Traffic & Transit
This topic is always a challenging one in Kirkland. We have a traditional, auto focused suburban city. We love our cars and the convenience they bring. Our communities are organized in a way that makes cars essential. At the same time, I am hearing that we are all struggling with congestion on roads, speeding, parking, and pedestrian/bicycle/auto safety. Who among us hasn't complained about the traffic while we are sitting alone in our car?
The traffic and transit conversations must go hand in hand. They need to be looked at comprehensively and addressed by setting forward a new comprehensive plan focused on maintaining or reducing current traffic volumes while the city continues to grow in population. Planning policies need to look at realistic ways to create true live, work, play neighborhoods that provide the variety of employment opportunities and housing opportunities that encourage people to live where they work and work where they live. More office space and more housing units by themselves do not solve the problem unless they are balanced and we truly believe we are creating a walkable 15 minute city. This needs to be done through comprehensive and intentional planning.
Transit is a key component to reducing congestion, or at least limiting it to current volumes. Transit must be easy and accessible. It needs to connect well and get us to destinations as quickly as jumping in our cars. Ridership will increase in Kirkland if we remove these blockers. There is an entire generation following us that is choosing to step away from auto-centric life and will rely on the system we plan and build today.
We must find a way to fund and build transit in Kirkland. Some of this can be done through interlocal agreements and cooperation with King County Metro. Some of this falls on the City to solve within and for our community. Transit must be on the agenda as a forward looking approach to reduce our traffic concerns and limited street capacity. It also must be on the agenda as part of the social equity and climate conversations.
The traffic and transit conversations must go hand in hand. They need to be looked at comprehensively and addressed by setting forward a new comprehensive plan focused on maintaining or reducing current traffic volumes while the city continues to grow in population. Planning policies need to look at realistic ways to create true live, work, play neighborhoods that provide the variety of employment opportunities and housing opportunities that encourage people to live where they work and work where they live. More office space and more housing units by themselves do not solve the problem unless they are balanced and we truly believe we are creating a walkable 15 minute city. This needs to be done through comprehensive and intentional planning.
Transit is a key component to reducing congestion, or at least limiting it to current volumes. Transit must be easy and accessible. It needs to connect well and get us to destinations as quickly as jumping in our cars. Ridership will increase in Kirkland if we remove these blockers. There is an entire generation following us that is choosing to step away from auto-centric life and will rely on the system we plan and build today.
We must find a way to fund and build transit in Kirkland. Some of this can be done through interlocal agreements and cooperation with King County Metro. Some of this falls on the City to solve within and for our community. Transit must be on the agenda as a forward looking approach to reduce our traffic concerns and limited street capacity. It also must be on the agenda as part of the social equity and climate conversations.