Transportation Committee
Helping to shape Bellevue’s mobility future by evaluating projects, recommending investments and collaborating with city and transit partners.
Mission & Scope
The Bellevue Chamber’s Transportation Committee convenes employers, developers, mobility providers, and public agencies to solve near-term transportation challenges and shape long-term investments. The committee studies and recommends state, regional, and city projects, tracks transit service changes, and explores technology that improves safety and access.
Focus areas include statewide priorities like I‑405 corridor improvements, city planning items such as the Mobility Implementation Plan and Transportation Facilities Plan, transit integration, and transportation technology like Cellular Vehicle‑to‑Everything (C‑V2X), autonomous vehicle policy, and micromobility.
The committee meets with city and agency staff, weighs in through letters and testimony, and partners with other Chamber advocacy groups when a cross‑cutting business issue is at stake. In recent cycles that has included curb‑management policy, funding needs tied to state initiatives, and network connectivity for bikes, pedestrians, and transit.
$450M
I-405 Corridor improvements funded
$18M
Eastrail through Bellevue
$6.9M
Mountains to Sound Greenway “Bellevue Gap”
$8M
SR 520 at 148th Ave NE bike and pedestrian crossing
What We’ve Done
April 2, 2026
WSDOT P3 program, King County TBD, and Sound Transit realignment
The April 2 Transportation Committee heard from WSDOT Director of Innovative Partnerships Anthony Buckley on the state's emerging public-private partnership program (authorized by SB 5801, launching January 2027) with I-405 as a pilot corridor candidate. The committee also received a briefing on the King County Transportation Benefit District vote underway at the time, and previewed Sound Transit realignment options ahead of a full May 7 committee briefing.
March 28, 2026
Cross-lake light rail connects Bellevue and Seattle
Sound Transit launched cross-lake light rail passenger service, completing the long-awaited connection between Bellevue and Seattle across Lake Washington. The Chamber's Transportation Committee and Bellevue Mobility Coalition advocated for this investment over multiple years, including through annual legislative transportation tours, federal fly-ins, and sustained corridor advocacy that helped secure the Move Ahead Washington funding package.
March 6, 2026
Autonomous vehicles, state budget turbulence, and transit milestones
The Transportation Committee heard from Zoox on autonomous vehicle deployment, noting the company expanded from zero to 700 jobs at its Las Vegas depot. The committee identified a key policy gap: Washington lacks a statewide framework for commercializing autonomous services, creating regulatory uncertainty. WSDOT also briefed the committee on flat revenue pressures threatening preservation funding.
February 5, 2026
Sound Transit briefs Chamber on cross-lake light rail opening
Sound Transit briefed the Transportation Committee on the Cross-Lake Link opening, confirming passenger service across Lake Washington begins March 28, 2026. The initial Eastside opening in 2024 drew 35,000 attendees. Sound Transit also outlined its Enterprise Initiative restructuring effort to address $34.5 billion in capital program elements.
2025
Reset curb-pricing work with the City
At its January 9 meeting, the Transportation Committee re-engaged on Bellevue’s curb-pricing study, revisiting targets for curb occupancy and turnover and flagging how curb policy connects to the Mobility Implementation Plan, TFP, RapidRide K-Line, Project Zero and AV policy. The goal was to keep businesses at the table so curb-pricing tests protected access, safety and daily operations.
2025
Launched the Bellevue Mobility Coalition (BMC)
In early 2025, the Chamber launched the Bellevue Mobility Coalition to match the Comprehensive Plan’s land use vision with a real mobility strategy. BMC brought together major employers, developers and mobility experts to analyze multimodal travel, prioritize high-impact projects and provide technical feedback as the City initiated a new Master Transportation Plan. Within its first year, that work helped prompt the City to start the plan and to use BMC as a regular sounding board.
2025
Backed micromobility code adoption and scooter access
To modernize rules for e-scooters and e-bikes, the Chamber supported the 2025 Micromobility Code Amendment. The Chamber backed a code update aligned with state law and regional best practice and hosted Lime scooter demonstrations so decision-makers could see the technology in use. City Council adopted the update, clearing the way for pilots that improve first and last mile connections while maintaining safety and access.
2025
Connected preservation, revenue and AV policy
Later in 2025, the committee reviewed WSDOT budget updates and the pressure that flat revenues put on basic preservation. Members discussed options such as road-usage charges and other tools, and tracked legislation on human safety operators in autonomous vehicles. The committee also continued to follow Bellevue’s Project Zero C-V2X pilot with T-Mobile and partners, which tested connected-vehicle safety applications on city streets.
2024
Framed curb-pricing and statewide funding conversations
In October 2024, the committee heard from the Association of Washington Business on Initiative 2117 and long-term state transportation funding. The briefing covered gas tax alternatives such as road-usage charges, tire taxes and weight fees, and how they might interact with local revenue tools. That session set up a structured committee discussion on curb-pricing and on-street revenue options for 2025.
2023
Shaped Bike Bellevue into a balanced multimodal plan
Throughout 2023, the committee worked through the Bike Bellevue proposal. Based on committee feedback, Chamber staff testified to remove language that would have converted key vehicle lanes to bike-only lanes, preserve core capacity and focus on high-value, connective bike facilities. The outcome helped reposition Bike Bellevue as part of a broader multimodal strategy for people walking, biking, taking transit and driving.
2023-2024
Shaped the Curb Management Plan to protect access and commerce
As Bellevue built its Curb Management Plan, the committee pushed for a balance of mobility, safety and economic activity. The Chamber recommended clear typology maps, digital tools to manage loading and on-street parking, traffic study requirements before lane conversions or pricing and safeguards for mobility hubs, freight and emergency access. Many of these ideas now appear in the City’s curb-management approach.
2023-2024
Kept RapidRide K-Line aligned with mobility and business needs
The committee consistently supported RapidRide K-Line while protecting key road capacity. Members emphasized needs for freight, emergency response and general traffic, raised concerns about designs that removed too many lanes and backed revised options that preserved critical capacity while still delivering frequent, reliable transit between Totem Lake and Eastgate.
2023-2024
Tracked East Link Starter Line decisions and station readiness
In June 2023, Sound Transit briefed the committee on the East Link Starter Line and phased 2 Line openings. The committee focused on access and circulation around stations in South Bellevue, Downtown Bellevue, Wilburton and the Spring District, as well as operational readiness and staffing, and how early rail service would support transit-oriented development and business access.
2023-2024
Protected Mountains to Sound “Bellevue Gap” trail funding
When funding shifts threatened the Mountains to Sound “Bellevue Gap,” the Chamber and local leaders pressed the Governor’s office to reprogram Move Ahead Washington dollars and protect Bellevue’s 2.37 million dollar federal match. The committee framed the gap as a critical connection between Eastrail, the wider trail network, Bellevue College and the Eastgate Park and Ride, helping keep the segment on track.
2023-2024
Advanced Grand Connection and Eastrail I-90 crossing priorities
The committee continued to champion The Grand Connection and the Eastrail I-90 crossing as signature mobility investments. The Chamber made the case for blended state, federal and private funding and highlighted design elements that improve safe crossings and access for commuters, shoppers and visitors, keeping both projects visible and competitive in funding and design discussions.
2021-2022
Helped to secure nearly 500 million dollars for Eastside projects
Through coordinated advocacy with the City of Bellevue and the East King Chambers Coalition, the Chamber helped shape the 2022 Move Ahead Washington package. For Bellevue and the Eastside, it delivered nearly 500 million dollars, including funding for I-405 Master Plan improvements, Eastrail through Bellevue, the Mountains to Sound “Bellevue Gap” and the State Route 520 at 148th Avenue Northeast bike and pedestrian crossing. These investments advanced long-standing committee priorities on throug
2021-2022
Showcased priority projects to lawmakers in a joint tour
Ahead of those funding decisions, the Chamber and City co-hosted a transportation tour for state legislators, City leaders and partners. The tour highlighted top projects such as I-405 improvements, Eastrail and the Wilburton Trestle, the Mountains to Sound “Bellevue Gap” and key State Route 520 and Interstate 90 access projects, giving lawmakers on-the-ground context that fed directly into the Eastside wins in Move Ahead Washington.
2021-2022
Kept I-405, SR 520/124th, I-90 and South Downtown access on the map
Throughout 2021 and 2022, the committee and staff consistentvly emphasized the importance of I-405 Master Plan projects, the SR 520 and 124th interchange, I-90 and South Downtown access and Lake Hills Connector and Downtowner connections for freight and commuters. That persistent drumbeat helped keep these corridors at the center of Eastside transportation conversations and set the stage for later funding and policy wins.
“The future of Bellevue calls for a safe, efficient, and data-driven multi-modal approach that is well understood by our community and its leaders.”-Nikki Stuck, Public Policy Manager
What We’re Working On
The Transportation Committee continues to influence transportation growth in the region:
- East Link and the 2 Line: Sound Transit's 2 Line began cross-lake passenger service on March 28, 2026, completing the long-awaited connection between Bellevue and Seattle across Lake Washington. The committee now tracks ridership, station-area development and service reliability as the system matures, and monitors Sound Transit's Enterprise Initiative to address a projected $34.5 billion capital program shortfall that could affect future Eastside extensions.
- Sound Transit realignment and funding: Sound Transit launched a public survey in April 2026 on how to close a $34.5 billion, 20-year funding gap driven by inflation, construction cost overruns and state legislation that claws back roughly $2 billion in sales tax authority starting in 2029. The Board will receive survey results at its May 28 meeting, after which project scope decisions will follow. The committee is tracking options that could affect future Eastside extensions and preparing advocacy to protect regional access.
- Curb management and on-street pricing: The committee is engaged with the City's phased curb-pricing study, which targets 80% curb occupancy in high-demand areas through performance-based rates. Members are monitoring pilot-zone design, enforcement technology and potential impacts on Downtown Bellevue businesses and visitors.
- Transportation Facilities Plan (TFP) 2026-2037: As the City refines its next 12-year Transportation Facilities Plan, the committee follows the project list, funding assumptions and multimodal balance to ensure business-district access and freight reliability remain priorities alongside safety and active-transportation investments.
- RapidRide K Line: With service planned for 2030 between Totem Lake and Eastgate, the RapidRide K Line will connect Downtown Bellevue, Eastgate and key employment centers via dedicated bus rapid transit. The committee continues to track design milestones and advocate for road-capacity balance along the corridor.
- Mobility Implementation Plan update: The Transportation Commission is preparing recommendations to update the Mobility Implementation Plan, which guides the city's project priorities and investment schedule. The committee is following the process to ensure business-community input shapes the next round of capital decisions.
- WSDOT public-private partnerships (SB 5801): WSDOT is building a formal public-private partnership program authorized by SB 5801 in 2025, with a launch date of January 2027. The program shifts from one-off project deals to a repeatable pipeline. I-405 has been identified as a strong pilot corridor given its existing tolling framework and high congestion. Administrative rules are expected by September 2026, with a budget request to the 2027 legislature.
- Transportation technology and autonomous vehicles: The committee tracks Bellevue and T-Mobile's Project Zero C-V2X pilot, which uses 5G and connected-vehicle technology to improve intersection safety. In March 2026, the committee also heard from Zoox on autonomous vehicle deployment, highlighting a key policy gap: Washington currently lacks a statewide framework for commercializing autonomous ride-hail services.
- Regional project advocacy: Beyond policy work, the Chamber continues to support high-impact transportation investments around Bellevue, including I-405 corridor improvements, the Eastrail network, the Grand Connection, and the Mountains to Sound Greenway "Bellevue Gap." The committee coordinates with the Bellevue Mobility Coalition and East King Chambers Coalition on shared regional priorities.
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