The 108th Avenue Northeast business-access and transit lane project derives from the 2017 Sixth Street Corridor Study, which analyzed the corridor, between Central Way and the the South Kirkland Park and Ride, forecasted its future use and prescribed specific solutions to existing and emerging problems.
(PDF, 18MB)
(PDF, 18MB)
Primarily, those problems are traffic congestion—some of which are triggered by the downward spiral-effect of transit delays.
When a bus’ arrival at a 108th Avenue Northeast corridor bus stop is unreliable, for example, the study shows that many bus riders will drive to and from the South Kirkland Park and Ride and meet the bus there instead of walking to the bus stop near their home. This, of course, adds more pressure on the South Kirkland Park and Ride’s parking lots and 108th Avenue Northeast.
The result: More congestion. Added congestion compounds delays, which, in turn, further undermines the reliability of the street-side bus stops located every quarter-mile along much of the 108th Avenue Northeast corridor.
Drivers and transit-riders pay the consequences, according to the 2017 study.
For drivers, the price is a 1.25-mile, rush-hour back-up and 15- to 20-minute delays.
For transit-riders it’s the uncertainty of knowing when their rides will arrive and if it’ll get them where they’re going on time.
The business-access and transit lane will prevent transit delays by allowing each bus to bypass traffic queued at the Northeast 60th and 68th streets intersections.
With improved reliability, bus riders have greater incentive to walk to the bus stops near their homes, rather than drive on 108th Avenue Northeast to the South Kirkland Park and Ride and back home.
This reduces some vehicular pressure on 108th Avenue Northeast.
The Sixth Street Corridor Study is available at www.kirklandwa.gov/108thbatlane.
To craft it, Kirkland’s team of consulting and staff transportation planners interviewed neighborhood stakeholders, surveyed community members, hosted workshops and were available at neighborhood events.
The Sixth Street Corridor Study is available here(PDF, 18MB) .
To craft it, Kirkland’s team of consulting and staff transportation planners interviewed neighborhood stakeholders, surveyed community members, hosted workshops and were available at neighborhood events.