Bellevue has identified roughly $1.5 billion in transportation projects that current funding levels cannot deliver on schedule, and the city is now asking residents, commuters and business owners to help prioritize which ones move forward first.
The city’s Transportation Investments Survey, part of the Moving Bellevue Forward initiative, takes about five to seven minutes to complete and closes August 20. Responses will directly shape the transportation capital project list for 2027 through 2032, which is scheduled to go before the Bellevue City Council on September 15.
City officials say the input is meant for anyone who regularly moves goods, employees or customers through Bellevue, not just residents who live downtown. The survey is anonymous and asks participants to weigh in on the types of projects that should receive priority as the city works to keep pace with growth on its streets, sidewalks, transit network and bike facilities.
Why the City Is Asking Now
Bellevue has reorganized its transportation capital work into what it calls the Transportation Mobility and Safety Portfolio, grouping projects into five program areas: pedestrian and bicycle mobility, neighborhood mobility, vehicle mobility, major multi-phase projects, and preservation and reconstruction of existing infrastructure.
City planners point to continued population and job growth as the driver behind the funding gap. Bellevue is projecting roughly 70,000 new jobs and 35,000 new housing units by 2044, growth the city says will add further demand to a transportation system already being asked to do more.
To help close the funding gap, the city is examining new revenue options, including a Transportation Benefit District, which it has identified as the primary funding mechanism under consideration. The district was administratively established on July 17, 2023, and any funding decisions tied to it are expected to be taken up during the 2027-28 budget cycle.
How to Participate
Residents and stakeholders can find the survey and additional background on the city’s transportation needs at BellevueWA.gov/moving-bellevue-forward.
City officials say the goal is to understand which transportation improvements matter most to the community and how any new funding should be applied.
