The City Council has given its unanimous nod to the proposal for RapidRide K Line, which is set to bridge Bellevue and Kirkland starting in 2030. According to a recent report on Bellevue’s official website, the council’s backing includes a letter supporting the “locally preferred alternative,” encompassing the service’s route and roadway and transit improvements needed for its operation. Having gathered feedback from over a thousand folks through surveys and public events, King County Metro will use this support when applying for Federal Transit Administration grants later this year, post King County Council’s approval of the plan. More on the project can be found in the meeting materials.
Hot on the agenda, too, was the discussion of several state revenue proposals aimed at patching a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall. The council members agreed that the business and occupation (B&O) tax increases and additional payroll levies on large employers could take a toll on Bellevue. Per the same city news report, they voted unanimously against these hikes. Yet, on the proposal to lift the property tax cap, the council was divided, with a 4-2 vote opposing it, the two dissenters being Mayor Lynne Robinson and Councilmember Dave Hamilton.
Meanwhile, Bellevue’s Wrap-Around Services program is ringing in two decades of collaborative efforts between the city and the Bellevue School District. The program has been a guiding hand for over 20,000 students, their families, and the wider community, ensuring the availability of necessary resources and support. The anniversary and its achievements were highlighted in the recent council meeting…