Looking back to move forward
2023 was a big year for the Stride program. All our Stride BRT projects made significant progress, reaching final design (S1 and S2) and pre-construction phases (S3). As we start 2024, we want to take a step back and reflect on the progress we’ve made to get to where we are today.
Stride S3
Speaking to the community about project designs is important to ensure transit improvements fit each jurisdiction and address the future needs of each community. We appreciate your collaboration in helping Stride become a reality. For the Stride S3 Line, we met with property owners, community groups, and various neighborhoods to provide project updates and talk about project designs. Over the course of 2023, we:
- Held five in-person public meetings with communities in the project corridor, engaging with over 600 community members.
- Published a project-wide online open house and survey sharing design updates and receiving feedback. Around 6,000 community members visited the website.
- Held four briefings with community organizations.
- Gave project updates at two city council meetings.
- Spoke to 242 community members at four fairs and festivals.
- Received 384 inquiries from the public.
As we move into 2024, we’ll continue to highlight the transit improvements Stride is making in numerous cities and communicate project progress with the public.
Stride S1 and S2
The Stride S1 and S2 projects had a groundbreaking 2023! In partnership with the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), we started construction at the I-405 and NE 85th Street interchange, and we’re supporting WSDOT’s I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project. Throughout 2023, the project team:
- Hosted a community drop-in session and pop-up event at a transit center, reaching around 245 people.
- Hosted a webinar to provide project updates.
- Published a project-wide online open house and survey sharing design updates and receiving feedback. Around 6,000 community members visited the website.
- Held two briefings with community organizations.
- Spoke to over 350 people at two fairs and festivals.
- Received 104 inquiries from the public.
In 2024, WSDOT will continue to lead the construction and communications of Stride program work in the I-405 corridor.
In 2024, you’ll see our outreach team attending and hosting events in and around your neighborhood. Feel free to ask us questions about future Stride service and the transportation improvements being made in each community where Stride buses will stop.
We’ll also be seeking feedback on several station names to ensure they’re easy to understand and make sense in the context of their locations. More information about station naming will be provided soon, so stay tuned!
In the latter half of 2024, we’ll be preparing the public for construction coming in 2025 and letting our neighbors know what to expect. We are here to listen to your priorities and concerns as we continue breaking ground and preparing for Stride construction.
We’re collaborating with WSDOT to bring you a transformative regional transit system. In partnership with WSDOT, we aim to improve community safety, transit access, and travel experience through a variety of transportation projects within the I-405 corridor:
Starting as early as 11 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 26, crews will close all lanes in both directions on NE 85th St between Kirkland Way/114th Ave NE and 120th Avenue NE. All ramps to I-405 and sidewalks in this area will also be closed. NE 85th St will reopen to travelers at 4 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 29.
During the closures, expect travel delays and plan for increased travel times. To stay up to date on travel conditions, check out the WSDOT Real Time Travel Map.
This work is weather-dependent, and the closure may be rescheduled for the following weekend (Feb. 2-5) or completed over both weekends. WSDOT will send email updates if there are changes to dates, so please stay tuned.
Watch for future project updates. Forward this email to your friends, family, neighbors, and people in your community and encourage them to subscribe.
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