8, 1:30p - 3:00p:  In person at Kirkland Library

Virtual office hours: 

"ask a question during our 30-minute online, weekly sessions"

All sessions are from 12:30p - 1:00p

1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11

Tabeling and street team events - a number of them are scheduled.  Here are the ones in Kirkland:

1/22, 10a-12n: LW Tech College.  Building EAS E180 ASG

2/3, 10a-12n:  Peter Kirk Community Center

2/6:  6p-7:30p:  Lake Washington High School

Please know that you can make an impact.  The reason there's a Cross Kirkland Corridor today vs a railroad,  was in large part due to community input and advocacy.  Sitting silent will not impact or mitigate change.  

Please cc us on any written communications and/or feedback after attending any of the outreach sessions.  We've found that aggregating community comments is powerful. [email protected]