Bellevue council directs staff to pursue state approval, outline funding options for Grand Connection crossing

The Bellevue City Council on July 22 directed staff to pursue state approval to use an alternative construction delivery method for the Grand Connection crossing and to prepare funding options for the project’s next phase.

The action, approved by voice vote, lets the city submit an application this fall to the state committee that reviews alternative delivery methods and continue preparing a “funding stack” showing how the roughly $150 million–$200 million capital cost could be paid for.

The council’s decision follows a staff presentation that laid out a three‑tier funding menu: (1) tools the city controls now, such as a potential tax‑increment financing (TIF) district or use of Transportation Benefit District (TBD) revenues; (2) cash and grant sources including private philanthropy, state and federal grants and potential local improvement districts; and (3) last‑resort local revenue like banked property tax…