Land Use and Transportation

Why is land use and transportation important for sustainability?

Land use influences how people get where they need to go. If destinations are too far or unsafe to walk, bike, or bus to, driving is more common. Currently vehicles contribute half of Kirkland’s greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing air pollution from vehicles improves the community’s health. Pollution also gets washed from roads and roofs into lakes and streams.

How was Kirkland doing before adopting the Sustainability Master Plan?

The City encourages smart compact growth that reduces the need to drive by supporting:

• 10-minute Neighborhoods: a walkable community where people can meet basic needs within a ten-minute walk, that’s conveniently accessible
• Transit Oriented Development: a type of development with a mix of housing, office, retail and other amenities in a walkable neighborhood, within half a mile of quality public transportation

Between 2009-2019, Kirkland added nearly three miles of new sidewalk. Almost 70% of the 2015 planned bike lane network is built and the City is expanding the Neighborhood Greenways network. The City received a bronze rating from Walk Friendly Communities and Bicycle Friendly Communities (pdf).

What key land use and transportation goals are included in the Sustainability Master Plan?

Key land use and transportation goals include:

• Increase access to existing 10-Minute Neighborhoods in Kirkland, and 10-minute access to parks
• Reduce how much each person drives, which also has climate impacts
• Ensure that people of all ages and abilities can comfortably get where they need to go by walking or bicycling
• Increase weekday trips taken by transit
• Provide shared mobility programs and services

How can the community help meet these goals?

• Walk, bike or roll instead of driving
• Carpool or bus instead of driving alone
• Drive cautiously, don’t speed, and be alert for people walking and biking
• Alert City staff to sidewalk and bike lane maintenance needs using the Our Kirkland app